Westfield State, MassMutual executives tapped to lead Springfield's tornado recovery effort

Gerald Hayes has more than 30 years of economic development experience and Nicholas Fyntrilakis is chairman of DevelopSpringfield.

Photos by Mark M. Murray / The RepublicanGerald W. Hayes, a vice president at Westfield State University, speaks at a press conference at Springfield City Hall after being introduced by Mayor Domenic Sarno. Hayes, and Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis, of the MassMutual Financial Group, will be on loan to the city temporarily to help assist in the rebuilding effort following the June 1 tornado.

SPRINGFIELD – High-ranking officials from Westfield State University and MassMutual Financial Group have been selected to lead the city’s long-term tornado rebuilding effort.

Gerald W. Hayes, the university’s vice president for administration and finance, and Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis, assistant vice president for community responsibility at Mass Mutual, were introduced Tuesday by Mayor Domenic J. Sarno at a City Hall news conference.

Both men have extensive credentials in urban development and knowledge of Springfield’s history and character, according to Sarno, who said they will be “on loan” from their employers and serving at no cost to the public.

“I am delighted to have the services of these two very talented and well-respected leaders to assist this effort,” Sarno said.

Nicholas A. Fyntrilakis

Hayes has more than 30 years of economic development experience in Greater Springfield and beyond, while Fyntrilakis is a former School Committee member and current chairman of DevelopSpringfield, a non-profit corporation.

The pair will coordinate the tornado recovery effort until Dec. 31; the arrangement will be re-evaluated after that, Sarno said.

Hayes said the rebuilding the city’s storm-damaged neighborhoods will take several years, and cannot be a “one-size-fits-all” operation.

“Springfield was built neighborhood by neighborhood, and will be rebuilt neighborhood by neighborhood,” Hayes said.

Sarno announced on June 12 that a public-private partnership would be created to oversee the long-term tornado recovery. Two agencies – the Springfield Redevelopment Authority and DevelopSpringfield – will play a central role in the campaign, the mayor said.