Pittsfield Cooperative Bank Hires Vice President

08:02AM / Friday, October 25, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Coop Bank) announced the hiring of Gina Vallone to its retail banking team as a Vice President and Branch Manager of its Dalton Avenue location.

She has significant experience in branch management, financial advising, personal insurance sales and management, relationship management and customer service.

Vallone joins Coop Bank after working for the previous fifteen years at Lee Bank in their retail and community banking departments. For the last five years, Vallone has been managing Lee Bank’s Pittsfield and Lenox branches. Prior to banking, she worked in personal insurance line sales and customer relations with Minkler Insurance Agency.

"Coop Bank is excited to add Gina to our growing team," said CEO J. Jay Anderson. "She has significant experience in branch and relationship management, customer service, and consumer banking and insurance product sales and development."

Vallone has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. She currently serves on the board of directors of the Elizabeth Freeman Center. She was born and raised in Berkshire County and currently resides in Pittsfield with her family.

Tags: pittsfield cooperative bank,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

RIBCO Supply

Check out our great lineup of Boss Plows, and spreaders. 2 Locations Clarksburg & Pittsfield!

ribcosupply.com

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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.

View Full Story