PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield Cooperative Bank (Co-op Bank) announced the promotions of Dana Robb and Ray E. Smith to Senior Vice President positions.
Dana Robb has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Retail Banking & Operations, bringing more than two decades of experience in the financial services industry. He is a graduate of the 2016 Berkshire Leadership Program. He is also a 2024 graduate of the New England School of Banking. He also is involved with the Dalton Community Recreation Center and serves on the board for Girls Inc.
Ray Smith has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications. A lifelong Berkshire resident, Smith brings 30 years of experience in marketing and communications, spanning industries such as technology, consumer goods, travel, healthcare, and finance. His community involvement includes past service on both the Southwestern Vermont and Williamstown Chamber of Commerce Board as well as volunteering for the community's Annual Holiday Walk. He received his Bachelor of Arts in communications from Colby-Sawyer College and his Masters of Science in corporate communications from Ithaca College.
"These promotions highlight the incredible talent and commitment within our leadership team," said Gregg Levante, President of Co-op Bank. "Dana and Ray both exemplify what makes Co-op Bank unique, leaders who not only bring professional expertise but also a genuine connection to the Berkshires and its people. We don't just operate here, we belong here."
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BIC Sees $5.2M State Investment for Tech Hub
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Innovation Center's plans for an optics tech hub have been boosted by $5.2 million from the state.
On Thursday, the Healey-Driscoll administration and the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative's Innovation Institute announced over $16.3 million in funding and designated 14 state regions as "TechHubs" through the Massachusetts (MA) TechHubs Program. The awards were announced at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
The BIC received a $5.2 million transformation grant — the largest allocation — for an Advanced Optics TechHub within the William Stanley Business Park. The innovation center, established in 2020, is looking to add a 7,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing for Advanced Optics Tech Hub to its 23,500-square-foot floor plan.
Business Development Manager Michael Coakley said this is wonderful news for Pittsfield.
"The City has been working with Myrias Optics, an advanced optics manufacturer, and EMA [Electro Magnetic Applications] to be the anchor companies for the hub," he reported.
"The goal for the tech hub is to make Pittsfield the national leader in the testing and manufacturing of advanced optics."
Mayor Peter Marchetti has proposed $1 million in Pittsfield Economic Development Funds to assist the
BIC with this expansion and for Myrias Optics to establish a manufacturing laboratory at the
"The AMAO TechHub places Pittsfield at the forefront of advanced manufacturing," said the mayor in a statement. "The combination of state and local resources for the TechHub will create more job opportunities while we support entrepreneurs who want to grow their businesses in this community. I continue to appreciate the investments made in Pittsfield by the Healey-Driscoll administration, Rep. [Tricia] Farley-Bouvier and Sen. [Paul] Mark."
The AMAO Tech Hub is poised to bring more than 60 new, high-quality manufacturing jobs to Pittsfield. The project would allow Myrias to relocate to Pittsfield, create over 50 new job opportunities, and invest $10 million into its work in the region. EMA would be able to continue expanding in Pittsfield, adding a dozen jobs over the next two years.
Through partnership with the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, this project is hoped to extend its reach beyond Pittsfield, creating bridges to other regions of the state and investing in the next generation of industry leaders.
The state's press release said this will also facilitate collaboration along the Boston-Rochester optics corridor, develop a pipeline of talent for advanced optics manufacturing, and facilitate the growth of startups, including Myrias Optics and Electro Magnetic Applications.
"Massachusetts has always led through innovation, not just in our labs and universities, but through the strength and creativity of our people," Gov. Maura Healey said in the press release.
"The TechHubs Program reflects our belief that every region should have the opportunity to shape the future of technology and to share in the prosperity it brings."
The BIC is seeking $500,000 to expand, and Myrias Optics Inc. is seeking $500,000 to establish the manufacturing laboratory at the BIC. Both requests were referred to the Community and Economic Development subcommittee, which will meet on Monday, Nov. 10.
Funds would go toward a specialized nanoimprint lithography (NIL) lab to support the Massachusetts-based photonics company that is currently reliant on space in Austria.
Myrias Optics was born out of the UMass Amherst, and this facility is expected to "dramatically" advance the company's commercialization goals. The manufacturing lab would be modeled after the Austria facility and house NIL tooling, process engineering, and metrology operations.
By 2028, the company plans to expand from 10 to 55 employees with an average annual salary between $112,000 $127,000, and the annual revenue growth from $1 million to $33 .7 million.
The BIC has more than 50 members and 14 academic partners. It has recruited and supported Pittsfield startups through the Stage 2 Accelerator Program tailored for hard tech ventures transitioning from prototype to commercialization. This program provides mentorship and facilities, as well as connections and funding pathways.
"As the BIC continues to drive this growth, it has observed a clear shift in regional needs— from basic capacity-building to advanced research, development, and commercialization," the funding ask reads.
"Today, the demand for lab space, prototyping tools, and startup support significantly exceeds available resources."
The BIC currently has an advanced optics lab in partnership with EMA and UMass Amherst. In 2019, Pittsfield gave EMA $140,000 in economic development funds towards the purchase of a space environment testing chamber and a tax agreement that will curb the taxes EMA pays to the city from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2026.
"This funding is a big step forward in enabling the Berkshire Innovation Center and the City of
Pittsfield to plant a mustard seed into soil that has been cultivated at the BIC allowing for the next
critical step in the community’s economic revitalization and into the future," said Farley-Bouvier.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute also received $5.2 million for a Bioindustrial Manufacturing TechHub. These grants are said to support regions ready to "execute large-scale projects that enhance innovation infrastructure, promote the development of local high-growth scaling companies, catalyze technology commercialization, and foster workforce development with up to $5 million in capital funds over a period of up to three years."
Evelyn Julieano and Leanne Maschino each put down seven kills, and the Lenox volleyball team came out strong in advancing past Whitinsville Christian in three sets in the Division 5 State Tournament quarter-finals on Friday.
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The program was implemented four years ago, with the first bus opening in Illinois. It has expanded to California, Florida, New York, and now Massachusetts. click for more
Kids who came to the soft opening the night before the ribbon cutting were unsure how the arcade works and Krzysztof said he was delighted to teach them about coin slots.
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Local food providers told the state's health and human services secretary how they are meeting the growing threat of food insecurity during a visit to the Pittsfield Community Food Pantry.
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