Day: August 29, 2025

Greylock Names William Fontes Vice President, Manager of Business Banking

By
Daily News

William Fontes

PITTSFIELD — Following an extensive national search, Greylock Federal Credit Union announced the hiring of William Fontes as vice president and manager of Business Banking. Fontes brings comprehensive experience in strategic leadership and vision in commercial banking.

“Bill’s extensive commercial lending experience and approach to understanding and meeting the needs of businesses made him the perfect choice for the job. His depth of expertise and leadership will be a tremendous asset to the communities we serve,” said Jodi Rathbun-Briggs, senior vice president, chief lending officer.

As a key member of the Commercial Lending department, Fontes will lead Greylock’s business banking team while building relationships and strengthening services for credit union members through commercial lending and business banking products.

“The entirety of my 30 years in commercial banking has been invested in Western Massachusetts’ community banks, supporting the needs of local business of all sizes and types,” Fontes said. “I enjoy providing customized financing for a variety of commercial banking needs, and my customers appreciate my ability to understand their needs and challenges, as well as my ability to deliver productive financial solutions.”

Fontes will also provide critical leadership through strategic oversight and expansion of Greylock’s annual business development plan and goals for local markets.

“Bill joins us after a remarkable 12-year tenure at Easthampton Savings Bank (bankESB), where he held the position of senior vice president. During his time at bankESB, Bill managed to create a relationship-driven and diverse portfolio,” Rathbun-Briggs said. “Bill has successfully led a large team of lenders and has extensive experience in commercial lending. His approach to meeting the members’ needs and his passion for coaching those around him to be their best selves were compelling reasons we knew Bill was the right fit for the job.”

Fontes holds an MBA in finance and entrepreneurship from Bryant University in Smithfield, R.I. His community interests include economic development, affordable housing, youth sports, and outdoor activities.

“I am excited to integrate my experience with Greylock’s mission,” he said. “Small businesses require customized commercial solutions to maintain optimal efficiency and reach strategic goals. We have the community commitment, resources, and team to deliver a high-quality experience for our members.”

DC Station to Open on Fulton Avenue in Northampton on Oct. 4

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Developer Bruce Volz will open a modern fueling station, called DC Station, at 5 Fulton Ave. in Northampton on Oct. 4, providing 10 fast, level-3 charging ports for electric vehicles (EVs) and a place for drivers to grab a cup of coffee or meal while they wait.

The station — named DC for direct current — will also offer a learning hub, EV Base Camp, for those interested in EVs. The grounds will be landscaped with native plants to support local ecosystems and biodiversity. An array of solar panels will cover the charging stations to help defray the cost of the electricity.

“I’m a person who is concerned about the environment and wanted to do something that could have a direct impact,” Volz said, explaining that he hopes to prove there is a need for a well-designed, efficient-to-operate, modern electric fueling station that serves good coffee and food.

Volz seeks tenants for DC Station to join in this enterprise — in particular, a coffee house or café to serve customers from early morning to afternoon, and a casual restaurant, such as a pizza or taco house, that would be open until later in the evening.

Volz began his professional life as a designer and builder of high-end custom wood furniture. In 1991, he and a colleague, Tony Clarke, launched Volz, Clarke & Associates in One Cottage Street in Easthampton. The firm soon shortened its name to VCA and developed a national reputation with their custom furniture and architectural millwork. The business sold to Metrica in 2023, with all 48 employees retained.

As a side project, Volz also developed an award-winning, four-unit residential condominium project, designed by Jones Whitsett Architects, on Grove Street in Northampton in 2016. All units sold as soon as they were available.

The lot housing DC Station was previously the site for a gas station and used car lot, Pleasant Journey. The Planning Board unanimously approved Volz’s project in June 2024.

“Kuhn Riddle Architects and Berkshire Design Group developed a plan to turn a barren parking lot into a vibrant addition to the Northampton gateway district,” Volz said. “This project incorporates many of the city’s sustainability goals. Keiter was hired as the general contractor in 2024 and has since been diligently at work developing the site and constructing a 4,800-square-foot, energy-efficient building.”

The modern DC Station faces Fulton Street, with access to charging and parking on Conz and Pleasant streets; the level-3 chargers supplied by Lynkwell will soon be installed and are expected to be operational on Oct. 4.

“Level 3 are fast chargers that put out more electricity and cut charge time to 30 to 60 minutes,” Volz explained. “It’s really a game changer for people traveling long distances or for those who don’t have access to a home charger.”

Country Bank Announces Recipient of PFS Community Champion Award

By
Daily News

WARE — Country Bank announced that Sarah Yurkunas, Assistant vice president, commercial lender, has been named the inaugural recipient of the PFS Community Champion Award. This newly established award honors an individual who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to volunteerism, both through Country Bank-sponsored initiatives and through personal dedication to causes that hold deep meaning for them.

Yurkunas was nominated by a colleague for her extraordinary volunteer service and recognized for her compassion and commitment to Second Chance Animal Services. Since 2018, she has devoted more than 347 hours of personal volunteer time at the shelter, arriving every Sunday morning, even in the rain, snow, or on holidays, to clean kennels and feed, brush, and comfort animals in need. In addition, she has contributed more than 70 hours volunteering at Country Bank-sponsored community events since 2023.

As part of this recognition, and in honor of Country Bank’s former president and CEO, Paul Scully, who retired in 2024, Yurkunas was able to direct a $2,000 donation to a charity of her choice. She selected Second Chance Animal Services, extending her impact even further.

“Sarah truly embodies the spirit of what this award represents,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, first vice president of Community Relations at Country Bank. “Her tireless dedication to animals, as well as her willingness to step up at Country Bank events, showcases her selflessness, compassion, and commitment to making a difference. We are thrilled to celebrate her as our first Community Champion and look forward to recognizing many more employees in the years ahead.”

Yurkunas’s induction into the PFS Community Champions Hall of Fame marks the beginning of a new tradition at Country Bank. Each year, colleagues will be invited to nominate individuals who embody the bank’s core values of integrity, service, teamwork, excellence, and prosperity.

“I am deeply grateful to receive this award and immensely thankful to Country Bank and my colleagues for this recognition,” Yurkunas said. “I am truly honored to work for an organization with an unwavering commitment to community not only financially, but also in empowering team members to support local nonprofits through active volunteering. It is my greatest pleasure through this award to be able to donate to Second Chance Animal Services, an organization I have been dedicated to for many years and hold very dear to my heart.”

Time Running Out to Nominate a Woman of Impact

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is now accepting nominations for the eighth annual Women of Impact awards. Nominations for the Women of Impact class of 2025 are due by Thursday, Sept. 4. They can be submitted at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nominations.

In 2018, BusinessWest created the Women of Impact program as a way to honor women in the region who are making an impact and creating positive change. There are many different ways to do this. While nominees can hail from the world of business, they can also emerge from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of these — in short, the program recognizes inspirational women on any level.

For more information, call Natasha Mercado-Santana, Marketing and Events Manager, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or email [email protected].

Study Underscores Importance of Financial Education

By Contributor
Banking and Financial Services

Youthful Interventions

On Aug. 18. EVERFI and the MassMutual Foundation announced findings from the third and final year of a three-year, longitudinal study of financial capability among adolescents. The release of this new data occurs as the MassMutual Foundation’s FutureSmart financial literacy curriculum also celebrates the milestone of reaching 6 million learners.

EVERFI is an international technology company driving social impact through education to address key societal challenges like financial wellness, character education, STEM and careers, mental health, prescription drug safety, workplace conduct, and more.

The study by EVERFI and the MassMutual Foundation, the first of its kind, has tracked financial behaviors and literacy levels of participants throughout the course of the study as they completed up to six different EVERFI financial education courses, including FutureSmart. Since the program’s inception in 2015, FutureSmart has provided free educational resources to students across the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, helping them build a foundation for financial literacy and economic empowerment.

Third-year data was collected during the 2023-24 school year, providing further evidence that multiple financial education interventions among young people are key to making sustainable, long-term improvements to financial knowledge, self-efficacy, and desirable behaviors.

Dennis Duquette

Dennis Duquette

“These recent findings further affirm that middle school students are not only able to retain critical financial knowledge, but can show lasting success in the months following their education.”

Key takeaways from this year’s results include:

• Financial self-efficacy. Students who took multiple courses became 21% more confident in their financial skills compared to those who took one or fewer courses. Sustainable and evident growth in these students also existed six months following the program’s completion.

• Desirable financial behaviors. Taking multiple courses prepared students to actively engage in healthy financial behaviors when the opportunity arose. The frequency of these desirable behaviors increased by 10% compared to students who took one or fewer courses during the six-month period following the conclusion of the program.

• Interest in financial learning. Forty-four percent of the students who completed coursework expressed interest in receiving more financial education.

• Student-parent conversations. After participating in multiple courses from the program, students increased the frequency of financial-focused conversations with their parents by 9%. The topics that spurred these conversations included preventing financial fraud and the use of online banking applications.

• Impact on low-income families. Students in this category had a 12% larger improvement in their likelihood to engage in desirable financial behaviors compared to their peers in wealthier families.

“Throughout our strategic partnership with EVERFI, we have seen just how important sustained education is for creating a strong financial knowledge foundation and healthy financial habits for adolescents,” said Dennis Duquette, president of the MassMutual Foundation. “These recent findings further affirm that middle school students are not only able to retain critical financial knowledge, but can show lasting success in the months following their education.”

 

Continued Progress

This year’s findings build on conclusions from years one and two of the longitudinal study. Findings from year one noted that middle school students who participated in the FutureSmart curriculum significantly improved the frequency of desirable financial behaviors, including saving money, tracking monthly expenses, spending within a budget, and investing for long-term financial goals. Year two research findings confirmed that students demonstrated these behaviors after completing two or more courses in year one.

The FutureSmart curriculum significantly improved the frequency of desirable financial behaviors, including saving money, tracking monthly expenses, spending within a budget, and investing for long-term financial goals. Year two research findings confirmed that students demonstrated these behaviors after completing two or more courses in year one.

“As these recent study results confirm, the influence of multiple financial education interventions cannot be understated,” said Ray Martinez, CEO of EVERFI. “Over the past three years, we have seen how these interventions improve not only financial literacy, but willingness amongst adolescents to plan for and talk about their financial futures. Our continued work with the MassMutual Foundation is a powerful demonstration of how to empower students and help them build a foundation for financial success for themselves, their families, and their loved ones.”

The MassMutual Foundation’s stated goal is to invest in programs that help people access resources needed to earn, protect, and help build their financial capability and thrive, and its participation in this study reflects that priority.

“In 2015, our teams set a goal to reach over 6 million students with our middle school curriculum by 2025. Reaching that goal only further affirms the impact of the MassMutual Foundation’s long-term strategic partnership with EVERFI,” Duquette said. “We look forward to continuing to help build financial competency for students, their families, and communities.”

Eversource Celebrates First Smart Meter Installation in Springfield

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From left: state Rep. Brian Ashe, Itron Vice President Jim Fisher, Basketball Hall of Fame Vice President of Marketing Paul Dionne, Eversource Vice President of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner, and Eversource Director of Metering and Smart Meter Operations Luis Pizano stand in front of the newly installed smart meter at the Hall of Fame.
Green Business

Current Events

From left: state Rep. Brian Ashe, Itron Vice President Jim Fisher, Basketball Hall of Fame Vice President of Marketing Paul Dionne, Eversource Vice President of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner, and Eversource Director of Metering and Smart Meter Operations Luis Pizano stand in front of the newly installed smart meter at the Hall of Fame.

From left: state Rep. Brian Ashe, Itron Vice President Jim Fisher, Basketball Hall of Fame Vice President of Marketing Paul Dionne, Eversource Vice President of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy Penni Conner, and Eversource Director of Metering and Smart Meter Operations Luis Pizano stand in front of the newly installed smart meter at the Hall of Fame.

 

Eversource and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recently commemorated a milestone in Massachusetts’ ongoing energy transition with the ceremonial installation of a smart electric meter.

The event on Aug. 7 marked the symbolic kickoff of Eversource’s work to install smart meters at homes and businesses across the state — a project that officially launched in late July in Western Mass. The company is also preparing for the next phase of its smart meter rollout in Eastern Mass., where crews are installing network devices to support the transition.

“Smart meters are another valuable tool in the toolbox that will help our customers better manage their energy use and costs, especially during peak seasons when heating and cooling drive higher consumption,” said Penni Conner, executive vice president of Customer Experience and Energy Strategy at Eversource. “Even small changes can make a meaningful difference on your energy bill, and this smart technology will give our customers the information they need to identify opportunities to save.”

As a key part of Eversource’s grid modernization strategy, smart meters enable two-way communication between the meter and Eversource’s systems, allowing for faster outage detection, remote service activation, and more accurate billing — all of which, according to the company, contribute to improved reliability and a smarter energy future.

“Upgrading to smart meters is like replacing an old flip phone with a smartphone,” said Jared Lawrence, Eversource’s senior vice president of Customer Operations, Digital Strategy, and chief customer officer. “In addition to empowering our customers with near real-time insights into their energy use — including how and when they use power — smart meters will significantly improve service for our customers by enabling our team to proactively address power outages before they occur and to deliver enhanced, real-time outage alerts.”

The ceremonial installation featured remarks from Eversource and Hall of Fame leadership and a live demonstration of the smart meter installation.

“Smart meters are another valuable tool in the toolbox that will help our customers better manage their energy use and costs, especially during peak seasons when heating and cooling drive higher consumption.”

“We’re delighted to support Eversource’s efforts to bring cutting-edge technology to our region,” said Paul Dionne, vice president of Marketing at the Hall of Fame. “As a landmark destination in Springfield, we’re honored to be part of this milestone and to help lead the way in embracing smart energy solutions and a more sustainable future for our communities.”

 

After the Tipoff

The ceremonial installation at the Hall of Fame marked the official start of a multi-year initiative to deliver advanced meter technology to more than 1.5 million electric customers across the state.

“We’re really excited about the smart meter initiative from Eversource,” said Ed Garibian, CEO of Springfield-based tech company LLumin. “I can now get better insights into my energy usage and lower my costs, and if there is an outage, the length of that outage can be reduced. That’s a huge benefit to all of us.”

Meanwhile, Jim Fisher, vice president at Itron, a global smart infrastructure company supporting the project, emphasized the technology’s track record. “Itron works with utilities and cities around the globe, helping them manage energy and water with intelligent-type infrastructure systems. We’ve seen great adoption of this technology around the world, in North America, and now in Springfield. These systems are working securely and safely, bringing benefits to the end customers.”

Eversource’s smart meter network went live on July 21 following more than a year of planning and testing in collaboration with local partners. Smart meter installations in Western Mass. will continue into early 2026 before expanding into Eastern Mass.

“In February 2024, we set a goal to have our smart meter technology systems live and online on July 21, 2025. Sure enough, this team was able to hit it right on schedule,” said Luis Pizano, director of Metering and Smart Meter Operations. “That milestone was critical to begin installations, and now we’re steadily ramping up, with plans to exchange up to 40,000 meters per month by fall.”

Pizano’s sentiment was echoed by state Rep. Brian Ashe, who attended the Aug. 7 event, calling it a significant step forward for the region. “As legislators, whether you’re a representative or a senator, the job really is to be an advocate for your district, an ambassador for the district that you serve, the Pioneer Valley, Western Massachusetts, and the Commonwealth as a whole. I am thrilled that Eversource is able to have this opening and to understand more about smart meters.”

Holyoke Mayor Recognized for Leadership in Clean Energy

By
Green Business

Changing the Narrative

Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia was named a finalist for the Mayor of the Year Award, presented by the Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition (NREC), in recognition of his leadership and innovation in clean energy and community development.

Garcia is the first mayor in Massachusetts to be recognized by the NREC. The award will be presented during Massachusetts Clean Energy Week, taking place from Sept. 29 to Oct. 4.

“I am overwhelmed and honored to receive this recognition on behalf of Holyoke,” Garcia said. “This award is for all of us in Holyoke, not just me — our residents, business owners, and neighborhood and community activists who love our city and work so hard to move us forward in the effort to harness our clean energy resources to continue to bring environmental and economic benefits to our city.”

Holyoke has become a leader in hydroelectric and renewable energy. Through community partnerships and long-term planning, Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) has built a sustainable clean energy portfolio. Its core strategy is to overestimate future demand, an approach that led the utility to upgrade infrastructure and install one of Massachusetts’ largest utility batteries to handle peak demand.

Affordable clean energy has also helped to attract ventures like the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and Sublime Systems to Holyoke.

In a letter to the mayor, NREC Executive Director Kristin Rode praised Holyoke’s progress and Garcia’s community-centered approach.

Mayor Joshua Garcia

Mayor Joshua Garcia

“This award is for all of us in Holyoke, not just me — our residents, business owners, and neighborhood and community activists who love our city and work so hard to move us forward in the effort to harness our clean energy resources to continue to bring environmental and economic benefits to our city.”

“Your dedication to your community and the innovative solutions you’re implementing make you a natural fit for recognition during Massachusetts Clean Energy Week. Your leadership in Holyoke has caught our attention as truly exceptional,” she wrote.

“We understand that Western Massachusetts is often left out of the spotlight when it comes to statewide recognition, and we want to change that narrative. From what we have learned about your innovative approaches to municipal leadership and community development, you represent exactly the kind of community-centered leadership that deserves to be celebrated and shared with mayors across the Commonwealth.”

Garcia has also negotiated upgrades to Holyoke’s wastewater treatment system, replacing outdated infrastructure with energy-efficient, environmentally sound technology.

One of these separates the existing combined sewer flows within Holyoke’s River Terrace area. By leveraging clean energy savings and working closely with state and federal agencies, his administration secured funding to reduce long-term operating costs and improve water quality. These improvements not only align with Holyoke’s sustainability goals, but also position the city as a model for green municipal operations across Massachusetts.

“I appreciate Kristin’s kind thoughts about our work to change the narrative,” Garcia said. “That is exactly my greatest hope, every day, for Holyoke, for all our people — to change past perceptions and narratives. This industrial city is again being known as a place of so many possibilities.”

Representatives of the Northeast Renewable Energy Coalition visited Holyoke in early August to tour the city and learn more about these projects and initiatives.

“This nomination is an unequivocal testament to every Holyoke resident’s shared commitment to a stronger future,” Garcia said.

How AI Helped Me Crack the Code on the Boulder River

By Contributor
Technology

Fishing for Answers

By Sean Hogan

 

I recall attending a conference around 2016 where one of my friends and a speaker at the conference brought up artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning and how they would change the way we do business.

At the time, I had no clue what he meant by that; I couldn’t imagine computers taking away our day-to-day tasks or improving our customer service. I was the one with crossed arms in the back of the room stating that “AI won’t replace my technicians and my support team.” We talked among our team, and we really didn’t see a fit for AI, nor did we truly understand what capabilities AI may have in the future.

Fast-forward 10 years, and I have embraced AI in the workplace. It started slowly; I used Microsoft Copilot to help write some policy and procedure pieces — you know, the tedious docs that no one wants to write, or read, for that matter. I found AI extremely helpful for writing.

Sean Hogan

Sean Hogan

“AI was helping us with time-saving technology, and machine learning was helping our tools become better day after day.”

AI then crept into several software tools in our tech stack. AI was helping us with time-saving technology, and machine learning was helping our tools become better day after day. The next step in our AI migration was to use ChatGPT to help with social media advertising — you know, those ads and images that everyone can tell is AI.

I even use AI to help out in my garden. I upload pictures of plants and ask for help, and AI can typically identify the plant. Case in point: I grew a pepper plant in my garden, but I had no clue what type of pepper. The taste test didn’t work out so much; my mouth was on fire for about an hour. I then took a picture and uploaded the picture to Chat, only to find that harmless-looking pepper was a thai green chili, which, according to Chat, is 10 to 20 times hotter that a jalapeno. Next time, I need to upload the picture before biting the pepper in half.

Eventually, I started hearing people in my circle saying they were no longer searching in Google, but were now exclusively searching in ChatGPT. Wait — this can’t be true? Well, not only did I find out it’s true, but its flat-out better. I have since been using ChatGPT for my searches. It is excellent for market research, background information, advice, and recipes. Yes, recipes — I find myself searching recipes often, without any advertising pop-ups or other distractions.

This has been my evolution of working with AI. I want to share a real-life story from my vacation this summer. This one really impressed me.

During a recent vacation in Montana, I found myself on one of my favorite stretches of water, the Boulder River, just outside Big Timber. I’ve fished this area before, but on this day, I hit a wall. Fish were feeding, but no matter what dry flies I cast, I couldn’t get a single strike. Frustration was setting in.

That’s when I turned to something new in my fishing gear: ChatGPT.

“Eventually, I started hearing people in my circle saying they were no longer searching in Google, but were now exclusively searching in ChatGPT.”

I pulled out my phone and entered details like the river, time of day, water temperature, and weather conditions into the AI. In seconds, ChatGPT offered several dry fly patterns and presentation tips I hadn’t tried. It recommended smaller dries, and subtle presentation adjustments, which made sense — but I wasn’t entirely confident in choosing the right fly.

I had recently purchased a new fly box filled with various dries, many of which I didn’t recognize. So I took a photo of the box and uploaded it to ChatGPT. Amazingly, it identified the specific flies in the compartments and told me exactly which one to use.

Taking that advice, I tied on a small dry fly and stacked it behind a larger, more visible fly for better tracking. The results were immediate. Within a few casts, I was landing fish — more than a few, in fact.

It was an eye-opener. While I usually stick to nymphing (sub-surface flies), this experience boosted my confidence with dry flies. Even more, it showed how AI can be a valuable tool on the river, especially when traditional tactics fall short.

Next time you’re out fishing and feel stumped, consider using a bit of tech. You might be surprised what a virtual fishing buddy can help you catch.

AI is still new — and I need to expand my view and come up with more real-life scenarios where AI can help.

 

Sean Hogan is president of Hogan Technology Inc.