People on the Move
Jodie Gerulaitis
Alyson Weeks
Lorraine Askew
Melissa Stefanowich
Mary McGovern, president and CEO of Country Bank, announced the promotions of four team members. Jodie Gerulaitis has been promoted to first vice president of Community Relations. With more than 30 years of experience in financial services, she has a long-standing commitment to financial education and community engagement. She consistently represents the bank with professionalism, warmth, and a strong dedication to making a difference. Her passion for financial literacy is evident in her advocacy efforts, including her recent testimony at the Massachusetts State House supporting mandated financial literacy in schools. In addition to overseeing the bank’s financial literacy and community relations programs, Gerulaitis serves on multiple nonprofit boards and leads initiatives that strengthen the bank’s partnerships with regional organizations. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies and the American Bankers Assoc. Bank Marketing School, and will graduate from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking this June. She also earned an executive certificate in management and leadership from the MIT Sloan School of Management. Alyson Weeks has been promoted to first vice president of Human Resources and Professional Development. With 16 years of service at Country Bank, including the past 10 years in the Human Resources function, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the bank’s culture and supporting its continued evolution. Her passion for developing people and building meaningful programs has strengthened professional growth opportunities for team members across the organization. In addition to her work at the bank, Weeks is an active member of the community, serving on the board of River East School-to-Career and as a member of the Pathfinder business technology advisory committee. She holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Worcester State University and a master’s degree in secondary education from American International College. Lorraine Askew has been promoted to assistant vice president and Retail Banking officer at the Ludlow banking center. A 23-year veteran of Country Bank, she brings extensive experience in customer service, retail banking, and team leadership. She is known for her strong mentorship and commitment to staff development, helping others grow into leadership roles. A dedicated community leader, Askew is actively involved with several organizations, including the Ludlow Community Center/Randall’s Boys and Girls Club, the VFW Auxiliary, the Get Your Pink On committee, and the Ludlow Rotary. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. School for Financial Studies and recently earned her associate degree in business administration from Holyoke Community College. Melissa Stefanowich has been promoted to assistant vice president and Retail Banking officer at the Belchertown banking center. With more than 17 years of experience in the banking industry, she has built a career defined by hard work, leadership, and a passion for service. Stefanowich is currently attending the New England School for Financial Studies and is a dedicated advocate for community causes, serving on the boards of Community Options, Belchertown Day School, and the Massachusetts/Rhode Island chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. She also serves on the bank’s diversity, equity, and inclusion council and has led her branch through consistent growth and success.
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Mike Oleksak
bankESB recently promoted Mike Oleksak, previously vice president, Commercial Lending, to the role of senior vice president, Commercial Lending team lead. Oleksak has 21 years of banking experience and joined bankESB in 2018. Before that, he was vice president, Commercial Lending at Westfield Bank, and before that, assistant vice president, Business Banking officer at United Bank. In his new role, he will oversee the Commercial Lending division’s strategic direction, operational management, and team development. This role is integral to driving portfolio growth, ensuring regulatory compliance, and fostering strong client relationships. Oleksak earned both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. He also completed the LeadNY program at Cornell University, a training program that helps improve leadership skills, self-awareness, issues analysis, critical thinking, and civic engagement. He is currently treasurer on the board of directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western Massachusetts and is the soon to be president of the board of directors of the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club. He has also coached West Springfield youth soccer since 2018. bankESB also announced the promotion of three other employees: Darci Furr, Betsy Schabacker, and Robyn Michaud. Furr was recently promoted to assistant vice president, branch officer at bankESB’s 85 Broad St., Westfield office. She has 27 years of banking experience and joined bankESB in 1997 as a teller. Throughout her tenure, she has held the roles of teller supervisor, assistant branch manager, and most recently branch officer in Westfield. In her new role, she will continue to ensure the day-to-day operations of the branch run smoothly, while supervising and supporting frontline staff and building strong relationships within the Westfield community. Furr earned an associate degree from Springfield Technical Community College. She currently volunteers at the Westfield Soup Kitchen and is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Westfield. Schabacker was recently promoted to assistant vice president, branch officer at bankESB’s 134 College Highway, Southampton office. She has 21 years of banking experience and joined bankESB in 2004 as a teller. Throughout her time at the bank, she also held the role of senior teller, assistant branch manager, and, most recently, branch officer in Southampton. In this expanded role, she will have enhanced leadership responsibilities and will continue to deliver service to customers while playing a more active role in business development, community engagement, and cross-departmental collaboration. Schabacker earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Westfield State College. She is currently treasurer on the board of directors for Riverside Industries in Easthampton and is also a member of its development committee. Michaud was recently promoted to branch manager at bankESB’s 241 Northampton St., Easthampton office. She joined bankESB in 2018 as a teller. She has also worked as a personal banker, teller supervisor, and, most recently, senior assistant branch manager at the bank’s 605 Granby St., South Hadley office. In this new leadership role, she will have the opportunity to drive branch performance, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and lead business development efforts to grow the bank’s presence in the Easthampton community. Michaud earned a certificate in branch management from the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. She currently volunteers for Westfield on Weekends, Junior Achievement, and Veterans in the Park, and enjoys attending local chamber events.
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Matthew Plasse
Community Bank recently welcomed Matthew Plasse as regional president of the bank’s New England market. Plasse will lead business development and community engagement activities while fostering strong alignment across the bank’s various lines of business in the region. He will report to President of Commercial Banking Matt Durkee, whom he succeeds in this leadership position. Plasse has more than 20 years of experience in the banking industry, serving customers in New England. Prior to Community Bank, he held various leadership and middle-market banking roles at M&T Bank and its acquired institutions, including People’s United Bank N.A. Most recently, he served as senior vice president, group manager for M&T Bank’s Commercial Banking division in Vermont. Plasse serves on the board of directors for the Vermont Community Loan Fund and is a member of the organization’s business loan committee. He earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from Wake Forest University.
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Bulkley Richardson announced that Ryan Barry, partner, was selected as a 2025 Go To Construction Lawyer by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, recognizing him as one of “the top construction lawyers across the Commonwealth.” Barry’s construction practice entails drafting and negotiating design and construction contracts for large and sophisticated projects, including academic buildings, hospitals, museums, nursing homes, resorts, manufacturing facilities, and high-end residences. He also advises clients on construction disputes and compliance with laws that govern prevailing wages, retainage, and liens. He has acted as counsel on large and complex projects with aggregate project costs exceeding $1 billion. Barry’s representative engagements include counseling on the building of a $300 million higher-education student center involving an internationally renowned architect; a $100 million advanced surgical and procedure wing for a large hospital; a $200 million, state-of-the-art academic science building; restoration and improvement of the federally protected historic home of a nationally celebrated writer; and a new dining hall construction for a preparatory school.
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George Timmons
Holyoke Community College (HCC) President George Timmons has joined Presidents for Latino Student Success, a group of college presidents and chancellors committed to making their campuses learning environments where Latino students — and all students — thrive. Excelencia in Education, the nation’s premier authority on efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, created Presidents for Latino Student Success in 2014 to support institutional leaders who are transforming higher education. Through the network, Timmons will collaborate with Excelencia and other post-secondary leaders to leverage expertise and resources, foster partnerships, and amplify current efforts to accelerate Latino student success in higher education at the national level. Timmons joins more than 150 leaders that belong to the Presidents for Latino Student Success network and lead the nation in enrolling and graduating Latino students.
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Sandy Mackovich
Kelly Thadison
Common Capital, the Springfield-based nonprofit loan fund and microlender, is expanding its capacity to serve local small businesses with two new staff hires. Sandy Mackovich has been hired as Common Capital’s new director of Lending, and Kelly Thadison has come on board as the newly created business navigator. In Mackovich’s prior position, she was senior analyst and Sales Operations manager for the Accion Opportunity Fund of San Jose, Calif., where she analyzed and underwrote commercial business loans for the nonprofit lender, focusing on underserved small businesses from low-income communities. At Common Capital, she will lead its award-winning lending program, recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration as the top microlender and Community Advantage lender in Massachusetts for several years running. Thadison’s history with Common Capital is extensive. She was a previous borrower who grew a successful salon business in Springfield and later used her own small-business experience to join Common Capital as a business assistance program consultant. Now as Common Capital’s business navigator, she will provide direct support to prospective applicants, helping them with business planning, projections, and applications.
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Polish National Credit Union (PNCU) announced the promotion of Shane Hall to vice president of Marketing. Hall began his career with PNCU as a summer intern in 2016 and joined the team full-time in 2018 after completing his master’s degree. He will continue to lead the Marketing department and oversee all facets of marketing strategy, communications, and community engagement. In his new role, he will continue to manage the marketing department and is responsible for the credit union’s digital marketing, advertising, sponsorships, and event coordination. He is known for his engaging public speaking style and active involvement in the community through hosting seminars, luncheons, and civic events on behalf of the credit union. A graduate of Merrimack College, Hall holds both a master’s degree in management and a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing and a minor in political science. He serves on the board of directors for the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee and is also a board member for Providence Ministries. He is also an Eagle Scout and an active member of the Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade Committee, where he currently serves on the budget & audit committee, as well as a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians James A. Curran Division 1 in Holyoke.
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Jason Cote
Nicole Pepin
James Hagan, president and CEO of Westfield Bank, announced that Jason Cote has been appointed Retail Banking officer, branch manager at the bank’s 300 Southampton Road location in Westfield. He will be responsible for overseeing customer service, retail and business product sales, business development, and community outreach. Other responsibilities include managing general operations and employee development within the branch. Cote joins Westfield Bank with 12 years of prior banking experience in multiple roles, including vice president, senior branch manager. Active within his community, he serves as a committee member for the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee Black Tie and Sneaker Gala. Hagan also announced that Nicole Pepin has been appointed assistant branch manager at the bank’s Park Street location in West Springfield. She will assist in managing all areas of the branch, including customer service, retail and business product sales, employee development, and general operations. Pepin began working for Westfield Bank 26 years ago as a teller in its Agawam location. She has worked in many of the bank’s communities, as both a teller and better banking specialist, before advancing to her current role. She graduated from Holyoke Community College with an associate degree in business administration.
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MicroTek Inc., a nonprofit wire component manufacturer that provides employment support to individuals with disabilities, announced the promotion of Ellie Labonte to the position of sales representative. Labonte began her career with MicroTek in 2017 as an assembler and progressed to a sales coordinator position, where she managed sales activities by supporting customers and coordinating production with the manufacturing floor. As a sales rep, she will focus on strengthening customer relationships and developing new opportunities. MicroTek also announced the promotion of Luz Fernandez and Erin Miller to sales coordinator roles. Both employees have significant product knowledge gained from on-the-floor experience as a production supervisor and tooling technician, respectively.
