Daily News

Steve Lowell

MONSON — Steve Lowell, who has served as president of Monson Savings Bank (MSB) for the last nine years, announced his retirement effective February 2021. He is looking forward to continuing to serve in a vital role with the bank as chairman of the board.

The bank’s board of directors announced that Daniel Moriarty Sr. has been named the bank’s president effective February 2021.

Daniel Moriarty Sr.

Moriarty has been with MSB for 22 years, serving as senior vice president and chief financial officer since 2011. He joined the bank in 1998 as an accounting manager, became controller in 2002, assistant vice president in 2004, vice president-controller in 2006, and was promoted to vice president-chief financial officer in 2009.

An alumni of Monson High School, Moriarty went on to graduate with honors from both Providence College and the National School of Banking at Fairfield University.

“I am truly honored, humbled, and thankful to God for this exciting opportunity to serve the bank in this capacity,” he said. “Monson Savings Bank is a special place with exceptional customers, remarkable employees, and close to 150 years of tradition and independence.”

Michael Rouette

The board of directors also announced that Michael Rouette has been named executive vice president and chief operating officer, a newly created position.

Rouette has been with MSB for more than 30 years, serving as senior vice president and chief loan officer since 2016. He began his career there in 1987 as a teller. He became loan officer in 1989, assistant vice president-loan officer in 1996, vice president-loan officer in 1996, and senior vice president-loan officer in 2011.

He is a graduate of Monson High School, as well as Old Dominion University, the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies at Babson College, and the Graduate School of Banking in Colorado.

“I am truly grateful to be working at such an amazing place with such wonderful people,” Rouette said. “I really love my job, helping my customers, and working with my co-workers. I am overjoyed about this new opportunity.”

Added Lowell, “I could not be more proud of both Dan and Michael. These two went to high school together, played sports together, and have been supporting each other at Monson Savings Bank for over two decades. They have such a strong background together not only as co-workers but as friends. Dan and Michael have spent time together outside of work, golfing, coaching sports, and even ran a couple Boston Marathons together. They will be dynamic leaders of this wonderful bank. I look forward to seeing them continue the bank’s legacy of remaining financially strong, community oriented, and meeting the changing needs of our customers with innovative products and services.”

Daily News

LONGMEADOW — Businesswomen Suzy Batiz and Patrice Banks will join producer, investor, and media personality Tyra Banks as speakers at Bay Path University’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference on Friday, March 27.

Batiz, who will deliver the morning address to open the conference, earned a place on Forbes’ list of most successful self-made women — and an estimated net worth of $260 million — by creating of a suite of eco-minded household products, including Poo-Pourri, a toilet spray she developed to combat bathroom odors.

Patrice Banks (no relation to Tyra) will address the audience at lunchtime. She is the owner of the Girls Auto Clinic and Clutch Beauty Bar, an auto mechanic shop and beauty bar staffed by women. She is also the founder of the SheCANics movement, which looks to demystify car repair and engage more women in the automotive industry.

“These speakers are true visionaries. They’ve built businesses as women, for women, around the specific perspectives that women gain as consumers,” said Caron Hobin, vice president of Strategic Alliances, the Bay Path division that produces the Women’s Leadership Conference. “They exemplify the true power of perpetual determination, hard work, and boundless creativity, and we think this will be one of the most interesting and motivating conferences ever.”

Now in its 25th year, the Women’s Leadership Conference brings attendees together for a day of networking and professional development, delivered through keynote speeches and in focus sessions where authors and thought leaders share insight on issues that impact women’s goals and careers. The conference will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Mass Mutual Center in downtown Springfield. For more information, visit baypathconference.com.

Daily News

AGAWAM — Market Mentors is partnering with the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) to present “Branding Your Small Business in 2020” on Friday, Jan. 17 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. The free breakfast briefing will be held at EANE, 67 Hunt St., #6, Agawam.

Presenters Amanda Moyer, director of Account Services at Market Mentors; Noelle Meade, client relationship manager at Market Mentors; and Allison Ebner, Membership Relations at EANE, will provide an interactive discussion about how business owners can get their companies moving in the right direction in 2020, from internal employee communication tips to identifying core values, mission, and opportunities.

Topics will include defining one’s brand; creative marketing ideas for small businesses, including social media, advertising, video, and public relations; and turning employees into brand ambassadors using communications, training, and empowerment.

The breakfast briefing is offered free of charge, but registration is required by Thursday, Jan. 16 by calling (877) 662-6444 or registering online at eane.org.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — New England Business Associates (NEBA), a supported employment provider in Massachusetts and Connecticut, is celebrating the launch of its Learn to Earn initiative, thanks to a Kessler Foundation Signature Employment Grant that will fund the project for two years. The initiative, intended to introduce, train, and place four cohorts of employment candidates with disabilities to entry-level manufacturing positions, is the brainchild of NEBA CEO Jeannine Pavlak.

The need for qualified employees to fill positions in the manufacturing industry is becoming critical; in many areas of the U.S., upwards of 35% of current manufacturing jobs will become vacant due to retirement by 2022. Pavlak, who is recognized nationally as a subject matter expert in disability employment, sees this as an opportunity. Manufacturing is not currently viewed as a typical pathway to gainful employment for people with disabilities, but there’s no reason it can’t become one. Learn to Earn will give identified candidates the initial training and skills needed to succeed in a manufacturing environment.

Over the next two years, 48 candidates with disabilities and barriers to employment will be identified and receive Level 1 and 2 MACWIC manufacturing training and OSHA training, in partnership with MassMEP in Massachusetts and ConnStep in Connecticut. Candidates will also receive NEBA’s customized career-ladders training, designed to cater to individual needs in building employment skills. The goal of Learn to Earn is to place candidates in manufacturing positions that will allow them to earn a sustainable income, eliminate the need for public assistance, and foster growth and future promotions in the field.

“MassMEP is looking forward to providing basic manufacturing training to NEBA’s clients and further expanding the manufacturing pipeline,” said Kathy Mahoney, MassMEP’s center director.

After placement, employees and employers will be given access to Tooling U-SME, a customized online platform with more than 800 manufacturing courses, allowing employers to identify and customize specific trainings for Learn to Earn employees.

“Learn to Earn doesn’t stop once someone is placed in a manufacturing job,” Pavlak said. “Tooling U-SME will help employees sustain and build on their initial training, as well as learn new skills that will make them more valuable employees.”

When the grant period ends in December 2021, data will be disseminated, and results of the initiative will be shared with regional workforce boards. From there, Pavlak hopes the success of Learn to Earn can spread far and wide.

“At NEBA, we love to innovate and collaborate,” she said. “We’re proud to be part of multiple national networks, including APSE and AAIDD. We hope to share our success with others who can replicate it and to expand the Learn to Earn framework into other employment sectors, such as information technology and healthcare.”

Those interested in learning more about the Learn to Earn initiative may e-mail inquiries to [email protected] or call NEBA at (413) 821-9200.