bankESP donates $10K to Valley CDC
EASTHAMPTON — bankESB has donated $10,000 to Valley Community Development (CDC) to support the nonprofit’s efforts in fostering affordable housing, economic development and entrepreneurship.
The contribution is part of a three-year, $30,000 commitment and made through the Community Investment Tax Credit (CITC) program, which allows businesses and individuals to provide flexible working capital that can fund new programs, fill gaps, and leverage other resources.
The donation will provide direct support to Valley’s programs, including small business assistance programs that helps support first-time homebuyer counseling and education so more community members can realize the dream of homeownership.
New hire at UMassFive
HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union (UMassFive) has hired Corrine (Corky) Sysun as a senior business relationship manager on the Commercial Services team.
Sysun brings more than 20 years of experience in business banking and commercial lending, most recently serving as a business banking officer at TD Bank. Her expertise includes commercial real estate and commercial and industrial lending.
Earlier in her career, Sysun spent over a decade as a branch manager and business development manager, where she honed her leadership skills and consistently achieved top performance in small business lending.
In her new role, she will work with members and community partners to grow commercial relationships, support lending initiatives, and contribute to UMassFive’s strategic goals. Her extensive expertise, commitment to service, and dedication to community engagement make her a valuable addition to the team.
Window World named qualified remodeler
BELCHERTOWN — Qualified Remodeler, a publication serving remodelers and home improvement companies in the U.S., recently ranked Window World of Western Mass. as No. 92 out of the 200 largest home improvement companies in the country, which places the company at the top for western Massachusetts.
Window World was chosen as a 2025 HIP 200 company by the publication’s editorial staff for meeting a set of criteria including installed remodeling dollar volume, total years in business, industry association membership, industry certification, industry awards and community service.
For over two decades, Window World has been serving the community with a wide range of products, including energy-efficient windows, doors, and siding and roofing.
HCC names new director of facilities
HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College recently welcomed Richard Michaud as its director of facilities and engineering.
Michaud comes to HCC with decades of experience in facilities management, engineering, infrastructure and utilities improvement projects.
Most recently, he worked as the chief engineer and director of facilities management for Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bedford, Massachusetts, where he was responsible for facilities operations, maintenance and repair, new construction and renovations. He previously worked for 12 years as project engineer for the VA Boston Healthcare System.
Michaud earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Boise State University and holds a master’s degree in business administration from Phoenix University. He served for 24 years with the U.S. Navy, including 10 years with the Civil Engineer Corps. He was honorably discharged in 2014.
Michaud started his job at HCC on Nov. 10.
No Shave campaign for TommyCar, sheriff’s office
NORTHAMPTON — TommyCar Auto Group partnered with the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, led by Sheriff Patrick Cahillane, during this year’s No Shave November campaign, raising a total of $7,890 in support of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
The funds were raised in support of the Tom Cosenzi Driving for the Cure Charity Golf Tournament, an annual event dedicated to raising funds for brain cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The cause is deeply meaningful to the Cosenzi family and reflects the legacy of Tom Cosenzi, whose commitment to community and philanthropy continues through the leadership of Carla and Tommy Cosenzi and the entire TommyCar organization.
No Shave November is a nationwide initiative encouraging participants to grow beards and forgo grooming to raise awareness around cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.
Throughout the month, members of the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office and TommyCar Auto Group employees participated in the campaign, helping spark community conversations and generate support for the cause.
As part of the partnership, TommyCar Auto Group matched the donation raised through the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, doubling the impact of the initiative. Combined with contributions from TommyCar employees and customers across its dealership locations, the campaign reached a total of $7,890.
All proceeds from the campaign will benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, supporting life-saving research and compassionate care for patients and families.