Making News in Business, Feb. 13

Treehouse names new board members

EASTHAMPTON — Treehouse Foundation has named six new members to its board of directors. Treehouse is an intentional, intergenerational community dedicated to supporting families fostering and adopting children who have been in foster care. Founded in 2002, it has become a national model in the movement for innovation in child welfare. It is poised to expand this model to other cities in Massachusetts.

New members include:

Peter Albero, Easthampton, chief executive officer of Greenfield Savings Bank. Albero was previously chief financial officer and treasurer of GSB and is experienced in asset and liability management, investments, strategic planning, and financial reporting. He has held senior positions in top tier financial institutions such as Price Waterhouse and Morgan Stanley. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance, and a master’s in finance and international business.

Cherryl Jensen, Easthampton, a resident of Treehouse and the community’s representative on the board. Prior to moving to Treehouse, Jensen held public relations and communications positions at colleges and universities including Michigan State University and Iowa State University. She is a yoga teacher and writer, and has published a memoir. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature, a master’s degree in journalism, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing.

R. Jeffrey Pollock, Easthampton, is a retired attorney, specializing in business and commercial litigation. Throughout his career and now, in retirement, Pollock has provided pro bono legal services and has served as a director on several nonprofit philanthropic organizations. Pollock is a graduate of DePauw University, Harvard Divinity School, and Northeastern University School of Law. He is married with four adult children.

Aaron Rogers, Westborough, executive vice president and chief retail officer at MyEyeDr., a Goldman Sachs portfolio company. Rogers has held several senior level positions at Staples Inc.

Christopher Sparks, Worcester, web manager at the Massachusetts Energy Center in Boston. Sparks is an expert in digital communications and was previously digital content and analytics strategist at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. He earned a bachelor’s degree in multimedia storytelling from UMass.

Shannon Wall, Shrewsbury, principal program manager at MathWorks in Natick, where she oversees the global prospecting program for the worldwide sales organization. She has a background in sales leadership, customer engagement, and organizational effectiveness. She is a graduate of the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a degree in history.

Other Treehouse Foundation Board members include Christy Boudreau, Hadley, vice chair; Eva Lohrer, Amherst, treasurer; and Tara Moore, Marlborough, secretary.

Realtor group to offer real estate sales licensing course

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Beginning March 2, The Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley will offer a live in-class 40-hour, 16-class, sales licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real estate salesperson license exam.

The course will be completed on April 6. Tuition is 5 and includes books and materials.

The course curriculum includes property rights, ownership, condos, land use, contracts, deeds, financing, mortgages, real estate brokerage, appraisal, fair housing, consumer protection and Massachusetts license law, and more.

Classes meet on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings from 6 to 8:30 at
the association’s office, 225 Park St., West Springfield.

Applications accepted until Friday, Feb. 20, For an application, visit www.rapv.com, or contact Laura Herring at 785-1328, ext. 5, or laura@rapv.com.

Bank coop names South Hadley branch manager

Greenfield / Northampton Cooperative Bank has hired Joanna Czarniecka as assistant vice president and branch manager of its South Hadley branch office located at 487 Newton St.

Czarniecka joins GCB with nine-plus years of local banking experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from UMass Amherst.

In her new role, Czarniecka will oversee daily branch operations, develop and service relationships with existing customers, and assist new customers with loan and deposit products.

Northampton lawyer joins Springfield law firm

NORTHAMPTON — Northampton resident and longtime attorney Thomas E. Argenio will join Egan, Flanagan & Cohen, a century-old law firm in Springfield, as it expands in 2026 by merging with two local law firms. Argenio was formerly with the law practice Goldsmith, Katz and Argenio, P.C. and joined EFC effective Jan. 1.

Along with the law practice Goldsmith, Katz and Argenio, P.C., EFC will also merge with the law practice of Henry Cropsey, Esq. effective Feb. 15. Through these two firm mergers, three new attorneys in total will join the EFC team.

Argenio has been practicing law for 42 years and currently specializes in real estate and domestic relations. He graduated from St. Michael’s College in Vermont and earned his J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. Prior to his time at Goldsmith, Katz and Argenio, P.C., Argenio served as prosecutor for the city of Chicopee from 1988 to 1992 and was for many years an associate city solicitor in Chicopee handling civil matters for the city. Argenio has deep roots in Greater Springfield and is a former adjunct professor at Elms College, where he taught criminal law.

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