MountainOne Bank Announces 2025 Officer Promotions

Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.— MountainOne announced the promotion of six Mountaineers to Officer roles.

Heather Row, Vice President, Commercial Portfolio Manager
Heather's extensive knowledge of underwriting, particularly in Commercial and Industrial exposures, has been essential to managing risk and expanding the bank's portfolio. She is recognized for her meticulous approach to analysis and her ability to think strategically. She has also been instrumental in mentoring junior team members and helping them to develop as professionals.
 
Ryan Belanger, Assistant Vice President, Network and Systems Officer
Ryan has been a driving force behind MountainOne's technology initiatives, playing a critical role in strengthening the organization's IT infrastructure. His depth of experience in network and system management, combined with a thoughtful approach to problem-solving, allows him to be a key contributor to technology projects and cross-functional initiatives. He is a respected mentor, an Emerging Leaders Program graduate, and a trusted partner across business lines and with external service providers.
 
Gwenn Bishop, Assistant Vice President, Senior Mortgage Underwriter
Gwenn has made a significant impact through the delivery of tailored solutions by enhancing the customer experience in the bank's consumer lending division. She has successfully managed complex consumer lending applications, led efforts to improve internal processes, and developed external relationships with government lending agencies. Her work on product development and reporting has played a key role in MountainOne's success.
 
Erik Ray, Assistant Vice President, Community Banking Officer
Erik has played a pivotal role in overseeing daily operations at two key branches while managing a growing client portfolio. His leadership has elevated the level of customer service delivery, and he continually identifies new growth opportunities. Erik is an Emerging Leaders Program graduate and stands out for his commitment and involvement with local nonprofits, further strengthening MountainOne's deep connection to the community.
 
Kyle Shepard, Assistant Vice President, Operations Manager
Kyle's leadership has been pivotal in driving substantial improvements in operations, particularly through system migrations and process enhancements. His oversight of initiatives like the Digital Banking platform rollout has demonstrated his ability to leverage technical expertise and strategic insight. Kyle is also an Emerging Leaders Program graduate.
 
Sarah Bloom, Officer & Operations Analyst
Sarah has been a key driver of operational improvements, consistently delivering solutions that enhance efficiency across the organization. From leading major initiatives, such as the migration to a new Digital Banking platform and implementation of Positive Pay and Debit Card Controls, to developing reporting and workflow automation, her expertise has had a lasting impact beyond Operations.
 
"An Officer designation is more than a title; it is a recognition of talent, leadership, trust, and commitment to our mission, and the meaningful impact one has within our organization," said Beth Petropulos, Senior Vice President, Senior HR, and SAFE Act Officer at MountainOne. "Heather, Ryan, Gwenn, Erik, Kyle, and Sarah have each demonstrated excellence in their roles and genuinely represent MountainOne's core commitments. We are incredibly proud to celebrate their respective Officer promotions and look forward to all they will accomplish in the years to come."

Tags: MountainOne,   

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

North Adams Updated on Schools, Council President Honored With 'Distinction'

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff

Superintendent Timothy Callahan gives a presentation on the school system at Tuesday's City Council meeting. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council got an update on what's up in the school system and its president was inducted into the mayor's Women's Leadership Hall of Fame.
 
Mayor Jennifer Macksey, as the city's first woman mayor, established the Hall of Fame in 2022, during March, Women's History Month, to recognize local women who have had a positive impact on the city. Past inductees have included the council's first woman president Fran Buckley, Gov. Jane Swift and boxing pioneer Gail Grandchamp. 
 
She described President Ashley Shade as a colleague and a friend and a former student. 
 
"Ashley is known not just for her leadership, but for her compassion, her ability to listen, to understand and to stand up for those whose voices are often gone unheard," the mayor said. "She has been a tireless advocate for the LGBTQ plus community and marginalized communities at both the local and national level here in North Adams."
 
Elected in 2021, Shade is the first openly transgender person to hold the role of council president in Massachusetts. She also leads the first-ever woman majority council in the city's history. 
 
The McCann Technical School graduate also has served on boards and commissions, "always working to make our city more inclusive, equitable and welcoming," said the mayor. "Ashley not leads not only with strength, but with a heart, and our community is a much stronger place because of it."
 
Shade, wearing her signature pink suit, was presented with a plaque from the mayor designating her a "woman of distinction."
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories