Making News: People in business

HADLEY – UMassFive College Federal Credit Union is offering MySolar Loans. MySolar joins the Mass Solar Loan as a complimentary solar financing option at the credit union, aimed to help homeowner members with the purchase and installation of solar electric systems.

The Mass Solar Loan is made possible through a partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center as an alternate solar financing for those who do not qualify for the Mass Solar Loan program. With higher maximum loan amounts, longer terms, funding for tree work and roof repair, along with more flexible terms and conditions, the MySolar Loan offers another option. 

WESTHAMPTON – Carol Cioe Klyman, shareholder at the law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., Springfield, was listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2019. Klyman concentrates her practice in the areas of elder law, estate planning, special needs trust planning, estate settlement, guardianships, trust and estates litigation and MassHealth appeals.

NORTHAMPTON – Melissa Ciolek  has joined Coldwell Banker Upton-Massamont Realtors in its Northampton office.

Ciolek grew up in South Hadley and earned her bachelor’s degree in communication from the University of Delaware. Her family owns Associated Builders, Inc. in South Hadley and as such, Ciolek has been around the construction industry her entire life.

She was previously a consumer loan underwriter for Wells Fargo Dealer Services and business manager for Balise Hyundai of Cape Cod. She brings her sales, finance and client service experiences together to assis clients through the home buying and selling process.

Ciolek is a member of Pioneer Valley, National and Massachusetts Realtor Associations. Her primary focus will be residential real estate in Hampshire and Franklin counties.

Florence Bank launches ‘Moments’ ad campaign

FLORENCE — Florence Bank will showcase its “Always” promise this fall with an advertising campaign called “Moments from the Valley,” in which it spotlights moments in the lives of people who live and work in western Massachusetts. 

The television commercial features a Westfield woman skydiving, an Easthampton girl playing T-ball, a veteran from the Soldiers’ Home in Holyoke with a dog from Bright Spot Therapy Dogs, a farm owner from Florence, an accomplished flutist from Worthington, a Longmeadow toddler taking his first steps, a Springfield couple getting engaged, a young woman from Hatfield graduating from high school and a Belchertown couple getting married

The bank will feature the full-length video stories, photos and personal accounts from Florence Bank employees,  on the campaign webpage.

Customers can also take a chance at being featured in a future advertising campaign by visiting any of the bank’s 10 branches and filling out a “Moments” postcard and sharing their photos with the bank’s marketing team at marketing@florencebank.com.

AMHERST – After 12 years in Northampton, Kay Gregory has moved her Aveda salon across the bridge to Amherst. Formerly The Firefly Salon, the new salon is called If Wishes Were Horses and is located just outside of town center at 321 Main St. Gregory is now able to work in and contribute to the community where she lives.

If Wishes Were Horses offers hair services and uses only the Aveda line of botanically based hair care, skin care and makeup. 

Gregory, who has owned two Aveda salons in Northampton, The Firefly Salon and Kay Gregory, said she is excited about her new location. In addition to doing hair and selling beauty products, she plans to sell a small, curated selection of vintage items for the garden and home along with some select works by some of her favorite local artists and artisans. She also offers design consultations for clients looking to create small, beautiful, functional spaces.

Before moving to western Mass in 2006, Kay was a stylist at the Aveda flagship salon in Manhattan. She holds a master’s degree in library and information sciences from McGill University, an undergraduate degree in art and French and a certificate in horticulture from the New York Botanical Garden.