The Future Belongs to Leaders Like You.
Built for emerging professionals like you who are ready to level up their leadership. The Up Next Summit is a high-energy, one-day experience that delivers fresh tools, lasting connections, and the momentum to shape what’s next in your career. Your growth sparks community impact. Your future development drives what’s up next.
When
October 15, 2026
Where
MGM Springfield
Aria Ballroom
One MGM Way
Springfield, MA
Why Should You Experience the Up Next Summit?
Develop Your Leadership Instincts
Sharpen the skills that set leaders apart. From communication and time management to branding and influence, our workshops give you actionable strategies you can put into play right away.
Connect With Key Leaders
This is more than networking, it’s building a support system that lasts. Meet fellow rising professionals, mentors and community leaders who can help open new doors and cheer you on at every stage of your journey.
Elevate Your Role in Community
Your growth doesn’t stop with you. As you step up, you strengthen the organizations and communities you’re a part of. Together, we rise and together, we make a lasting impact on the Western Mass community.
You’ve already earned your seat at the table, now secure it.
Meet our Keynote Speaker
Colleen DelVecchio
Chief Maximizer | Keynote Speaker | Podcast Host
Colleen is proud to have received two Turkeyland Cove Foundation fellowships and currently sits on the board of directors. She has taught at Holyoke Community College, Greenfield Community College, Bay Path University, and UMass Amherst. Colleen is a certified Gallup Strengths Coach with a BA in psychology from Boston University and an MS in nonprofit management from Bay Path University. She is also a member of the Northampton, MA, and Easthampton, MA, Chambers of Commerce.
Colleen is passionate about working with corporate women's leadership programs and designing individualized mentoring and
training programs for organizations. She has worked with Fortune 500 companies, multiple chambers of commerce, independent private schools, large state universities, elite women’s colleges, and many other small businesses.
Keynote: Embracing the Squiggles: How to ride the waves of change
Let’s be real—life rarely unfolds in a straight line.
From the very start, Colleen’s journey has been a squiggle, beginning in foster care, navigating unexpected career pivots, and even launching a business just six months before a global pandemic. But instead of resisting the twists, she’s learned to embrace them, and she’ll show you how to do the same.
Get ready to embrace the squiggles and turn every twist into an advantage!
Leadership Panel
The Courage to Have the Conversation
Led by Andres Gomez alongside five prominent local leaders, including Justin Roberts, Ryan McCollum, Megan Moynihan,
Xiomara Delobato, & Jason Niles.
The panel will focus on the conversations leaders often avoid—delivering tough feedback, addressing performance issues, navigating disagreements with peers or supervisors, and understanding why putting difficult conversations off can often make them harder.
Meet our Roundtable Facilitators
Tracy Freidenberg – Executive Director, BaconWilson
Topic: Putting The “Human” in Human Resources
With over 25 years of leadership experience across human resources, information technology, project management, and business operations, Tracy has built a career distinguished by innovation, strategic thinking, and a commitment to developing people. She has worked within the legal, financial services, technology, and business consulting industries, consistently driving operational excellence while fostering organizational growth and cultural development.
Prior to Bacon Wilson, Tracy spent 14 years at Day Pitney LLP, a Northeast regional AMLAW 200 law firm, where she advanced through several leadership roles in technology and project management. As Director of Technical Services and Project Management, she set firm-wide technology strategy, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and oversaw service delivery across 13 offices. She also directed the Project Management Office, ensuring professional, timely execution of enterprise initiatives and facilitating process improvements to increase efficiency.
Earlier in her career, Tracy held several leadership positions at MassMutual Financial Group. As Director of Corporate Human Resources, she led a team supporting more than 6,000 employees, managed a $2 million SAP Recruiting implementation, and re-engineered staffing processes to improve efficiency and compliance. She also directed life sales operations and managed the company’s Executive Development Program.
Andrea Bailey – Creator of TheraRuck and Founder of Evolving Mind and Body
Topic: The Weight Leaders Carry: Leading Without Losing Yourself
Andrea Bailey understands what it means to carry a lot and still be expected to show up, perform, lead, and keep moving.
As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Mindfulness-Based Ecotherapist, Reiki Master, Functional Fitness Instructor, and founder of Evolving Mind and Body, LLC and creator of TheraRuck™, Andrea brings together therapeutic guidance, weighted movement, mindfulness, and nature to explore what happens when people spend so much time doing, achieving, and carrying that they lose touch with simply being.
Her work speaks directly to the people who look like they have it all together but privately feel overwhelmed, emotionally exhausted, disconnected, or stuck in a constant state of “what’s next?”
Through her innovative TheraRuck™ approach, Andrea transforms these concepts into an experience that uses intentional weighted movement (rucking), nature, reflection, and guided nervous system resets to help people slow down, reconnect, and create space to breathe.
Andrea challenges the idea that exhaustion is simply the price of success. Her message is both simple and powerful: you can be ambitious, successful, and a leader without losing yourself along the way.
Gary Dawson – Director of Learning and Development, EANE
Topic: Modern Business Etiquette and Professional Presence
Gary Dawson is a seasoned Learning & Development executive with over 20 years of experience in designing, facilitating, and leading impactful training and professional development programs across the financial services, HR, and small business sectors. Well-known for his expertise in facilitation, Gary has delivered hundreds of engaging workshops and custom learning experiences, specializing in both synchronous and onsite formats for diverse audiences. Currently in his role as Director of Learning and Development at The Employers Association of the Northeast, Gary oversees the creation and delivery of public and onsite learning curriculums for the association’s membership.
Previously, he led talent development and compliance training at Dime Bank, where he also facilitated community financial literacy programs and launched a leadership academy recognized by the Connecticut Bankers Association. As a certified coach and facilitator (Coach Training Alliance, Extended DISC®, DDI), Gary also runs Dimension Coaching, LLC, where he partners with small businesses to deliver tailored workshops and coaching solutions that drive team engagement and operational excellence.
Gary’s facilitation style is highly interactive, practical, and aligned with business objectives, making him a trusted choice for leading conference workshops that inspire learning and drive real-world outcomes.
Todd Longo – Head of Claims, MassMutual
Topic: Standing Out in Your Career with Personal Branding
Todd is currently Head of Claims across all product lines at MassMutual. He has been with MassMutual or affiliated companies for 27 years after joining as an early career Customer Service Representative in 1999. He has led many functions across MassMutual including Call Centers, In-force Servicing, Account Management and Business Development. He’s been a strong advocate of our Internships and Leadership Development Programs over the years and has been an annual speaker on topics such as personal branding, using LinkedIn to your advantage and how to stand out within a large company.
Robert Jones – Founder, AI Consultant & Creative Strategist, RLJ Creative Solutions
Topic: AI Smart: Work Faster. Stay Safer. Lead Better.
Robert Jones is an educator, AI consultant, creative strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of RLJ Creative Solutions LLC. His experience spans education, workforce development, experiential marketing, entrepreneurship, and community leadership, giving him a unique perspective on how people learn, adapt, communicate, and lead through change. Robert specializes in making artificial intelligence practical, approachable, and useful for everyday professionals. His work focuses not only on what AI can do, but how people can use it thoughtfully, safely, and strategically while continuing to strengthen the judgment, communication, creativity, and relationships that effective leadership requires.
Angelle Lopez – Event and Program Coordinator, Springfield BID
Topic: ROOTED & READY: Your Story, Your Culture, Your Leadership
Angelle Lopez is a communications and marketing professional, creative, and community leader passionate about culture, storytelling, and connection. Through her work and involvement with the Springfield Business Improvement District and the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade, she has seen firsthand how strong communication, community engagement, and cultural connection can bring people together and create meaningful impact. As a young professional herself, Angelle is passionate about helping emerging leaders recognize the strength in their stories, embrace their roots, and use their voices to lead with purpose.
Dee Ward – Volunteer Manager, United Way of Pioneer Valley
Topic: Building Community Through Volunteers
Dee is excited to join the United Way team as the Volunteer Manager. She is new in her role but has already met so many wonderful volunteers. Before joining this team, she was the Associate Executive Director at Girls Inc. of the Valley. She has extensive experience working in human service programs including Step Forward at Elms College and HCC, Girl Scouts of Pioneer Valley, and Frost Valley YMCA in New York.
Kelly Martins – Founder & Brand Strategist, GRATI Consulting
Topic: Your Marketing Isn't the Problem: Your Foundation Is
Kelly Martins is a Strategic Account Manager at Envision Marketing Group and the owner of GRATI Consulting, where she helps entrepreneurs and small businesses clarify their brand positioning, strengthen their messaging, and build strategic foundations for growth. With more than 15 years of experience in marketing, branding, and business strategy, Kelly brings a practical, intuitive approach to helping businesses get clear on what they do, who they serve, and what they want to be known for.
Matt Hood – Principal, MHood Designs
Topic: Foundations of Productivity: Eliminating Distractions, and Getting More Done In Less Time
Matt is a UX + brand designer that comes from a background in construction. From this foundation and now with close to a decade in UX and brand design, one learns a thing or two about hard work and being purposeful with time. While working in fast-paced startups, Matt began researching time management and how to be more effective in work and in life with the simple goal of alleviating stress and accomplishing more in less time. Since then he has conducted workshops in the US and Europe teaching these time processes and principles to help people master their time to live and work better.
Drew McConaha – Owner, Train for Life
Topic: TBA
Our Champions of the Leaders Up Next
Frequently Asked Questions
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Ticket purchase includes access to all Up Next Summit speakers and workshops, snacks and lunch served. Digital resources provided by all of our workshop facilitators will be provided following the Summit event.
In addition, your conference ticket includes admission to our Third Thursday Afterparty to be held immediately following the Summit in the MGM Springfield Terrace.
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ABSOLUTELY NOT!
YPS. believes there are many types of “young” professionals and emerging leaders.
Who should attend?
Anyone new to leading a team or individual
Anyone feeling stuck at a certain level and looking to boost their growth
Anyone looking to gain a mentor
Anyone looking to become a mentor
Anyone new to a role, industry or their career path as a whole
Anyone reentering the workforce after extended leave
Anyone who just finished school and looking for their first steps as a leader
Young professionals and emerging leaders are not defined by age. YPS rooms are always filled with a diverse mix of professionals or all ages and industries.
Just attend, trust us.
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GPS address to be used: 1 MGM Way Springfield, MA 01103
Ample free parking is available in the MGM Springfield parking garage.
After parking, take the elevators to the main Casino floor. Proceed toward the left walkway where you will see an escalator (look for the movie theaters). At the top, walk toward your right and follow the hallway toward the Aria Ballroom foyer space where registration will be located.
Don’t forget to check in with our friendly YPS Board Members before entering the ballroom so we can give you any information about your day!
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Programming begins 10:00am EST
Registration will open at 9:00am - light snacks and local vendors will be available to browse until 9:45am. Come early, start making new connections and enjoy the atmosphere as you settle in for the day.
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Lunch will be served a little later in our program so you are not hungry at the end of the day. Please see the agenda above for specific timing.
We encourage attendees to eat lunch before arriving as we will not have a full breakfast included in this particular event. We will, however, have snacks and drinks accessible during the morning and there will be some local vendor on-site with items for purchase.
Don’t forget to add any specific dietary needs into your individual registration form for our planning purposes!
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Please bring any special accommodations to our attention by October 1st so we may do our best to accommodate your needs. We will do our best to meet your needs and communicate any concerns with you directly.
Food allergens and accessibility needs can be placed directly in your event registration form, or requests can be sent directly to Aiden McDonald at president@springfieldyps.com.
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We encourage you to wear business casual clothing.
Feel free to wear what you are comfortable in - jeans and more casual business attire are completely acceptable. We believe leaders come in all shapes and sizes, and want you to be comfortable to be you.
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Heck yes!
We’re excited to mix in our typical YPS members unable to make the full Summit event with the new faces of our Up Next emerging leaders. We encourage all attendees to stay, connect with others and discuss the tools you learned throughout the day at the Afterparty at MGM’s Terrace.
Don’t Miss Out on Building Your Support System.
The Up Next Summit will be a unique conference experience for our area. Don’t miss your opportunity to accelerate your growth and connections that will support your unique leadership journey.