News from our members
RMI Family-Owned Human Resources Company Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary
Resource Management, Inc. (RMI) announces its 25th anniversary as a national, full-service Human Resource Outsourcing & Professional Employer Organization (PEO)
Mr. Lopez sold R&M Maintenance in 1992 and worked for an employee leasing firm, where he was an account executive selling time and attendance recording systems. He transitioned to the business protection service that included insurance products and human resources. Unfortunately, the firm shut down unexpectedly, leaving clients left to pay hundreds and thousands of dollars in taxes, unemployment insurance and 401(K) payments. The impact his clients were facing affected him personally, so in 1995, he took matters into his own hands.
“I took my own money from my savings and payed for whatever was owed in taxes and workers compensation. All of those clients left hanging, became my very first clients at RMI.” said Lopez.
What was once a nightmare, turned into the American dream. Today, RMI celebrates 25 years in business. The company is a family-owned full-service Human Resources and PEO providing expertise in Payroll, Employee Benefits and Workers’ Compensation to small and mid-size businesses. The firm operates in 39 states.
Lopez and his family have made a great impact on the business since it started in 1995. His daughter, Rachel serves as President and son Alex, Vice President. “My dad has always been a hard worker. Since day 1 he’s always had this drive to help businesses prosper and reach success.” Rachel said.
RMI is a rapidly growing business with its headquarters located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts and offices in Orlando and Doral/Miami, Florida. This year, the company was awarded #1 in Largest Minority-Owned Business in Massachusetts.
Due to RMI’s business expertise it has grown to be included in the top 50 largest Hispanic- Owned business in the nation. RMI’s commitment to provide professional services was recognized by the US Dept of Commerce, awarding the firm with the prestigious Minority Professional Service Firm of the year in 2018.
The family is proud of the growth over the past 25 years and have big dreams for taking RMI to the next level for years ahead. “The passion my dad has for the PEO community speaks volumes to the success that RMI has had for the past 25 years. My dad formed a solid foundation for us to build off, which has allowed us to grow into the businesses we are today” Rachel said. “As we look to the future, our mission is to continue supporting small businesses and help them achieve their long-term goals, by taking on the administrative burden of HR, Payroll, Employee Benefits, and Workers’ Comp. RMI reduces their liability and gives them more time to concentrate on their core business and growth.”
About Resource Management, Inc.
Are you struggling with HR for your business? At RMI we believe employers should have the opportunity to focus on their core business functions, without having to think about HR, Payroll, Employee Benefits, and Workers’ Compensation. For more information on our services, visit our website: www.rmi-solutions.com
Fidelity Bank Gives Awards to Employees Who Exemplify the Bank’s Values of Doing Right by Clients, Colleagues and Communities
Leominster, MASS –Several Fidelity Bank employees were virtually honored by Fidelity Bank for their contributions during a year that has been unlike any other due to COVID-19. “It is a pleasure to recognize the contributions of our caring colleagues,” says Ed Manzi Jr., Fidelity Bank Chairman and CEO. “I am inspired by how our honorees have risen to the challenges they face.” The annual awards recognize Fidelity Bank role models who exemplify the bank’s caring culture and LifeDesign approach of providing the clarity needed to help clients make informed decisions and move forward with confidence. The awards had to be given out virtually instead of at an in-person ceremony because of the pandemic.
Mission Accomplished awards were given to Sally Buffum and Damian Scott.
Damian Scott of Leominster was given the Mission Accomplished award representing the support departments of the bank. Scott is an IT Technician for the bank. Scott was cited for leading the effort to deploy the remote workforce when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, building processes to save the Operations team the time in delivering new forms to all Branches, creating processes to reduce paper and increase the bank’s electronic documentation, and moving the bank from Windows 7 to Windows 10. He is described as unfailingly pleasant and a team player who is always available.
Role Model awards were given to employees who personify Fidelity Bank’s five guiding values of treating everyone with care and respect, making sound and ethical professional decisions, pursuing excellence, being committed to continuous learning and improvement and maintaining a positive and fun work environment.
Dan Ramos of Baldwinville received the bank’s Role Model award for personifying the bank’s guiding value of Treating Everyone with Care and Respect. Ramos is Facilities Manager for Fidelity Bank, which makes him a department of one. No matter the season, Ramos is there with a smile to fix air conditioning units and boilers to keep his colleagues comfortable. He was also instrumental in helping the SHINE Initiative set up their new office in Worcester.
Brittany Roberge of Rutland was recognized for Making Sound and Ethical Professional Decisions. Roberge is Operations Coordinator. She uses all the tools and information she has at her disposal to take on the difficult job of handling debit card fraud claims. Roberge was praised for providing comfort and support to clients at a time when they feel unsettled and vulnerable, so they can have the clarity to make decisions with confidence.
Alexandria Morrissey of Hubbardston was honored for Pursuing Excellence. Morrissey is the Assistant Branch Manager in the bank’s Gardner full-service office. Morrissey is described as having a relentless commitment to executing details and being thorough as she serves her clients. One example was given where her scrutiny of a client’s records uncovered more than $10,000 in unauthorized charges. Another example was when a senior officer at another financial institution praised her for her help resolving an issue for a mutual client.
Phillis Johnson of Gardner was honored for exemplifying the bank’s guiding principal of pursuing Continuous Learning and Improvement. Johnson is a Compliance/BSA Coordinator for Fidelity Bank. Bank officials say she adapted quickly after joining the bank through a merger in 2018. Since then she has become the record keeper of the Bank’s compliance learning system and helps keep people on track with their own required individual learning roadmap.
Ridge Markeseines of Winchendon was recognized for Maintaining a Positive and Fun Work Environment. Markeseines is a personal banker in Fidelity Bank’s Gardner full-service office. His colleagues and clients say he is a bright spot no matter what the situation who has good cheer that is contagious. One example was when he dressed up in a Miss Piggy costume for the Chair Luge event at the 2019 Gardner Fall Festival.
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About Fidelity Bank:
Founded in 1888, Fidelity Bank is one of the strongest independent community banks in Central and Eastern Massachusetts. Fidelity Bank’s unique LifeDesign approach to banking provides the care and clarity needed to make informed decisions with confidence. The Bank offers a range of personal and business banking solutions to clients in 14 full-service offices in Leominster, Worcester, Fitchburg, Needham, Gardner, Stow, Shirley, Barre, Millbury, Paxton, Princeton, and Winchendon. The Bank has consistently earned a “5 Star” rating from BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading independent bank rating and research firm. Fidelity Bank has been voted Worcester Telegram & Gazette Best Bank in Central Massachusetts and Best Financial Services, Best Bank by both Leominster Champion and Baystate Parent, and it has been recognized by the Worcester Business Journal as a Top Workplace. In 2019 Fidelity Bank was named to the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work list for the fifth time. As of June 30, 2020, the bank had total assets of approximately $1.15 billion. For more information, visit www.fidelitybankonline.com or www.facebook.com/fidelitybankma
FRA Launches Fitchburg Reopening Grant
In response to the extreme vulnerability Fitchburg businesses have faced with the Governor’s phased approach to reopening, the FRA has developed the Reopening Grant consisting of an award of up to $2,500 to eligible grantees having a physical space within the Fitchburg business community. Funding is limited but the FRA hopes to provide relief to approximately 40 businesses that have been significantly vulnerable during this unprecedented time.
Applications for the grants will be available online through the FRA’s website and Facebook page starting Monday, July 27, 2020 and review will continue until the funding runs out.
“0.0 Race” Event with Habitat for Humanity NCM Offers Fun and Music
(Acton, MA) July 23, 2020 – No running shoes? No problem! You’ll be a winner every time and get a medal as soon as you cross the Starting Line at Habitat for Humanity North Central MA’s Second Annual “0.0 Race” scheduled for Thursday, August 6th, 6:00 – 8:00pm at the Bull Spit Brewing Company, 339 7 Bridge Road, Lancaster, MA.
Join us at the expanded, socially distanced, outdoor seating area. Masks are required (and will be available) and your entrance fee will help Habitat NCM to get started on building three more homes! Registration is just $25.00 and includes admission to the event, a race bag and a commemorative medal. Individuals can register for the event at [ncmhabitat.org]ncmhabitat.org.
Located at Kalon Farm, the Bull Spit Brewing Company uses only the freshest of ingredients partnered with the experience of a Master Brewer to craft outstanding beers. Also on tap, event goers can jam out to the fun folk sounds of Groton-based band Snow Crow. A variety of wines will also be available for purchase in the venue’s outdoor area.
The event will include door prizes, a raffle, a beer & wine pull, and tasty street grub from Bull Spit Brewery’s food truck — all served up in a socially distanced manner. Masks are required to attend and share in the camaraderie.
Habitat for Humanity NCM would like to extend a very special thanks to this year’s Race Sponsors Aubuchon Hardware and Middlesex Bank.
Habitat for Humanity North Central MA
Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat NCM builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses alongside our homeowner partner families. Habitat NCM also operates the Leominster ReStore which raises funds through the sale of discounted or recycled materials and furniture. Habitat NCM builds strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter in 25 towns and cities in North Central Massachusetts, including Acton, Ashburnham, Ashby, Ayer, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Leominster, Maynard, Pepperell, Princeton, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Townsend, and Westminster.
Nashoba Valley Medical Center Welcomes Sarah Linskey and Expands Its Audiology Services
“We are pleased to welcome Sarah to our medical team,” said Korry Dow, president of Nashoba Valley Medical Center. “Her addition to the medical staff expands our audiology services and continues to meet the growing needs of our community.”
Prior to joining Nashoba Valley Medical Center, Linskey worked at Arrigg Eye and Ear Associates in Lawrence, Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in communications disorders from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a Doctor of Audiology degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Linskey is a member of the American Speech Language and Hearing Association and American Academy of Audiology.
About Nashoba Valley Medical Center
Nashoba Valley Medical Center (NVMC) offers community-based primary care and specialty
services. NVMC was awarded its fourth consecutive A, the highest grade possible, in hospital safety by The Leapfrog Group for the Spring 2018 assessment period. The hospital was a recipient of the Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval and was named to Leapfrog’s annual list of Top Hospitals in 2014. Areas of clinical strength include emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging, geriatric psychiatry, cardiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, oncology, orthopedics, physical therapy and general surgery. NVMC also offers a comprehensive Center for Pain Management, Diabetes and Endocrine Center, Travel Clinic and Occupational Health Services. Nashoba Valley Medical Center is part of Steward Health Care, the largest private, tax-
paying physician-led hospital operator in the United States. Additional information is available at www.nashobamed.org.
Fitchburg State University Presents Back to Business During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A 4-Part Webinar Series
Back to Business During the COVID-19 Pandemic
A 4-Part Webinar Series
July 27 – 30, 2020 | 3:00 – 4:00 PM
Free to Attend
Co-Sponsored by:
Safety Trainers and Fitchburg State University
REGISTER HERE
Join us for a 4-webinar series (1 hour each) that bullet point out what you need to do. In partnership with Fitchburg State, the Safety Trainers will deliver this information in a manageable and organized system for you to take immediate action on implementing controls, training and updating your policies to protect your business and your employees.
Who should attend? Anyone in your organization who is now part of a team or is responsible for managing health and safety in your workplace. This will help you to get your business and employees back to work making everyone’s safety and health a top priority.
Webinar #1 – 1 hour – July 27, 2020
Navigating the alphabet soup of regulations. You will learn all areas of your business where you will need to make changes and considerations for new rules, new equipment, new processes and adapt the factors you consider in decision making.
Webinar #2 – 1 hour – July 28, 2020
Who will be your COVID-19 Safety and Health Coordinator? Where should you begin when setting up the COVID-19 Coordinator, Emergency Response Team and/or Safety Committee to Manage COVID-19 Best Practices, Changes in Regulation and Implementation? We will walk you through the areas of consideration and SIGNS, SIGNS, and SIGNS.
Webinar #3 – 1 hour – July 29, 2020
New Rules. New Procedures. Which ones should I apply to our business?
Engineering and Administrative Controls to all areas of your operations will be the key to keeping your staff safe and your business open. Learn the Hierarchy of Controls Methodology. In this series, we will give you several options to consider in many areas of your business to include but not limited to:
- Signage and Communication
- Record Keeping and Resources
- Updating Sick Policy and Return to Work Criteria
- Facility Layout, Flow of Materials and People, Entrance and Exits, Parking, Common Spaces
- Pre-Qualifying and Safety Policy for Visitor, Vendor, Third Party for Hire Relationships
- Housekeeping to include trash, sanitation and disinfecting procedures
- Personal Protective Equipment implementation
- Training
Webinar #4 – 1 hour – July 30, 2020
I Didn’t Know I Needed to Do All of That to Disinfect and Clean Safely?
Using OSHA, CDC, EPA and FDA to make changes to your housekeeping process to include trash, sanitation, laundry and disinfecting, HazCom Policy, Hazardous Chemicals, personal protective equipment use and training. We will answer questions like; Do I need N95 respirators? Will a cloth mask work? Handwashing vs. Antibacterial agents? Do I need a flammable storage cabinet for hand sanitizer and isopropyl alcohol? How do I get an EPA approved disinfectant for COVID-19? Where can I buy PPE?
REGISTER HERE
Leominster Credit Union Holds Election of Officers to the Board of Directors
Giulio G. Greco, Chairman of the Board. Greco has previously served as Chairman from 1994-1998 and again from 2008-2011. Greco was presented the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA) during the Awards of Excellence held at the 2019 Annual Convention. Greco has served on the Board since 1978.
Michael J. Sauvageau, Vice Chair. Sauvageau has been on the Board since 2007 and most recently held the position of Chairman from 2016-2020. Sauvageau serves on LCU’s Executive, Audit and Compensation Committees.
Nancy L. Graves, Treasurer. Graves serves on the Executive, Credit, Investment, and Advisory Committees. She has served on the LCU Board of Directors since 2004.
Joyce A. LaFleur, Assistant Treasurer. LaFleur serves on the Executive, Audit, Investment, and Advisory Committees. LaFleur has served on the Board since 2007.
Joseph V. Quintal, Clerk. Quintal serves on Executive, Audit, Compensation, Investment and Advisory Committees. Quintal has served on the Board since 2006.
Joining the officers on the 2020-2021 Board of Directors are, Amedeo E. Bilotta, Bruce J. Bollivar, Robert J. DelleChiaie, Joyce G. Leger, Henry C. Kulik, Jr., and Richard A. Sheppard.
Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending and other financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim nearly 50,000 members and more than $700 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Clinton, Holden, North Leominster, Sterling and Worcester with ATM services at all branch locations. LCU also provides 24 hour banking via Mobile and Online services. Visit leominstercu.com or call 800-649-4646.
Front Row (L-R): Guilio G. Greco, Chairman of the Board; Michael J. Sauvageau, Vice Chairman.
Back Row (L-R) Joyce A. LaFleur, Assistant Treasurer; Nancy L. Graves, Treasurer; Joseph V. Quintal, Clerk
bankHometown Provides Economic Lifelines to Northern Worcester County Businesses Through Paycheck Protection Program Loans
Oxford, Massachusetts, June 26, 2020—bankHometown has approved over 700 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling approximately $68 million, allowing hundreds of local businesses across central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut to keep more than 7,500 employees on the payroll.
The program has helped small businesses like bankHometown customer Cleartech Group, a Leominster-based IT management and consulting company serving small and medium-sized businesses across central Massachusetts.
(Pictured L-R) Cleartech Group President and Owner Tony Fields with bankHometown President and CEO Robert J. Morton, Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer Christina DiRusso, and Leominster office Assistant Vice President and Branch Officer Donna Daigle.
President and Owner Tony Fields said that when the shutdown began in March, he quickly put aside his company’s growth plan and made some tough choices, including laying off two employees, to ensure his company could continue supporting its clients. He said Cleartech’s focus turned to helping business owners “embrace the new normal” by putting in place the proper infrastructure and security needed for employees to work from home.
“Initially, it was a shock for us. Then it quickly became a humanitarian effort to get our customers connected so they could operate remotely as much as possible and as quickly as possible,” Fields said. “A lot of our value is in working with clients onsite, but we had to switch to a fully virtual environment ourselves and then get clients up and running remotely with reduced staff. In the span of two weeks, we went from growth mode to survival mode.”
Fields said that PPP funding helped relieve an “incredible sense of uncertainty” for himself and his nine employees and allowed him to feel positive not only about his own company’s ability to weather the storm but about the survival of the small businesses his company supports.
“When the PPP came out, it gave us all the hope that there was a light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “It was like a bridge was built for us to get through this with confidence.”
The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is a small business stimulus program included in the federal government’s $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The PPP initially provided $349 billion for SBA lenders like bankHometown to fund loans to businesses on a first-come, first served basis in order to guarantee eight weeks of payroll and other costs to help businesses remain viable. Funds were exhausted in less than two weeks, but Congress provided for additional funding capacity of $320 billion. To qualify, businesses must have 500 or fewer employees and demonstrate that they have been negatively affected by the Coronavirus. If used for payroll and other qualifying expenses, the loans are forgivable.
(Pictured L-R) bankHometown President and CEO Robert J. Morton; Athol-Orange Community Television Executive Director Carol Courville; bankHometown Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer Christina DiRusso and Athol office Assistant Vice President and Branch Officer Marc Ostberg.
The program also helped bankHometown customer Athol-Orange Community Television, a non-profit public access station centered in Athol. Executive Director Carol Courville said AOTV was luckier than most non-profits in being able to rely on funding from cable subscriptions but that she and her board quickly saw the potential for the pandemic’s long-term negative effect in the form of cancelled fundraising events and other sponsorships.
“We knew we weren’t going to be able to do the type of fundraising necessary to continue our mission, and that hurt us a lot,” Courville said. “We knew right away that this would be a long haul and that we could have budgetary issues that lasted well into the fall and through the rest of the year.”
Courville said that securing funds from the PPP was an enormous relief both mentally and emotionally on herself and her one full-time and three part-time employees, who could then work from home to create the station’s programming without worrying about potential layoffs.
“Taking that burden off the staff’s shoulders gave them security and that was golden,” she said. “They didn’t have to worry about raising funds or losing their jobs while completely changing the whole way we provided services and quickly adapted to new technology to produce government meetings and other programs. It would have been overwhelming.”
bankHometown’s commercial lending teams worked tirelessly to submit applications on behalf of hundreds of its small business customers like Cleartech and AOTV, knowing that for many business owners, timing was critical.
“These are trying times, and we understand the financial situation our customers are facing and the negative impact it can have on their business, the staff, and the community,” said bankHometown President and CEO Robert J. Morton. “We moved quickly to get these funds in our customers’ hands so they could meet all of their obligations. As a community bank, this is what we do and I’m proud of our ability to help local organizations,” he said.
Despite national reports that some PPP funds went to larger businesses, approximately 60 percent of the PPP loans bankHometown processed were less than $50,000 and more than 90 percent were less than $250,000, indicating that on the local level, the program has benefitted the small businesses for which it was intended.
Courville credits bankHometown Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer Christina DiRusso as well as the bank’s Athol office Assistant Vice President and Branch Officer Marc Ostberg for helping AOTV secure their economic lifeline quickly in the first round of the PPP, when colleagues at other small businesses were having trouble getting a call back from bigger banks.
“Christina called me back the first day and made it easy for me. She took me through the whole application process, which was really designed for businesses and not for not-for-profits,” Courville recalls. “That’s why working with a local bank like bankHometown was so important. It made a big difference to know that you could talk to someone. They made it happen.”
“We couldn’t have kept afloat if the money ran out,” she added. “So I just want to thank bankHometown.”
Fields said he didn’t realize how unusual his strong business relationship with bankHometown’s DiRusso and Leominster office Assistant Vice President and Branch Officer Donna Daigle was, until he heard from colleagues in a global entrepreneur forum who voiced frustration in getting their banks to assist them with their PPP application or even return their calls.
“With the PPP, I was always informed and knew where I stood, so I just assumed that this was how it got done, this was the norm,” he said. “But my fellow entrepreneurs were struggling through the process and experienced at least two weeks of unnecessary anxiety that I never felt. That’s when I realized how special my partnership with bankHometown was.”
Fields said he was approved and had the funds in-hand quickly while more than half of the entrepreneurs he connects with were still struggling to apply, proving that a local banking relationship is key to sustaining small business.
“They have your back and are part of your business. They’re an advocate working for you,” he said. “Now more than ever, I’m a cheerleader for bankHometown.”
About bankHometown
Founded in 1889, bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts, and has $1.0 billion in assets and 15 branches located throughout central Massachusetts and northeastern Connecticut. Through its sponsorship and charitable giving program, bankHometown and the Hometown Bank Community Foundation support non-profit organizations and causes throughout Worcester and Windham Counties. In 2019, the bank and foundation donated more than $328,000 to nearly 270 organizations. Over the last four years, the program has donated more than $1.1 million. For more information, visit bankhometown.com.