HAVERHILL — Mother and daughter fashion icons Yolanda Cellucci and Sondra Celli were the guest speakers during the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Luncheon on May 30 at Michael’s Function Hall.
Celluci made a name for herself as early as 1967, creating a fashion house and bridal center. She has since closed her storefront but continues with an online store.
Celli has been featured in TLC’s “My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding” and its spinoff series, “Gypsy Sisters.” She designs uncommon crystal couture and accessories for infants, children, and women of all ages, shapes and sizes.
Cellucci told a crowd of nearly 200 women along with a handful of men how she juggled family life and business life, starting with selling wigs and transitioning into wedding gowns.
Celli talked about following in her mother’s footsteps, offered the crowd motivational tips, and described how she overcame adversity.
McCann joins Haverhill Bank
HAVERHILL — Jean McCann of Haverhill, with 40 years of local banking experience, has joined Haverhill Bank as vice president, commercial portfolio manager.
McCann, who will be based at Haverhill Bank’s Rosemont branch, 1094 Main St., brings comprehensive skills in commercial and industrial, commercial real estate and nonprofit lending, including Small Business Administration financing, relationship banking, portfolio management and more.
“Jean has an unusually deep understanding of local needs and dynamics, having lived and worked here her entire life,” said Haverhill Bank President and CEO Thomas Mortimer. “Beyond her wealth of skills, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to community with many civic and volunteer accomplishments.”
McCann first entered the financial services field in 1984 at the former Family Bank, now TD Bank, starting as a teller and working her way up to branch sales manager. She joined Pentucket Bank in 2000, eventually becoming vice president and commercial loan officer.
She is a member of the board of Sarah’s Place Adult Day Health Program of Haverhill and previously served as board member and treasurer of Rebuilding Together Greater Haverhill; board member/director at large and chair of Member Services Committee of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce; and board treasurer for Hill View Montessori School Foundation of Haverhill.
Business Networking Breakfast
LAWRENCE — The Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business Networking Breakfast from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, at the Psychological Center’s Daybreak Shelter, 19 Winter St.
Cost is $10 for members and $20 for non-members and includes a continental breakfast and business card drawings for door prizes.
To register or for more information, visit merrimackvalleychamber.com or call 978-686-0900.
Bank introduces digital lending platform
WAKEFIELD — The Savings Bank, a $784 million locally owned and managed community bank serving cities and towns in Middlesex and Essex counties, including Andover and Methuen as well as southern New Hampshire, has introduced TSB Business Direct.
Businesses are now able to easily apply online for business loan products and enjoy an industry-leading experience.
TSB Business Direct is a digital loan origination system for business banking that dramatically reduces work for customers by using existing available data.
Borrowers can apply for loans within minutes, upload documents, and track the loan application status all through the portal, with a conditional decision automatically.
This eliminates the need for paper-based applications and manual processes, resulting in faster loan decisions and increased borrower satisfaction.
Business owners can choose from two lending options: a term loan, and a line of credit, up to $100,000 with all loan proceeds deposited into the TSB business checking account at loan closing. Customers can open business deposit accounts through the portal as well.
The Savings Bank has partnered with Numerated (a digital loan origination system) on this program, following a successful initiative for Paycheck Protection Program loans. The Numerated digital portal ensures the highest standards of data security and compliance with regulations.
For more information visit online at tsbdirect.bank/tsb-business-direct.
Meteorologists launch weather company
NORTH ANOVER — New England meteorologists Matt and Danielle Noyes have launched a new weather company, 1DegreeOutside.com.
Haverhill native Matt Noyes, co-Founder and president of 1DegreeOutside, described the launch as highly successful.
“We’re delighted by the amazing reception to date from our loyal viewing audience. This response confirms what we already knew: New Englanders love weather and want to engage with a weather forecast app and website that are easy to use and understand,” he said. “They want a platform that is highly interactive and conversational, presented with credibility – devoid of hype or sensationalism, and in a pioneering, digital-first format.”
The Noyes’ 1DegreeOutside Weather mobile app peaked at #16 in Apple’s App Store earlier in the month and has garnered nearly all 5-star ratings.
Danielle Noyes, co-founder, added: “The app was an important component for our mission of reaching people directly. The design stays close to our principles: simple, crisp, and clean – allowing the weather to be the central feature – which is resonating big-time. Our conversational videos are created multiple times daily to add insight and perspective to the forecast and maintain our personal connection to New Englanders.”
1DegreeOutside also offers private client forecasts and data for businesses, organizations, and schools.
Nominate Dad as Red Sox fan
BOSTON — In celebration of Father’s Day, the Red Sox will host 10 lucky fathers to experience a Father’s Day Out at Fenway Park on June 16.
To be selected, fans are encouraged to tell the club why their father or father-figure deserves to spend Father’s Day at the ballpark.
Submissions can be made on redsox.com/fathersdayout until Sunday, June 9, at 11:59 p.m. Red Sox staff will review the submissions and choose 10 deserving fathers for this special opportunity. Winners will be notified by Wednesday, June 12.
Sponsored by Bank of America, Father’s Day Out at Fenway Park includes two tickets to the 7:10 p.m. Red Sox-Yankees game on Sunday, June 16. Winners will receive a $100 gift card to the Red Sox Team Store and enjoy a meal in the Dell Technologies Club or Aura Club.
Keolis awards scholarships
LAWRENCE — Keolis Commuter Services, operating partner for the MBTA Commuter Rail, has awarded a total of $50,000 in scholarships to 25 local students as part of the 2024 Keolis Scholars program.
The students were selected from five cities in the Commuter Rail service area: Brockton, Boston, Lawrence, Lynn, and Worcester.
Scholarship recipients in Lawrence are Michelle Hannan, Nicole Bisono Medrano, Naira Poleo Sanchez, Ryan Mac and Warly Sanchez.
The students can use the $2,000 gift to help pay for post-secondary education or job training.
Each academic year since 2015, Keolis has collaborated with cities and school districts with large populations of underserved communities and first-generation families to select Keolis Scholars and distribute the awards, based on both merit and financial need.
Golf tournament planned
HAVERHILL — The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Haverhill will host its annual golf tournament Aug. 5 at the Haverhill Country Club.
Check in is at 11:30 a.m. followed by a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. Event includes 18 holes, creative course contests, delicious cuisine, and more. All proceeds benefit the club’s 25-plus youth programs for Haverhill’s children. Fees are $225 per person or $900 for a foursome.
For tickets or sponsorship opportunities contact Melissa deFriesse at mdefriesse@haverhillbgc.org, or 978-374-6171, ext. 102.
Grants to expand Hospital-to-Home Program
LAWRENCE — The Healey-Driscoll Administration recently awarded $1.1 million in grants to acute care hospitals and Aging Services Access Points across Massachusetts to expand the Hospital-to-Home Partnership Program. The program provides specialized expertise to hospitals to support discharges directly to a patient’s home, rather than to a skilled nursing facility or other long-term care setting.
Grants of up to $300,000 are available through the program. Grant recipients include AgeSpan Inc. of Lawrence in partnership with Mass General Brigham Salem Hospital.
“More patients should be able to recover and receive care within the comfort of their homes and communities,” said Gov. Maura Healey. “Through these partnerships, patients will have the support they need to return to their community and continue receiving care, improving health outcomes and alleviating pressure on hospital resources and staff.”
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act Home and Community-Based Services, grant awardees will use these funds to create innovative transitions from a hospital to a patient’s home.
Funds will also be used to hire personnel who will be dedicated to connecting patients ready for discharge with home- and community-based alternatives, instead of a skilled nursing facility.
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