Thomas F. Rohan Award

Tessa Murphy-Romboletti is serving her third term as an At-Large Holyoke City Councilor and is currently in her second term as City Council President, making history as the first woman to hold the position in the City of Holyoke. For seven years, Tessa led EforAll EparaTodos Pioneer Valley, where she helped hundreds of local entrepreneurs, particularly women, immigrants, and underrepresented founders, start and grow their small businesses. Prior to that role, she guided the SPARK Holyoke initiative through its transition to EforAll and previously served the City of Holyoke in both the Planning and Economic Development Department and the Mayor’s Office. Her dedication to community empowerment has been recognized with numerous honors, including the BusinessWest Difference Maker Award in 2020, BusinessWest 40 Under Forty in 2022, and the Emerge Massachusetts Woman of the Year Award in 2024.

Born and raised in Holyoke, Tessa is a proud graduate of the Holyoke Public Schools and earned her Bachelor of Arts in history and sociology from the University of Delaware. She currently serves on the MassHire Holyoke Board of Directors and, in 2012, made one of her favorite decisions by joining the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. Within the Parade Committee, Tessa has played a vital role across several key subcommittees. She has served as Chair of the Ambassador’s Breakfast, one of the Parade’s signature events celebrating community partnerships and honorees, and as Co-Chair of the Sign Carriers Committee, which coordinates the hundreds of participants who help bring the Parade to life each year. She also co-chairs the Parade website, leading efforts to strengthen the organization’s online presence and promote its events, history, and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Tessa was also a proud member of the 2007 Colleen Court. While she is proud of her many professional and civic roles, her favorite title by far is Auntie Tessa to Charlie, Leo, and Josie Romboletti.