PITTSFIELD, MA June 15, 2017 – Berkshire Bank has recognized 31 employees for their volunteerism in the community, and has named two "top volunteers" through their Volunteer Service X-ellence Awards Program. These annual awards celebrate bank employees who have made outstanding contributions to their communities.
The two award recipients were selected based on their strong record of volunteerism to non-profit organizations through both company-supported activities and for individual service to the broader community. Each of the award winners also received a $1,000 donation that will be made to the non-profit organization of their choice.
This year's Volunteer X-ellence Award winners include:
Diana Dalton, Financial Planning Assistant in Pittsfield, MA. Dalton received the Volunteer Service X-ellence award for her leadership and participation in the bank's corporate volunteer program.
Dalton's donation was made to: Williams Elementary School
Felix Trinidad, Loan Closer in Needham, MA. Trinidad received the Volunteer Service X-ellence award for his leadership and service in both company-supported and individual volunteer activities.
Trinidad's donation was made to: Billerica Youth Soccer Association
In addition to the two Volunteer Service X-ellence Award recipients, Berkshire Bank named 30 employees to their Community Service Honor Roll. Those employees eligible for the Honor Roll completed a minimum of 150 hours of volunteer service in the last calendar year. Honorees included:
Dawn Adams-Rea: Dorset, VT
Erin Albert: Lee, MA
Theresa Andersen: Pittsfield, MA
Teddi Averin: Westfield, MA
Patrick Browne: Needham, MA
Ann Ciepiela: Pittsfield, MA
Gerald Congdon: Methuen, MA
Robert Crowle: Otis, MA
Robert Curley: Albany, NY
Lisa Davison: Rome, NY
Brian Ferris: Westborough, MA
Susan Gagne: East Longmeadow, MA
Paul Gershkowitz: Needham, MA
Melissa Hoyt: Manchester, VT
James Kochakian: Methuen, MA
Nicole Kondziela: Rutland, VT
Gary Levante: Pittsfield, MA
Peter Love: Pittsfield, MA
Ronald MacDonald: Burlington, MA
Michelle McMonagle: Blue Bell, PA
LeeAnn Morrone: Newington, CT
Matthew Nicholl: Utica, NY
Justin Priddle: Guilderland, NY
Peter Rice: Westborough, MA
Monica Schlaepfer: West Winfield, NY
Ryan Shorette: Hartford, CT
Michael Smith: Greenfield, MA
Felix Trinidad: Needham, MA
Gary Urkevich: Pittsfield, MA
Rachel Yates: Springfield, MA
Established in 2008, the XTEAM®, Berkshire Bank's nationally acclaimed Employee Volunteer Program, helps the bank and employees give back to the communities in which they live and do business. Every Berkshire Bank employee receives 16 hours of paid time off to participate in company supported projects that usually occur during regular business hours. In 2016, 100% of Berkshire Bank's employees participated in the program. Berkshire recently completed their annual Xtraordinary Day of Service on Wednesday, June 7, 2017 in which they took on 65 service projects across the country to benefit more than 430,000 individuals.
About Berkshire Bank Foundation
Through foundation grants to nonprofits, scholarships to students, environmental programs, and employee volunteerism, Berkshire Bank is making a difference. Each year the Foundation donates $2 million to nonprofits throughout the Bank's footprint and 100% of bank employees provide over 40,000 hours of service through their XTEAM® corporate volunteer program. Berkshire Bank was named one of Massachusetts' Most Charitable Companies by the Boston Business Journal in 2016. To learn more about Berkshire Bank Foundation, visit https://clicktime.cloud.postoffice.net/clicktime.php?X=XID116VFoRAN0301Xd1&U=www.berkshirebank.com%2Fcommunity&T=
BERK&HV=X,U,T,S&H=c5677eeabf24e1cf21ca12f90754877c869d2283&S=Y.
About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank, America's Most Exciting Bank®. The Company, recognized for its entrepreneurial approach and distinctive culture, has $9.3 billion in assets and 97 full service branch offices in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey and Pennsylvania providing personal and business banking, insurance, and wealth management services. The Company has a pending agreement to acquire Commerce Bancshares Corp., the parent company of Commerce Bank and Trust Company, a $2.2 billion bank with 16 branches in the Worcester, MA and Boston, MA markets. To learn more, visit https://clicktime.cloud.postoffice.net/clicktime.php?X=XID116VFoRAN0301Xd1&U=www.berkshirebank.com&T=
BERK&HV=X,U,T,S&H=17e10f28edb89e7349897b26d01735ca5993ac4a&S=Y, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
Contact: Heidi Higgins
Berkshire Bank
Phone: (413) 236-3756
E-Mail: hhiggins@berkshirebank.com
Vanessa Pesa
Berkshire Bank
Phone: 4134471851
E-Mail: vpesa@berkshirebank.com