News from our members
Join us for our 2nd annual GAAMHA Golf Tournament at The Woods of Westminster in Westminster, MA on Friday, July 21st.
All proceeds will benefit GAAMHA facilities, repairs and updates, to our buildings.
Enjoy a great day of golf and help support GAAMHA!
The tournament will feature:
Tournament round with prizes
Longest Drive and Closest to the Pin Contests
Raffles and Scratch Tickets
Lunch and Dinner provided
More surprises
We hope to see you all there!
JUNE 8 @ 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Join Northern Worcester County Landlord Association for our monthly meeting, this month we will hear from sponsor Attorney Mark Burrell, and explain what you need to know about 30-day non-payment regulations.
Mark Burrell is a seasoned Landlord/Tenant attorney and has the unique perspective to look at your situation from the eyes of the defendant’s attorney. In addition to knowing the ins and outs of what to look for in possible glitches to your legal process and documents that may trip us up as landlords; Attorney Burrell is a great storyteller and we are sure you will be entertained at this event.
Meetings are open to the public! Zoom tickets are $10. Zoom meeting information will be provided the day of the event. First-time in-person visitors can attend for $20 per person to “check us out,” with dinner included. If they decide to join, the $20 will be applied to an NWCLA membership, or sponsorship of choice, that night. Become a member and the annual dues pay for all 10 meetings a year!
Member of the community, elected officials and local agencies gathered in the lobby of City Hall on Tuesday to commemorate May as Mental Health Awareness Month. This event was the result of a collaboration between the Fitchburg Health Department, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Compass Clubhouse and Community Health Connections to raise awareness about mental health, provide resources for the community and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues.
Sue Christensen from the Fitchburg Health Department Outreach & Prevention welcomed the guests and introduced the following individuals who gave remarks: Elizabeth Walsh, Constituent Services Director, Office of Senator John J. Cronin; Rebecca Hess, Legislative Aide, Office of State Representative Michael Kushmerek and Sally Cragin, City Councilor and Director of BePawsitive Therapy Pets and Community Education. Member of the Fitchburg Police Department Community Outreach Team were also acknowledged.
Stephen L. DiNatale, Mayor of Fitchburg read a proclamation highlighting the importance of mental health awareness, concluding with “I, Stephen L. DiNatale, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as Mental Health Month in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. As the Mayor, I also call upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses, and schools in Fitchburg to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, the steps our citizens can take to protect their mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental health conditions.”
The attendance by two therapy dogs from BePAwsitive Therapy Pets and Community Education was a highlight to the day. A resource table will remain in the lobby of City Hall through May 31, 2023. From 11am-1pm daily, a representative will be present to answer questions and provide resource information, courtesy of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Compass Clubhouse and Community Health Connections. Compass Clubhouse has provided green ribbons that can be worn to symbolize support of mental health awareness and residents are encouraged to stop by and to pick up a ribbon.
Brent A. Mathews, Senior Vice President Commercial Lender, Main Street Bank
Main Street Bank is excited to announce Brent Mathews has joined the commercial lending team as Senior Vice President Commercial Lender, effective May 15, 2023.
In this role, Brent provides loans to businesses for growth and recapitalizations with special expertise in acquisitions by privately owned companies, private equity groups, family offices and independent sponsors.
“Specializing in supporting businesses through acquisitions and recapitalizations allows me to participate in the creation of significant personal wealth for business owners,” says Brent. “I enjoy being able to deliver focused, value-added solutions that allow businesses to transition between generations and types of owners.”
Since 2003, Brent has experience working across different credit products including factoring, private label credit cards, owner-occupied commercial real estate, and asset-based lending. Most recently, he led the Sponsor Finance team at BankProv financing acquisitions by lower middle market private equity groups across the United States. A graduate of the University of Virginia, Brent has a BS in Aerospace Engineering and an MBA from the Darden School. Brent resides in Norwood, MA with his wife and three children, and is a member of the Association for Corporate Growth and USA 500 Clubs.
For commercial lending-related questions or assistance, Brent can be contacted directly at 617-835-4812 or at bmathews@bankmainstreet.com.
About Main Street Bank
Main Street Bank is a locally run, independent mutual savings institution serving the MetroWest and northern Middlesex communities of Massachusetts. They are united under a culture that strives every day to contribute to our communities by providing customer-focused, innovative products and services for individuals, families, local businesses, and community organizations since 1860, with particular attention to education and financial wellbeing. With branch offices in the MetroWest and North Middlesex region, Main Street Bank provides an extensive array of financial services and products for all personal and business life stages. To learn more, visit BankMainStreet.com.
Winner of the Fran Longton Award for Volunteerism, Angele Goss (left), stands with Fran Longton, retired UWNCM Volunteer Center Manager and Tim Smith, Senior Vice President, CFO and Treasurer of Workers Credit Union.
Community Celebration Event recognizes efforts of community members and partners to strengthen North Central Massachusetts
United Way of North Central Massachusetts (UWNCM) recently recognized local individuals, businesses and organizations for making a difference in the region at their Community Celebration event on Wednesday, May 9. More than 150 guests gathered at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area to celebrate the UWNCM community network, which served over 170,000 individuals in North Central Massachusetts last year.
The event featured award and scholarship presentations, networking opportunities and games and activities. Event sponsors included Athol Savings Bank, Avidia Bank, Bemis Associates, Enterprise Bank and Trust, Fidelity Bank, NMDesignz, Rollstone Bank and Trust and Sterilite.
The award ceremony kicked off with the Legacy Partnership Award, given to 15 businesses that have partnered with UWNCM for more than 30 years to serve the local community.
Recipients included Anderson, Bagley & Mayo Insurance, Aubuchon Hardware, Banner Mold & Die, Bemis Associates, Enterprise Bank & Trust, Fidelity Bank, IC Federal Credit Union, Johnson Controls, Leominster Credit Union, Main Street Bank, Rollstone Bank & Trust, Sterilite Corporation, Unitil, Winchendon Furniture, and Workers Credit Union.
Next, UWNCM recognized winners of the Spirit of North Central MA Award for Corporate Leadership, given to businesses in three regions that exemplify charitable workplace excellence: Kimball Cooke Insurance Agency for the Athol/Gardner Region; the North Central Chamber of Commerce for the Twin Cities Region; and Workers Credit Union for the Nashoba Region.
Additionally, the Boys & Girls Club of Lunenburg received the award for Community Impact for their commitment to helping the most vulnerable members the our community by providing a continuum of services to children and families; and Angele Goss received the Fran Longton Award for Volunteerism in honor of her impressive volunteer efforts ranging from serving on the UWNCM Board of Directors to taking photos at the UWNCM Day of Caring.
Finally, two local students were presented with scholarships through the United Way Youth Venture program. Gray Dallaire and Kaitlyn Perrault, both seniors at Leominster High School, were recognized for their creative problem solving and leadership skills displayed while carrying out Youth Venture projects that tackled pressing problems in the community.
UWNCM President Kory Eng says that UWNCM was thrilled to bring community members together to celebrate their shared impact, stating, “We appreciate the opportunity to thank our corporate partners, volunteers, and our network of social services agencies for all they do to move our mission forward.”
The United Way of North Central Massachusetts serves the communities of Ashburnham, Ashby, Athol, Ayer, Devens, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hubbardston, Leominster, Littleton, Pepperell, Lunenburg, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Shirley, Templeton, Townsend, Westminster and Winchendon.
Left to Right: Suzanne Dupre, EVP Chief Human Resources and Diversity Officer; Jeff Tucker, EVP Strategy and Risk; Ellen Dorian, President and Chief Operating Officer; Walter Dwyer, Chief Executive Officer; Christopher Seidlich, EVP Chief Financial Officer
MARLBOROUGH, MA – Main Street Bank has announced that they will be upgrading their banking technology, performing branch renovations at select locations, and moving their back-office Operations center from downtown Marlborough to 26 Forest Street, Marlborough. These updates are in the interest of providing a better customer experience. Alongside these updates, Main Street Bank will be keeping all branch staff, including tellers, to provide exceptional in-person service combined with enhanced technology and updated buildings. All Main Street Bank locations will continue to offer personalized service, assistance from live bankers, and access to cash at the teller lines and ATMs.
The technology upgrade will give bank customers and employees access to an improved banking system, including updated online and mobile banking interfaces with enhanced services. Enhancements for customers will include: a simple and clean mobile and online banking look; a Personal Financial Management tool for budgeting; and a new rewards-based consumer checking account. Additionally, this upgrade will allow Main Street Bank the flexibility to build on new features and technology. Find more details about this technology upgrade by visiting www.BankMainStreet.com/technology-upgrade.
While unrelated to the technology updates, the changes in branch and office locations will allow Main Street Bank to better serve their customers and employees. The branch renovations in Pepperell, MA and Ayer, MA, will maximize the existing space while keeping all branch staff available to assist customers in person. Renovations are expected to be complete by early 2024. The move of the back-office Operations center in Marlborough is in response to the bank’s growth and expanding career opportunities for both current employees and new hires. As a result, additional space and flexibility is needed to accommodate our teams. This move will also allow the bank to keep certain departments working together in the same space to ensure a better overall customer experience.
The bank is committed to supporting downtown Marlborough through contributions to the Marlborough Public Library renovation project, the local food pantry, and the Mayor’s Charity Relief Fund. Additionally, Main Street Bank’s headquarters on 81 Granger Boulevard in Marlborough will continue to serve downtown Marlborough with the same access and hours, including Video Connect video banking that can be used from anywhere.
Main Street Bank employees come together to test and train on the newest banking technology to better serve our customers.
Main Street Bank continues to put the needs of their communities first: “By investing in the infrastructure of both our technology and our buildings, we are committing to being accessible to our customers and communities,” comments Walter Dwyer, CEO of Main Street Bank. “We are also keeping our most important resource – our people. You will continue to have direct access to our employees when you need them.”
For community banks, investing in technology and buildings is critical to continue meeting the evolving needs of consumers. In addition, improvements to infrastructure will benefit the surrounding communities, and provide a more efficient work environment for bank employees that will allow them to better serve their customers. Ellen Dorian, President and COO of Main Street Bank, elaborates on some of the reasons for the upgrade.
“Upgrading our technology allows for more efficiency for both our customers and employees. With gained efficiency, we can pass cost savings onto you and all our customers in the forms of faster service, improved products, and competitive interest rates. We pride ourselves on making every customer feel like our only customer, and we are committed to delivering that experience.”
Main Street Bank’s technology upgrade is scheduled for live release on May 8th, 2023. The back-office Operations center move is scheduled to occur between June and August 2023.
Main Street Bank is a locally run, independent mutual savings institution serving the MetroWest and northern Middlesex communities of Massachusetts. They are united under a culture that strives every day to contribute to our communities by providing customer-focused, innovative products and services for individuals, families, local businesses, and community organizations since 1860, with particular attention to education and financial wellbeing. With branch offices in the MetroWest and North Middlesex region, Main Street Bank provides an extensive array of financial services and products for all personal and business life stages. To learn more, visit www.BankMainStreet.com
Caption: Berkshire XTEAM volunteers assist with Habitat for Humanity build in Eastern CT
Pittsfield, MA – Berkshire Bank, a leading, socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, announced its foundation provided $584,361 in philanthropic investments during the first quarter of 2023 (January 1- March 31) to foster upward economic mobility, racial equity, and enhance opportunities for success in the regions Berkshire Bank serves. The investments also support the company’s BEST Community Comeback which includes a planned $15 million in community contributions by the end of 2024.
In total, the Berkshire Bank Foundation assisted 120 nonprofit organizations during the quarter with grants to support a wide range of critical projects including small business entrepreneurship, housing, food insecurity, homelessness, educational advancement, youth, arts, culture, diversity, and inclusion. Ultimately, funding helped support the overall health and well-being of communities across New England and New York, particularly for underrepresented populations.
“We are proud to continue our strong support of the communities that Berkshire Bank serves. Beyond our financial contributions, we continue to amplify our impact though our XTEAM employee volunteer program, regularly assisting with projects to help those in need in our communities,” said Lori Gazzillo Kiely, Managing Director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. She continued, “We are pleased to make these contributions to support individuals, families, and small businesses within our markets.”
The grant recipients listed below are just a sample of the projects Berkshire Bank supported to strengthen organizations throughout Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Vermont. They include:
Angel of Edgewood, Inc. (CT)
Berkshire Immigrant Center Inc (MA)
Berkshire Resources for the Integration of Diverse Groups and Education, Inc. (MA)
Berkshire Pride (MA)
Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (MA)
Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation (MA)
Boys & Girls Club of Worcester (MA)
Capital District Women’s Employment & Resource Center, Inc. (known as WERC) (NY)
Community Access to the Arts (MA)
Community Catalyst, Inc. (MA)
Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Inc (NY)
CNY Jazz Central (NY)
Economic Mobility Pathways (MA)
Enfield Pride (CT)
Goodwill Industries of the Berkshires & Southern Vermont, Inc (VT)
Habitat for Humanity of Eastern Connecticut (CT)
Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc.
Homeless and Travelers Aid Society (NY)
Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (CT)
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island (MA & RI)
Make-It Springfield (MA)
Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance (MA)
Massachusetts Women of Color Coalition Inc (MA)
Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) (MA)
Rhode Island Community Food Bank (RI)
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Foundation (CT)
Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs Inc (NY)
Seven Hills Foundation (MA)
Soldier On, Inc. f/k/a United Veterans of America, Inc. (MA)
State University Of New York Polytechnic Institute Foundation (NY)
ToLife! Inc (NY)
The Arc Eastern Connecticut (CT)
The Stratton Mountain & Valley Community Benefit Foundation (VT)
UMass Medical School Foundation (MA)
Vermont Green-up Inc (VT)
Vermont Works for Women (VT)
Wildwood Foundation (NY)
Why Me, Inc (MA)
“CWE has given me an opportunity to be part of a community of like-minded individuals who are all pulling in the same direction as me and to also finally find the answers to questions I have been asking for a long time.” – Joeci Gilchrest
What inspired Joeci’s Business?
Joeci started her business, You Name It Creatives, the day after Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency in Massachusetts due to the Covid-19 pandemic as a way to spend more time with family. She believes all families, no matter their socioeconomic situation, deserve to live in a home that makes them proud. She offers quality craftsmanship and education to families that need help keeping their homes safe and beautiful. Joeci feels that no matter the socioeconomic situation, all families deserve to live in a home that makes them proud.
Business Highlight
Joeci has gained an applicable understanding of what it takes to operate and scale a small business. By discovering her true value is family and community, she was able to transition from scaling her business toward major projects to focusing on lower-income households that other companies won’t consider. She offers home and office improvement through maintaining, repairing, or even replacing your home or office. Her services include carpentry, painting, gutter cleaning, and pressure washing. She specializes in basement finishing, deck building, and interior/exterior painting and also maintains relationships with her clients through her ongoing handyman services!
How Has CWE Helped Her in Her Journey?
Joeci’s connection with CWE helped her finally find the answers to questions she had been looking for and was not able to find anywhere else. Her coursework, student interaction and experiences with CWE have provided her with a better understanding of what it takes to operate a small-scale business and have also enabled her to discover a community of supportive and like-minded individuals who are pulling in the same direction as her. With CWE, Joeci has discovered that her true value is family and community and this knowledge has helped her transition from scaling her business towards major profits to focusing on lower-income households that other companies do not consider.
Upskill Your Employees, Build Your Supervisory PoolThis 90-hour, practical supervisory course takes strong performers and develops them into strong leaders. This course is designed for employees that were promoted to supervisor as well as those employees you are cultivating to a supervisory position.
Key topics include:
100% grant reimbursement is available for companies with fewer than 100 employees or 50% reimbursement for those with greater than 100 employees.
The course is offered in either a 90-hour or 150-hour length, with live instructor-led sessions via Zoom.
The next open session runs from June 20 through October 26. Don’t wait! Contact us today to sign up!
Contact Kristine Asselin at 978-630-9156 or email kasselin@mwcc.mass.edu.
It’s the start of the busy spring building season — help us to kick it off at the Habitat NCM annual Spring Breakfast!
You’ll enjoy a scrumptious breakfast and hear news of our latest builds in Acton and Fitchburg, our Critical Home Repair program, meet our newest Acton homeowners, and celebrate long-term volunteers.
Our Keynote Speaker this year is RoxanaTrabulsi, author of Of Mud and Honey, a book about how strength, love and faith are pushed to their limits overnight as one family in Yemen embarks on the fight of their lives.
We really hope you can come to this fun and FREE event.