Page 36 - BusinessWest May 26, 2025

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE>>
NICOLLE CESTERO
The American International
College (AIC) board of trust-
ees 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, fol-
lowing 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 operat-
ing officer, Cestero managed the day-to-day opera-
tions 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, sup-
ported institutional initiatives, and was a member of
the president’s cabinet and all board committees.
Before joining AIC in 2011, she began her profes-
sional 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 pro-
fessional 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 found-
ing in 1885. She is the second woman to serve as
interim president; the first was Edith Scott Magna in
1946.
•••••
bankESB announced the addi-
tion 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 Sut-
ton 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, opti-
mizing 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 busi-
ness 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 communica-
tions 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.
•••••
Country Bank announced that Cristina Consalvo
has been named assistant vice president of Market-
ing. She brings more than 13 years of diverse mar-
keting experience to the bank, with a background
spanning the financial services, insurance, and can-
nabis 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 advertis-
ing 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 profes-
sionals 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.
•••••
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 build-
ing, results-oriented strategy,
and a deep commitment to patient-centered care.
With a strong track record in quality improvement,
operational excellence, and service line develop-
ment, he is well-positioned to lead Baystate Noble
Hospital into its next chapter of growth and inno-
vation. 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 initia-
tives 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 admin-
istration degree from Cornell University. He is a Next
Generation Leaders fellow with the American Hos-
pital Assoc. and holds active memberships in both
the American College of Healthcare Executives and
the National Assoc. of Health Services Executives.
•••••
36 << DEPARTMENTS >>
MAY 26, 2025
BRANDON OKEZIE
BRIAN MATHES
COREY MOQUIN
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 presi-
dent of Digital Marketing for GCAi, before taking
over specific client accounts. His new certifications
include LinkedIn Advertising Fundamentals (launch-
ing successful LinkedIn advertising campaigns, opti-
mizing targeting and reporting), LinkedIn Advertis-
ing Marketing Strategy (full-funnel marketing strate-
gy 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 expe-
rienced 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 West-
field 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.
•••••
Berkshire Bank announced that Heather Hans,
vice president, consumer lending compliance offi-
cer, 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 volun-
teers 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 Volun-
teer Honor Roll for each having volunteered more
than 150 hours in 2024. Collectively, Berkshire Bank
employees achieved a milestone in 2024: 100% vol-
unteered 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.
•••••
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 Sav-
ings 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 experi-
ence, culminating in being named the bank’s first-
ever President’s Award winner for her outstanding
performance.
•••••
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 commer-
Business W est
KATE BLACKWELL