Making News in Business, Jan. 31

Construction of the new Emergency Department at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Florence Bank recently gave $75,000 to the hospital’s fundraising for the $26 million campaign. 

Construction of the new Emergency Department at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Florence Bank recently gave $75,000 to the hospital’s fundraising for the $26 million campaign.  BEN BARNHART

​BRITTANY WARD

​BRITTANY WARD

EURIKA BOULAY

EURIKA BOULAY

JAMIE PARADEE

JAMIE PARADEE

SUE DRUMM

SUE DRUMM

Published: 01-30-2025 12:50 PM

Florence Bank pledges $75K to CDH’s Emergency Department

FLORENCE — Florence Bank has pledged $75,000 to Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s $26 million Transforming Emergency Care Campaign to renovate, expand and enhance the Emergency Department.

Diane Dukette, chief development officer at the hospital, said the ED is 40% undersized to meet the community’s needs, given that the number of patients and the severity of their illnesses has steadily increased over the years, more than doubling since the 1970s. The hospital is also treating more patients with behavioral health concerns.

Cooley Dickinson broke ground on the extensive project to transform the ED in 2023. Project goals include reducing wait times, increasing patients’ comfort and privacy, enhancing staff communications, and improving the standard of care.

The undertaking is one of the largest capital investments in the hospital’s history, and this is the final year of the campaign.

Florence Bank has supported past CDH campaigns, most recently the new Childbirth Center, North Building and Cancer Center, and has supported many programmatic needs, such as nursing development.

Construction in the ED is ongoing with a new addition in the works, and pods being constructed and renovated in phases.

The Transforming Emergency Care campaign has raised $11.5 million of the $26 million project. To make a gift, call 413-582-2255 or visit cooleydickinson.org/giving.

UMassFive announces promotions

HADLEY — UMassFive College Federal Credit Union (UMassFive) is announcing three recent management promotions.

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Brittany Ward has been promoted to senior branch manager of the UMassFive’s Hadley and UMass Amherst branches. Ward started her career at the Credit Union 10 years ago as a member service specialist.

During the last decade, she has held numerous roles, including retail training specialist, video teller supervisor, contact center assistant manager and video teller manager. For the past three years, she has served as branch manager of the Hadley branch.

Eurika Boulay has been promoted to senior branch manager of UMassFive’s Northampton and Northampton VA Medical Center branches. Boulay began her career at the Credit Union nine years ago as a member service specialist. Her roles have since included Northampton branch backup supervisor, Northampton VA Medical Center manager, and most recently the Northampton branch manager position.

In her new role, Boulay will continue to ensure the delivery of the highest quality member service, maintain branch compliance, and collaborate with UMassFive’s community outreach manager to strengthen the Credit Union’s presence in the greater Northampton community.

Jamie Paradee has expanded her role as digital and payment services assistant manager. Paradee began her UMassFive career in 2007 as a part-time teller at the Hadley branch before transferring to the Northampton branch as a senior teller. In 2012, she transitioned back to the Hadley branch, where she was promoted to interim branch supervisor, and then took on the role as the Credit Union’s first facilities manager.

In this role, Paradee oversaw numerous branch remodels, a position that later expanded into support operations manager. After a brief time away from UMassFive, she returned in 2024 as a payment services specialist before being promoted to her current role.

Realtor Association installs new 2025 leadership

SPRINGFIELD — Sue Drumm was installed as the 2025 president of the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley (RAPV), a nonprofit trade association with over 1,800 members.

The 109th Annual Installation of Officers & Directors was held on Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House in West Springfield.

A Realtor since 2009, Drumm of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, has made a long-term commitment to RAPV, having served on its board of directors since 2013 and served as president in 2020. She has been involved in several committees at the association, and was named Realtor of the Year in 2015 and 2021.

The following individuals were installed as 2025 officers: Judy Nevarez of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals as president-elect; Don Thompson of NextHome Elite Realty as treasurer; and Peter Ruffini of RE/MAX Connections as immediate past president. Directors include Carrie Blair of Keller Williams Realty, Quincy Clayton of NextHome Elite Realty, Kelly Page of Trademark Real Estate, Greg Dibrindisi of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals, Erica Swallow of Coldwell Banker Realty-Western MA, Chad Lynch of NextHome Elite Realty, Jennifer Tetreault of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Realty Professionals, Nicolle Serafino of RE/MAX Connections, and Vinny Walsh of Coldwell Banker Realty–Western MA.