Jeff Daley Named New Westmass CEO  

The Westmass Area Development Corporation (Westmass) today announced Jeff Daley as new CEO of the private nonprofit development entity. Daley was chosen as the result of a search process conducted by the Westmass board and has over 15 years of experience in the real estate development arena.

Daley is the former Executive Director of the Westfield Redevelopment Authority and most recently served as the principal of CJC Development Advisors LLC, which he founded in 2016. Daley’s portfolio includes overseeing $60 million in commercial and industrial development and managing $34 million in public development projects.

As new CEO of the organization, Daley will be responsible for management of Westmass and will be directly responsible for negotiating corporate acquisitions, land sales, leases and incentive proposals, grant applications as well as marketing Westmass’ resources and development services to organizations and businesses considering investment in the region.  Daley will also enhance Westmass’ offerings regarding development services to communities throughout the region to assist with economic development and real estate development opportunities.

In his new position, Daley will also evaluate opportunities for new industrial park development and land acquisition and coordinate federal, state and local economic development grants and resources. Daley replaces interim CEO Bryan Nicholas who served after the sudden passing of former CEO Eric Nelson who was appointed in 2016.

Daley will also be responsible for the continued development of one of Westmass Development’s signature projects, the Ludlow Mills complex.  Most recently, Westmass announced the addition of Commonwealth funding secured by Ludlow State Representative Thomas Petrolati and an Economic Development Administration Grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce supported by Congressman Richard Neal. Those funds will be utilized for the construction of Riverside Drive at the rear of the complex, making the development accessible to substantially more development. The site includes 75 Winn Development apartments in Mill #10 for those over 55 years of age and is host to the Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Massachusetts.

The search committee was assisted in identifying a new leader by United Personnel and co-chaired by Carol Campbell, President, Chicopee Industrial Contractors, and Antonio Dos Santos, Esq., Crear, Chadwell, Dos Santos & Devlin, P.C. The search committee consisted of Michael Bolton, President/CEO, Westover Airport; Dan Burack, President, Burack Realty Corporation; Sister Mary Caritas, Providence Place; AJ Crane, Owner/Partner, AJ Crane Company; Matt D’Amour, Vice President of Real Estate, Big Y Foods, Inc.; Amy Glynn, Senior Director of Executive Communications/Executive Director of the Springfield-UMass Amherst Partnership, UMass-Amherst; Michael Moran, President & CAO, Baystate Health Eastern Region; Tripp Peake, General Partner, Long River Ventures; and Steven Roberts, Former President, FL Roberts, Co.

Daley lives in Westfield with his wife and three children.