Class of 2014

 MARTHA S. LaCROIX

Martha S. LaCroix is the head of Human Resources for the Shane Company, a large jewelry company based out of Denver, Colorado with stores located primarily in the West and Southwest. 

Prior to Shane Company, Martha was the Head of Human Resources at the Yankee Candle Company, Inc. where she spent over 20 years. At Yankee Candle Martha proudly served as the Executive Sponsor of the company’s Women’s Development Network, and was a member of the company’s Executive Committee.

Prior to Yankee Candle Martha spent 7 years in HR at Community Enterprises, Inc., a non-profit organization supporting self-determination for individuals with disabilities and/or other challenges to actively live, learn, and work in the community.

Martha has served the community in a variety of ways, including as a Board member for the Employers Association of the Northeast and the local affiliate of the American Heart Association. Until her recent move to Colorado, Martha also was a member of the Advisory Council for Bay Path University and she is a tremendous Bay Path fan. 

CHRISTINE MARK

Christine Mark is CEO and co-founder of Gravity Switch, a Northampton-based firm providing a full gamut of strategic marketing services ranging from naming, branding, marketing, and design to website and mobile development. The company was founded in 1996 and works with business, non-profits and educational institutions of all sizes (from solo entrepreneurs to large corporations). Gravity Switch counts among its clients: Disney, Dartmouth College, The Hartford, Yale, and the Guggenheim.

 As a veteran of Microsoft, Christine has over 18 years of experience in the web / interactive and marketing industry. Hard working, down-to-earth, and easy-to-laugh, Christine possesses all of the qualities of a world-class designer, without the ego. Her design work has received numerous national and international awards.

She graduated Magna cum Laude with a degree in Computer Science from Mount Holyoke College. She’s the mom of four kids, wife of one amazing husband, and she recently resumed training for the 400 meter hurdles. Christine enjoys singer/songwriting for piano, and has her sights on learning to play the ukulele next.