News from our members

Leominster Credit Union Announces Promotions

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Leominster Credit Union is proud to announce the following employees have been recently promoted within the organization.

Nicole Legere has been promoted to Vice President Compliance Officer. Nicole was hired in October 2015 as the Compliance Officer and then promoted AVP Compliance Officer in December 2016. She has made significant contributions to the Credit Union through her management of the Compliance Program, Vendor Management Program, Fraud Management, Bank Secrecy Program, and Internal Audit Program. Nicole earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science & Government from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and her Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law. She has been admitted to both the Massachusetts and New York Bar.

Andrew Leblanc has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Information Security Officer. Andrew joined LCU in April 2018 as the IT Risk Manager. As the Credit Union’s subject matter expert on cybersecurity, information security, and data privacy, he has made excellent contributions to LCU in these areas Andrew holds an AS in Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications from ITT Technical Institute, a BS in Information Technology from Northeastern University, and an MBA in Management and Operations from Fitchburg State University.

Holly Ogden has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Mortgages. Holly joined LCU in February 2020 as the Mortgage Pipeline Manager. With 25 years’ experience in the industry, Holly has proven to be an asset to the Mortgage Team and to the Credit Union. Her level of knowledge has significantly improved processes and workflows in her department. Under Holly’s leadership and coaching, her team exceeded production goals in 2020 and 2021. Holly earned a BA in English from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Danielle Duval has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Collections. Danielle has been with LCU since August 2019 as the Collections Manager. Danielle attended Sacred Heart University and has over 15 years of experience in Commercial Lending and Collections. Danielle has consistently performed at a high level while demonstrating her strong knowledge in the area of collections, collection laws, repossessions, foreclosures and loan modifications. She has proven to be very committed to her  role and to developing and training her team.

Justin Silva has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Retail Administrator. Justin has been with LCU for 22 years and holds an ASBA in Management from New England College of Business. He originally joined LCU as an intern from Worcester Vocational High School and was then hired to work at the West Boylston Street Branch as a Teller. During his tenure, he progressed through a variety of roles in the branch network up to Assistant Branch Manager and was promoted Retail Administrator in 2008. His experience and knowledge in branch operations, retail systems and member service are invaluable.

Maila Berry has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Operations. Maila has been with LCU for 25 years. She spent the first half of her career in Retail progressing through a variety of branch roles up to Branch Manager.

During the last 12 years, she has become LCU’s IRA expert and has made strong contributions to the Operations Division. Maila earned an associate  degree from Becker College in Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s degree from Anna Maria College in Criminal Justice. Maila is also a Certified IRA Specialist (CIS I).

Nichole Howarth has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Digital & Member Service Center. Nichole joined LCU in 2017 as a Teller Supervisor and was promoted to Digital & Member Service Center Manager in 2019.

Nichole holds a BA in History from Merrimack College and has a strong management background from another industry. Under Nichole’s leadership, her department has grown significantly with the expansion of the digital services area as well as the addition of business services. Nichole is very committed to Leominster Credit Union, her team and our members.

Arden Twining has been promoted to Assistant Vice President Learning & Development. Arden joined LCU in 2015 as the Training Specialist and was promoted to Training Manager in 2016.  She brings over 20 years of experience in the training and learning and development arena from a variety of industries. Arden attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is currently completing a bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College in Adult Education and Training. Arden brings a unique skill set in designing, developing, and writing training programs.

Josh Laprade has been promoted to IT Manager. Josh joined LCU in 2017 as an IT Analyst. He was promoted to IT Systems Admin II in 2019, and then to IT Team Lead 2021. Josh holds an AS in Computer Network and Service Technology and a BS in Computer Information Systems from New England Institute of Technology. Josh has made significant contributions to the Credit Union’s IT Team and is extremely dedicated to his role. He is  consistently looking to improve technology and efficiencies across the Credit Union.

Foundation Announces New Vice President for Programs

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The Health Foundation is pleased to announce that Kathleen J.S. Mills, PhD, LICSW has been selected to be the next Vice President for Programs. Dr. Mills comes to the Foundation with diverse experiences in clinical work, program leadership, training, consulting, grant writing, and advocacy. Most recently, she has served as the Vice President of Innovation and Learning at RFK Community Alliance where she has provided strategic direction for and oversight of the departments of Performance and Quality Improvement and Training and led the organization’s efforts to develop a theory of change. Dr. Mills’ other work experiences include serving as a consultant to the Children’s Mental Health Campaign, directing workforce development opportunities at the Infant-Parent Training Institute of Jewish Family & Children’s Service, preparing grants for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, evaluating implementation strategies of MA child welfare and Early Intervention systems, and developing and implementing a state-of-the-art clinical program for children exposed to domestic violence and teen dating violence. She received her PhD in Social Policy degree from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, her Master of Social Work degree from Simmons College, and her Bachelor of Arts in political science degree from the University of New Hampshire. Dr. Mills will be responsible for assisting in the development and implementation of the Foundation’s strategic grantmaking agenda as set by the Board, including management of the grant portfolio and budgets, directing outreach activities, facilitating the application process, monitoring the grant evaluation process, and assisting in evaluating the Foundation’s impact. She will also advise and support grantees’ evaluation, advocacy, and lobbying efforts. Her first day will be April 25.

Mina Chebbani appointed to Vice President, Business Development Officer for the Fidelity Bank service area in Eastern, North Central and Central Massachusetts

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Chebbani brings expertise to help small business owners meet their goals through Fidelity Bank’s LifeDesign banking approach

Fidelity Bank announced the appointment of Mina Chebbani to Vice President, Business Development Officer for the bank’s service areas in Eastern, North Central and Central Massachusetts. In her new role, she will work with local businesses, both large and small, by partnering with Fidelity Bank’s caring team of commercial lenders, cash management specialists, and local banking centers to connect clients with financial tools that will help their businesses grow.

“As a highly-accomplished retail banking leader with extensive experience in building relationships with local businesses, she will provide personal attention to business owners to help plan and execute creative strategies to achieve client goals,” said Sheila King-Goodwin, Senior Vice President, Chief Community Banking Officer, Fidelity Bank.

Chebbani joins Fidelity Bank after nine years at Commerce Bank, where she most recently served as Vice President, Senior Manager in Worcester. She previously worked in business development at TD Bank in Shrewsbury.

“I’ve owned and operated small businesses myself, so I understand the challenges facing small business owners,” said Chebbani. “By utilizing the Fidelity Bank C.A.R.E. methodology, clients will receive personalized service uniquely designed to help them get where they need to be.”

A longtime resident of Worcester, Chebbani attended Worcester State University and Quinsigamond Community College where she studied Business Administration. She has completed numerous certification courses focused on small business credit training, cash management, ACH wire and home equity loans.

An active community leader, she created the Route 9 Referral Group, is a member of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Information Network and serves on the Sponsorship Committee for the Worcester Women’s Leadership Conference.

2nd Annual Healthy Minds Event Focused on Health and Skill-building for Students in North Central Mass to be held on April 13

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The MWCC’s Portrait of a Graduate initiative in conjunction with community partners Gardner CAC, Growing Places, HEAL Winchendon, LUK, Inc., Making Opportunity Count (MOC) Inc., and Pathways for Change, announce the second annual Healthy Minds Virtual Youth Conference, scheduled for April 13, 2022 from 10 am to 1 pm.

The 2021 event was a tremendous success, with over 1,700 students across North Central Massachusetts participating in the live virtual event, and over 2,200 registered to access the session recordings, which addressed topics requested by students that fall outside of the realm of traditional academics

This year’s Healthy Minds event brings health and real-world skill-building to K-12 schools across the region with a theme of “Curiosity and Connection”.  Teachers and students will be able to select from breakout sessions that spark personal interests, satisfy curiosity, and help them plan for their future.

“Local organizations have so many great resources to share,” states Fagan Forhan, MWCC Dean of K-12 Partnerships and Civic Engagement. “This event extends our classrooms into the communities and broadens our students’ horizons.”

Speakers include educators and community members covering topics ranging from physical and emotional health and self-care, STEM topics, interpersonal relationships, financial intelligence, and even how to rent an apartment. Healthy Minds event organizer and HEAL Winchendon Coordinator, Miranda Jennings states, “The last couple years have been incredibly difficult for students and educators—we see Healthy Minds not just as an youth-centered learning opportunity, but also as a gift to learners and their teachers from the many community organizations supporting them and rooting for their success.”

The Healthy Minds: Curiosity and Connection event will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, from 10 am to 1 pm. The conference is free and open to any school and student to participate. Event preview and registration information will be available at uwyv.mwcc.edu.

Current sponsors are the Barr Foundation, Reliant Foundation, and United Way of North Central Massachusetts. Organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring should contact Donna Toothaker, UWYV Program Manager at 978-630-9138 or .

Fidelity Bank to host Social Security Workshop

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Virtual seminar to help plan for retirement, maximize Social Security benefits

WHAT: Fidelity Bank is offering a Social Security Workshop, “The Keys to Unlocking Social Security and Making Your Benefits Work for You.” In this workshop, participants will learn when to start to collect Social Security, how your benefit is calculated, the impact of working in retirement, and several strategies to maximize Social Security benefits.

WHERE: Virtual; registration at www.FidelityBankOnline.com/SocSec or by calling Lindsey English at 978-870-1479.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 22, 2022 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

WHO: Kurt Czarnowksi, Principal, Czarnowski Consulting & Eric Brose, Financial Advisor, Infinex Investments, Vice President, Fidelity Bank

Women’s Caucus for Art to Show New Work at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley

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The Central Mass Chapter of The Women’s Caucus for Art will launch a battle of ideas and aesthetics in Shirley on March 5, playing realism off against abstraction and representation off against pure imagination.

The most realistic work is probably one by Joanne Stowell of Ashburnham. Her oil paintings capture snapshots of reality that are not typically the subject matter of conventional art. In “Rust and Eggs,” a wheelbarrow is turned over and a squad of chickens dance around the scene of the accident. In “Lived In,” the house is littered with bits and pieces of the artist’s childhood. The cushions on the brown sofa are crushed. A black dog lies on the floor. Comfort in this house is much more important than order. In this work, Stowell walks a fine line between the chaotic and the mundane of everyday life. Every object has its own story.

Joanne’s work employs fine, dark lines that outline and solidify the main forms. Susan Wadsworth, from Rindge, N.H., also uses dark lines in her work. Here the black ink is on a bed of colorful pastel. The lines provide the energy of the piece as well as the outer contour of the forms. “Pool Pond, Early Fall” shimmers with red, yellow and green from the peak of the autumn colors. “Devil’s Mountain, Temagami, Ontario” also displays black accents. Yet here we also see Japanese calligraphy etched into the stone of the cliff. Branches of red pine accentuate the texture of the foreground.

Abstraction makes a glorious stand in the photographic work of Ruth Nelson of Watertown, Mass. “Lace Curtains (Rusty Flashing)” is not what one would expect from the title — the red rust accumulates in striking patterns on the flashing metal roof. Seen close up, it is hard to discern what the forms are. The artist’s perspective forces the viewer to see this in a new way. The line between abstraction and realism is also evident in her “Vulcano (Rusty Wheelbarrow).” In a small JPEG, this looks like stunning autumn foliage, but up close the black lines break the red rust apart, and we feel absorbed into the texture of this disintegrating wheelbarrow.

In her new series of smaller canvases, C.M. Judge from Fitchburg pushes the forms of her recent “Risen” series into strong bands of blue, purple and pink upon a yellow background. The forms shoot upward and outward, ambiguous in their play of positive and negative space. This is her cheerful response to the transition between winter and spring. In her painting, “So We Meet Again,” the shapes conjure the feeling of coming together in a moment of affinity and affection.

Shara Osgood, also from Fitchburg and the newest member of the group, moves from realism to visionary work. She visualizes lines and rays of energy projecting from her portraits and her animals. In Stag in the Mist, the animal in question has a starry glow between his antlers in the calm blue-purple of a winter’s evening. The lines of distant trees echo those of the antlers and the rays of light between the stars.

This exhibition at the Bull Run Restaurant opens on March 5 and will run until March 31. The Bull Run is at 215 Great Road, Shirley, Mass. It is open for dinner Wednesday to Sunday; the restaurant also serves brunch on Sunday. For more information, visit bullrunrestaurant.com or call 978.425.4311.

Berkshire Bank presented the “Gold” Community Champion Award from Bankers Northeast Magazine

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Award recognizes Bank’s effort to create economic resilience in communities

Berkshire Bank, a leading socially responsible community bank with branch locations in New England and New York, was recently presented the “Gold” Community Champion Award from Bankers Northeast Magazine in the Economic Development category. This award recognized Berkshire’s comprehensive efforts to foster economic resilience in its communities.

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Bankers Northeast established the Community Champion Awards to honor the banks and credit unions who went beyond the call to aid their community in a special time of need or who’s cumulative effort has made a substantial positive impact. Winners were presented at the Banking Northeast Magazine Gala Awards last month at Mohegan Sun to honor the very best of community banks.

Berkshire Bank’s “Gold” Community Champion Award recognized its efforts to harness its core business activities, pandemic response, community involvement, philanthropic programs, and innovative financial solutions such as MyFreedom Checking and The Futures Fund to strengthen its neighborhoods. Berkshire helped deploy nearly $1 billion in PPP funding to assist small businesses during the pandemic and helped more than 180,000 individuals with financial wellness programming.  According to an independent third party, Berkshire reinvests at a rate nearly 70% higher than the industry average. 

“Berkshire has been an engine for positive change in our communities for more than 175 years and this honor is a reflection of the collective efforts of our employees and community partners,” stated Gary R. Levante, SVP Corporate Responsibility. “We always have our customers and communities backs on their worst days and help make the best ones possible. Stronger, more economic resilient communities require a better approach to banking, and we’ve accelerated that work with the launch of our BEST Community Comeback this past September,” he added.

Through its BEST Community Comeback, the Company expects to lend and invest $5 billion over the next three years to lift-up its communities across four key areas: fueling small businesses, community financing and philanthropy, financial access and empowerment, and funding environmental sustainability. The plan is expected to result in more businesses and jobs being created, more families achieving the dream of owning a home, more quality housing in neighborhoods and investments in activities that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

ASNCM Recognizes 2021-2022 Values Award Winner

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Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts (ASNCM) recognized a staff member, Jason Dwyer, the agency’s Information Technology Manager as the Values Award winner.  The core values of ASNCM are excellence, integrity, respect, innovation, and teamwork.

“I am humbled and honored to have been chosen,” said Jason Dwyer. “I am grateful for and truly appreciate the wonderful group of people I get to support in completing our mission here at ASNCM.”

“Our entire staff was able to incorporate technology initiatives brought forward by Jason; this was vital to support our consumers and families throughout the pandemic,” said Lori A. Richardson, Chief Executive Officer. “ASNCM is working with the Elder Services network of Los Angeles County California to pilot the technology we now use on a day-to-day basis to fulfill our agency’s mission.  Technology is an important tool that is now embraced rather than feared at ASNCM thanks to Jason.  This can only happen through the foundation of our core values that Jason exemplifies.”

To learn more about the Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts—including programs and services being offered, ways you can donate or volunteer, please visit www.AgingServicesMA.org or contact David Ginisi, Chief Marketing Officer, at (978) 466-1571 or by email at .

ASNCM Receives Massive Sock Donation For Aging Community

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Aging Services of North Central Massachusetts (ASNCM) is pleased to announce that St. Anna Catholic School of 213 Lancaster Street in Leominster generously gave a donation of over 1,500 pairs of socks to the aging community of North Central Massachusetts.

Traditionally referred to as “Socks for Santa”, ASNCM annually collaborates with Mrs. Denise Lawson’s 3rd grade class. To be exact, Mrs. Lawson’s students raised a record-breaking number of brand-new socks this year which will come in handy for our region’s aging community this winter.

“We (St Anna School) encourage and teach our students to help those in our community and show empathy by doing”, said Denise Lawson. “Our Socks for Santa drive is just one way we work together as a school community to help those around us.”

“We are so very grateful to the students and families of Mrs. Lawson’s 3rd grade class at St. Anna’s School.  The generosity and the caring spirit of these children and their families is profound and will have a positive impact on older adults in our community”, stated Lori A. Richardson, ASNCM’s Chief Executive Officer.

Business or community members interested in learning more about ASNCM should visit www.AgingServicesMA.org or contact David Ginisi, Chief Marketing Officer, at (978) 466-1571 or via email at .

Solvus Global Launches New Website

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With the rapid expansion of its 5 business enterprises, Solvus Global has redesigned their website to incorporate further insight into their materials and manufacturing solutions.

Solvus Global, a technology solutions provider specializing in additive manufacturing, machine learning, and sustainable materials processing, is thrilled to announce the launch of its new website, https://www.solvusglobal.com/. As an upgrade from the initial site, the redesign reflects all that Solvus Global has to offer, in terms of capabilities and services across a variety of technologies and industries.

In the past few years, Solvus Global has expanded their manufacturing square footage, increased their customer base, and doubled their number of total employees. The Solvus Global website has now caught up with the organization’s exponential growth.

“Our new website represents a renewed focus on our mission to launch and scale enterprise solutions in materials and manufacturing.,” said CEO, Aaron Birt.

By bringing the 5 business enterprises to the forefront, Solvus Global is able to better highlight their key focus areas of additive manufacturing, sustainable material management, energy storage, industry 4.0, aerospace, defense, and recycling. Additional context surrounding the challenges faced within each focus area and the shift toward modern-day technology solutions brings to light the purpose of the Solvus Global enterprises.

Solvus Global has invited visitors to explore the new website. Redesigned as a hub for equipment manufacturers, job seekers, and curious individuals – Solvus Global is always looking for potential partners, customers, and new team members.

About Solvus Global

Founded in 2017, Solvus Global is a technology-solution provider for materials and manufacturing, specializing in the areas of additive manufacturing, machine learning, and sustainable materials processing. Headquartered in Worcester, Solvus Global operates out of three locations across Massachusetts: research and manufacturing facilities in both Leominster and Worcester, and a collaborative center in Webster.

To view the new Solvus Global website, click here.