Mountainone Promotes Seven Employees

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North Adams - Seven employees have been promoted to new positions at MountainOne Financial Partners, MHC and its subsidiary companies, according to an announcement by Stephen Crowe, President and Chief Executive Officer. MountainOne Financial Partners includes Hoosac Bank; South Coastal Bank; Williamstown Savings Bank; Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins; and True North.

According to Crowe, "MountainOne is pleased to be able to retain our dedicated and talented employees and promote from within our organization. These associates exemplify the commitment we have to serving our local communities and customers. I'm proud of them all."

Richard Alcombright has been named Senior Vice President of Retail Banking for Hoosac Bank and Williamstown Savings Bank. In this position, Alcombright oversees the branch office network and manages the development of new products and delivery channels. He is also responsible for sales, service, and internal referral results at both banks. During his more than 35 years of service, Alcombright has served as Vice President of Retail Banking, Assistant Vice President, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Mortgage Officer and Teller. Alcombright holds an Associates Degree in Accounting from Southern Vermont College, and is a graduate of the National School of Savings Banking at Fairfield University. In the community, Alcombright is a member of the North Adams City Council, the McCann Technical School Committee, the YMCA Board of Directors, the Tri-Parish Finance Council, and the Holy Family Terrace Board. He is currently the Campaign Chairman for the Northern Berkshire United Way and is a Corporator for North Adams Regional Hospital. He resides in North Adams with his wife, Michelle, and has four children.

Liz Bissell has been named Vice President of Marketing. Prior to this, she served as Assistant Vice President of Marketing, and held a similar position at Legacy Banks before joining MountainOne. As Vice President of Marketing, Bissell handles all marketing, advertising, communications and public relations activities for the MountainOne companies. Bissell holds a Masters Degree in Business Management from Cambridge College. She also holds a diploma from the American Bankers Association Graduate School of Bank Marketing. She is a veteran, and served as a medic in the US Army. Bissell is a member of the American Bankers Association Marketing Network, the New England Chapter of the Bank Marketing Association, the Pittsfield public schools councils, and the McCann Technical School council. She is a co-founder of Berkshire Young Professionals and is a graduate and former steering committee member for the Berkshire Leadership Program. She also serves as a Fresh Air Fund host family, and volunteers with United Way and the Dollar Diva program at Miss Halls School. Bissell lives in Pittsfield with her daughter.

Tracy McConnell has been named Assistant Vice President of Business Lending. Prior to this, McConnell served as Business Lending Officer, Business Loan Operations Officer, and Business Loan Administrator. In her new position, McConnell is responsible for developing new business relationships and enhancing existing relationships. She handles every step of the business lending process, including analysis, underwriting, and approval. McConnell has received diplomas from the American Institute of Banking, the Massachusetts Bankers School of Commercial Lending and the Massachusetts Bankers School of Advanced Commercial Lending. In the community, McConnell is Office Technology Chair for the McCann Advisory Committee, a member of the North Adams Rotary Club and the Northern Berkshire United Way Commercial Division. She also serves as Chairman of the Northern Berkshire United Way Financial Services Division. McConnell resides in Williamstown with her husband, John, and their son.

Jean Sherman has been appointed Assistant Vice President of Compliance. Prior to this, Sherman served as Compliance and Bank Secrecy Act Officer and as a Staff Accountant. In her new role, she manages the Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering programs. Sherman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). She is also a graduate of the American Bankers Association National Compliance School and Graduate Compliance School, as well as the Center for Financial Training of Southern New England. Sherman is a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) and serves as President of the Western Massachusetts Bank Compliance Association. In the community, Sherman volunteers her time with the Northern Berkshire United Way and is a past President of the Adams Lions Club.

Timothy Shepard has been appointed Information Technology Officer. Before this, he held positions as Director of Information Technologies and Systems Administrator. Prior to joining MountainOne, Shepard was Senior Technician at Innovative Business Systems in Easthampton. As Technology Officer, Shepard is responsible for the administration and maintenance of all MountainOne Financial Partners networks and operating systems. He also oversees security of all data through the use of technical, physical and administrative safeguards. Shepard holds an Associates Degree in Engineering Technology from Berkshire Community College (BCC) and has taken computer-programming courses at MCLA. In the community, Shepard is an active member and volunteers for St. John Bosco Church in Stamford, Vermont, and is a CCD teacher. Shepard resides in Stamford, Vermont.

Myra Wilk has been named Retail Loan Officer. In this position, Wilk originates and approves personal home equity and mortgage loans. She also establishes and maintains relationships with customers, area realtors and attorneys. Previously, she served as a Loan Originator and a Loan Processor. Wilk holds diplomas from the Center for Financial Training of Southern New England in General Financial Services, Advanced Financial Services and Consumer Lending. She has also attended continuing education courses through MCLA and BCC. In the community, Wilk is a member of the Adams Events Committee, the Adams Downtown Development Committee, the Topia Arts Center Advisory Board and is an Adams-Cheshire-Savoy Youth Soccer Coach. She is a former Selectman for the Town of Adams and also serves as Chairman of the Northern Berkshire United Way Government Division. Wilk lives in Adams.

Tyna Senecal has been promoted to Assistant Branch Manager. In this role, she assists with the daily operations of Hoosac Bank's main office and helps personal and business customers with their deposit account and related financial needs. She is also responsible for referring business throughout the MountainOne companies. Prior to this promotion, she was a Customer Service Representative and a Teller. Senecal holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from MCLA. She is also a Justice of the Peace in Stamford, where she lives with her husband.

MountainOne Financial Partners, headquartered in North Adams, has combined assets of nearly $900 million and over 200 employees. Hoosac Bank, Williamstown Savings Bank, and South Coastal Bank provide a broad range of banking services for personal and business customers. Hoosac Bank, established in 1848, has offices in North Adams and Williamstown; Williamstown Savings Bank, founded in 1892, has an office in Williamstown; and, South Coastal Bank, founded in 1868, has offices in Rockland, Braintree, Scituate, and Quincy. Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins Insurance Agency, founded in 1927 and one of the largest property and casualty insurance agencies in Western Massachusetts, serves personal and business customers through offices in North Adams, Williamstown, and Adams. True North Financial Services, established in 1997, is a registered broker dealer, providing investment, life insurance, retirement planning, and employee benefit services to personal and business customers through offices in North Adams, Williamstown, and Pittsfield.
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ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

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