Noticias de nuestros miembros

United Way to Host the 27th Annual Day of Caring

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The United Way Day of Caring is an amazing event that mobilizes the power of volunteers from local companies and community residents. Last year, over 450 volunteers united to complete 43 projects at 37 local agencies! Join us for 27th Annual United Way Day of Caring and make a difference in North Central Massachusetts!

This year, Day of Caring is being held on Friday, September 16, 2022. A kick-off Breakfast will be held from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg

Projects will be completed from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. followed by a Thank You Barbecue from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Location to be determined. UWNCM will monitor the COVID-19 situation and make adjustments to DOC activities and project requirements as necessary.

AGENCIES: To register your project, visit uwncm.galaxydigital.com.

VOLUNTEERS: New projects are being added every day. Register to volunteer here.

If you are interested in being a sponsor, contact Beth Hodge, Associate Director of Resource Development, at or 978-345-1577, ext. 305.

If you have any questions, please contact Randi Vincent at

 

MART TO EXPAND SERVICES AND BUS STOPS IN GARDNER

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MART to install new bus shelters throughout the City as a result

After joint lobbying efforts from Mayor Michael Nicholson and Ward 5 City Councilor Aleksander Dernalowicz, Gardner is welcoming a new fixture to its public transportation system in the form of a recently installed bus shelter in front of the old Prospect Street School. Working with the Montachusett Regional Transportation Authority (MART), the new bus shelter is the first of several to be added in Gardner.

Bruno Fisher, Administrator of MART, which serves the greater North Central Massachusetts area, said “The addition of this bus shelter to the fixed route bus service in the City of Gardner is an important first step to improving the overall services to our customers. We look forward to working with the City of Gardner on locating additional shelters for the benefit of our riders.”

“The impetus behind this bus shelter was South Gardner resident Bonnie Marabello.  She saw a need in the area and reached out to see what could be done,” said Ward 5 City Councilor Alek Dernalowicz. “The real work was done by the City’s DPW crew and the team at MART who worked together to investigate, plan, and install the shelter.  I can’t thank them enough for their hard work.”

The glass and metal structure provides a much-needed amenity for public transit riders in the South Gardner area as a safe place to wait for the bus, as well as protection from inclement weather. Additionally, it is hoped that the structure’s presence may help to further advertise the public bus route that serves the area. The shelter structure was provided by MART and the concrete foundation was installed by the Gardner Department of Public Works (“DPW”).

“I’m very excited to see how we can grow the services MART has to offer to the residents of our City,” said Gardner Mayor Michael Nicholson, who was also recently elected to serve as the Chair of MART’s Advisory Board. “Throughout the City, people rely on public transportation to be able to get to where they need to go and initiatives like these help connect the work we are doing to grow and develop Gardner as a whole, not just for the benefit of one specific area.”

“Access to transportation is essential for our community,” said City Council President Elizabeth Kazinskas. “ We are fortunate to have a reliable partner like MART right here in Gardner.  The new bus stops will support our current residents and visitors, and the expected growth from residential and commercial development happening throughout the City.”

MART was recently awarded $180,000 by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation under their Shared Streets and Spaces Grant program, and will use the funds to install an additional twenty shelters on their lines in 2022 and 2023, 4 to 10 of which will be placed in Gardner.

“I’m very happy the City of Gardner and MART are able to team up and make these investments to use these funds,” said State Representative Jonathan Zlotnik. “Public transport is very challenging in rural areas but is nevertheless very important and investments like this will help improve those services.”

Echoing these sentiments, State Senator Anne Gobi stated, “Increasing ridership on MART requires, in part, ease of access. The new bus stops in the City of Gardner, including areas that have not had one before, are a welcome addition.  Congratulations to MART and the City on obtaining this funding.”

The MART Advisory Board is comprised of one representative of the government of every municipality served by the MART system. Mayor Nicholson was elected by the representatives of the representatives of the 22 member communities to serve as the Board’s Chair in May of 2022, replacing Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale.

Golden Girl Receives Third Place at Artisan Flave Awards

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Golden Girl Granola’s Creative Cranberry flavor took third place in the “Granola” category at the 2022 Artisan Flave Awards. The annual competition is organized by International Flavor Awards, LLC and features specialty, craft-made artisan granola companies from around the world. Golden Girl Granola once again stood out on an international stage to become a Flave Award winner for the fourth year in a row.

The International Flavor Awards provides small- to medium-sized businesses a platform to stand on and be judged against similar sized food companies. The Artisan Flave Awards competition uses a blind-judging process with a variety of food professionals, including restaurateurs, purveyors, manufacturers, and members of the food-centric community. This was the first year that Creative Cranberry granola entered the competition.

“We are honored that Creative Cranberry was voted a Top 3 flavor in this year’s Flave Awards,” said Deborah O’Kelly, owner of Golden Girl Granola. “To have another flavor win an award for the fourth year in a row is remarkable. I’m proud of the Golden Girl Granola team for continuing to make some of the best-tasting granola on the planet.”

The Flave Awards strive to bring value to food-based competitions and work to promote the outstanding products and companies that set themselves apart by being known as a “Flave Award Winner.” This year over 400 products from 11 different countries were placed into 33 categories, including the “Granola” category. The other categories included, but were not limited to: spicy blends, chutneys, jams and jellies along with crunchy and sweet snacks.

About Golden Girl Granola:
Golden Girl Granola™ is a family-owned and -operated business located in Shirley, Massachusetts that produces a branded line of gourmet granola products superior in taste and made from the highest-quality ingredients. Golden Girl Granola is a “Healthy Snack” alternative for health conscious consumers who appreciate good taste. Flavors include Forest Maple, Creative Cranberry, Bluesberry, Chocolate Decadence, Original, Home Sweet Honey, and Truly Tropical. Golden Girl Granola offers the complete line nationwide for chain supermarkets, independent supermarkets, gourmet food stores, club stores and convenience stores.

goldengirlgranola.com

USA Luge Appoints Lauren Howe to Communications Manager

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USA Luge announced the appointment of Lauren M. Howe to communications manager. In this role, she will serve as the liaison between the USA Luge organization and the media, providing noteworthy news and information about the sport’s athletes, programs and competitions. Howe is taking over for Sandy Caligiore who recently announced he will be moving on from his work with USA Luge.

For the past ten years, Howe has been a strong supporter of USA Luge and also calls Lake Placid her second home. Her first exposure to the sport was during her time working at Saint-Gobain, where she served as Manager of Communications and Community Relations for Norton, the company’s brand of abrasives. Norton Abrasives is the primary sponsor of USA Luge and has been a supporter for over 40 years. At Saint-Gobain, Howe played a critical role in strengthening the relationship between USA Luge and Saint-Gobain, resulting in award-winning work within the company, and increased exposure about the relationship both in the public and with employees.

“Lauren is a true professional and driven to make organizations succeed with her guidance, knowledge and expertise of the public relations industry,” said Gordy Sheer, director of marketing and sponsorship for USA Luge. “As we wish Sandy our best and thank him for his decades of service, we are excited to welcome Lauren to USA Luge after our many years working collaboratively together to elevate our brand to new heights.”

Howe founded empHowered PR in 2020 following an esteemed 23-year career in a variety of communications roles in the health care, manufacturing and non-profit industries.  She currently serves a variety of clients around the region, the country and the world.

“The opportunity to lead communications for USA Luge is a dream come true,” said Howe. “There is much excitement as we gear up for the upcoming season, along with the 2026 Winter Games. I look forward to working in concert with USA Luge athletes and staff to share the journey leading up to Milan-Cortina with the media, supporters and dedicated fans.”

Howe holds both a master’s degree in Organizational and Professional Communication and a graduate certificate in Health Care Leadership Communications from Regis College. She received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and an associate degree in Liberal Arts from Mount Wachusett Community College.

As a result of her work and strong connections to the community, Howe was recognized as a member of the Worcester Business Journal 40 under Forty class of 2014 and is also a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Worcester program.

She currently serves as Chair of the Public Relations Society of America Independent Practitioner’s Alliance and is a member of the board at the American Red Cross of Central and Western Massachusetts. She also serves as the regular host of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce “Good Morning North Central,” the region’s most popular morning gathering featuring high-profile guests discussing topics of interest with business, civic and community leaders. In June 2022, she was recognized by the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce as its Ambassador of the Year.

She resides in north central Massachusetts with her husband, daughter and stepdaughter, and will make frequent trips to Lake Placid in her new role.

Fidelity Bank recognizes colleagues during annual All-Hearts Meeting

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Colleagues recognized for bringing Fidelity Bank mission, values to clients

Fidelity Bank announced it has recognized the following employees at its All-Hearts Meeting, the annual employee recognition meeting, held at Wachusett Mountain. Employees were recognized for bringing the Fidelity Bank values to clients and helping them get where they want to be.

Nancy Fioretti, Commercial Lending Assistant, received the 2022 Back Office Mission Accomplished Award. A resident of Leominster, Fioretti has been with Fidelity Bank for 15 years and was recognized for her work during the pandemic to ensure the Commercial team was able to function as business-as-usual during a very unusual time to ensure clients could have the clarity to move forward with confidence.

Tanya Quinn, Vice President, Digital Manager, received the 2022 Client-Facing Mission Accomplished Award. A resident of Athol, Quinn was recognized for her work throughout the bank’s digital transformation and traditional growth efforts while providing every aspect of the C.A.R.E. process to help clients meet their needs.

“Our Mission Accomplished Awards recognize those colleagues who lead by example in executing our LifeDesign approach to banking,” said Ed Manzi, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Fidelity Bank. “Nancy and Tanya bring our commitment of care, clarity and confidence to their colleagues and our clients alike with poise, professionalism, and positivity, which make them both worthy of this recognition.”

In addition to the Mission Accomplished Awards, colleagues were also recognized with Role Model Awards for representing the bank’s values of excellence, care, humility, integrity and positivity.

Amanda Prokowiew, Systems Analyst, received the Excellence Award. A resident of Leominster, Prokowiew has been with Fidelity Bank for 11 years and was recognized for embracing challenges and change with relentless commitment to precision and getting things done right the first time.

Terrence O’Kane, Human Resources Manager, received the bank’s Care Award. A resident of Shrewsbury, O’Kane has been with the bank for nearly seven years and was recognized for being thoughtful, responsive and caring for the concern of others and treating people the way they should be treated.

Marissa Vescovi, Loan Servicing Supervisor, received the Humility Award. A resident of Orange, she has been with the bank for seven years and was recognized for assistance with the development and training of the residential loan servicing team, and for implementing various process improvement initiatives.

Brett Finnell, Cash Management Implementation Support Specialist, received the Integrity Award. A resident of Leominster, he has been with the bank for six years and was recognized for his exceptional professional and ethical standards.

Amber McCreadie, Vice President, Area Manager, received the Positivity Award. A resident of Barre, she has been with the bank for six years and was recognized for her consistent positive attitude and outlook regardless of the challenges and opportunities that come her way.

“Our Role Model Awards are for those colleagues who continuously set an example by personifying Fidelity Bank’s guiding values and commitment to our LifeDesign Banking approach,” said Dee Sendrowski, Senior Vice President, Human Resources Director. “This year’s award recipients work across a variety of roles and place service above all else.”

Mount Wachusett Community College Welcomes Patricia Pistone to Board of Trustees

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Mount Wachusett Community College welcomed Senior Director of External Affairs, Marketing and Development at UMass Memorial Health – Health Alliance – Clinton Hospital, Patricia Pistone to its Board of Trustees after her appointment by Governor Charlie Baker.

“I am excited to welcome Tricia to the Board,” noted MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I have worked closely with her over the last few years. She has been a committed liaison between her organization and our medical and health-related programs.”

Pistone joined UMass Memorial Health – Health Alliance – Clinton Hospital in April 2021, after a fourteen-year career in leadership roles at Making Opportunity Count, Inc. (MOC) in Fitchburg. Her history with MWCC dates to her time as Economic Development Director for Congressman John Olver, who was integral in sustaining grant funding for the construction of the colleges’ wind turbines.

“I am honored to join MWCC’s Board of Trustees,” stated Pistone. “I have had the privilege to work with MWCC in various capacities throughout my career and have always held the college in the highest regard as both an institution for higher education institution as well as an anchor organization in our region.  I look forward to working closely with the Administration and Board of Trustees to continue that strong legacy into the future.”

“Ms. Pistone has been a great supporter of the college through her career, and it is a pleasure to have her with us,” stated Chairman of the Board of Trustees Robert Antonioni.

In addition to Chairman Antonioni, Pistone joins MWCC alumna Irene Hernandez Guzman, Leominster City Councilor Clair M. Freda, Weston Public Schools Director of Health Services Jamy Gaynor, Professor Emerita, Western New England University, Denise Kindschi Gosselin, CEO of GAAMHA, Inc. Tracy L. Hutchinson, President and CEO of Workers Credit Union Douglas Petersen, ACT, Inc. President Kenneth Tomasetti, and student trustee Cody Nathanson.

Mount Wachusett Community College Assists Eligible Service Members and Veterans to Earn Paramedic Certification

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Mount Wachusett Community College, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Army National Guard, is launching a bridge program for eligible service members and veterans to earn and maintain their National Registry of Emergency Medical Technician (NREMT) certification.

The program enables US Army Combat Medics to earn credit for their military training and experience, smoothing the transition to the civilian workforce while enhancing career opportunities for Reserve Component members.

“It gives us tremendous pride to offer this program to our service members,” stated MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “The Mount is a leader in both veteran services and preparing first responders and healthcare professionals, and this program is a natural fit for our college and community.

“The gap between military training and college education can sometimes be enormous. That’s probably why there are so few programs like this,” notes Robert Mayer, Director of Veteran Services at MWCC. “I’m thrilled that a way of bridging that gap has been worked out here at MWCC.  I am optimistic that this could be a first step in narrowing that gap for many in our transitioning military population.”

Military medic to paramedic programs were first established in 2017 in Michigan. MWCC is one of only a handful of higher education institutions to offer this bridge program. The MWCC Paramedic Technology program was launched in 2018 and has since seen a 100% employment rate for graduates.

Workers Credit Union Launches Workers Kindness Program Members Decide Where Donations Will Go

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Workers Credit Union donated more than $400,000 to 175 charitable organizations in 2021. This year they are launching a new program called “Workers Kindness,” which gives its members a voice in how some of that money is allocated each quarter. “There is no one better to determine where we should donate than our members living in the communities we serve,” says Workers Credit Union President and CEO Doug Petersen. “This program ensures our giving is aligned with the causes that are important to them.”

Under the Workers Kindness program, each quarter members receive a voting call to action via email, online/mobile banking, and web alerts. By clicking on the survey link, members can “vote their kindness” from a slate of pre-selected charities and nominate organizations for inclusion on future ballots. Early reaction to the program has been strong with thousands of members responding. Donations will be made to the organizations that are proportional to the support they receive from members.

This program reflects Workers Credit Union’s overall commitment to charitable giving and improving the lives of both its members and their communities. Workers Credit Union staff devoted more than 2,000 hours to volunteering in 2021. The credit union also returned $2.2 million to its members through its Workers GiveBack program, now in its ninth year and having returned more than $25 million to members.

LCU Announces Promotion

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Andrew Leblanc has been promoted to Vice President of Information Technology at Leominster Credit Union. Andrew joined the Credit Union in April 2018 and recently held the title of Assistant Vice President Information Security Officer. In this new role, Andrew will oversee the day-to-day performance, operation, and compliance of the Information Technology department.  He will also provide vision, leadership and management for the development, implementation, and support of LCU’s Information Technology and communication systems and will participate in the development of strategic plans and solutions to help achieve current and future Credit Union goals and technological needs. 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.

Fidelity Bank announces financials results

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Exceeds expectations with a record year, strong growth in commercial loans and deposits

The year 2021 was an historic year for Fidelity Bank as annual results exceeded expectations including strong growth in commercial loans and deposits. The bank remained focused on its LifeDesign Banking approach of helping clients get where they want to be by providing the clarity, confidence, and care needed to make informed decisions about their financial future. Fidelity Bank shared its 2021 financial data and community growth at the Fidelity Bank Mutual Holding Company annual meeting on April 19.

The community bank, with headquarters in Leominster and 13 full-service offices, grew by 9.8 percent reaching total assets of $1.2 billion as of December 31, 2021, which is up from $1.1 billion as of December 31, 2020.

“As we recognize the strongest year in our 133-year history, we are grateful to those who have trusted us to guide them toward financial success,” said Ed Manzi, Chairman and CEO, Fidelity Bank. “Our results are a true testament to the commitment of our colleagues who provide service with care and develop innovative products to respond to the evolving needs of our clients.”

Highlights of Fidelity Bank’s Community Growth include:

  • Fidelity Bank’s LifeDesign approach was introduced to 2,398 new client households in 2021 and 392 businesses for a total of 2,790 new deposit accounts.
  • Experienced more than $398 million in new loan production by providing businesses $138 million in commercial loans, up from $93 million in 2020, and more than $229 million in mortgage loans and home equity loans, resulting in a more than 10 percent growth.
  • Completion of a second round of 291 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans totaling $25.9 million, with a two-year overall total of 738 loans resulting in $80.4 million in PPP loans.
  • Growth of $43.9 million in retail deposits from December 31, 2020 to December 31, 2021 across all business segments, including consumer, business and municipal.
  • Exchange Authority, a leading consultant and facilitator for Section 1031 exchanges and a wholly owned subsidiary of Fidelity Bank, experienced a record year with a 30 percent increase in clients and a 42 percent increase in the average monthly balances. In 2021, the Exchange Authority appointed John Peculis to President and CEO, and announced it moved its offices to the Fidelity Bank Shrewsbury Street banking center in Worcester in February 2022.

Bank officials also announced the election of six new corporators of Fidelity Mutual Holding Company.

They are Melane Bisbas, Winfield Brown, Jody Guetter, Michael O’Neal, Roseanne Timmerman, and Jonathan Vitale, who will all serve a ten-year term. Matthew Campobasso, Janet Chambers, John Flick and Ronald J. (Joe) Salois were re-elected to serve a ten-year term as corporators of Fidelity Mutual Holding Company. Sheila Harrity, Scott Howard, and Mark Puccio resigned as corporators. Winfield Brown and Mary Ritter were elected to serve a one-year term as directors of Fidelity Mutual Holding Company. Brian Cirelli, Patricia Leonhardt and Ronald Marchetti were re-elected as directors of Fidelity Mutual Holding Company for a three-year term, and Maureen Marshall was re-elected as a director of Fidelity Mutual Holding Company for a one-year term. Alvin Collins was elected to Clerk of Fidelity Mutual Holding Company for a one-year term, and Judy Khallady was elected to Assistant Clerk of Fidelity Mutual Holding Company for one-year term.

Treating people with care and respect has always been a guiding principle at Fidelity Bank. Expanding on last year’s creation of the Fidelity Bank Inclusion and Diversity Advisory Board, the bank developed inclusion and diversity targets for client acquisition and colleague hiring and created a Vendor Management Policy to ensure inclusion and diversity among companies with whom the bank does business.

In 2021, Fidelity Bank continued to support the communities through its Community Dividend Program by supporting more than 220 causes totaling more than $400,000. Organizations receiving contributions in 2021 included Indian Hill Music of Littleton (soon to be Groton Hill Music Center when the organization opens its new home in Groton) to support outreach programs and provide scholarships for students at public schools across Fidelity Bank’s service area as well as Entrepreneurship for All, Inc., Black Box Theatre, Heywood Healthcare, Reliant Foundation, WooSox Foundation, March of Dimes Foundation, Needham Community Council, NewVue Communities, Inc., The Shine Initiative and the Worcester County Food Bank to name a few, as well as several causes promoted through Fidelity Bank’s weekly Caring Casual Fridays. Fidelity Bank has given out approximately $2.75 million since the program was renamed in 2013.

Click here to view Fidelity Bank’s 2021 Annual Report.