Amherst Cinema names theater for founding leader

AMHERST — Amherst Cinema Arts Center has named its largest theater for founding Executive Director Carol M. Johnson. Johnson first served on the board of directors from 2001 to 2006, and then led the cinema from 2007 to her retirement in 2020.

Film fans will now enter the space under a sign designating the 182-seat space the “Carol M. Johnson Theater.”

As executive director, Johnson was instrumental in securing state and federal funding and individual and corporate donations for Amherst Cinema’s inaugural capital campaign in 2006. Her commitment to innovative, world-class programming established the cinema as a cultural destination in the region and as a well-respected institution within the arthouse cinema community at the national level, a reputation that continues to grow today.

The Cinema marked the occasion with a reception and naming ceremony featuring live and pre-recorded messages from guests and speakers from the Cinema’s years under Johnson’s tenure. They included state Rep. Mindy Domb; former Massachusetts legislators Ellen Story and Stan Rosenberg; Barry Roberts, principal of The Roberts Group; current board president Barton Byg; and Yasmin Chin Eisenhauer, who succeeded Johnson as executive director in 2021.

The naming of the Carol M. Johnson Theater marks the first event on the way to the Cinema’s 20th anniversary, which will officially fall on Nov. 22, 2026. The Cinema has launched “Picture Perfect,” a campaign to support the organization and fund recent capital improvements, including a new roof, removal and replacement of its solar array, and state-of-the art laser projectors and new, high quality screens in each of its three theaters in the main building. Those wishing to support the Cinema can make gifts at amherstcinema.org/donate or reach out to Angela Combest, development manager, at acombest@amherstcinema.org.

Florence Bank hires VP, credit manager

FLORENCE — Florence Bank has hired Meghan Parnell of Holyoke to serve as vice president/credit manager in the Commercial Lending department.

She will lead her team in the analysis of existing and proposed commercial loans and commercial loan portfolio management and assist the senior management team with loan policy, budgeting, strategic planning and external support systems.

Skilled in commercial credit and lending, financial analysis, team leadership, process improvement and digital strategy, Parnell has served as a chief lending officer, senior financial product manager, business lending manager and commercial credit officer.

She holds an associate degree in mathematics from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In the community, Parnell has served Family Outreach of Amherst, the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School and Holyoke Community College Foundation, as treasurer.

OMG Inc. makesleadership promotions

AGAWAM — OMG Inc. has promoted three senior leaders within its FastenMaster team — Nikki Long, David Ellis and Anthony DiSanto — to new roles.

Long, of Northampton, has been named vice president of the Structural Business Unit and the Customer Service Department. In her new role, Long will oversee the Structural Business Unit including the LOK line of fasteners, plus FastenMaster’s new construction sales team, and its five-member customer service department.

Long, who joined FastenMaster in 2003, has held roles of increasing responsibility, including customer service manager, home center channel manager, and director of key accounts. Long holds a bachelor’s degree from Smith College.

Ellis, who is from out of state, has been promoted to vice president of sales and marketing, where he will oversee FastenMaster’s nationwide field sales team, the key accounts team, as well as FastenMaster’s marketing group.

Ellis joined FastenMaster in 2009 as a field sales representative and has steadily risen through the ranks, most recently serving as director of sales, where he led the company’s growth in strategic product categories. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University.

DiSanto, of Northampton, has been promoted to director of the Decking Business Unit. In this role, he will oversee strategy and execution for FastenMaster’s deck fastening business, as well as the development of new decking innovations. DiSanto, who joined FastenMaster in 2006, has played a pivotal role in launching over 20 new products during his tenure. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Western New England University.

FastenMaster, a division of OMG, Inc., is a brand of fastening solutions for professional contractors that was established in 1981. Its products are engineered for structural, decking, and trim applications in residential construction.

Westhampton resident joins American Angus

WESTHAMPTON — Austin Norris, of Westhampton, is a new member of the American Angus Association, a national breed organization headquartered in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

The American Angus Association, with more than 21,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef breed association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on over 21 million registered Angus.

The Association records ancestral information and keeps production records and genomic data on individual animals to develop industry-leading selection tools for its members. The programs and services of the Association and its entities — Angus Genetics Inc., Angus Media, Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Foundation — help members advance the beef cattle business by selecting the best animals for their herds and marketing quality genetics for the beef cattle industry and quality beef for consumers.