Page 35 - BusinessWest May 11, 2026

JEFFRY PIERCE
outreach and local engagement efforts. She previ-
ously held roles as senior banker at PeoplesBank and
assistant branch manager at United Bank, where she
developed strong expertise in branch leadership,
consumer lending, regulatory compliance, and staff
mentoring. She holds federal NMLS registration and
is a notary public in the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts. Duda regularly participates in local cham-
ber and community events and previously served for
three years as treasurer of the Suffield Chamber of
Commerce, supporting local businesses and eco-
nomic development initiatives.
•••••
bankESB announced the
appointment of Jeffry Pierce
as senior vice president of SBA
Lending. In this role, he will
be based out of the bank’s
Elm Street, Millbury office
and lead efforts to expand
and enhance the bank’s Small
Business Administration (SBA)
lending programs. Pierce has more than 40 years
of banking experience, with deep expertise in SBA
and commercial lending. Throughout his career,
he has demonstrated a strong ability to build high-
performing teams and deliver tailored financing
solutions that support small business growth.
Prior to joining bankESB, he served as regional
vice president and SBA commercial market leader
at HarborOne Bank. He also held the position of
senior vice president, regional sales manager for
SBA lending at TD Bank, where he was instrumental
in driving regional lending strategies and business
development initiatives. Pierce has also been
actively involved in community service, including
serving on the board of the Middlesex (Conn.)
United Way. He holds a bachelor’s degree in finance
from Central Connecticut State University.
•••••
David Biancamano will join the senior leadership
team at Northfield Mount Hermon (NMH) as chief
advancement officer beginning May 1. Biancamano
will lead the school’s advancement and market-
ing and communications teams, shaping its vision
for fundraising and engagement and building the
infrastructure and culture necessary to achieve
its priorities and fulfill its aspirations for its future.
He will serve as a strategic partner to the head of
school and the NMH board of trustees, guiding
the design and execution of advancement goals
that support the school’s mission, strategic plan,
and financial sustainability. He brings to the role
nearly 25 years of educational experience, including
leading comprehensive fundraising programs and
developing campaign strategy, major and princi-
pal gift programs, and donor engagement models
that strengthen institutional culture and long-term
sustainability. He comes to NMH from the UMass
Amherst Foundation, where he serves as an assistant
vice president, overseeing fundraising and advance-
ment efforts for a diverse portfolio of university col-
leges and schools. His previous roles include deputy
athletic director for development at UMass Amherst,
senior associate athletic director at James Madison
University, and director of development for athletics
at Rice University. He received his bachelor’s degree
in communication from Central Connecticut State
University and his master’s degree in sports admin-
istration from the University of Miami. Biancamano
will assume the chief advancement officer position
from Trish Jackson, who will retire on June 30
after serving in the role since 2022. Jackson led the
successful $275 million “This Place, This Moment:
the Campaign for Northfield Mount Hermon,” posi-
tioning the school for long-term sustainability and
Business W est growth as it approaches its 150th anniversary in
2029 and beyond.
•••••
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) alumna
Annie Pecor, assistant superintendent of North
Adams Public Schools, has been selected to receive
the Massachusetts State Universities Educator Alumni
Award alongside eight other educators from across
the state’s public university system. The award, pre-
sented by the Massachusetts State Universities Coun-
cil of Presidents, recognizes graduates of Massachu-
setts state universities who have made outstanding
contributions to the field of education. A Berkshire
County educator for more than 15 years, Pecor
began her career as a middle school English lan-
guage arts teacher before rising through the ranks of
educational leadership. This year, she was recognized
by the MCLA Alumni Assoc. with the Outstanding
Educator Award. She earned both a master’s degree
in education and a certificate of advanced gradu-
ate study from MCLA, and is a graduate of the MCLA
Leadership Academy. She also holds a bachelor’s
degree from Siena College and earned her doctorate
in education from the University of New England in
2024. As a North Adams middle school teacher, she
launched a peer mentoring program and a seventh-
grade student council to cultivate student leadership.
She later served as vice principal and then principal
of Craneville Elementary School in Dalton, where she
championed restorative practices, reduced behavior
referrals, and guided the school community through
the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, as director
of Northern Berkshire Adult Education and 21st Cen-
tury Programming, Pecor led the program to exceed
enrollment targets, launched a thriving English
speakers of other languages program, added tutoring
services, secured local transportation funding, and
forged a partnership with McCann Technical High
School for an adult culinary arts program. Beyond
her professional work, Pecor volunteers as vice chair
of the Berkshire Leadership Program and serves on
the boards of Berkshire County Suicide Prevention,
the Berkshire Food Project, and the Northern Berk-
shire United Way.
•••••
Pioneer Valley Financial
Group announced that Kevin
Sylvester earned his Certified
Financial Planner (CFP) certi-
fication, becoming the firm’s
second CFP professional. He
joined the PV team in 2019 and
KEVIN SYLVESTER
has consistently demonstrated
a strong commitment to pro-
fessional growth and client service. His dedication
to advancing his knowledge and expertise reflects
both his personal drive and PV’s culture of continu-
ous development. Before entering the financial
services industry, Sylvester made a career change
in 2011 and returned to school while balancing the
demands of work and family. He attended UMass
Amherst, graduating in 2018 with a degree in
mathematics and a concentration in actuarial sci-
ence. Shortly after, he began his career in wealth
management, where he discovered a passion for
helping clients achieve long-term financial success.
He continued to build on his expertise by earning
both his Accredited Investment Fiduciary and Cer-
tified Plan Fiduciary Advisor designations, further
strengthening his ability to serve clients with integ-
rity and insight. The CFP certification is one of the
most respected credentials in the financial planning
industry. To earn the designation, candidates must
complete rigorous education requirements, pass a
comprehensive six-hour examination, gain relevant
professional experience, and commit to upholding
<< DEPARTMENTS >>
strict ethical standards.
•••••
Nicole Blais, CEO of Holyoke, Chicopee, Spring-
field (HCS) Head Start, has been named the 2026
Leader of the Year by the Massachusetts Head
Start Assoc. (MHSA). This recognition honors her
decades of leadership, commitment, and impact
on children, families, and the broader Head Start
community. Blais began her professional journey
with HCS Head Start in 1996 as a parent education
and support specialist. In this role, she focused on
strengthening family engagement and ensuring
program standards were upheld. Over the years, she
expanded her impact by developing family-focused
initiatives, leading teams, and representing Head
Start programs across Massachusetts and at national
conferences. In 2012, she stepped into the role of
director of Community Engagement, where she
spent a decade building partnerships with commu-
nity organizations, media, and public leaders. Her
work strengthened connections between Head Start
and the communities it serves, helping to expand
awareness and access to critical early childhood
services. In 2021, Blais was named CEO follow-
ing the retirement of longtime leader Janis Santos.
Since then, she has continued to guide the orga-
nization with a focus on innovation, collaboration,
and a strong commitment to children and families
across Holyoke, Chicopee, and Springfield. She also
serves on the New England Head Start Assoc. board
of directors, and prior to that appointment, Blais
also served multiple terms on the MHSA board of
directors, advocating for policies and practices that
strengthen Head Start programs statewide. Blais
also serves the community as a Springfield Regional
Chamber ambassador and Holyoke Rotary Club
member. She attended the Massachusetts College
of Liberal Arts and conducted her graduate stud-
ies in nonprofit management & philanthropy at Bay
Path University.
•••••
Glenmeadow announced that Nick Testa, director
of Food and Beverage, has been named the 2026
Director of Dining Services of the Year by the Senior
Dining Assoc. Testa joined Glenmeadow in 2023
and quickly distinguished himself as a collabora-
tive, innovative leader. Just months into his role,
he successfully guided dining operations through a
16-month construction project that impacted two
major venues, ensuring exceptional service was
maintained throughout holidays, events, and daily
dining. He also led the opening of Glenmeadow’s
new Doorstop Lounge and the implementation of
its CCRC liquor license, enhancing the overall resi-
dent experience. This national recognition from the
Senior Dining Assoc. honors Testa’s leadership, posi-
tivity, and commitment to excellence in senior living
dining. He was formally recognized last month at
the SYNERGY 2026 Conference in Charlotte, N.C.
•••••
Beacon Financial Corporation, the holding com-
pany for Beacon Bank, announced the appointment
of Gary Levante as chief Marketing officer. He is
responsible for advancing the company’s strategic
goals by establishing Beacon’s new brand, deepen-
ing client engagement, and delivering integrated
marketing and communications programs. Most
recently, Levante served as chief Communication
& Sustainability officer of Berkshire Bank, which he
joined in 2010. In the community, Levante is chair-
man of the national nonprofit America’s Charities a
member of the Massachusetts Bankers Assoc. state
legislative & regulatory affairs committee, trustee
with the bank’s foundation, board member of Berk-
shire Omega, and vice chair of Pittsfield’s Commu-
nity Development Board.
MAY 11, 2026
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