2025 Committee

2025 Officers

2025 Board of Directors

2025 President, Kathy Sliwa

As Committee President, Kathy is responsible for overseeing a number of events leading up to the city’s participation in the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

As an active committee member for nearly 20 years, Kathy has served on numerous subcommittees including the 60^th and 70^th Anniversary, Nominating, Membership and By-Laws.  She has co-chaired the Board of Directors, served as Treasurer for 3 years, and most recently, Vice President.  She was the 2023 recipient of the Woods Award, given for long term exemplary service.

Kathy received degrees from Hartwick College (Bachelors) and Elms College (Masters in Accounting).  She has been employed as a senior financial analyst at Health New England for 18 years.  In 2016, she was a participant in the Leadership Pioneer Valley program.

Kathy was born in California and was raised in Enfield, CT.  She married Dan Sliwa in 1993, and they now reside in Chicopee.  They are the parents of Christopher and Alyson (also a committee member and current Vice President).

2025 Marshal, William Stetson

Billy will lead the entire Chicopee contingent through the streets of Holyoke in the parade on March 23.

A well-known member of the business community and Chicopee native, Billy has owned and operated the Rumbleseat Bar and Grille for 23 years, where his community activities include fundraising for sports teams and other charitable causes. His Annual Golf Tournament has raised over $100,000 for current or former Chicopee residents and families. He has been a member of many different nonprofit committees and organizations, and is currently serving on the Boys and Girls Club Teen Center building committee.

Billy is familiar with the activities of the St. Patrick’s Committee of Chicopee. He was a past member and served as its president in 2014. Still, he was surprised when President Kathy Sliwa called to tell him he was selected as the 2025 Marshal. “(It) is an honor that really hasn’t hit me yet and probably won’t until parade day; I thought my marching days were over!” he reflected recently. “I am so looking forward to marching again, with my family – my kids (Sophie and Adam) were very young the last time we marched so this time will be a different perspective for them, and of course for my wife Urszula who is the real marshal in my life. They are all excited to be a part of it!”

2025 Woods Award Recipient, George A. Balakier

George A. Balakier, Woods Award Recipient. This award recognizes a committee member for long-time, exemplary service.  A life-long city resident, George has been an active member of the St. Patrick’s Parade Committee of Chicopee since 2009.  He has served in a number of leadership positions during his tenure, including the following: Co-Hosting the Colleen Ball, Fundraising Committee, Board of Directors, Colleen Event Chauffeur, Mayoral Political Liaison, and Scholarship Chair.

After graduating from Boston College, George worked in the family business, Balakier’s Clothing Department Store. Later he entered a new career path for the next 35 years, eventually becoming a Supervisory Bank Examiner with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Banks. He retired in 2019 after a distinguished banking career.

George has been passionately and actively involved in local politics. He has been a member of the Chicopee Democratic City Committee for over 20 years, working on local, state, and federal campaigns for many candidates.  In 2013, he received the “Chicopee Democrat of the Year Award.”  He was elected as Ward Four Chicopee City Councilor in 2017, where he currently serves.

George is married to Kathleen (Ryan), 2017 Chicopee Parade Marshal, and they have a daughter, Meghan, who was the 2024 Chicopee Parade Committee President and 2008 Colleen Court Member. He enjoys traveling the world with his family, reading, spending time at the beach, and is especially looking forward to marching with them in the upcoming St. Patrick’s Parade.

2025 Atkinson Award Recipient, Corridan Funeral Home

This local business has had a long association with the Chicopee Parade Committee. It was established in 1951 when

Donald J. and Madeline Corridan purchased the Haggerty Funeral Home at 333 Springfield St., Chicopee. For many years they demonstrated a deep devotion to the City of Chicopee and its citizens, being active members in organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, The Elks, and the Chicopee Savings Bank Board of Trustees. In 1975, their son, Barry Corridan, joined his father in the family business, followed in 2017 by his nephew, Kevin P. Culloo, grandson of Donald and Madeline Corridan. Throughout the years, they continued to carry on the values and traditions of service to others through partnership with many local organizations, including the Chicopee Parade Committee.

Kevin Culloo is the current owner and director of the Corridan Funeral Home. A native of Chicopee, he is the son of Kathy and the late Patrick Culloo. He received his funeral director’s license after graduating from the former Lincoln College of New England, in Southington, CT. He is a graduate of Chicopee High School and also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Kevin lives in Chicopee with his wife, Jessica and their children, Norah, Gabriel, Bridget and, most importantly, his dog Ava. Through the Corridan Funeral Home, he carries on the family’s tradition of service to the citizens of Chicopee and surrounding communities that his grandparents and his uncle established. He proudly accepts the Atkinson Award on behalf of the family business, and looks forward to representing them on parade day.

2025 Meara Award Recipient, Brady A. Procon

This award is presented to an individual who has performed heroically to come to the aid of others.

In July 2024, the then 17-year-old Brady intervened to prevent a tragic accident on Lake Winnipesaukee, NH, by jumping from a jet ski onto a rogue boat to stop it from spinning uncontrollably after its captain was knocked off during a sailing lesson.

A native of Ludlow, Massachusetts, Brady is preparing to serve as a Navy Sailor specializing in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). In the coming weeks, he will begin his rigorous training at Navy Boot Camp in Chicago, taking the first steps toward a challenging and rewarding career in one of the Navy’s special forces.

Outside of his military aspirations, Brady enjoys playing guitar, piano, working at Interstate Towing in Chicopee, and spending time with family and friends.

2024 Chicopee Colleens