Silva brings extensive experience, impressive results to drive Fidelity Bank’s LifeDesign approach

(Leominster, Mass.) Fidelity Bank today announced the appointment of Joseph Silva to Senior Vice President, Chief Commercial Banking Officer, effective immediately. In this role, he will lead all aspects of Commercial Banking and Cash Management sales with a focus on growing the business while also embracing Fidelity Bank’s LifeDesign approach. He succeeds Barry Bliss, Chief Commercial Banking Officer, who recently announced his retirement forthcoming in August.

“Joe has extensive experience in credit, lending and business development, as well as leading teams toward exceptional results in client-focused growth,” said Christopher W. McCarthy, President & COO. “He is a positive, collaborative and innovative leader, making him a terrific match for our LifeDesign approach to banking.”

Silva joins Fidelity Bank from Pawtucket Credit Union, where he served as Head of Commercial Lending for the past nine years. Prior to Pawtucket Credit Union, he spent five years at Bank Rhode Island.

“Fidelity Bank has a strong reputation of understanding the complexities of today’s business environment by offering sound solutions to empower business owners and their companies,” said Silva. “As leader of the Commercial Banking teams, I’m committed to continuing the strong tradition of helping commercial clients realize their financial hopes and dreams.”

Silva received a bachelor’s degree in Interpersonal Communications from the University of Rhode Island and is also a graduate of the Bank Leadership Program from the Darden School at the University of Virginia.

He will be relocating to Massachusetts in the coming months with his wife, Saovala, and family.

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GARDNER, MA – May 18, 2021 – On Friday, May 14, 2021, MWCC welcomed fourteen students to the dental hygiene profession with a socially distant pinning ceremony outside the main entrance of the Gardner campus.

“This is not totally normal, but this is the most normal event that I have been to in about fifteen months. Thank you for this moment,” opened MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I am so proud of the efforts these students have made over the past two years. It takes an awful lot to choose to pursue a degree in one of the caring fields, to know that you are going to be dedicating your professional careers to helping others. I am eternally grateful that you have chosen this path, and that you chose to do it with Mount Wachusett Community College.”

Cindy Cadoret, Director of Dental Education Programs, and the dental faculty members pinned the fourteen students, all of whom are receiving their Dental Hygiene Associate Degrees on Wednesday, May 19. The students pinned and the annual department awardees are:

Ashley Beauchemin, Ashby

Samantha Bottis, Worcester

Patricia Bunis, Whitinsville

Jessica Burgos, Fitchburg, Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award

Jennifer Burkmier, Lowell

Brianna Coggins, Northbridge

Ivonne Jimenez, Clinton

Ashley Leone, Auburn, Dental Hygiene Most Improved Award

Emily Matusiak, Lowell

Beatriz  Padilla-Lazarin, Leominster

Katherine Piecewicz, Ayer

Courtney Rogers, Uxbridge, Dental Hygiene Community Service Award

Elzbieta Solimeno, Bolton, Dental Hygiene Curriculum and Alumni Scholarship Award

Justin Ward, Charlemont

New leader to continue tradition of excellence, guidance for Section 1031 exchanges

Exchange Authority, a leading consultant and facilitator for Section 1031 exchanges and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fidelity Bank, today announced the appointment of John Peculis to President and CEO, effective immediately.

Peculis comes to the Exchange Authority with more than 20 years of combined experience in commercial real estate finance across several disciplines, including lending, administration, and valuation.

Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending at Fidelity Bank, where he concentrated on commercial real estate, and commercial, industrial, and business banking. As President and CEO of the Exchange Authority, Peculis will continue to serve as a consultant to the Commercial Lending Team at Fidelity Bank. Prior to Fidelity Bank, he served in various commercial lending roles at People’s United Bank, United Bank and Millbury Savings Bank, and he previously owned and operated Allied Appraisal Associates of New England, a commercial real estate valuation and advisory firm.

“John is the perfect leader to help clients continue to make educated financial and investment decisions,” said Ed Manzi, Chairman and CEO, Fidelity Bank. “With John’s knowledge and expertise in commercial lending and business banking, a new generation of investors who want to learn more about Section 1031 Exchanges will have the opportunity to work with one of the best in the industry.”

“It is an honor to lead the Exchange Authority and continue its tradition of excellence as ‘the experts who the experts turn to’ for 1031 advice,” said Peculis. “From small business owners to everyday investors, we are here to help navigate complex regulations to help our client’s investments grow.”

Peculis graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Management from Nichols College. He currently serves as President of the Worcester Economic Club, where he has served on the board of directors since 2012. Additionally, he serves on the board of advisors at Nichols College and is past President of the Worcester Young Businessmen’s Association. In 2012, Peculis was recognized by the Worcester Business Journal as a “40 Under Forty” Award recipient.

He resides in Charlton with his wife and three daughters and is active in the town’s softball and basketball programs as both a coach and board member.

About Exchange Authority

Founded in 1999, the Exchange Authority has been assisting clients and their professional advisors throughout the United States on exchange matters and acting as a Qualified Intermediary since Congress adopted the exchange safe harbor regulations in 1991. As a Qualified Intermediary, the Exchange Authority advises and educates their clients on the process, creates all required documents, coordinates the Exchange of funds, and provides full reports at the end of the Exchange. In 2008, Exchange Authority was acquired by Fidelity Cooperative Bank, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank. Learn more by visiting https://exchangeauthority.com/.

May 11, 2021 – In a virtual ceremony held on Friday, May 7, 2021, the Phi Delta Chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society welcomed seventy-nine new members to its ranks.

Founded in 1918, Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) recognizes the academic achievement of community college students and provides members with the opportunity for personal, academic, and professional growth through leadership and service. The new inductees were welcomed by officers Paige Landry, President, Madison Faneuf, Gateway to College student and Vice President, Jennifer Gariepy, Secretary and Kasey Colon, Treasurer.

“None of us could have imagined the obstacles that you would have to overcome to be here,” commented MWCC President James Vander Hooven. “I know how hard each and every one of you has worked, I congratulate you on this achievement. The world is a big place, and there are a lot of problems in the world today. Your participation in this honor society demonstrates that you recognize that there is a role for you in service to your community and that in some way you can be a solution.”

“When I see the PTK logo, the first thing that I think of is community. This honor society has brought me into an amazing community of people,” added chapter president, and Massachusetts PTK All-Academic Team member Paige Landry. “To me, it has been like a family, and like a family we have worked together to help others grow and succeed.”

The 2021 Phi Theta Kappa, Phi Delta Chapter inductees are:

Ashburnham

Hailey Whitney

Ayer

Katherine Piecewicz

Baldwinville

Emily Thibeault

Barre

Courtney Blanchette

Belchertown

Ashley Tarr

Boxborough

Mikayla Barrett

Fitchburg

Alana Strumberger

Amy Meunier

Andrew Picard

Brandan Grossi

Brandy Bend

Damon Charette

Dianna Sue Szabo

Elizabeth Parisi

Emily Eubanks

Isabel Cochran

Jaelyn Wentworth

Jessica Romero

Joshua Reynolds

Liam Petrilli Mayers

Michael Chernoch

Renatha Eubanks

Shane Murray

Gardner

Abanoub Tefal

Ashley Leblanc

Janelle Racine

Lisa McMaster

Rachel O’Connor

Skyler Elliott

Trevor Cool

Gilbertville

Holly Perry

Hardwick

Jonathan Raskett

Holden

Alli Carbonneau

Hubbardston

Andrea Techera

Joely McKelvie

Lawrence

Jazmine Martinez

Leominster

Anna Clara Loureiro Lago

Austin Dimaria

David Milholland

Ernest Nyarko

Holly Chabot

Katie Santana

Melissa Gaudet

Melissa Paquette

Tasmine Agyepong

Samantha Goulet

Littleton

Elisabeth Newbold

Nicole Jodice

Lunenburg

Mia Reynolds

Stephanie White

Monson

Amy Robertson-Soucy

New Braintree

Kourtney Furtado

Oakham

Shari Rodriguez

Shaye McKeen

Orange

Jennifer Gariepy

Omar Laza

Phillpston

Hannah Bennett

Madeline Rose

Rutland

James Tirrell

Shrewsbury

Jason Taylor

Sterling

Andrew Vettese

Stow

David Duprey

Templeton

Kailie Spofford

Lauren Arsenault

Townsend

Adoria Kavuma Winburn

Webster

Samantha Hadley

Westminster

Ryan Coleman

Worcester

Abigail Fixon-Owoo

Josephine Asante

Rachel Keblinsky

Roxanne Duquette

Saveth Huy

Sylvia Ofori

Vivian Aido

Springvale, ME

Haylie Baker

Indian Trail, NC

Chiara Meredith

Jaffrey, NH

Brittany Day

William Luksha

Fincastle, VA

Suzanne Poirier