Nicolle Cestero
The American International College (AIC) board of trustees announced that Nicolle Cestero has been unanimously selected as the 13th president of the 140-year-old institution. She began serving as interim president in March 2024, following her tenure as executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief of staff. As interim president, Cestero led the launch of Pathway to Progress, a wide-ranging business plan introduced in November 2024 to guide the college’s direction in the coming years. The plan outlines significant updates to AIC’s operations, including a revised academic portfolio, expanded degree offerings, new enrollment strategies, and streamlined athletic programming. In tandem with this work, she provided focused leadership on long-term financial sustainability, strengthened donor engagement, and initiatives that enhance the student experience through access, inclusion, and academic success. During her time as chief operating officer, Cestero managed the day-to-day operations of the college, served as a senior advisor to the president, and played a key role in implementing AIC’s strategic plan. She oversaw legal affairs, supported institutional initiatives, and was a member of the president’s cabinet and all board committees. Before joining AIC in 2011, she began her professional career in New York City at the Council on Foreign Relations, a leading non-partisan think tank focused on global affairs. She holds an MBA from AIC, a master’s degree in industrial-organizational psychology from the University of West Florida, and bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mount Holyoke College. She is certified as a professional in human resources and holds the certified professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management. Cestero’s appointment, effective July 1, 2025, marks the first time a woman has been named president of AIC since its founding in 1885. She is the second woman to serve as interim president; the first was Edith Scott Magna in 1946.
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Brian Mathes
Corey Moquin
bankESB announced the addition of two new professionals to strengthen financial strategy and digital engagement. Brian Mathes was recently hired as vice president, ALM officer. Mathes will support all banks within the Hometown Financial Group family of banks, including bankESB, bankHometown, North Shore Bank, and Abington Bank, a division of North Shore Bank, as well as Hometown Mortgage. He will be based at bankESB’s 36 Main St., Easthampton office as well as bankHometown’s 31 Sutton Ave., Oxford office. Mathes has 25 years of banking experience. Before joining bankESB, he was vice president at Main Street Bank and, before that, vice president at State Street Corp. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing the bank’s asset liability management strategy, optimizing balance sheet performance, and supporting long-term financial planning and risk management. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tulane University and a master’s degree in business administration from Boston University. Corey Moquin has been appointed social media manager, based at bankESB’s 36 Main St., Easthampton office. Moquin earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from UMass Amherst. He joins the bank from Western Mass News, where he was senior marketing producer. In this new role, he will manage social media accounts for all of Hometown Financial Group.
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Country Bank announced that Cristina Consalvo has been named assistant vice president of Marketing. She brings more than 13 years of diverse marketing experience to the bank, with a background spanning the financial services, insurance, and cannabis industries. Her expertise includes marketing communications, digital strategy, media planning, website management, and event coordination. Most recently, she was the marketing director for three brands simultaneously in a corporate B2B setting, overseeing everything from lead generation and public relations to website redesigns and advertising campaigns. Consalvo holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing with a minor in management from Quinnipiac University. She was recently recognized as the 2024 Marketer of the Year by the ADCANN Cannabis Advertising Awards, an honor awarded to just one individual across the country. She serves as a strategic advisor and board member of TeeHC Open, a non-traditional networking event in the cannabis industry that brings more than 500 professionals together annually. She has also been a brand partner with Young Living Essential Oils, sharing her passion for living a clean, non-toxic lifestyle for the last four years.
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Brandon Okezie
Baystate Health announced the appointment of Brandon Okezie as the new president and chief operating officer of Baystate Noble Hospital, effective May 5. Okezie brings a dynamic leadership style grounded in relationship building, results-oriented strategy, and a deep commitment to patient-centered care. With a strong track record in quality improvement, operational excellence, and service line development, he is well-positioned to lead Baystate Noble Hospital into its next chapter of growth and innovation. Most recently, Okezie served as associate administrator at the George Washington University Hospital, a 385-bed, tertiary care, academic medical center in Washington, D.C., which includes a level I trauma center and level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In this role, he oversaw operations for multiple support and ancillary services, including rehabilitation, food and nutrition, environmental services, security, plant operations, and biomedical engineering. He also led key hospital-wide initiatives focused on service line growth, physician alignment, and operational efficiency. Prior to his tenure at George Washington, Okezie held several progressive leadership roles within Centura Health, notably serving as director of Hospital Operations at St. Anthony North Hospital in Westminster, Colo. There, he played a pivotal role in managing the development of an $89 million patient-care tower and a $27 million cancer center. Okezie earned a bachelor of healthcare administration degree from Texas State University and a master of health administration degree from Cornell University. He is a Next Generation Leaders fellow with the American Hospital Assoc. and holds active memberships in both the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Assoc. of Health Services Executives.
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Nathan Dion
Nathan Dion, a digital public relations analyst for Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi), earned several new digital marketing certifications from LinkedIn and Meta. Dion worked for two years under the supervision of Los Angeles-based James Garvey, vice president of Digital Marketing for GCAi, before taking over specific client accounts. His new certifications include LinkedIn Advertising Fundamentals (launching successful LinkedIn advertising campaigns, optimizing targeting and reporting), LinkedIn Advertising Marketing Strategy (full-funnel marketing strategy and using LinkedIn for brand awareness and lead generation), and Meta Digital Marketing Associate (campaign creation, management, and reporting through Meta Ads Manager). Dion is also an experienced video producer and has worked on video productions for automotive, financial services, and retail clients, managing the film crew and working in the GCAi edit suite. Some of his most recent work includes pro bono videos for Square One, Tech Foundry, and Helix Human Services. Dion is a Westfield State University graduate, earning a bachelor’s degree in communication with a dual concentration in media arts and analysis and public relations, while minoring in graphic design.
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Berkshire Bank announced that Heather Hans, vice president, consumer lending compliance officer, has been named its 2025 Volunteer of the Year. Hans, who donated more than 400 hours last year to volunteering, was selected based on the number of hours she volunteered and because she volunteers with a variety of organizations and actively participates in both company-sponsored events as well as personal activities. Another 19 employees have been named to the company’s 2025 Volunteer Honor Roll for each having volunteered more than 150 hours in 2024. Collectively, Berkshire Bank employees achieved a milestone in 2024: 100% volunteered in their communities. That included more than 250 company-sponsored projects with more than 11,500 hours of service across Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, as well as thousands more hours volunteering as individuals in their hometown communities.
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Kate Blackwell
Monson Savings Bank announced the promotion of Kate Blackwell to assistant branch manager of the bank’s Ware branch. In this new role, Blackwell will support branch operations, ensure exceptional customer service, guide staff development, and continue to grow strong banking relationships with new and existing customers. Blackwell joined Monson Savings Bank nearly six years ago. Before starting her career in banking, she owned and operated her own massage therapy business for five years, where she developed a strong foundation in customer service and small business management. Since joining MSB, she has continued to build on that experience, culminating in being named the bank’s first-ever President’s Award winner for her outstanding performance.
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Ashley Benson
Matthew Lauro
Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the election of Ashley Benson, founder and owner of Optimal Healing, LLC, and Matthew Lauro, senior vice president and Western Massachusetts commercial team leader at MountainOne Bank, to the BHS board of trustees. Benson is a psychotherapist, consultant, and clinical supervisor. A dedicated mental-health professional with over two decades of experience in social work and clinical practice, she founded her practice in 2019 to provide holistic health resources to the community and formally established Optimal Healing in 2022. She specializes in trauma-focused care and the treatment of children, adolescents and families. Benson earned her undergraduate degree from Berkshire Community College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, followed by a master’s degree in social work from Smith College. Committed to continuous learning and leadership in the field, she holds two post-graduate certifications: advanced clinical social work supervision from the Smith College School for Social Work and advanced practice with children & adolescents from Springfield College. Lauro is responsible for managing existing portfolio risk, loan growth, and a team of commercial bankers at MountainOne. He is active in the community as a board member for Berkshire Education and Correction in Pittsfield, former national council member of the Avon Old Farms School for Boys in Avon, Conn., and former trustee of the Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust. He received his bachelor’s degree in business management from the Lally School of Business Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. Departing the BHS board of trustees are Timothy Burke, Barton Raser, and Dr. John Loiodice, who provided leadership and service to Berkshire Health Systems for many years.
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Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GSB) recently announced five promotions. Brandon Lively has been promoted to executive vice president, chief technology officer. He started at GSB as a teller more than 25 years ago and has progressively advanced through various roles. For many years, he has led the bank’s IT initiatives and will now continue to drive technological advancements in his new role. Jackie Charron has been promoted to executive vice president, chief banking officer. Joining GCB in 2024, she brought with her more than 40 years of experience in the community banking sector. Victor Rodriguez Sr. has been promoted to vice president, community engagement mortgage officer. Since joining GCB in 2024, Rodriguez has demonstrated an unwavering passion for the community, backed by more than 20 years of banking experience. Matthew Donovan has been promoted to commercial lending officer. He joined GCB in 2023, bringing several years of credit experience. He previouly served as a senior credit analyst and most recently as a commercial associate lender. Ethan McCandless has been promoted to collections officer. McCandless has been with GCB since 2020, initially joining as a residential loan closer. Over the past five years, he has worked within both the residential and commercial lending departments, most recently as a credit analyst.
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Jon Kostek
The Chamber of Greater Easthampton recently welcomed Jon Kostek as its new executive director. He is a lifelong resident of Western Mass., raised in Hampshire County, with a deep-rooted commitment to helping the local community flourish. Kostek began his professional journey in retail management and buying, eventually bringing his leadership and strategic insight to USTA New England, where he spent the past 20 years. He is known for building strong, long-term relationships and is passionate about partnership development, membership growth, and meaningful community engagement. Actively involved in local governance, he serves on several town committees.
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Amanda Constantilos
Florence Bank announced that Amanda Constantilos has been promoted to manager of the bank’s King Street branch in Northampton. Constantilos joined the bank’s team in 2016 as a senior teller, and since, she has served as a teller operations manager at the Granby branch and as a customer service representative and assistant branch manager in Hadley. She has 19 years of experience in the banking industry and is skilled in customer service, teamwork, communication, problem solving, and employee development. In her new role, which she assumed in May, Constantilos is responsible for leadership and team development, decision making, and community engagement.
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Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced three new staff additions. Kim Vadnais is joining the firm as director of Employee Benefits. She comes to Phillips Insurance after a 24-year career at Complete Benefit Solutions, where she handled benefit plan designs for larger employers throughout New England. She is a licensed benefits agent and brings senior-level expertise to benefit administration. Telisha Marshall has joined Phillips as a Commercial Lines account manager. A graduate of the University of Florida, she has more than 10 years of experience in commercial insurance. She is a licensed broker and most recently worked at a publicly traded national broker handling complex accounts. Kelly Kuenzel has joined Phillips as a Personal Lines account manager. She has several years of insurance expertise and has earned her insurance brokerage license. She will work with individuals in personal insurance plan design.
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Country Bank announced the appointment of Kevin Hamel, CISM, to its board of trustees. Hamel brings more than 30 years of experience managing information technology, cybersecurity, and risk management in the financial and healthcare sectors. With more than 15 years of direct board interaction at the executive level, he has cultivated a deep understanding of the strategic and operational challenges of today’s organizations.
