Page 38 - BusinessWest January 5, 2026

financial certificate from the New England School of
Financial Studies and remains passionate about pro-
fessional development. Sanchez has been promoted
to assistant vice president, Mortgage & Community
Development officer. She joined Country Bank in
2024, bringing 13 years of expertise in mortgage
lending and branch management. Since joining, she
has significantly expanded the bank’s presence and
impact in Springfield, strengthening community
partnerships and leading inclusive outreach efforts.
In addition to originating mortgages, Sanchez is
transforming access, visibility, and trust with new
and diverse communities. Chartier has been pro-
moted to assistant vice president, Retail Operations.
She has been with Country Bank for 12 years, bring-
ing 17 years of banking experience spanning retail,
operations, sales, service, and customer experience.
In her current role, she supports retail operational
excellence across the bank and serves as a trusted
subject matter expert. The recipient of a 2024 Gold
Star Award, Chartier is a continuous learner, holding
several CFT diplomas and a Mass Bankers financial
certificate from the New England School of Finan-
cial Studies. Nick Thompson has been promoted
to Compliance officer. He has been with the bank
for nine years and transitioned to the Compliance
department three years ago. His strong analytical
mindset, collaborative approach, and sound deci-
sion making have made him a valued internal part-
ner. His excellence in service and teamwork earned
him the prestigious President’s Platinum Award in
2020. Thompson is currently pursuing a certified
regulatory compliance manager designation.
•••••
Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin,
P.C., a multi-disciplinary law
firm with offices in Springfield
and Northampton, announced
that attorney James Sheils has
been named to the 2025 Mas-
sachusetts Super Lawyers list in
JAMES SHEILS
the category of Banking Law.
This marks the 11th time he has
earned this prestigious recognition, reserved for
the state’s top attorneys. Sheils concentrates his
practice in commercial finance law, banking law,
creditors’ rights, and telecommunications siting
matters. He is a graduate of Boston College Law
School, where he received the John F. Cremens
Award for legal services, and he is also a past recipi-
ent of Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley’s
John Auchter Award. He has been selected as a
Massachusetts Super Lawyer every year since 2015,
demonstrating his consistent leadership and exper-
tise in banking law. He was also recently selected
for inclusion in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in
America in the field of Commercial Transactions/
Uniform Commercial Code Law.
•••••
MountainOne announced the
promotion of Peter Barrow to
commercial portfolio manager.
In this role, Barrow plays a key
part in supporting the success
of MountainOne’s commercial
lending relationships. He brings
financial insight, credit analysis
expertise, and thoughtful collab-
oration to the lending process, working closely with
commercial loan officers and business clients to
ensure financing solutions are well-structured and
aligned with business needs. Barrow will also moni-
tor and manage existing loan relationships to sup-
port long-term portfolio health and client growth.
Barrow joined MountainOne in January 2022 as a
commercial credit analyst and was promoted to
senior commercial credit analyst in October 2024.
His prior industry experience includes serving as a
senior financial specialist at General Dynamics Mis-
sion Systems. He holds a degree in finance from
Siena College. He previously served as a coach
for the Adams Cheshire Police Athletic Basketball
League and as assistant coach for Adams Cheshire
Youth Football.
•••••
Excel Dryer Inc. owners Denis Gagnon and Nancy
Gagnon were recognized at the 15th annual Ser-
vice Above Self Luncheon, hosted by the Spring-
field Rotary Club and the Naismith Basketball Hall
of Fame. The Gagnons were celebrated for their
long-standing commitment to community service
and philanthropy. The event was made even more
meaningful as Denis Gagnon and NBA legend Julius
Erving, who received the national Service Above
Self Award, were college athletes in the same year
at UMass Amherst. The Gagnons have supported
nearly two dozen organizations across Western
Mass., including Western New England University,
Helix Human Services, Springfield Museums, Junior
Achievement, UNICEF USA, American Red Cross,
Max Cares Foundation, Special Olympics, Spring-
field Rescue Mission, YMCA of Greater Springfield,
and more. They were also recognized for their
commitment to U.S. manufacturing, keeping Excel
Dryer products made in America and supporting the
regional workforce.
•••••
Monson Savings Bank
announced the retirement of
Nancy Velozo, assistant vice
president and collections offi-
cer. Velozo joined Monson Sav-
ings Bank in January 2014 and
has been an integral part of the
NANCY VELOZO
bank’s success for more than a
decade. Through her knowledge
and expertise, she played a pivotal role in maintain-
ing low delinquency rates, strengthening the bank’s
financial health and stability. Her efforts have safe-
guarded the institution while reinforcing the bank’s
commitment to responsible and compassionate
banking. Beyond her professional achievements,
Velozo has exemplified empathy, respect, and col-
laboration in guiding customers through challeng-
ing times. Her ability to balance care with account-
ability has been a hallmark of her success and a
reflection of the bank’s core values.
•••••
The City of Greenfield recently
welcomed Ella Wise as the new
director of the Department of
Planning and Development.
Wise holds an undergraduate
degree in environmental stud-
ies and a master’s degree in city
planning from the University
of California, Berkeley, and has
more than a decade of experience in planning and
policy. The city conducted a search for a new Plan-
ning and Development director following the retire-
ment of Eric Twarog, who has led the department
since 2009. A native of a small town in the Hudson
Valley, Wise is interested in the human relationship
to place and how places can create community
and provide meaning. Her recent professional roles
include senior planner for Boston’s Metropolitan
Area Planning Council, where she authored a vari-
ety of planning documents in areas such as master
planning, open space and recreation, and economic
development. Most recently, she contributed to
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s vision for a more trans-
parent planning and development review process
as the planning & development review coordination
manager for Boston’s Planning Department.
ELLA WISE
PETER BARROW
38 << DEPARTMENTS >>
JANUARY 5, 2026
•••••
Berkshire Money Management (BMM) announced
that Financial Advisor PJ Gagne has joined the
firm. He brings a grounded, values-based approach
to financial planning, helping professionals and
business owners in their 50s and 60s answer life’s
biggest financial questions and move toward retire-
ment with clarity and confidence. Gagne specializes
in guiding clients through pivotal decisions, such as
when to take Social Security, how to protect their
children’s future, and how to turn a lifetime of hard
work into long-term financial security. His collab-
orative planning style helps clients understand their
best-case scenarios while preparing for uncertain-
ties. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics
from Fairfield University and is an accredited invest-
ment fiduciary.
•••••
The Franklin County Community Development
Corp. (FCCDC), a community economic develop-
ment organization that provides support for small
businesses throughout Western Mass., has added
three new staff members and shifted the duties of
a fourth. The FCCDC also announced a new open
position. Kwaku Ofori began at the FCCDC as lend-
ing director in November. A finance and develop-
ment professional with more than 15 years of expe-
rience in business lending, small business technical
assistance, and community-focused finance, he
leads the FCCDC’s lending programs that expand
access to capital for small businesses and entrepre-
neurs across Western Mass. Brian Dejnak began at
the FCCDC in June as community lending associate.
A lending professional formerly with the USDA and
Greenfield Savings Bank, he works with businesses
seeking flexible financing to start or grow their
enterprises. Anna Halpin-Healy joined the FCCDC
in July as finance specialist. She has held busi-
ness operations roles in agriculture, education, and
retail environments. She supports the day-to-day
financial operations of the organization, including
bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, payroll,
and grant reporting assistance. Angela Varilly, who
joined the FCCDC in 2024 as lending manager, has
moved into the business assistance manager posi-
tion. She is a finance leader with nearly two decades
of experience in retail banking with Greenfield Sav-
ings Bank. She guides small business owners at all
stages and leads the Entrepreneurship Accelerator,
part of the FCCDC’s UPstart program for early-
stage entrepreneurs. Finally, Myra Marcellin left the
FCCDC after two and a half years of service to take
on the role of investment director with Black Farmer
Fund. She will continue to support small businesses
that FCCDC works with as a consultant.
•••••
Robert Sproull has been elected to the board of
directors of New England Public Media (NEPM).
Sproull recently retired as vice president and direc-
tor of Oracle Labs, an applied research group that
originated at Sun Microsystems. Before joining that
organization in 1990, he was a principal at Suther-
land, Sproull and Associates, an associate professor
at Carnegie Mellon University, and a member of the
Xerox Palo Alto Research Center. He is co-author,
with William Newman, of Principles of Interactive
Computer Graphics, and author of Logical Effort.
Sproull is a member of the National Academy of
Engineering, a fellow of the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences, and has served on the U.S. Air
Force Scientific Advisory Board. He has also worked
as a technology partner at Advanced Technology
Ventures and as co-chair of the National Research
Council’s report review committee. He currently
serves as an adjunct professor of computer science
at UMass Amherst and serves on the boards of the
Connecticut River Conservancy and River Network.
Business W est