American International College has appointed Richard Greco as assistant vice president for academic affairs and student life.
Greco has more than 25 years of management experience within and outside higher education. He previously served as dean of liberal and professional studies at Springfield Technical Community College and has been a faculty member at AIC since 2012.
Greco holds a Master of Science in biology from the University of Saint Joseph, as well as bachelor’s degrees in human biology and biochemistry from AIC and an associate of arts in general studies from STCC. He is working toward a doctorate in public administration at West Chester University.
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Griswold, a home care company, has chosen Bettina Conde, of Northampton, for a scholarship to continue her education within the care industry. She was chosen in providing care to others in honor of National Caregiver Day on Feb. 16.
As a single mother of three, Conde’s goal is to give back to the community that was there for her family when they were in need. She has decided to pursue a career in nursing.
Conde was chosen as one of 14 caregivers across the country with scholarships to continue their education. She received $3,000 and will be able to use that money to enhance her training, certification and degrees.
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The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce has welcomed five new board members: Jamie Cocco, Caroline Gear, Taylor Robbins, Elena Sharnoff and Cigdem Turkomer.
Cocco is a resident of South Deerfield and owner of Empowered Digital Marketing and Empowered Social Media. He serves on the GNCC’s Executive Committee, and is chair of the Ambassador Committee. Cocco holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Gear, of West Whately, is the executive director of the International Language Institute of Massachusetts in Northampton. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Spanish literature from Michigan State University. She has worked with the Hampshire County Regional Tourism Council to introduce the town and region to international visitors and drive diversity into our communities.
Robbins, of Holyoke, is a business relationship manager at UMassFive College Federal Credit Union. For the last five years, she has helped champion the importance of investing in community. A Hadley native, Taylor grew up working on a corn farm and for a local business owner.
Sharnoff, of Northampton, is the owner of B Strategic Communications, and brings over 25 years of experience in strategic communications and marketing, branding and messaging to her role. She has served on GNCC’s Ambassador Committee for several years.
Turkomer grew up in Istanbul and has spent over 25 years creating set designs for commercial and documentary films. After studying for several years at San Francisco State University, Cigdem moved back to Northampton, where she had spent some time during her college years, to open LeBonNton, located on the second floor of Thornes Marketplace. The store supports women artists and business owners from the United States and around the world.
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Evan Garber, of Easthampton, and a Chicopee native, has been named senior consultant and vice president of A.L. Cignoli & Associates, Inc. Garber, who received his master’s degree in public affairs from the UMass School of Public Policy, started working with the firm as an intern from UMass during his time as an undergraduate student studying Political Science and Education.
While in college, Evan was the chairperson of the UMass Theatre Guild, got experience working in grass-roots political campaigns, was on student staff of the UMass Marching Band and got his class B commercial driver’s license to work at UMass Transit.
Garber will be responsible for oversight of all Cignoli client efforts. He works directly with Cignoli on all daily client operations including drafting strategies, media monitoring and designing solutions.
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