Greenfield Cooperative Bank celebrates employees and milestone anniversaries at Employee Appreciation Dinner
WHATELY — Greenfield Cooperative Bank recently gathered employees for its annual Employee Appreciation Dinner at Whately’s Quonquont Farm.
The evening offered a way for employees to come together outside of the workplace to recognize the people who make the co-op what it is. The celebration also included several milestone anniversaries, honoring employees for their years of service to the bank.
Celebrating five years with the co-op are Lisandra Rivera-Lucena, Jay Seyler, Maria Dias, Michele Desiree Evanson, Brenda Lyon, Luke Parsons, Chris Caouette and Annette Baker. Alyssa Dansereau and Adam Baker were recognized for 10 years of service, while Tammy Hann celebrated 20 years and Vanessa Russell marked 25 years at the co-op.
“Every day, our employees bring their knowledge, energy and commitment to the work we do,” Tony Worden, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, said in a statement. “It’s important to take time to recognize that effort and celebrate the people behind our success. We’re grateful for everything our team does for our customers, our communities and each other.”
Jess Thompson joins Greenfield Cooperative Bank
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank has appointed Jess Thompson as assistant vice president of community outreach and business development
In this dual-focused role, Thompson will drive community and economic development across the bank’s market assessment area while expanding brand awareness and growth throughout Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. She will work with local nonprofits and community organizations, overseeing contribution and sponsorship requests while forging partnerships that align with the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) goals.
Thompson brings extensive local expertise and community engagement experience to the bank. She previously served as director of investor and community engagement for the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce and, most recently, as associate director of community engagement at Community Action Pioneer Valley.
“Jess’ deep ties to our region and her proven track record of bringing organizations together make her an outstanding addition to our team,” Tony Worden, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, said in a statement. “Her expertise in community engagement directly aligns with our philosophy that banking should be cooperative. We are pleased to welcome her as we continue to strengthen our partnerships across the Pioneer Valley.”
“I’ve spent my career believing that the best outcomes come from working together — whether that’s through the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce or my years at Community Action Pioneer Valley,” Thompson said in a statement. “Joining a bank whose very name reflects that same value of cooperation feels like a natural next chapter, and I’m excited to keep building those relationships across the region.”
Sept. 24 event to explore AI strategies for businesses
SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, in partnership with Tech Foundry, will present the next installment of its Strategy+AI series, designed to help businesses develop practical artificial intelligence strategies, smarter operations and stronger growth, on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
The event will be held at Tech Foundry, located at 1350 Main St., Suite 500, in Springfield. Attendees can register for free at businesswest.com/stratai-series.
The Sept. 24 event will be moderated by Tricia Canavan, CEO of Tech Foundry, and will
feature a panel of experts and breakout workshops. The scheduled panelists are Nick Stamoulis, president of Brick Marketing, and Michael Weber, president of North Star Technology Leadership. Food will be provided by a local vendor and beverages will be provided by White Lion Brewing Co.
Freedom Credit Union collecting donations for Alzheimer’s Association
SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is collecting donations throughout September to support the Alzheimer’s Association and its efforts to advance research, promote risk reduction and early detection, and provide care and support for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
Donations can be made at all Freedom Credit Union branches throughout the month. Freedom Credit Union has branches across western Massachusetts, including in Greenfield and Turners Falls.
More than 55 million people worldwide are living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Alzheimer’s is a degenerative brain disease and the most common cause of dementia, which involves a decline in memory, thinking and reasoning that can interfere with daily life.
“Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people and has an impact that reaches far beyond the individual who receives a diagnosis,” Glenn Welch, president and CEO of Freedom Credit Union, said in a statement. “We are proud to support the Alzheimer’s Association and provide our members and communities with an opportunity to contribute to its important work.”
MassHire invites employers to ‘Schools & Local Employers Exchange’
GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center is inviting local employers to participate in its upcoming “Schools & Local Employers Exchange: Internships, Job Shadows & Career Connections” on Wednesday, Oct. 14, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Greenfield office, located at 101 Munson St., Suite 210.
This informal networking event will bring employers together with school administrators, program coordinators and other staff from across Franklin and Hampshire counties, and the North Quabbin region who are actively working to connect students with career exploration and work-based learning opportunities.
For employers, this is an opportunity to:
- Connect directly with local schools and districts.
- Explore opportunities to host interns or job shadows.
- Share information about the industry and career pathways.
- Discuss classroom visits, career panels, employer tours and other career exploration activities.
- Learn more about how Connecting Activities and YouthWorks can support connections between employers and young people.
Light refreshments will be provided. Employers do not need to have an established internship program to participate. MassHire welcomes organizations that are simply interested in learning more about how they can engage with local schools and students.
Register by Wednesday, Oct. 7, at tinyurl.com/MassHireSchoolsEmployers. Attendees are advised to enter the building using the South Entrance parking lot.