Greylock Federal welcomes Meghann Arnold as Vice President, Controller
Pittsfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union has announced the hiring of Meghann Arnold as Vice President, Controller.
As part of the finance team, Arnold will ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and regulatory requirements. As a strategic leader in the credit union, she will play a critical role in budgeting, financial planning, Asset-Liability Committee (ALCO) participation, internal controls, audit coordination, and process improvement.
Arnold, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), brings more than 15 years of progressive leadership in finance, accounting, and audit across both public and private sectors. She most recently served as a Senior Audit Associate in PwC’s Asset and Wealth Management division, where she led complex, multi-entity audit engagements and advised executive teams on complex technical accounting matters, internal controls and regulatory compliance. Arnold’s background spans investments, insurance and banking, giving her a deep understanding of the financial services landscape.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to organizations that make a real impact,” Arnold said. “Joining a community-focused, member-owned credit union allows me to apply my technical expertise in a space where financial stewardship directly benefits local families and businesses. I’m excited to support a mission that aligns with both my professional values and my personal commitment to this community.”
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MountainOne welcomes Ann Barnes and Nicholas Fanfan as Senior Commercial Credit Analysts
North Adams— MountainOne has welcomed Ann Barnes and Nicholas Fanfan as Senior Commercial Credit Analysts.
In their roles, Barnes and Fanfan evaluate the financial strength of commercial borrowers and prospects, prepare credit analyses to support new and renewed credit requests, and collaborate with commercial lenders on deal structuring and portfolio management. They also assist in monitoring borrower performance to help maintain the long-term quality of the commercial loan portfolio.
Barnes brings over ten years of experience in commercial lending and collateral oversight. She most recently served as Vice President of Collateral Oversight at Blue Ridge Bank in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Salus Capital Partners in Needham, supporting asset-based lending operations and credit risk management. Barnes earned a degree in Accounting from Bryant University.
Fanfan joins MountainOne with experience in commercial credit and lending at Cambridge Savings Bank in Waltham, where he supported credit decision making across Commercial Real Estate, Corporate Banking, and Asset Based Lending portfolios. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Managerial Economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
“It’s a pleasure to welcome Ann and Nicholas to the MountainOne team!” said Marie Harris, Vice President, Credit Administration Manager at MountainOne Bank. “Each brings a unique perspective shaped by their experience, and both will be valuable as we continue to meet the needs of our commercial clients and communities.”
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1Berkshire’s Berkshire Leadership Program Class of 2026 now accepting applications
Berkshire— Unlock your potential and elevate your career through the Berkshire Leadership Program (BLP). 1Berkshire is pleased to again be able to offer this unique opportunity to Berkshire residents which empowers you to develop essential skills, expand your network, and gain insights from top industry leaders. By participating, you’ll not only sharpen your strategic thinking and decision making, but also build the confidence to lead teams and drive impactful change.
BLP seeks, prepares, involves, and sustains individuals from diverse backgrounds who are committed to and competent in addressing community challenges and improving the quality of life in the Berkshires. Close to 700 community-minded individuals have graduated from the program since its inception in 1997.
The Class of 2026 will kick off with a two-day retreat on Friday, April 24th and Saturday, April 25th, which includes training in many facets of leadership, problem-solving techniques, and networking. The retreat is followed by weekly sessions held on Thursdays, April 30th through June 25th, focusing on areas of economic development, healthcare, tourism, creative economy, education, and community involvement.
The deadline to apply for the Class of 2026 is 4 p.m. on Wednesday, January 7th. The cost of tuition is $800; some scholarship dollars are available. The application and a full program schedule can be found at 1berkshire.com/berkshire-leadership-program-blp.
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Community Busk to share lessons at statewide municipal conference
Great Barrington— Community Busk will take part in a statewide conference this January that brings together city and town leaders from across Massachusetts.
Carli Scolforo, the Managing Director of Community Busk, will speak on a panel at Connect 351, the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Municipal Association. The conference will be held at the Menino Convention & Exhibition Center and the Omni Hotel Boston at the Seaport, both located in Boston’s Seaport District. The panel, tentatively titled “Collaborative Planning: Bringing Community Initiatives to Life,” is scheduled for Friday, January 23rd from 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Attendance is open to all conference participants, including municipal officials, town staff, state agency representatives, and partner organizations.
The workshop brings together people working on very different kinds of community efforts—arts programming, large public events, and farmers markets—but who face many of the same challenges: coordinating with local governments, managing logistics and safety, and building initiatives that can last beyond a single season. Community Busk’s presentation will focus on how arts-based programming can activate public spaces and support downtowns.
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2nd Street awarded $89,000 Re-Entry Workforce Development Grant
Pittsfield— Second Street Second Chances (“2nd Street”) has received an $89,000 Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration. The grant is part of a total of $2.2 million funded by the Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to train formerly incarcerated individuals.
The grant program aims to improve workforce outcomes for individuals returning to their communities after incarceration. Program participants receive on-the-job training from local organizations in industries such as clean energy, culinary, construction, hospitality, healthcare, and manufacturing. 2nd Street will partner with the Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office to offer a training program with a focus on the advanced manufacturing and engineering industry. Successful program graduates will be placed in machinist roles at Onyx Specialty Papers and Unistress Corporation.
2nd Street Executive Director Lindsay Cornwell said, “We are deeply honored to be selected as a recipient of the Re-Entry Workforce Development Demonstration Program grant. This funding allows 2nd Street to expand our mission of supporting returning citizens in Berkshire County through meaningful workforce opportunities. With this investment, we will be able to offer Advanced Manufacturing and Welding certification programs that provide participants with industry-recognized skills and a pathway toward sustainable employment.”
