Berkshire Bank Adds Advisory Council to Capital Region Market, Adding Local Experts to Give Communit

Berkshire Bank Adds Advisory Council to Capital Region Market, Adding Local Experts to Give Community Insight

ALBANY, NY – March 11, 2021 – Berkshire Bank, a purpose-driven community bank with locations primarily in New England and New York, announced its newly formed community advisory council in the Capital Region. This Advisory Council includes distinguished nonprofit, public, and private sector industry leaders whose focus will help shape and guide strategy and go-to-market priorities of Berkshire Bank in the Capital Region. They will work closely with Regional President Jim Morris and the local leadership team. The group's collective experience and expertise will offer unique insights into local community needs and focus on under-served communities.
 
“I am pleased to serve on the Council for Berkshire Bank supporting its strategic vision in the marketplace, not only because of the strength and experience of the local team and expansive banking services but also because of its strong commitment to our community.” Said Ellen Sax.
 
"I am very pleased to have been asked to participate on this Council for Berkshire Bank and support its strategic vision to serve our communities," said Sujata Chaudry. "Berkshire offers equitable access to the next generation of community banking services, and this team has the expertise and experience to help customers from diverse backgrounds and experiences grow and prosper financially."

Berkshire Bank Capital Region, Advisory Council members, include:

Mr. Gerald Hennigan is the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Galesi Group, a local development group. Before joining the Galesi Group, Mr. Gerald Hennigan was a Certified Public Accountant providing auditing and tax services. He was also a member of the AICPA, NYSSCPA, and Financial Executives Institute. Mr. Hennigan joined the Galesi Group in 1984 as Assistant Corporate Controller. Mr. Hennigan has held various positions within the company and was elected Executive Vice President in 2018. Mr. Hennigan has also been associated with local chambers of commerce for over twenty years serving on the Board of Directors and Finance Committee and as chair of the Audit Committee. He is a graduate of Siena College.

Mr. Ken Raymond is a successful entrepreneur whose career spans over 35 years in the real estate, finance, and hospitality industries. He is the broker/owner of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, the largest Coldwell Banker residential and commercial real estate franchise operations in New York State. He is a partner of Parc Partners, owner and affiliated with Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Hotels, Indigo hotels, and independent brands. Ken maintains a strong presence in the community. He was the founder and former president of Albany County Convention Visitors Bureau. Previously, he served on the Board of Trustees for St. Gregory's School for Boys in Loudonville and Friends in Adoption. He is also active with Coaches vs. Cancer and Real Men Wear Pink, which raises funds for cancer research for the American Cancer Society.

Ms. Ellen Sax is the Vice President of Community Engagement at MVP Healthcare. In addition to developing and implementing MVP's philanthropic focus, Ellen is responsible for expanding MVP's presence in the community through charitable giving, employee engagement, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations and community groups throughout MVP Health Care's footprint. Ellen participates in a number of community endeavors. She also serves on the Capital Region Chamber Nonprofit Business Committee and the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region. Ellen holds an MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship.

Mr. Anthony Gaddy is a Co-Founder and President/CEO of the UpState New York Black Chamber of Commerce, a U.S. Black Chamber that is one of over 145 U.S. Black Chambers throughout the United States, as well as one in Canada. Anthony is active in the community, having served as Vice-President of the Schenectady County Public Libraries, the NAACP and the Empire State Black Arts & Cultural Festival, and several other organizations. He currently serves as Vice-President of 4th Family, an Albany-based nonprofit that focuses on teaching STEM through sports. Raised in Albany, Anthony is a graduate of The Albany Academies and attended The University of Chicago, where he majored in Economics, before transferring to The University of Southern California.

Mrs. Sujata N Chaudhry is the Founder & CEO of Tangible Development. Born in Bombay, Sujata's family moved from India to England and then to the United States. Sujata's corporate career spans industries, from a market analyst with the US Navy, a sales engineer and cultural liaison for foreign clients of the engineering company AMP, Inc., now TE Communications, and a collaboration exclusively with IBM engineers in Raleigh, NC. Sujata currently serves on the American Red Cross of NENY as Board Chair, 2017-2019, Pine Hollow Arboretum Committee, 2019, Albany Wine and Food Committee for the Arts, 2019, and American Heart Association Go Red for Women Committee, 2019. Sujata is also an advisor for the Tricity Indian Association youth organization and an ambassador for Women@Work.

Mr. Greg Sorrentino is the President & CEO of the Center for Disability Services, Inc. Before his current position; he was the Center's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer. In addition to his career at the Center, Mr. Sorrentino was with Urbach, Kahn & Werlin, Certified Public Accountants in Albany, NY, and Mechanical Technology in Latham, NY. He was an adjunct faculty member at Sage Colleges Graduate Division for Financial Accounting in Albany, NY. He also served on the Sage Colleges Graduate School Advisory Committee and on Health Care Planning Task Force for Siena College. Sorrentino has served on various community boards, including Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons High School, St. Peter's Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Our Lady of Mercy Life Center, St. Margaret's Center, and Albany Medical Center's Better Health for Northeast New York Finance Committee. He received his BS from Siena College and his MS from Sage Graduate School in Albany, NY.

"This is an important milestone for Berkshire Bank," said Jim Morris, Regional President. "We thoughtfully curated this council to include nonprofit, community and development industry experts whose collective experience ensures Berkshire Bank has the guidance it needs to navigate its way in through the dynamic and complex needs of local communities in the Capital Region market.
 

About Berkshire Bank

Berkshire Bank is a 21st-century community bank committed to purpose-driven performance based on its Be FIRST corporate responsibility culture.  

Berkshire Bank provides business and consumer banking, mortgage, wealth management, investment, and insurance services. The Bank has approximately $12.8 billion in assets and operates 127 branch offices primarily in New England and New York, with an agreement to sell its eight Mid-Atlantic branches. Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank and is a member of the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index. To learn more, call 800-773-5601 or follow us on FacebookTwitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.