Pittsfield Coop Bank Hires Vice President, Commercial Lending Officer

01:22PM / Thursday, June 13, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Coop Bank) announced the hiring of Zachary Gundler to its commercial lending team as a Vice President.

He has experience in commercial lending, commercial real estate assessment, credit risk analysis, portfolio management, relationship management and business development.

Gundler joins Coop Bank after working for the previous ten years at Berkshire Bank in their commercial lending and business banking departments. For the last four and a half years, Gundler has been a Vice President, Business Banking Officer managing customers with annual revenues ranging from $3 million to $25 million and originating loans up to $3 million.

"Coop Bank is excited to add Zach to our growing team," said CEO J. Jay Anderson. "He has significant experience in lending, commercial real estate valuation, relationship management and development, and risk analysis."

Gundler has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. He currently serves on the Vermont Banking Association Commercial Lending Committee and previously served on the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Alumni Board. He was born and raised in Berkshire County and currently resides in Pittsfield with his family.

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New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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