Eugene J. Cassidy new ESE president and CEO of Eastern States Exposition

By | July 7, 2012

Eugene J. Cassidy became the seventh Chief Executive Officer of Eastern States Exposition (ESE) in its 95 year history on June 27.

He joined ESE as Director of Finance in 1993 and was named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in March, 2011. He succeeded Wayne McCary who retired June 26 after 21 years at the helm of the West Springfield institution.

Cassidy said, “The Big E is a balance of agriculture, industry and entertainment all designed to move the core mission of the Exposition forward while retaining the roots on which it was built.” His goals are to preserve and advance the programs, the facilities and the mission of Eastern States Exposition, and to promote the aspect of stewardship upon which the organization was founded. He is looking forward to this year’s Big E, less than three months away, and expanding the Expositions roster of year-round events and shows.

He is accredited as a Certified Fair Executive by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) and is actively involved as a member of the Budget and Finance and Program Committees. He is a frequent presenter at IAFE meetings on a local, regional and national level and served as Program Chair of the organization’s International Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2010.

A native of West Springfield, Cassidy was educated at St. Thomas the Apostle School and remains active on its School Board and Finance Committee. He is a graduate of West Springfield High School and Western New England College where he received a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Accounting.

Cassidy began his career at KPMG Peat Marwick, Springfield, Mass. He then served as Treasurer of the Chicopee Cooperative Bank and Colonial Mortgage Company and was Assistant Vice President of Park West Bank and Trust Company, all wholly owned subsidiaries of Westbank Corporation, West Springfield, Mass.

He serves on the Finance Committee of The Springfield Technical Community College Foundation, is Treasurer of the Western Massachusetts Chapter of Legatus, and a Director of the Springfield Forum. He is Chairman of St. Mary, Longmeadow, Capital Campaign, and is a member of the parish Finance Committee. He also sits on the Board of Directors of NUVO Bank & Trust.

He resides in Longmeadow, Mass., with his wife, Catherine, and two sons, Brennan and Colin.