Officers and Directors

James C. Hagan has been a director of our Board since 2009, our Chief Executive Officer since December 31, 2008, and our President since June 2005. Mr. Hagan served as Chief Operating Officer of the Company and Westfield Bank from June 2005 until December 2008. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Department Manager of Westfield Bank from 1998. From 1994 through 1998, Mr. Hagan was a Vice President at Westfield Bank. Prior to 1994, Mr. Hagan worked as a commercial lender and manager at other New England based banking institutions. He received a Bachelor of Science from Westfield State College and received a Master of Business Administration from American International College. Mr. Hagan’s expertise in credit administration, commercial lending and management through his various roles within the Company and within other New England based banking institutions provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Mr. Miles was appointed to Executive Vice President in December 2008 and serves as Westfield Bank’s Senior Lender. Prior to that, Mr. Miles served as Senior Vice President and Senior Lender of the Company and Westfield Bank since August 2005. From 1998 to 2005, Mr. Miles served as Vice President and Commercial Loan Officer.

Mrs. Sajdak was appointed to serve as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company and Westfield Bank in April 2017. Mrs. Sajdak had served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of the Company and Westfield Bank since October 2016. Previously, Mrs. Sajdak served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Legacy Chicopee Bancorp, Inc., and Legacy Chicopee Savings Bank where she held the position since 2010. Mrs. Sajdak served Chicopee Savings Bank in various capacities since 1989 including that of Internal Auditor and Commercial Lender. Mrs. Sajdak also serves on the board of the Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation as its Treasurer.

Lisa G. McMahon has been a director of our Board since 2014 and was named Chairperson on March 24, 2020, making her the first female Board Chairperson in the Company’s 168-year history. Ms. McMahon is the Director of Institutional Advancement and Stewardship with Westfield State University. Ms. McMahon began at Westfield State University in 2013 after leaving Merrill Lynch where she obtained her general securities license and license to become a registered investment advisor representative. Ms. McMahon currently serves as President of the Westfield Academy Foundation as well as the President of the executive board of the Genesis Center – a division of the Sisters of Providence Health Systems. From 2007 to 2012, Ms. McMahon was the executive director of the Westfield Business Improvement District, Inc. Ms. McMahon received a Bachelor of Science degree from Our Lady of the Elms College. Ms. McMahon’s business experience and extensive work with micro businesses, nonprofits, and community relations provides her with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Laura Benoit has been a director of our Board since 2014. Ms. Benoit has been the Treasurer and Co-Owner of Baystate Fuel Oil, Inc., a fuel distribution company located in Agawam, Massachusetts, since 1985. Ms. Benoit also serves as President of Buddy Realty, LLC. Ms. Benoit is a former member of the board of directors of the Western Mass Fuel Dealers Association where she served as Treasurer and then President for a period of ten years. Ms. Benoit received an Associate’s degree in Business Administration from Holyoke Community College. Ms. Benoit’s finance, accounting and small business management experience provides her with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Donna J. Damon has been a director of our Board since 2011. Ms. Damon is the President and owner of New England Concrete Cutting, Inc., a construction company specializing in concrete cutting and drilling located in Agawam, Massachusetts. She also serves as an executive officer and the office manager for two separate companies, Witch Equipment of New England, Inc., and Witch Enterprises, Inc. Ms. Damon also serves on various community boards. Ms. Damon’s experience in human resource, office management and business administration, including financial management and employee benefit administration provides her with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Gary G. Fitzgerald has been a director of our Board since October 2016. Previously, Mr. Fitzgerald served on the boards of Chicopee Savings Bank and Chicopee Bancorp, Inc., since 2009. Mr. Fitzgerald is a Certified Public Accountant and is a Managing Principal of Downey, Pieciak, Fitzgerald & Co., P.C., a CPA firm located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Fitzgerald received a Bachelor of Science degree from Western New England University, a Master of Science in Taxation degree from Bentley University, and has been licensed as a Certified Public Accountant since 1996. His extensive background in accounting and taxation provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director and as the Company’s financial expert.

William D. Masse has been a director of our Board since October 2016. Previously, Mr. Masse served on the boards of Chicopee Savings Bank and Chicopee Bancorp, Inc., since 1998 and 2006, respectively. Mr. Masse retired on January 1, 2021, as the President of Granfield, Bugbee & Masse Insurance Agency in Chicopee, Massachusetts. He had been in the insurance industry for 40 years. Mr. Masse holds a Bachelor of the Arts degree from Williams College where he majored in economics. Mr. Masse has, in the past, served as Chairman and/or President of the board of directors of area non-profit organizations. His experience, as well as business and community contacts, provide him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Gregg F. Orlen has been a director of our Board since October 2016. Previously Mr. Orlen served on the boards of Chicopee Savings Bank and Chicopee Bancorp, Inc., since 1999 and 2006, respectively. Mr. Orlen is the owner of Gregg Orlen Custom Homebuilders and works as an excavating contractor. Mr. Orlen served on the development committee for South Hadley’s municipal golf course, The Ledges, and was responsible for the oversight of its construction phase. Mr. Orlen remained on the golf course commission, while a resident of South Hadley. Mr. Orlen holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Mr. Orlen is a well-established premier builder of residential homes within our market and brings to the Board his extensive knowledge of the local housing market.

Paul C. Picknelly has been a director of our Board since October 2016. Previously, Mr. Picknelly served on the boards of Chicopee Savings Bank and Chicopee Bancorp, Inc., since 2000 and 2006, respectively. Mr. Picknelly is a hotel owner and operator, as well as a commercial real estate developer. Mr. Picknelly currently serves as President of Monarch Enterprises, LLC (Monarch Place Office Tower, Sheraton Springfield, and the Hilton Garden Inn Hotels in Springfield and Worcester, MA) and manages various commercial real estate properties in the local area. Mr. Picknelly brings to the Board his unique and extensive knowledge of the customers, communities and political climate within our marketplace from a premier hotel management and real estate developer perspective.

Steven G. Richter has been a director of our Board since 2011. Dr. Richter is the founder, former owner, operator and President of Micro Test Laboratories, Inc., a contract testing and manufacturing support operation for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Dr. Richter is the manager of Richco Laboratories LLC, which is a life science consulting and testing operation. Dr. Richter is a registered microbiologist with both the American Society of Clinical Pathology and the American Society for Microbiology. Dr. Richter serves on the boards of the Holyoke Community College Biotech Advisory Board and the Westfield State University Life Science Advisory Board. Dr. Richter is also actively involved in research and development with the University of Massachusetts and an IALS Institute advisory board member. Dr. Richter previously served in a biotechnological advisory capacity for small business with Governor Romney and is a past FDA microbiologist and accredited regulatory affairs professional. Dr. Richter is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s of Science in Microbiology and went on to receive his Master of Sciences degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and his Ph.D. in Sterilization Sciences from Columbia Pacific University. Dr. Richter’s experience in small business administration and management, including financial and business operations matters, provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.

Philip R. Smith has been a director of our Board since 2009. Prior to Mr. Smith’s directorship, he served as Secretary to the Company. Mr. Smith has been a partner at Bacon & Wilson, P.C., one of the largest regional law firms in western Massachusetts specializing in Real Estate, Business Law and Estate Planning, since 2001. Mr. Smith has served as a past board member of the Westfield Chamber of Commerce in Westfield, Massachusetts, and of the Westfield State College Foundation. Mr. Smith is a past member of the Westfield Community Development Corporation board of directors. He is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire and received a J.D. from New England School of Law and an LL.M. in taxation from Boston University. Mr. Smith’s experience in commercial and residential lending and business law through his many years of legal practice provides him with the qualifications and skills to serve as a director.