ADAMS, Mass. — Adams Community Bank promoted three of its employees — Amy Giroux, Doreen Descoteau and Janice Adams. Additionally, Donna Halton was hired as senior vice president of commercial lending.
"I am happy to announce the promotion of these three individuals who are all strong contributors to the success of our bank," said Charles P. O'Brien, president and chief executive officer. "I am also very pleased that Donna has joined our team, bringing with her over 30 years of banking expertise."
As chief culture officer, Giroux will continue to be responsible for the processes that ties together the bank's strategies and critical drivers with sales, marketing and employee development.
"Amy has been instrumental in shaping the framework of our corporate sales culture and leading our service team in providing our customers with extraordinary service," O'Brien said. "In recognition of her work in these areas, the designation of chief culture officer has been added to her long standing SVP, Retail title."
Giroux is also the first vice president of the Northern Berkshire United Way and a member of the Adams Finance Committee. She and her husband Alan reside in Adams and they have two grown children.
As branch officer, Descoteau will be responsible for the day-to-day sales and operations, branch sales and new business development of the Williamstown branch. She resides in Clarksburg with her husband John and they have two grown children.
"We are very pleased that Doreen, with nearly 25 years banking experience, will be leading our team in Williamstown," said O’Brien. "She has come full circle, having started her banking career in this very location and to now return in a leadership role is a great accomplishment."
As network and systems officer, Adams will oversee the implementation and administration of computer and telecommunication networks for the bank. Adams is certified in information systems security from the University of Phoenix. She resides in Adams.
"We are also thrilled for Janice," O'Brien said, "Her advancement within the company is a clear demonstration of her work ethic, dedication, performance and initiative."
Prior to joining Adams Community Bank, Halton was a portfolio manager and commercial credit manager at Hoosac Bank and she was vice president and commercial loan oOfficer at Berkshire Bank. She and her husband Michael reside in North Adams and have two grown children.
"We are delighted to welcome Donna," said O'Brien. "She has a long and successful record meeting the needs of business customers throughout Berkshire County. Her knowledge in commercial lending will help us further meet the growing needs of business owners and commercial borrowers in our market."
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union announced the hiring of three experienced banking professionals, which includes Paul Marchetti, Dianne Supranowicz and Donna Collins.
"The addition of these experienced professionals to our team supports Greylock’s focus on strengthening our credit union for the long term," said Marilyn Sperling, president of the credit union. "Our 70,000 members are counting on us to ensure that Greylock is built to last. We are honoring that obligation by emphasizing effective risk management practices, fiscal responsibility, and thorough training for all employees."
Marchetti joined the credit union as senior vice president and chief risk officer. Marchetti brings more than 20 years of experience in risk management, compliance and credit review. He worked for Citizens Financial Group in Rhode Island for 13 years, most recently as senior vice president and head of corporate regulatory compliance oversight. He previously held the position of vice president for corporate credit review at Fleet Financial Group in Boston. Marchetti began his career as a bank examiner with the Department of the Treasury and also worked with the FDIC. He brings broad experience in all aspects of commercial and retail banking including compliance, internal controls, credit, financial analysis, credit structuring, asset management, and special asset liquidation.
Dianne Supranowicz.
Marchetti earned his bachelor of science in business administration from the University of Rhode Island and an master's of business administration from Bryant University. Marchetti and his wife are relocating from Rhode Island to the Berkshires with their two children.
Supranowicz joined Greylock Federal Union as vice president and controller and brings 17 years of experience in all aspects of accounting, finance, and financial controls. Prior to joining Greylock, she held the position of vice president operations audit manager for Berkshire Bank, and was vice president and controller at Legacy Banks.
Supranowicz holds a bachelor of science in accounting and finance from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and has completed extensive training through the Massachusetts School of Financial Studies at Babson College and the Center for Financial Training. She is a 2004 graduate of the Senior Leadership Institute at Villanova University and University of Cincinnati. Supranowicz is also an active community volunteer, serving as board president of the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center and served as a workplace campaign executive with the Berkshire United Way.
Donna Collins
Collins will join the human resources team as the training and development director. She brings 15 years of banking experience, including her most recent position as human resources officer at Berkshire Bank and a prior role as training and performance officer at Legacy Banks. In those positions she created, developed and administered training programs and supported human resource functions. Collins will support Greylock's management team in developing training programs to ensure compliance and enhance customer service. She will also oversee new employee onboarding programs.
Collins received a bachelor of arts from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and is a member of Berkshire Business and Professional Women.
Only a few people attended the auction for the North Street building, including representatives from the bank holding the mortgage.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The former Ferrin Gallery on North Street sold for $160,000 at auction on Tuesday.
Only a few people showed up for the 11 a.m. auction and there was only one bidder. While bids opened at $140,000, the sole bidder offered $160,000 when it was clear no one else was going to jump in.
The buyer refused to provide any information but left with representatives from the People's United Bank, the mortgageholder.
Aaron Posnik Auctioneers managed the short auction. The building features two commercial/condominium spaces. The Ferrin Gallery most recently occupied it as the only tenant in the building.
The building at 437 and 439 North St. has a total of 2,800 square feet — Unit 102 has 1,340 and Unit 103 has 1,460. there is a 1,900 square-foot basement. It is zoned as a Downtown Arts District Overlay and has parking for more than 20 vehicles in the back.
The purchaser is responsible for $1,885.11 in back taxes owed to the city.
Leslie Ferrin opened the gallery in 2007 but put it on the market in 2011 for $350,000. Failing to interest any buyers, Ferrin moved her business and closed the gallery last month and the bank took possession.
Updated: April 9, 2013 at 1:27 with information from Premium Marketing Enterprises founder Mike Eitelberg.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A business-to-business telemarketing company is leasing the historic Wollison-Shipton building on North Street and bringing at least a half-dozen new jobs.
Premium Marketing Enterprises Corp. signed a least last week to occupy office space in the 125-year-old building. The company, established in 1998, connects businesses in the technical, software and insurance fields by generating leads. The company already works with agencies such as Travelers Insurance and Nationwide.
"It's direct contact marketing. We're not calling people at their home. We're connecting business to business," founder Mike Eitelberg said on Tuesday.
The company was formerly headquartered in Kingston, N.Y., but Eitelberg recently moved to the Berkshires full time and is bringing the business with him. There will still be a presence in Kingston but "we're leaning more with an emphasis on Pittsfield."
With a new office that can fit 12 employees, the company has already hired four people to staff its North Street location and is looking to bring on a few more in the next few months. Eitelberg said he seeing the business growing as it delves more into the technical fields.
Eitelberg said the jobs are "median" income in a "professional work environment" with the opportunity for upward momentum.
"It is significantly above the minimum wage job around here," he said.
He chose Pittsfield in part because the office space, which is being leased by Financial Firebird Corp., has controlled costs and the city has the potential work force he needs to grow the company. The city offers a lower "cost of doing business" with the rental space.
Eitelberg said the company opened a small office in the building initially just to get a few workers in and on Friday, they will be moving into the larger space.
The Shipton building was opened in 1888.
Original story published on April 8, 2013 at 7:21 p.m.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A telemarketing company is leasing the historic Wollison-Shipton building on North Street.
Premium Marketing Enterprises Corp. has signed a lease to occupy the 125-year-old building. The company, established in 1998, provides "business-to-business telemarketing" for commercial insurance agencies such as Travelers and Nationwide.
The company has recently grown by "providing prospecting services and lead generation campaigns to the technology and software industry."
It is unclear what the company will do in the newly leased space and a phone call was not immediately returned.
The building is being leased by Financial Firebird Corp., the building's leasing agent. The Shipton building opened in 1888.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union and Williams College Employees Federal Credit Union have merged the two institutions effective April 1.
Both organizations and the National Credit Union Administration have approved the merger.
WCEFCU Board Chairman Peter LePage said the move is a result of the credit union's desire to give their members more benefits.
"In the current financial environment, it's been challenging to achieve the financial position and growth needed to provide the products and services our members want and need," he said in a statement. "The decision to merge is in the best interest of our Members."
The college employee credit union's $1,625,529 in assets will be assumed by Greylock. The credit union has maintained a membership base of 541 people with $1.6 million in loans and $488,000 in deposits. Approximately one-third of these members already belong to Greylock.
The college credit union opened in 1980 and has been managed by two part-time employees. Its members will now have access to all services provided by Greylock, which has more than 70,000 members.
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