Two Promoted on MountainOne's Risk Management Team

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Kelli Kozak has been promoted to vice president of community engagement and Stephanie Scott has been promoted to vice president of BSA and deposit compliance officer.

Kozak originally joined MountainOne in 2006, and has served in roles of increasing responsibility, including assistant vice president of community engagement and of community development, as well as executive administrator, clerk of the corporation. In her new role, she manages MountainOne's Community Dividend donations program. She also oversees the corporate volunteer program, community relations, and special events. Additionally, she coordinates documentation and analysis in support of federal regulatory compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA).

Kozak holds a bachelor's degree from Skidmore College in New York. She is active in the local community and serves as chairperson for the board of directors of the North Adams Maker's Mill Makerspace, vice chairperson for the board of directors of Berkshire Family and Individual Resources, serves as an allocations panelist for the Northern Berkshire United Way, as a volunteer at BART Charter Public School, and as a member of both the Northern Berkshire Housing & Homelessness Collaborative and the Berkshire Funders Roundtable.

At MountainOne, Kozak co-chairs the CRA Committee and the Loan Opportunity Task Force, and chairs the Community Dividend Review Committee. She lives in Cheshire with her husband, Brad, and their two sons.


"Kelli is a team player who has been a great partner to all employees of MountainOne and has built the foundation for a successful Community Engagement Program. She has gained respect and taken many opportunities to talk about our core commitment of 'community Engagement' both inside the company and in the communities that we serve," said Lynne Carlotto, executive vice president and senior risk management officer at MountainOne.

Scott originally joined MountainOne in 1999, bringing with her over 15 years of banking and insurance experience. Within MountainOne, she has previously held the roles of chief compliance officer of the broker/dealer and registered investment advisory firm, financial and operations principal for the broker/dealer, operations manager and compliance officer for MountainOne's group benefits subsidiary and she also served as a designated supervising principal for Commonwealth Financial Network for seven years. Her most recent position was as a fraud and risk analyst officer for MountainOne’s Risk Management division.

For many years, Scott successfully maintained multiple securities registrations and insurance licenses necessary for her complex roles. In her past positions, based on her management of regulatory exams and audits, she has been invited to meet with national officials to share views on regulatory issues, and is also a past presenter for Mass Bankers on the topic of Broker-Dealer Best Practices in the Sale of Variable Annuities. In the community, Scott has been a longtime volunteer with Northern Berkshire United Way, currently serving on the Allocations Committee. She lives in Williamstown with her husband, Rich Alley, and has an adult son.

"Stephanie is a diligent worker and an exemplary employee. Since taking on an expanded role, she has made notable changes for the Risk Management team, including developing new streamlined reports and processes, as well as the formation of special oversight committees that help to monitor risk management activities," Carlotto said.


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Letter: Support Next Generation With New Greylock School

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

The most recent U.S. Census data on record indicates that North Adams experienced a population decline of 26 people from 2019 to 2022, averaging a difference less than 7 people per year. However, one major point the new Greylock opponents argue is that the school population will be cut in half, with several hundred fewer students over the next decade.

They claim that only one elementary school will be needed, negating the necessity of investing in a second school. Despite where they get their numbers, their projected enrollment figures do not align with the Census data showing a minute population decline the past few years.

The city's population appears to be stabilizing after the loss of Sprague in the 1980s. The trend of steep population drops has passed, and the city is now gaining nearly as many residents as it is losing each year. Given these small net changes, new developments, and attracting prospective residents, the city may see slight increases in the future, including an influx of children who will need schooling.

Maintaining two fully functional elementary schools in the coming decades is necessary. Rejecting the opportunity to build a new school at the same or lower cost than renovating the aging facility, with the state covering 80 percent of the expenses, would be shortsighted and fail to provide long-term cost savings.

Although my own children no longer attend the local schools, I recognize that when they did, the entire community — including residents without school-age kids — contributed to maintaining quality education by paying taxes. Strong teachers and curriculum are vital, but cultivating an environment that motivates and engages students is just as crucial.

Now it's my turn to pay it forward and support the next generation, which is why I am voting yes for the new Greylock School.

Keith Bona
North Adams, Mass. 

 

 

 

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