Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley installs 2023 officers, directors

SPRINGFIELD — Lori Beth Chase was installed as the 2023 president of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley, a nonprofit trade association with over 1,800 members.

The 107th annual installation of officers and directors took place on Jan. 12.

Chase started her professional real estate career in 2017 and quickly became involved in serving locally. Since 2020, she has served on the board of directors at RAPV and, in 2021, served as the treasurer and chair of the Finance Committee.

Chase also served on the Massachusetts Association of Realtors Finance Committee in 2021 and, after the passing of Rick Sawicki in 2021, has served as the western Massachusetts regional vice president serving the Pioneer Valley and the Berkshires. In this position, she sits on the Massachusetts Association of Realtors Executive Committee and board of directors.

The following individuals were installed as 2023 officers: Arlene Castellano of Maria Acuna Real Estate as president-elect; Peter Ruffini of RE/MAX Connections as treasurer; and Cheryl Malandrinos of BHH Realty Professionals as immediate past president.

Directors include Carrie Blair of Keller Williams Realty, Shawn Bowman of Trademark Real Estate, Brenda Cuoco of Brenda Cuoco & Associates, Peter Davies of Borawski Real Estate, Janise Fitzpatrick of Jones Group Realtors, Judy Nevarez of BHH Realty Professionals, Michelle Stegall of Property One, and Clinton Stone of RE/MAX Connections.

Florence Bank names new manager for King Street branch

FLORENCE — Florence Bank announced that vice president and branch manager Jessica Wales of South Hadley has been named manager of the bank’s King Street branch in Northampton.

Wales will replace Lee McCarthy, who is retiring in April after serving as manager of the King Street branch for 18 years and area manager for the bank since 2018.

Since 2020, Wales has served as manager of the Granby branch. She has 26 years of banking experience and previously worked for Florence Bank for 11 years from 2000 to 2011.

Wales holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Ashworth College and is a graduate of the New England School for Financial Studies.

Active in the community, she is a board member and member of the Finance Committee for United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region, and a committee member for Western Mass Women’s Business Network and Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Golf FORE Health Tournament. She is also an ambassador for the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce.

McCarthy, of Springfield, worked in the banking industry for 42 years. Hired in 2004 by Florence Bank, she served as branch manager for King Street, beginning in 2004, and in 2018, she also became area manager, overseeing the King Street, Williamsburg, downtown Northampton and Easthampton branches.

Garage coming to Holyoke Mall

HOLYOKE — Canadian-based retailer Garage is set to open at Holyoke Mall in early spring. Construction is underway on a 3,891-square-foot space on the lower level in Center Court.

The Gen Z fashion brand offers clothing and accessories for young women. The brand spotlights denim, everyday basics, and ‘gram-worthy trends to inspire confidence.

Garage dresses individuals for their casual lifestyles and provides seasonless apparel and accessories, including denim, woven bottoms, knit tops, dresses, outerwear, swim, and intimates.

Established in 1975, Garage has more than 190 boutiques across North America.

Legacy Counsellors adds real estate coordinator

EASTHAMPTON — Legacy Counsellors, P.C. has hired Annmarie Jackson as a real estate coordinator.

Jackson joined Legacy in December. She brings years of experience in the real estate industry. She is a graduate of American International College with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and Holyoke Community College with a associate of science in pharmacy technology.

In 2017, she joined RE/MAX Swift River Valley alongside her husband Matthew Jackson, broker/owner. The company recently merged with RE/MAX Connections in Wilbraham. Jackson holds her real estate license in both Massachusetts and Connecticut.

She and her husband Matt live in Belchertown with their two children.

Legacy Counsellors, P.C., with offices in Easthampton, Ludlow, Amherst, Northampton, and Sturbridge, as well as Bloomfield, Connecticut, has attorneys licensed in Massachusetts and Connecticut who help clients in the areas of estate planning and administration, residential and commercial real estate, asset protection, Medicaid planning, guardianships, and conservatorships, family law and mediation, business representation, and more.

UMassFive announces new cash management specialist

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union (UMassFive) has hired Shelby Downey as cash management specialist, as part of the credit union’s growing commercial services team.

Downey started her career at UMassFive in 2020 as a member service specialist at the credit union’s Hadley branch, eventually becoming a lead member service specialist in the Northampton branch. Within her new position, Downey will be responsible for supporting the commercial services team in building out a suite of cash management products, along with developing business community awareness.

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