True North Announces Leadership Changes

10:21AM / Friday, April 29, 2011Print Story | Email Story

Rob Abel

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — As part of a long-term transition plan, Rob Abel has been named president and chief executive officer of True North Financial Services, according to an announcement by Stephen Crowe, president and CEO of MountainOne Financial Partners.

"Dick Lamb founded True North in 1997, and has served as president since that time. He has done an outstanding job, and has been planning for this transition for some time. Dick will continue to serve as president of True North Insurance Agency, and we are very excited about announcing Rob's new role as CEO of True North Financial Services," Crowe said.

"I'm very pleased with Dick's faith in my abilities, and am eager to begin this next step in my career. I also look forward to continuing to serve both my individual and business clients," Abel said.

Lamb noted "I welcome Rob as a talented and energetic leader. I've watched his growth over the years, and know he'll do a great job. We both look forward to maintaining the high level of service our clients have come to expect from True North."

In 2010, True North marked another milestone with its conversion to the Commonwealth Financial Network, bringing additional resources, technology and support to True North clients. True North has 25 employees in four offices, and provides financial and insurance services throughout Berkshire County and beyond.

True North is a subsidiary of MountainOne, which also includes Hoosac Bank, Williamstown Savings Bank, South Coastal Bank, and Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins.

MountainOne Financial Partners, headquartered in North Adams, has combined assets of more than $850 million and nearly 225 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, 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, Adams, Williamstown and Pittsfield.

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Clarksburg Applying for Home Rehabilitation Program

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:24AM / Monday, December 29, 2025

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town is applying for Community Development Block Grant funds for a housing rehabilitation program.

Clarksburg could get $850,000 or more depending on if it partners with another community.

Brett Roberts, a senior planner with Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, presented the options to the Select Board at its last meeting.

"We were looking over our portfolio, and you're a town that we haven't reached out to in quite a while, and I wanted to change that," he said. "You have a pretty competitive score with the state so we wanted to see if you'd be interested in the grant."

The grants, funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and administered by the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, help small cities and towns undertake projects that benefit low and moderate-income residents. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll recently announced more than $4 million coming to Berkshire towns for fiscal 2025.

This is slightly different than Home Modification Loan Program presented to the North Adams City Council earlier this month that focuses on accessibility.

Roberts said funds would be used to repair homes, bring them up to code, do lead mitigation or update roofs, windows, and septic. Eligible recipients would have income up to 80 percent of the area median income.

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