Making News in Business, Oct. 28

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College has hired Nathan Leveille of Russell as its new staff associate of grants development and management.

Leveille, an HCC graduate from the class of 2001, comes to the college with more than 15 years of experience in grants development and management through his positions at Springfield Technical Community College, where he had worked as grants manager and staff assistant in the Development Office since 2005.

He started his position in the office of Resource Development at HCC on Monday, Oct. 18.

After graduating from HCC with his associate degree in liberal arts, Leveille went on to Westfield State University for his bachelor’s degree in mass communication with a concentration in public and corporate communications.

Stavros CEO
selected for
leadership program

BOSTON — Angelina Ramirez, the chief executive officer at Stavros Center for Independent Living in Amherst, is one of 16 professionals chosen to participate in Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation’s Massachusetts Institute for Community Health Leadership (MICHL) 2021-2022 class.

Participants in the institute will advance their leadership capabilities and learn new practices and strategies designed to increase their personal impact and strengthen their organizations’ role in building a more equitable health care system.

The experiential program brings together emerging leaders who currently direct or manage programs at a variety of health care organizations across Massachusetts for a series of classroom, peer-to-peer and professional learning opportunities. Since 2014, the program has had a particular focus on structural racism and racial inequities in health care.

Leonard to lead Country Bank
business branch

SPRINGFIELD — Ben Leonard of Northampton, a senior vice president at Country Bank, will lead the bank’s new business office on the 17th Floor of Tower Square in downtown Springfield.

Leonard has 20 years of experience and has spent over a decade fostering relationships in western Massachusetts.

The new location becomes the “bookend” to its eastern business office located at 315 Main St. in Worcester. The mutual savings bank has 16 locations now spanning Springfield to Worcester.

Leonard serves on the Board for Revitalize CDC in Springfield. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Texas.

bankESB launches ‘Neighbors’ fundraiser

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB will kick off its 2021 Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive to help support local food pantries.

This marks the first year the bank will host what it hopes will be an annual appeal, inviting bank customers, employees, and members of the community to donate money toward food pantries throughout the month of November. All donations (up to $2,500 per customer) will be matched dollar for dollar by bankESB and the total raised will be divided among participating food pantries across western Massachusetts in communities the bank serves.

The bank encourages donations of any amount, with contributions of as little as $1 to $5 helping to provide 10 to 50 meals. As an added incentive to give, the bank will offer those who donate the opportunity to win a $25 gift card at each of its locations.

Those who wish to participate have until Nov. 30 to make their donations. Checks should be made payable to “bankESB Neighbors” and can be dropped off at any bankESB branch or mailed to: Margaret Prendergast, bankESB, 36 Main St., Easthampton, MA 01027.

Florence Bank promotes Halpin

FLORENCE — Florence Bank has promoted Jennifer Halpin of Easthampton to the position of assistant vice president, human resources and affirmative action manager at the main office in Florence.

Halpin is a seven-year employee of Florence Bank who brings extensive knowledge and skills to her new position. In her new role, she will lead and direct the routine functions of the human resources department, including hiring and interviewing, payroll administration, benefits and overseeing/implementing the bank’s equal employment opportunity and affirmative action policies and plans.

During her tenure at the bank, Halpin has been the recipient of the President’s Award, which is given to employees who demonstrate superior levels of performance, customer service and overall contribution to the bank. Halpin holds an associate degree in business administration from Berkshire Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.