Riverbrook Residence receives grant from Crane Charitable Funds
Stockbridge— Riverbrook Residence, which empowers women with intellectual and developmental disabilities to lead exceptional adult lives, received a generous $5,000 grant from the Crane Charitable Funds.
Louisa, a resident of Riverbrook, announced the grant and thanked Crane Charitable Funds at the check presentation ceremony.
The funds will be used to purchase four ADA accessible picnic tables. Being outside promotes overall wellness, light therapy, and engagement with others. The tables will give the women an outdoor space to engage in activities and meals with each other.
Riverbrook Executive Director Rebecca Amuso said, “We feel completely honored to once again accept the generosity of Crane Charitable Funds. Over the years we’ve installed a pool lift and furnished our day program space with new work tables and chairs with the help of Crane Charitable Funds. Partnering with them to provide useful equipment for residents validates staff member’s essential work and warms our hearts.”
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Greylock Federal Credit Union promotes Crystal Garneau to West Street branch manager
Pittsfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the promotion of Crystal Garneau to branch manager of its West Street branch in Pittsfield.
In her role, Garneau oversees all activities for the West Street branch, manages the location’s 15 staff, and plays an active role in business development. Her key responsibilities include originating mortgage and home equity loans, overseeing branch compliance, originating and underwriting consumer loans, maintaining a wide variety of member accounts, and more.
“I am thrilled about Crystal’s tenure as manager of the West Street branch,” said Senior Vice President, Retail Services Robert Sims. “This is our busiest location and I couldn’t think of a better person to lead the team there.”
Garneau started her career with Greylock as a branch training and development specialist in December 2021. Prior to joining Greylock, Garneau was a manager with Wayfair, a branch manager with Berkshire Bank and a multi-unit team leader with H&R Block. Garneau holds a Master of Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University.
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BFAIR promotes Deb Harpin and Savannah Lysko
North Adams— BFAIR promotes Deb Harpin to Assistant Director of Employment Services, and Savannah Lysko to Assistant Director of DDS (Department of Developmental Services) Residential Services.
Deb Harpin has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills through her work quality, decision-making abilities, and positive interactions with staff and clients since joining BFAIR. She has been promoted to Assistant Director of Employment Services, a more advanced role within the organization. As part of her new role, Deb will oversee the Employment Services department and manage all programs, including DDS and MRC Employment Services programs. She will also support the department’s Direct Support Professionals and the agency’s social enterprise, the BFAIR Bottle & Can Redemption Center located in North Adams.
Savannah Lysko joined BFAIR in 2013 and has gained a wide range of experience in various departments including Employment, Day Habilitation, and Residential Services. In 2020, she was promoted to the position of Residential House Manager and was the ideal candidate for this promotion to Assistant Director of DDS Residential Services. Andre Wallace, Director of DDS Residential Services, praises Savannah’s work ethic, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to lead as a positive role model, ”She is an asset to the organization and ready for advancement to the next level in her career.”
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WAM Theatre hires new Arts and Company Administrator
Lenox— WAM Theatre announces Erin Patrick as their new Arts and Company Administrator.
Patrick is a theatre manager with a passion for community-based work. Previously she has had the pleasure of working with Chester Theatre Company as their Production and Stage Manager, at Barrington Stage Company as an Artistic Mentor in their Playwright Mentoring Project, and as a Freelance Stage manager in the Washington D.C. area for a variety of companies.
In addition to her professional theatre work, she teaches theatre at Westfield State University and owns two restaurants with her husband where she has the pleasure of exercising her joy in local foods and baking. Erin has a BA in Theatre and English from the State University of New York at Oneonta and an MFA in Stage Management from the University of Iowa.
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Adams Community Bank announces the promotions of seven management-level positions
Adams— Adams Community Bank (ACB) announces the promotions of seven management-level positions.
Tess Sorrentino has been promoted to SVP and Chief Financial Officer. Since beginning her banking career with the bank 21 years ago, she has held roles as VP Compliance Officer and VP of Accounting. In 2021, she was promoted to VP Accounting & Controller. She then took on the additional responsibilities of the Chief Financial Officer in 2022.
Samantha Tanner has been promoted to VP, Marketing and Digital Strategy. Samantha joined the Bank in February of 2021 as the AVP Branch Officer in Williamstown and Digital Branch Manager. She has been in banking for 18 years. She will assume overall responsibility for Marketing effective July 2024.
Emma Tower has been promoted to VP, Mortgage Operations Manager. She began her banking career with ACB 18 years ago, earning various promotions over the years, including that of a Retail Loan Officer, AVP Underwriting, and Processing Officer.
Jolene Racine has been promoted to AVP, Deposit Operations. Jolene started her career with ACB 18 years ago. A majority of her career has been with the Deposit Operations department in varied roles with increasing responsibility.
Julie Zdon has been promoted to AVP, Branch Officer. She began her career with ACB in 2021 as the Branch Officer of the Cheshire branch. In April of 2022, Julie transferred to the new Pittsfield branch as the Branch Officer. In March of 2023, Julie added the Great Barrington branch to her oversite. Julie has 18 years of banking experience.
Jay Ogle has been promoted to AVP, Business Development Officer. Jay began his career with the Bank in May of 2022 as a Business Banking Development Officer. He has been in the banking industry for ten years.
Jeremy Patterson has been promoted to AVP, Technology Officer. Jeremy began his career with ACB in 2017 as System Administrator/Help Desk. In 2019, he was promoted to Network & Systems Officer, with a title change in 2023 to Network & Infrastructure Officer.
“Congratulations to this group of newly promoted individuals,” stated Charlie O’Brien, ACB President and CEO, “their expertise and leadership have been invaluable assets during their service with the bank. I wish them continued success in their elevated roles.”
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Lee Bank Foundation distributes $46,300 in final community grant funding round of 2023
Lee— Lee Bank Foundation has awarded $46,300 to ten Berkshire area organizations for their final-round of 2023 community funding. Recipients were awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $7,500 to support their local programming.
The following organizations received funding from Lee Bank Foundation:
- 18 Degrees
- Barrington Stage Company
- Berkshire Agricultural Ventures
- Berkshire Community Action Council
- Berkshire Grown
- Berkshire Immigrant Center
- Berkshire Innovation Center
- Construct
- EforAll
- WAM Theatre
The deadline to apply for the first round of 2024 Foundation funding is March 1st. The application and more information can be found on the Community Impact section of Lee Bank’s website.
To be considered for grant awards, applicants must be a (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation is focused on funding programs that work to bridge income and opportunity gaps in our region. Funding requests should reflect one or more of Lee Bank Foundation’s primary focus areas:
- Education and literacy
- Food security and nutrition
- Economic growth and development
- Health and human services
- Mentorship, internship and “school to work” initiatives
Applicants are only eligible to receive grant funding once in a 12-month period.
Lee Bank Foundation was established in 2021 to support Lee Bank’s long-standing mission of community reinvestment. In its third year, 2023, the Lee Bank Foundation contributed a total of $171,800 in grants into the community. Since its 2021 inception, the Foundation has distributed 129 grants totaling $650,330.
