True North Insurance Names Two to Leadership Roles

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Holly Taylor has been appointed president and chief operating officer and Jean Stone has been named vice president of True North Insurance.

The announcement was made by MountainOne President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Leavitt. True North Insurance is a division of MountainOne Bank.

"Holly and Jean have become recognized experts in their field of employee benefits and these appointments are reflective of their success," Leavitt said. "Together with their team, they provide a crucial service to employers, especially in light of ever-changing and complex health care regulation.'

Taylor joined True North in December 1997, and has overseen the growth of the employee benefits division into one of the area's largest group insurance agencies. Serving as vice president since 2002, she developed the agency's large group market segment and expanded administrative and compliance services. In her new position, she will oversee agency management and collaborate on strategic planning with MountainOne affiliates.

Taylor earned a bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island. She also holds a registered health underwriter designation and an insurance adviser license.

Among her professional roles, Taylor serves on the Broker Advisory Board to the Massachusetts Health Connector, the board of directors for the Massachusetts Association of Health Underwriters, the Broker Advisory Board to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and as the Massachusetts coordinator for National Exchange Collaborative of the National Association of Health Underwriters.


Locally, she is a long-term member of the Ecu-Health Care Board of Directors. Taylor lives in Williamstown, with her husband, Richard Lamb.

Stone joined True North Insurance in 2001, and has worked as a broker since 2002. Stone holds an insurance adviser license, as well as certified employee benefits specialist, group benefits associate and compensation management specialist designations from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

In the community, Stone serves on the Northern Berkshire YMCA Board of Directors and as chairman of its Strategic Planning Committee. She is co-chairman of the Berkshire County Kid’s Place 20th anniversary campaign and sits on teh Broker Advisory Board to Health New England. A native of Lee, Stone resides in North Adams with her husband, Craig.

True North provides employers with group insurance, including medical, dental, life, disability and voluntary benefits. Its services include strategic planning, benefits administration, compliance, work-site wellness assistance, and human resources support. The agency also handles individual insurance, including key person, disability, life and long-term care plans.

MountainOne Financial is a mutual holding company headquartered in North Adams. Founded in 1848, MountainOne Bank and its banking divisions have assets of over $775 million and provide a broad range of banking services to personal and enterprise customers.

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MassDOT Warns of Toll-fee Smishing Scam

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was alerted that a text message-based scam, also known as smishing, is fraudulently claiming to represent tolling agencies from across the country. The scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and requesting payment for unpaid tolls.

The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with an account or usage of toll roads.

Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from EZDriveMA or another toll agency should not click on the link.

EZDriveMA customers can verify a valid text notification in several ways:

  • EZDriveMA will never request payment by text
  • All links associated with EZDriveMA will include www.EZDriveMA.com

The FBI says it has received more than 2,000 complaints related to toll smishing scams since early March and recommends individuals who receive fraudulent messages do the following:

1. File a complaint with the  Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; be sure to include:

The phone number from where the text originated.
The website listed within the text

2. Check your account using the toll service's legitimate website.

3. Contact the toll service's customer service phone number.

4. Delete any smishing texts received.

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