Published: 12/23/2020 3:26:37 PM
GRANBY — Kevin Hamel of Granby has been named senior vice president and chief information officer at HarborOne Bank in Brockton. Hamel will oversee the bank’s technology transformation.
He comes to HarborOne Bank with 25 years of experience building and maintaining IT and cybersecurity programs. Previously, Hamel served in several senior roles at Peoples Bank.
Hamel received his bachelor’s degree in computer information systems from Westfield State University and his master’s degree in administration at Western New England University. He also serves on the External IT Advisory Board at Western New England University and Bay Path University Cybersecurity Advisory Board.
EASTHAMPTON — BankESB celebrated the virtual grand opening of its newest branch location at 253 Triangle St., Amherst, with a FaceBook Live broadcast hosted by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.
The full-service banking office marks bankESB’s first Amherst location and joins 11 other branch offices throughout western Massachusetts. The new branch provides full-service banking to retail and business customers within 3,300 square feet of space that includes three private offices, a drive-up teller window, and a 24-hour walk-up ATM.
During the grand opening, bankESB President and CEO Matthew S. Sosik presented a $10,000 donation to the Amherst Relief and Resiliency Microgrant Program, a fund established to provide financial relief to the town’s small businesses affected by the coronavirus state of emergency. The donation was the second the bank has made to the program since its inception and brings the bank’s total contributions to the fund to $12,500. Over the past five years, the bank has demonstrated a continued commitment to Amherst by donating nearly $100,000 to the community.
Jessica West has been named assistant vice president and branch officer of the Amherst office. She previously was the branch officer of the bank’s 241 Northampton St. location.
GREENFIELD — There are two new mortgage originators in residential lending department of Greenfield Cooperative Bank.
Jessica M. O’Clair is in the office on Route 116 in Sunderland. O’Clair has five years senior level banking experience, having previously worked for Santander Bank in Leominster. She lives in Orange.
Kimberlee A. Gates is in the Northampton Cooperative division office on King Street in Northampton. Gates has over 27 years’ experience in credit services here in the Pioneer Valley. She has a bachelor’s degree in business from American International College and lives in Sunderland.
AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce has given Mercedes-Benz of Springfield its Community Service Award.
This award honors a business, nonprofit, or individual that has benefited the lives of the Amherst-area community through their work and outreach. They were recognized for their Driven By Community platform, which officially launched in March, although it has been implemented at the dealership since the doors opened three years ago.
Since then, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield has partnered with 250-plus local organizations, raised over $20,000 when COVID-19 hit for local businesses, and has hosted numerous fundraising/charity events at the dealership. Most recently, a drive-in movie night with proceeds to go to the Urban League of Springfield to support their mission.
SPRINGFIELD — To simplify this season of giving food to those in need, Big Y has turned its annual Sack Hunger campaign from a $10 sack of groceries to a more simplified $5 donation to one of five food banks within its two-state marketing area. These food banks support local soup kitchens, food pantries, senior food programs and day care centers. The goal is to maximize access to nutritious food and other resources that support food security for those at risk of hunger.
This year’s $5 virtual sack may be purchased at any register from among Big Y’s 71 stores, or online at bigy.com/rs/GiftCards. Big Y will match all donations through the end of the year. Every $5 donation brings 10 meals to those in need of support.
Big Y has donated an additional $250,000 to the food banks so far this year due to increased food insecurity throughout the pandemic. Most of last year’s almost 6 million meals consisted of donations of meat and fresh produce, bakery, nonperishable grocery items, frozen food and dairy items.
NORTHAMPTON — Attorney Joshua L. Woods has joined the firm of Bacon Wilson. Woods is an associate and a member of the firm’s business and commercial law team, and is licensed in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Previously, Woods practiced law in Hartford and also in the Boston area He earned his law degree from Western New England University School of Law in 2017, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Hofstra University in 2013. Woods will practice primarily from Bacon Wilson’s office in Springfield.
