- 70 Depot Square Northfield, VT 05663
- [email protected]
Northfield Village Development, LLC is a visionary entrepreneurial effort that aims to thoughtfully revitalize a quintessential Vermont village. Northfield, located in the heart of Vermont, is a place rich in heritage, legacy, and natural beauty. It carries the stories of generations past, with its old mills, and picturesque Depot Square. However, like many small towns in rural America, Northfield has faced challenges in recent decades, including economic decline and a diminishing sense of vitality.
Since 1866, Northfield has also been home to Norwich University, America’s oldest private military college, and the birthplace of ROTC. The fabric of this unique University is comprised of a Corp of Cadets, civilian students, along with faculty & staff.
Northfield Village Development’s mission is to serve as a catalyst and economic bridge, reconnecting Northfield and Norwich. Through thoughtful targeted investment, historical preservation, and aligning meaningful relationships, this project has the potential to create a vibrant and prosperous community that honors the past while embracing a promising future. By working together, the community and the university can once again revitalize Northfield, cultivating an environment where residents, students, and businesses thrive
Hugh McLaughlin
Co-founder
Hugh McLaughlin graduated from Norwich University in 1987 with a Bachelors of Business Administration and Management degree. In 1991, Hugh entered into the family business, Sullivan & McLaughlin Companies, a Boston based electrical contracting company. Through visionary leadership, market diversification as well as a series of acquisitions the company grew from a six-person shop into New England’s largest electrical & telecommunications contracting company.
The firm employed approximately 900 people with $180 million in combined annual revenue. A career high light included teaming up with Partners in Health, a nonprofit organization, and building a 200,000 square foot hospital in Mirebalais, Haiti.
In 2014 Hugh sold his interests in the Sullivan & McLaughlin Companies and Fischbach & Moore Electric to pursue other personal and professional goals. Hugh’s time has been focused on real estate development, small business acquisitions, and non-profit works. Hugh founded Ballybreen Ventures, an opportunistic real estate development firm, specializing in residential, retail, and mixed-use properties. Ballybreen has thoughtfully restored and returned numerous iconic properties from obsolescence to modern-day vibrancy. www.ballybreen.com
Hugh served on the Norwich Board of Fellows and spearheaded the founding of Norwich Fins and Feathers, a charitable fundraising non-profit organization providing scholarships, grants and funding initiates to continue to give back to his beloved alma mater. Hugh resides in Hingham, Massachusetts, with his wife, MaryEllen, and his two sons, Jack and Hugh. In his spare time, Hugh enjoys fishing trips, spending time with his friends and family, and the occasional bourbon and cigar.
Contact Hugh:
Phone: (617) 212-1048
Email: [email protected]
Michael Babyak, Jr. II
Co-founder
As a graduate of Norwich University in the class of 1992, Michael has always held Norwich University and the town of Northfield near and dear to his heart. Following his graduation, Michael began working at Precision Financial Services, a Financial Planning and Investment Advisory Firm located in Mine Hill, New Jersey. Initially working for his father, the founder of Precision Financial Services, Michael became the President of the firm in 2006 and has remained in that position to this day.
Michael has also been a partner in BV Realty, LLC, owning and renovating rental properties in Morristown, New Jersey and Chatham, New Jersey. BV Realty also owns and operates a commercial rental property in Mine Hill, New Jersey. Michael served on the Norwich Board of Fellows, 1992 Class Agent, Norwich Fins and Feathers Committee member, amongst several other initiatives to give back to his alma mater. Michael resides in Randolph, New Jersey, with his wife, Phyllis, and his two daughters, Julia and Gwen. In his spare time, Michael enjoys shooting outings, traveling, and spending time with his friends and family with a bourbon and cigar in hand.
Contact Michael:
Phone: (973) 479-4305
Northfield Village Development’s mission is to serve as a catalyst and economic bridge, reconnecting Northfield and Norwich.