GREENFIELD — Sean Sormanti has joined Greenfield Cooperative Bank as its senior vice president of human resources.
“Mr. Sormanti is an experienced human resources professional who will help GCB continue to grow and meet the needs of our employees,” bank President and CEO Michael E. Tucker said in a statement. “Most recently, Sean was director of human resources at Strategic Information Resources in Springfield. In his new role, Sean will be responsible for recruiting, planning, coordinating and managing the activities of the human resources department.”
Sormanti, who lives in Easthampton with his family, will be based out of the bank’s 63 Federal St. office in Greenfield.
The bank’s new addition earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine. He also holds a professional in human resources certificate and is an active member of the western Massachusetts chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.
GREENFIELD — William Granger has been named the chief information officer (CIO) at Greenfield Savings Bank.
As CIO, Granger will oversee the operations of the information technology department (IT), support the operation of the bank and develop a long-term strategy for IT. Granger joins Greenfield Savings Bank with more than 20 years of experience in the IT field and eight years of experience working in the financial and banking industry.
“Technology plays a major role in the success of the bank,” said John H. Howland, president and CEO of Greenfield Savings Bank. “Bill Granger’s leadership skills and in-depth knowledge of IT and the financial industry will assure that our bank will continue to offer efficient IT services and build a robust long-term strategy.”
Granger, a native of Yakima, Wash., served for six years in the U.S. Air Force before earning his bachelor’s degree in accounting at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. He also became a certified public accountant (CPA) and completed an artificial intelligence course through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
GREENFIELD — Franklin First Federal Credit Union has been selected as the state-level first-place recipient of the Desjardins Youth Financial Education Award by the Cooperative Credit Union Association (CCUA).
Franklin First, which serves more than 7,000 members at its 57 Newton St. branch, will advance to the national competition, according to a press release.
The Desjardins Award recognizes leadership from credit unions in promoting financial literacy for all ages. The state-wide award will be presented to Franklin First at a luncheon in October, and national award winners will be announced in November.
The award was given to Franklin First because of its collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County on “Financial Carnival” events for youth during the 2018 to 2019 school year. Over a dozen games that focused on identifying, using, earning and saving money were offered in combination with weekly mentoring sessions.
According to the release, this experiential design provided an alternative to regular mentoring sessions, and engaged the participants in interactive approaches to financial education.
“Financial literacy is an important life skill so many of our youth are not receiving at home or in school, and we are always looking for ways to introduce these skills to kids,” said Jennifer Webster, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County. “Not only did this event engage the kids with fun, creative and engaging activities, it showed the ‘littles’ that their mentors were learning as well, which only enhances their relationship and connection.”
GREENFIELD — PV Squared has once again been recognized by Solar Power World magazine and was listed prominently among solar contractors across the country in the magazine’s 2019 Top Solar Contractors list.
“It’s an honor to be recognized among the top solar energy companies in the region, let alone the nation,” said General Manager Jonathan Gregory. “Our leadership within the solar industry over the years has been a significant point of pride and we look forward to continuing that good work.”
Kelly Pickerel, editor-in-chief of Solar Power World added, “Solar power is becoming competitive with traditional electricity sources in more markets, and cities and states are demanding more renewable energy options. It’s a great time to be a solar installer, and we’re happy to highlight the best installation companies in the country on our list.”
PV Squared serves western Massachusetts and southern Vermont, and has provided renewable energy solutions to a range of clients, including business owners, commercial property owners, farmers and homeowners since 2002, according to a news release.
In addition to being recognized as a Top Solar Contractor, PV Squared was named the Valley Advocate’s Best Solar Installation Company for the third year in a row, the Best Solar Company by the 2019 Gazette Reader’s Choice, Business of the Year by the Better Business Bureau and the Solar Energy Business Association of New England’s 2019 Member Company of the Year.