HOLYOKE — Florence Bank opened its fourth Hampden County branch at 1490 Northampton St. in Holyoke on July 6.

The new 2,500-square-foot branch, designed by H|AI Architecture in Northampton, has a spacious lobby, traditional teller stations, five offices, a drive-up teller window and a drive-up ATM.

“The Holyoke branch is an exciting new chapter in our 153-year history, and we look forward to supporting the people, families, organizations, and businesses of the Paper City,” said President and CEO Matt Garrity.

Shadia Coley will serve as branch manager for the new location. Coley has more than 10 years of banking experience and holds bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in business administration with a concentration in finance, both from Southern New Hampshire University. In addition to managing Florence Bank’s newest branch, she will oversee business development, community outreach and engagement, and customer service.

In addition to Coley, five team members will staff the branch, where customers can be assisted by tellers, meet with a customer service representative or apply for a mortgage. Katherine Ravenelle will be the assistant branch manager, and Paola Sherman, the bank’s Spanish-speaking mortgage originator, will also be based in the new branch.

Florence Bank has nearly 6,700 customers living in Hampden County, including 1,100 business customers; more than 1,200 of those customers in Holyoke.

EASTHAMPTON — Bozena Dabek, executive vice president, chief administrative officer at bankESB, has been elected to the board of directors of the Cooperative Banks Employees Retirement Association (CBERA).

CBERA was established in January 1946 to administer pension programs for employees of the Massachusetts cooperative banking industry. Today, the organization serves not only pensions for cooperative banks, but 401K plans for financial institutions across the region.

In her role on the board, Dabek will contribute her extensive financial and operational expertise to help advance CBERA’s mission and ensure the continued strength and sustainability of its retirement programs.

Dabek assumed her current position in 2015 after serving as EVP, chief financial officer beginning in 2010. In her current role, she leads human resources, learning and development and executive administration. She brings more than three decades of experience in finance and banking.

Dabek holds a Master of Business Administration in finance and international business from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting from Pace University’s Lubin School of Business. She also completed advanced professional studies at the New England School of Financial Studies.

AMHERST — Kuhn Riddle Architects & Designers has hired Clara Danso as a project designer.

Born in Ghana, Danso brings her educational and professional experiences from her years there, as well as her work experience in New York City with Adjaye Associates, a major international architectural firm.

Danso received her Bachelor of Architectural Studies from Mount Holyoke College in 2017 and expects to receive her Master of Architecture degree from UMass Amherst in 2027. She recently completed the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), an important milestone on the path to architectural licensure.

Kuhn Riddle is a design-focused architecture and interiors practice committed to creating meaningful environments that enrich experience, support community, and express each client’s unique mission and identity.

CHICOPEE — The Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts has installed its 2026-27 leadership team following elections held during the organization’s annual meeting June 17 at the Castle of Knights.

Joseph Yiznitsky was elected president, succeeding Timothy Wells. Other officers include First Vice President Henry Avery, Second Vice President Christopher Grenier, Third Vice President James Meehleder, Secretary Lori Loughlin and Treasurer Robert Chateauneuf.

The association also elected three new directors to three-year terms: Mark Lefsyk and Kristin Wampler as associate directors, and Daniel Thibault as builder director.

During the meeting, Gisele Gilpatrick of Pro-Tech Waterproofing Solutions was recognized for her service as chair of the Western Mass Home & Garden Show from 2017 to 2025. Loughlin, of F.W. Webb/Frank Webb Home, received the 2026 Edward R. Pedersen Service Award for her contributions to the association during the past year.

Founded in 1939, the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts is a residential construction trade association and producer of the annual Western Mass Home & Garden Show.

BELMONT — Sarah Willie-LeBreton, president of Smith College, has been elected chair of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts Board of Directors for the 2026-27 term.

Willie-LeBreton succeeds Bentley University President E. LaBrent Chrite, who will serve on the board as an ex officio member. Tufts University President Sunil Kumar was elected vice chair, while Beth Ross of Emmanuel College and Lasell University President Eric Turner joined the board. Turner will serve as secretary and treasurer. All appointments took effect June 1.

Willie-LeBreton became Smith’s 12th president in 2023. Before joining Smith, she spent 26 years at Swarthmore College, where she served as provost and dean of the faculty. She holds degrees from Haverford College and Northwestern University and is a sociologist whose scholarship focuses on race, ethnicity and social inequality.

The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts represents 56 private colleges and universities across the state.