July 17, 2018

Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield name new director of communications

REGIONAL
Staff report 

(IObserve photo/courtesy of Sisters of St. Joseph)

SPRINGFIELD – Alta J. Stark, of Westfield, has been named director of communications for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield.

Stark is responsible for developing, writing and producing various printed and e-publications, providing printed materials and signs, publicity for events, advertising, and technical support. She will also work to cultivate and maintain relationships with local, regional and national media, as well as Catholic media, and produce content for the Sisters of St. Joseph social media sites.

Stark is a communications professional with more than 30 years of experience in marketing, advertising, public relations, and the news media. Most recently, she taught graduate level online courses in public relations for Western New England University. Previously, she served as the director of marketing and public relations for JGS Lifecare in Longmeadow, successfully rebranding the 106-year organization and helping launch the Sosin Center for Rehabilitation.

Stark also has served as senior communications specialist for Baystate Health, and communications director for the former Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, and the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. She also spent nearly a decade producing award-winning broadcast news in several markets in the Northeast, moving to the Springfield area, and WWLP-22News, in 1995.

Stark holds a master’s degree in television, radio and film with a concentration in broadcast news from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and graduated cum laude from Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts with a bachelor’s degree in advertising design.

She has served for nearly a decade on the American Advertising Federation’s National Board of Directors and Council of Governors as governor for the New England district. She also is an active volunteer at St. Mary Parish in Longmeadow.