Departments People on the Move

People on the Move

Thomas Newton

Thomas Newton

Thomas Newton recently joined the South Hadley-based advertising and marketing firm Allen Media Inc., as a Relationship Manager. Newton has customer-service skills and a background as a marketing and sales executive, and will work directly with clients to optimize their presence in the market by applying his expertise in marketing, branding, advertising, and communications. Previously, Newton was Vice President of Marketing and Operations at Point Software Inc. in East Longmeadow; Regional Marketing and Promotions Manager at Comcast Spotlight in Bloomfield, Conn.; Director of Marketing & Promotions at Saga Communications in East Longmeadow; and other senior management positions at Charter Communications, Starz/Encore Networks, and Continental Cablevision.
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Kevin O’Donnell

Kevin O’Donnell

BerkshireBanc Investment Services, an affiliate of Berkshire Bank, announced the promotion of Kevin O’Donnell, CFP to Vice President. O’Donnell is a Financial Advisor with Commonwealth Financial Network, and started with Berkshire Bank’s trust department in April 2006 as an Investment Representative. In 2011, he was promoted to Financial Consultant/Associate Vice President at BerkshireBanc Investment Services. O’Donnell has logged more than 15 years of experience advising clients as a financial advisor at Bank of America Investments, UBS Financial Services, and Merrill Lynch. O’Donnell, who was recently named a “Top Next Gen Independent Broker/Dealer Advisor” for 2014 by REP magazine, graduated from Fairfield University’s School of Business with a BS in management, holds the FINRA Series 7, 31, 63, and 65 securities registrations, and has earned the Certified Financial Planner certification. He holds life, accident, and health insurance licenses.
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Dakin Humane Society recently welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors:
Jean Deliso is President and Owner of Deliso Financial & Insurance Services, which specializes in comprehensive financial planning. A member of New York Life’s Chairman’s Council and a consistent qualifying member of the Million Dollar Round Table, Deliso is a 2013 Court of the Table Member and a member of the Chairman’s Council. She is a graduate of Bentley College; and
Michael Simolo is an Estate Planning and Business Attorney at Robinson Donovan, P.C. Simolo, a graduate of Cornell Law School, has worked as an estate-planning, estate-administration, probate-litigation, and business attorney since 2003. With Robinson Donovan, P.C. since 2009, Simolo is a frequent speaker on estate-planning issues and is the president of the Pioneer Valley Estate Planning Council.
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Inspired Marketing recently announced the following changes at the Agawam-based marketing and events-planning firm.
Jill Monson-Bishop, CIO-Chief Inspiration Officer, was recently chosen to serve on one of Springfield City Council President Michael Fenton’s new ad-hoc committees, the Workforce Development Committee;
• Stephanie Killian has been promoted to Senior Event Planner and Project Manager. She began with Inspired Marketing as an intern and has four years experience planning corporate events. Her specialties include nonprofit and corporate event management, creative marketing solutions, media planning/buying, and organization. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in event planning from Bridgewater State University;
Lauren Mendoza has been hired as Executive Administrator and Event Assistant. Mendoza was previously with United Personnel and joined the Inspired Marketing team at the beginning of 2014. A graduate of UMass Amherst, she has a degree in business and management. She specializes in general project support, editing and proofing, media relations, and event assistance; and
• The 2014 Advisory Board structured to advance growth of the company includes the following board members: Michael Fenton, Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.; David Ference, TD Bank; Nick Gelfand, NRF Real Estate; Bill Horowitz, AdviCoach Business Advisers; Regina Jasak, Jasak Independent Insurance; Scott Monson, Rock 102/Lazer 99.3; Marybeth O’Meara, Comcast; David Smith, H.L. Dempsey; Pamela Thornton, United Personnel; and Michael Weber, Minuteman Press.
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Jordan Diaz was recently named Information Technology Coordinator at Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. Diaz will be responsible for tech support, computer inventory maintenance, and software/operating system upgrades. He works with Paragus Strategic IT to keep MBK on the cutting edge of the industry’s cloud-computing management system. Previously, Diaz worked as an IT Support Technician at ServiceNet Inc. in Northampton, and has a background in customer service. Diaz attended Springfield Technical Community College and is a CompTIA-certified Network and Security Technician.
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Steve Lowell

Steve Lowell

Monson Savings Bank recently announced that Steve Lowell, President and CEO, was elected to the Steering Committee of the Mass. Financial Education Collaborative (MFEC) and presented at the first annual State House Financial Capability Day on Feb. 27. MFEC is a group of nonprofits, private institutions, government agencies, and other entities from across Massachusetts that was established by former commissioners of the legislatively mandated Mass.Asset Development Commission. This statewide network of innovative organizations works together to increase economic stability in Massachusetts through financial education, personal savings, and access to wealth-building assets such as homes, cars, college educations, and small businesses. Lowell was appointed to the Steering Committee due to his leadership in developing Monson Savings Bank’s robust financial-literacy programs, which include teaching financial literacy in area schools; providing workshops on important financial topics; developing a portfolio of products and services for children, teens, and college students; and the bank’s soon-to-be formally announced partnership with MassSaves.
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Timothy Steffen

Timothy Steffen

Tia Allen

Tia Allen

Northwestern Mutual recently promoted Timothy Steffen to Director of Recruitment and Tia Allen to Campus Recruiter. Steffen has been with Northwestern Mutual since 2010 and was previously the Director of Campus Recruitment. As Director of Recruitment, he is responsible for coordinating and managing all district network office recruiting efforts, and oversees the campus recruiter. He is a UMass graduate. Allen, who joined Northwestern Mutual in May 2012, will lead the internship and recruiting effort as Campus Recruiter. She is a graduate of Worcester State University with a degree in business administration.
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Elizabeth Beaudry

Elizabeth Beaudry

Denise Perkins

Denise Perkins

NUVO Bank & Trust Co., a locally owned, independent, small-business bank in Springfield, recently announced the promotions of Elizabeth Beaudry and Denise Perkins, both with the bank since its opening in 2008. Beaudry, formerly the Senior Commercial Credit Analyst and Information Technology Administrator, now serves as NUVO’s Commercial Credit Officer and Information Technology Officer. She will supervise and review the credit-approval process, evaluate the financial condition of commercial-loan applicants, conduct cash-flow analysis, and assist with administration and maintenance of the bank’s commercial-lending portfolio. Additionally, Beaudry will maintain administrative duties for the bank’s main network and manage day-to-day technology tasks, including all hardware, software, network, and computer-related issues. Beaudry has worked for several local banks, including Woronoco Savings Bank, Westbank, Florence Savings Bank, and Berkshire Bank. She is an alumnus of Bay Path College, where she graduated magna cum laude with a BA in business executive management. Perkins, formerly NUVO Bank’s Corporate Secretary, now serves as the Corporate Administrative Officer. She is in charge of human resources, payroll, shareholder relations, as well as the administration of the board and other corporate-related functions at the bank. With 30 years of banking experience, Perkins’ career began at the Farm Credit Banks of Springfield, and in 1987, she joined the Springfield Institution for Savings (SIS), where she developed and administered a community-relations dropout-prevention program for at-risk youth, which received national attention, as well as leading other educational collaborative partnerships for the bank. In 1994, Perkins joined the Westbank corporate offices as the Executive Assistant to the President. Perkins is an alumnus of Cambridge College, where she completed a graduate studies preparation program.
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The Old Sturbridge Village Board of Trustees recently voted unanimously to extend the contract of the museum’s President and CEO, James Donahue, through June 2017. Donahue’s leadership of the nonprofit organization has been lauded since he began in 2007, due to his ability to prompt significant performance improvements, including stabilizing attendance, increasing education field trips, and fund-raising, positioning the museum for a brighter future. Donahue led the reopening of the historic 10-room Old Sturbridge Inn and 29-room Reeder Family Lodges at the village in 2013, expanding the village’s operations to include museum, dining, retail, and lodging. Donahue was formally recognized for leadership and achievements at the 26th annual Massachusetts Governor’s Conference on Travel and Tourism this past October when he was awarded the Larry D. Meehan Award, presented by Gov. Deval Patrick.
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The Ware-based Positive Path Counseling Center announced that Gary Blanchard has been awarded the Counselor of the Year Award from the Mass. Assoc. of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Counselors. The award is presented annually to an addiction counselor who demonstrates excellence.