Page 36 - BusinessWest March 2, 2026

COMPANY NOTEBOOK>>
Monson Savings Bank Announces
$25,000 in Community Donations
MONSON — Monson Savings Bank announced 11
receipients of its 2026 Community Giving Initia-
tive. This was the 16th year Monson Savings Bank
ran its Community Giving Initiative poll. This year,
more than 5,200 votes were received — a record-
breaking response. By inviting public votes, the
bank ensures that its charitable contributions reflect
the community’s values and priorities, fostering a
shared commitment to enhancing the well-being
of the neighborhoods it serves. Now that the votes
have been counted, Monson Savings Bank is plan-
ning to donate $25,000 among this year’s top
11 vote recipients. Traditionally, 10 recipients are
selected, but due to a tie, 11 organizations will be
honored this year. The recipients include I Found
Light Against All Odds, Springfield; Magic for Mad-
die, Southampton; Friends of Hampden Seniors,
Hampden; South End Community Center, Spring-
field; Springfield Ballers, Springfield; YWCA of West-
ern Massachusetts, Springfield; Monson Free Library,
Monson; Springfield Jewish Community Center,
Springfield; CLUBOH, Springfield; Aida’s Food Truck,
Palmer; and Miracle League of Western Massachu-
setts, Holyoke.
Greenfield Cooperative Bank
Reopens Northfield Branch
GREENFIELD — On Feb. 6, Greenfield Cooperative
Bank hosted a grand reopening and ribbon cutting
at its newly remodeled Northfield branch office,
located at 144 Main St.. The branch officially opened
its renovated lobby to customers and the commu-
nity on Feb. 2 for full banking services. In addition to
a fresh interior, the branch now offers two drive-up
lanes and a new, 24-hour drive-up ATM. The branch
also offers expanded hours, including earlier week-
day openings and Saturday hours.
Ooh La La Lingerie Shop
Changes Ownership
NORTHAMPTON — Ooh La La, a lingerie shop in
Thornes Marketplace with items that range from the
traditional to the risqué, has changed hands, and
the new owner — a loyal customer — took the lead
on Jan. 1. Monica Fogg purchased the three-year-
old business from founder Ali Ingellis of Amherst in
a sale that was finalized on Dec. 10. Ingellis works
full-time at Mount Holyoke College and recently
received a promotion that took her time away from
the business. Fogg holds a bachelor’s degree in psy-
chology and art history from the University of Dela-
ware and began her work in the hospitality industry
at 13 as a self-described peppy coat-check girl at a
high-end restaurant in Delaware. She has worked
for Nickelodeon in its book publishing division, and
most recently at IBM as a product marketing man-
ager. After 17 years in sales and marketing, Fogg
took time off in 2023 to focus on a long-term eat-
ing disorder and her struggles with body size. She
came to the Valley soon after and, with her sister,
became an Ooh La La customer. In September, she
began work at the store part-time. Now, she plans
to blend her marketing experience with her per-
sonal learnings to connect with customers, diversify
the price range, and expand product lines and size
options.
Elms College Partners with
State University of Haiti
CHICOPEE — Elms College ratified a new partner-
ship agreement with the State University of Haiti to
create a continuing education program. A signing
ceremony took place on Feb. 17 at Elms College.
This agreement builds upon Elms College’s other
university partnerships in Haiti. In 2019, a partner-
ship was established between the Elms College
School of Nursing and the Episcopal University of
Haiti School of Nursing. That partnership, now the
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Haiti Nursing Continu-
ing Education Program, brings together nurse fac-
ulty from across Haiti and uses a train-the-trainer
approach, with nursing faculty from the Elms Col-
lege School of Nursing training nursing faculty
from across Haiti in leading-edge nursing skills that
they bring to their own students. The overall goal
is to improve the health of the Haitian people. At
the signing event, Elms College welcomed leaders
from the State University of Haiti, including Rector
Dieuseul Predelus, Professor Ricot Pierre-Louis, and
Professor Marie Chantal Dumay.
UMass Amherst Recognized
by Fulbright Scholar Program
AMHERST — UMass Amherst has been named a Ful-
bright Top Producing Institution for the fifth time,
a designation awarded to an elite group of U.S.
universities with the most faculty researchers and
administrators selected for the prestigious Fulbright
U.S. Scholar Program in 2025-26. UMass Amherst
faculty members representing the Riccio College
of Engineering (Emily Kumpel and Nick Tooker),
the College of Humanities and Fine Arts (Margaret
Vickery and Christine Ho), the College of Natural
Sciences (Panayotis Kevrekidis), and the College of
Social and Behavioral Sciences (Ina Ganguli) were
selected last fall to receive Fulbright U.S. Scholar
awards. They have since been conducting and shar-
ing research with partner institutions in Africa, Asia,
India, and Europe. UMass Amherst is among 25
institutions — and one of only two in New England
— named as Fulbright U.S. Scholar Top Producers
for 2025-26, the fifth time the university has been
recognized among doctorate-awarding, top-tier
research universities under the Carnegie Classifi-
cation of Institutions of Higher Education. UMass
Amherst Fulbright Scholars join the national Ful-
bright alumni network dedicated to making a posi-
tive impact in their communities and the world. The
network includes 44 heads of state or government,
63 Nobel laureates, 93 Pulitzer Prize winners, and
83 MacArthur fellows.
Smith College Named a
Top Fulbright Producer
NORTHAMPTON — Smith College has once again
been named among the nation’s top producers of
Fulbright U.S. Student Program award recipients,
continuing a long-standing record of preparing
graduates for global engagement and impact. Smith
is one of only five baccalaureate institutions that
can claim being a Top Producer of Fulbright Stu-
dents every year since the designation began in the
2009-10 academic year. The 2025-26 recognition
marks Smith’s 17th consecutive year on the list. This
year, the college ranks 12th among top Fulbright-
producing institutions nationwide. The Fulbright
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MARCH 2, 2026
Program, established in 1946, is the U.S. govern-
ment’s flagship international academic exchange
initiative, supporting study, research, and teaching
abroad. For the third consecutive year, 10 Smith
students and recent alums have been selected
for Fulbright U.S. Student Program awards. Smith
recipients will teach, conduct research, and pursue
advanced study in Taiwan, Sweden, South Korea,
Germany, Spain, Japan, and Italy. Smith’s sustained
success as a Fulbright Top Producing Institution
reflects the college’s interdisciplinary approach to
learning, where faculty mentorship and student
scholarship combine to address complex global
challenges.
Whittlesey Wins ClearlyRated
Best of Accounting Award
HARTFORD, Conn. — Whittlesey, the largest
Connecticut-based CPA and consulting firm,
announced it has received the 2026 ClearlyRated
Best of Accounting Award for superior client ser-
vice. ClearlyRated’s Best of Accounting Award rec-
ognizes industry leaders in service quality, based
solely on client ratings. In the 2025 survey, clients of
award winners were 70% more likely to be satisfied
than those working with non-winning firms. Whit-
tlesey received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of
10 from 79.8% of its clients, well above the industry
average of 48%. “Service excellence isn’t a one-time
achievement — it’s a daily commitment,” said Drew
Andrews, managing partner and CEO of Whittle-
sey. “This award reflects the trust our clients place
in us and the dedication our team brings to every
engagement. As we move into 2026, we remain
focused on listening closely, innovating thought-
fully, and delivering meaningful results that help our
clients thrive.”
Chic Salon Beauty Bar
Celebrates New Location
HOLYOKE — Chic Salon Beauty Bar Inc., led by
husband-and-husband team José Ocaña and
Josh Esteva, announced the opening of their new-
est upscale salon concept at 250 Westfield Road,
Suite 3, Holyoke. This latest chapter builds on the
company’s legacy as an inclusive beauty leader,
following its success in Chicopee. Before launch-
ing their first collaborative salon in 2018, Ocaña
honed his craft at a former salon in Holyoke, mak-
ing this return a meaningful homecoming for both
owners. Designed as a refuge where every guest
feels at home, Chic Salon Beauty Bar Inc. offers
a quiet, comfortable environment welcoming to
the LGBTQ+ community, trans clientele, and indi-
viduals on the autism spectrum. Ocaña, a 20-year
expert hairstylist, renowned platform artist, and
international educator, partners with Esteva, a six-
year esthetician whose experience spans medical
technology, HIV counseling, and administrative
work at CEPA. Together, they deliver a full suite of
treatments — expert hair styling, vibrant coloring,
waxing, intense pulsed light therapy, and signa-
ture transformations for milestone occasions like
quinceañeras and weddings.
Notebook
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