Wealth Management Team

Biography

Berkshire Bank has named Jason Edgar as Director of Wealth Management and Interim CIO. Jason joined Berkshire Bank in 2014 and has been Wealth Management’s New England Regional Leader. He has illustrated leadership and guidance across all areas of the business. In his new role he will lead Berkshire Bank’s Wealth Management initiatives and oversee its investment process.

Areas of Specialization

• Market Analysis
• Economic Analysis
• Asset Allocation
• Individual Security Selection

Years of Experience

• 14 years

Contact

1 Van de Graaf Dr
​Burlington, MA 01803

(781) 460-9856

jedgar@berkshirebank.com

Biography

Tom has rejoined the wealth group out of retirement to work on all aspects of client relationships, including financial planning and strategy implementation. After 17 years heading up the wealth group at Berkshire Bank, Tom most recently worked at a private trustee and then became the caregiver for his wife. Tom has over 40 years experience working on investments, trusts, and planning, including tenures at Michigan Avenue Financial Group of Chicago, Bank of Boston’s Private Bank, Fleet Investment Services, and the First National Bank of Geneva. Tom has held the Certified Financial Planner designation for over 27 years. He is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County, recently serving as its treasurer, vice president and president. Tom is a graduate of Monmouth College, Loyola University of Chicago, the National Trust School and the Trust Management School at Northwestern University.

Areas of Specialization

• Investment Portfolios
• Fixed Income & Equity Analysis

Years of Experience

• 40 years

Contact

25 Main Street
Lenox, MA 01240

(413) 881-1211

tbarney@berkshirebank.com

Biography

Mary Ellen was a Senior Vice President,Senior Portfolio Manager and prior Market Leader with Key Bank. Mary Ellen most recently held the position of Senior Portfolio Manager with the Family Wealth Group within Key Private Bank, Trust & Investments. She focused on providing financial and investment guidance to high net worth families in the Albany, Hudson Valley and Metro New York area and is deeply committed to the needs of her clients and has a strong reputation for providing exceptional performance and service. She began her career as a Financial Consultant with Merrill Lynch and has over 25 years of Investment Management experience. Mary Ellen earned her Bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from the State University of New York at Albany. She completed her CFP Certification Professional Education a Program with the College For Financial Planning. She obtained a Certificate from the School of Advanced Financial Management. Mary Ellen is currently enrolled in the Certified Investment Manager Association (CIMA) program, provided through the Wharton School of Business. Mary Ellen serves on various Non-profit boards in the local community.

Areas of Specialization

• Investment Management
• High Net Worth Portfolios

Years of Experience

• 25 years

Contact

30 South Pearl Street, Albany, NY 12207
(518) 729-1425

MCologero@berkshirebank.com
 

Biography

Elizabeth Gore oversees all aspects of operations for the Wealth Management Group, bringing more than 36 years of banking experience, 30 years in Wealth Management Operations & Compliance. She currently manages the Lenox Wealth Management Office and assists clients on a daily basis. Elizabeth is responsible for fiduciary and tax work, preparation of annual probate accountings, implementing disaster recovery policies, assisting auditors and coordinating vendor responsibilities including the department’s trust accounting system. She is a graduate of New England School of Banking at Williams College with a degree in Trust Banking.

Areas of Specialization

• Asset Management
• Trust Operations
• Trust Accounting

Years of Experience

• 30 years

Contact

25 Main Street
Lenox, MA 01240

(855) 843-4716

egore@berkshirebank.com

Biography

Janice Ward serves as SVP, Wealth Advisor & Senior Fiduciary Officer Berkshire Bank Wealth Management. As she is an attorney, licensed in both Massachusetts and New York, she will be working primarily with Trust and Estate clients and assisting with fiduciary activities, and will also focus on financial planning. She has over 14 years’ experience with Trust and Estate planning and administration, with the last 10 years focused on wealth management. She recently obtained her designation as a Certified Financial Planner. She received her Juris Doctor from Western New England University and her BSBA from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. Prior to joining Berkshire Bank’s Wealth Management Group, Janice spent over three years as Vice President and Trust Officer with Greenfield Savings Bank Trust Department and prior to that served as Trust Officer for Legacy Portfolio Management in Pittsfield, MA. She will be based in the Berkshires and will work out of the Berkshire Bank Wealth Management Center in Lenox, Massachusetts.

Areas of Specialization

• Trust and Estate Administration
• Financial Planning
• Estate Planning

Years of Experience

• 14 years

Contact

25 Main Street
Lenox, MA 01240

(855) 843-4716

jward@berkshirebank.com

Vice President, Senior Financial Planner & Wealth Advisor

Biography

Stephen has over 27 years of experience in the financial planning industry working closely with clients, communicating complex planning concepts in simple terms. Stephen has also served as an Adjunct Professor at Siena College for the past seven years. He serves the Capital District, Berkshire, and Southern Vermont regions. Stephen holds a B.S. in Finance from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY. He is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner and received a Master’s of Science with Honors in Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning.

Areas of Specialization

• Financial Planning

Years of Experience

• 27 years

Contact

30 South Pearl St
Albany, NY 12207

518-729-1449

saugstell@berkshirebank.com

                                  

Biography

Donald M. Bisson is Senior Wealth Portfolio Manager for the Wealth Management Group. He has over 28 years of investment experience including equities and fixed income. Additionally, Don focuses on researching, developing and executing investment strategies to maximize returns commensurate with acceptable levels of risk. Before arriving at Berkshire Bank, Don raised and managed $1.3 billion in Small-Mid Cap Growth equity assets at Century Capital Management, LLC. Prior to Century, Don spent 12 years as a portfolio manager and equity analyst at Evergreen Investments where he designed the Small-Mid Cap Growth Equity strategy and managed the Evergreen Small-Mid Cap Growth Fund and the Evergreen Global Opportunities Fund. In addition, he also raised and managed over $600mm in institutional separate accounts. During his tenure, the Evergreen Global Opportunity Fund was recognized as the #1 Global Opportunities Fund by Lipper Fund Research in 2005 and 2007. Don earned his BS from Trinity College in Computer Engineering and an MBA from Columbia Business School. He has been Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) since 1993.

Areas of Specialization

• Investment Management
• High Net Worth Portfolios

Years of Experience

• 28 years

Contact

60 State Street
Boston, MA 02109

(617) 807-8187

dbisson@berkshirebank.com

Biography

John Chandler serves as Vice President and Wealth Advisor with Berkshire Bank Wealth Management. John holds a JD/MBA from Albany Law School / Union University, is an attorney licensed in both New York and Connecticut, and is a designated Certified Trust and Financial Advisor (CTFA).  He has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry, most recently with Ballston Spa National Bank as VP and Sr. Trust Officer, with a focus on wealth management.  John will be working primarily with Trust and Estate clients throughout the NY region.

Areas of Specialization

• Certified Trust
• Financial Advisor

Years of Experience

• 20 years

Contact

30 South Pearl St.
Albany, NY 12207

(518) 903-8994

JChandler@berlshirebank.com

Vice President, Wealth Portfolio Manager & Asset Manager
                                                 
 

Biography

Shawn has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry, including nearly 20 years in wealth management as a portfolio manager. He previously managed portfolios for Glens Falls National Bank, TD Bank, and The Bank of New York Mellon and has experience managing the accounts of high net-worth individuals, institutions, retirement plans, and non-profit organizations. Shawn began his career as a mutual fund accountant for Prudential Securities and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Hofstra University, an MBA in Finance from New York University, and has earned the right to use the CFA designation.

Areas of Specialization:

• Asset Management

Years of Experience:

• 25 years

Contact:

25 Main Street
Lenox, MA 01240

sfoley@berkshirebank.com

Vice President, Wealth Advisor
                                              
 

Biography

Tanya serves as Vice President and Wealth Advisor with Berkshire Bank Wealth Management. She has been in the financial industry for 27 years, 16 of those spent with Berkshire Bank in various leadership roles, including AVP, Trust Officer. Tanya is responsible for the administration of revocable and irrevocable trusts, IRAs, investment management accounts as well as developing and maintaining client relationships.

Areas of Specialization

• Client relationship development & retention
• Trust and estate administration
• Strong understanding of the financial & banking industry

Years of Experience

• 27 years in financial industry
• 12 years in Wealth Management/Trust Administration

Contact

25 Main St.,
Lenox, MA 01240

(413) 881-1207

THaas@berkshirebank.com

Vice President, Wealth Advisor
                                       

Biography

Holly Kresiak joins Berkshire Bank Wealth Management as a Wealth Advisor. Prior to joining Berkshire Bank, Holly was a Vice President, Trust Advisor at TD Wealth. Holly holds a bachelors degree from Bay Path College, she's a Graduate of Cannon Financial Institute's Trust School, and holds a Certificate from the American Banking Institute of Southern New England.

Areas of Specialization

• Strong understanding of the different complexities of trustsStrong understanding of the different complexities of trusts
• Estate and client relationsEstate and client relations

Years of Experience

• 17 years

Contact

25 Main St.,
Lenox, MA 01240

1259 East Columbus Ave.,
Springfield, MA 01105
​
(413) 881-1204

hkresiak@berkshirebank.com

Vice President, Wealth Advisor

Biography

Tammy has nearly 30 years  of  experience in the Wealth Management industry.  Prior to recently joining Berkshire Bank spent 23 years implementing and growing a profitable Trust Division at Ballston Spa National Bank.  During that time department assets grew from less than $10 million to over $130,000,000.  Tammy began her career in Glens  Falls, NY.  In additional to holding the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ she has sat on several boards during her career.

Areas of Specialization

• Financial Planning

Years of Experience

• 30 years

Contact

2532 Route 9
Ballston Spa, NY 12020

(518) 804-3820

TZaiko@berkshirebank.com

 

Biography
Brenda serves as Assistant Vice President, Wealth Advisor with Berkshire Bank Wealth Management.  She has worked in the financial industry for 20 years, 15 of those spent in Berkshire Bank’s Wealth Management’s Operations Department.  Brenda is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the retirement program, assisting in the daily operations of the department as well as maintaining client relationships.   

Areas of Specialization

• ​Strong understanding of the financial & banking industry
• Administration of Retirement accounts
• Client relationship development & retention

Years of Experience

• 20 Years

Contact

25 Main Street
Lenox, MA 01240
 
(413) 881-1201

bbailly@berkshirebank.com

Assistant Vice President, Wealth Portfolio Lead Trader and Analyst

Biography

Derek serves as Assistant Vice President and Lead Trader with Berkshire Bank Wealth Management. He has been with Berkshire Bank for 17 years, 12 of which have been with the Wealth Management team. In his current role, Derek is responsible for trading, portfolio management and investment operations. When he is not in the office helping clients with their financial planning, Derek loves spending time with his wife and kids and, when time allows, hitting the golf course. Active in his community, Derek also serves on the Hospitality Committee and Children’s Ministries at his local church. 

Areas of Specialization

• Portfolio Management
• Investment Operations

Years of Experience

• 17 years

Contact

25 Main St.,
Lenox, MA 01240

(413) 881-1202

DHall@berkshirebank.com

Assistant Vice President, Wealth Advisor

Biography

Wendy currently serves as Assistant Vice President, Wealth Advisor for our Vermont region.  She has 33 years of banking experience, 12 of those being in the Wealth department.  Wendy graduated from Burr and Burton Academy and the New England School of Banking as well as holding a General Banking diploma from the Center For Financial Training.

Areas of Specialization

• Client Service
• Trust Operations
• Client Relationship
• Retention

Years of Experience

• 33 years

Contact

P.O. Box 1567-3450 Richville Rd
Manchester Center, VT  05255

(802) 549-5241

wtalbot@berkshirebank.com