Meet The Staff

Tad Tokarz, Publisher/Sales and Marketing Director

Born in Springfield and raised in Ludlow, Tad Tokarz is a lifelong Western Mass. resident who has worked in education for over a decade. In addition to heading up the Western Mass. Sports Journal’s businessteam, he is a full-time assistant principal in the Springfield Public School system.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Brandeis University, Tokarz did his graduate work at American International College. He is a proud Ludlow High School alum.

As for the development of the Sports Journal, Tokarz says “the magazine allows people to see the positive things that are happening in their neighborhood. The more we are able to get the stories out there to the people, the better people feel about this great place we call home – and that’s the best reward possible.”

Contact him at TadTokarz@WMSportsJournal.com.

Kyle Belanger, Editor in Chief

Born and raised in Pittsfield, Mass., Kyle Belanger began working in the media following a four-year career as a high school English teacher. He made the move to the Sports Journal following a five-year stint at The Recorder, a daily newspaper serving Franklin County.

Belanger is a 1999 graduate of Syracuse University, where he once fouled out of an intramural basketball game in less than two minutes. Needless to say, it wasn’t his fault. He is a proud Taconic High School alumnus.

“One of the aspects of the Sports Journal that makes me most proud is the fact that we’re able to bring smiles to our readers’ faces each month,” Belanger said. “For so long, because of the state of the industry, the feature story was a dying breed. Newspapers just didn’t have the time or staff to write them, and as a result, the stories just weren’t being told. With the Journal, those stories don’t have to be ignored any more.”

Contact him at KyleBelanger@WMSportsJournal.com.

Module Mason, Art Director/Graphic Artist

She may have been born in Illinois, but having moved to Springfield in second grade, there’s no question that Module Mason is a bona fide Western Mass. product. In addition to being an artist herself, Mason is also a full-time public school graphic arts teacher.

Mason did her undergraduate and graduate work at Springfield College. Prior to that, she graduated from Springfield’s Putnam Vocational Technical High School’s Graphic Arts program, setting her well on her path to a successful career in the field.

According to Mason, “The best part of watching the development of the Sports Journal has been seeing the increase in enthusiasm for the people of Western Mass. to not only be in the magazine, but also to read it. It makes me so proud to be a part of a publication that spotlights all of the countless positive things that are going on here in our backyard.”

Contact her at ModuleMason@WMSportsJournal.com.