MillRiver Wealth Management, Meredith Village Savings Bank, Merrimack County Savings Bank and Savings Bank of Walpole recently invited valued employees to a celebration of their successes at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord, NH. Also in attendance were the employees of New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp who provide support services to the affiliated local community financial institutions. Sixty of 475 employees were recognized for their commitment to the organization.

New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp (NHMB), a mutual holding company, was formed in 2013 when two New Hampshire-based community banks, Meredith Village Savings Bank (MVSB) and Merrimack County Savings Bank (the Merrimack), formally affiliated – the first relationship of its kind in New Hampshire. MillRiver Wealth Management (MillRiver) joined as a third subsidiary in 2015, combining the financial advisory divisions of MVSB and the Merrimack. In July 2018, Savings Bank of Walpole (SBW) joined. This strategic partnership has positioned the banks to leverage each other’s strengths as the companies work together to advance a shared vision of maintaining and enhancing community banking standards and values. Each bank remains separately chartered and managed. This way, each continues a 150 year old tradition of serving the local community, while sharing supportive resources such as information technology, risk management, compliance, marketing, human resources, finance and operations. NHMB provides the framework and organizational structure for enhancing efficiencies and profitability of its individual affiliated brands.

In 2019, NHMB was voted best place to work by the Concord Monitor CAPPIES for the third year in a row and won the silver award as best place to work in the Best of the Lakes Region contest.

“Our employees remain a top priority in our organization, and it’s evident every day by the pride they demonstrate in being a part of the team,” said David Cronin, Senior Vice President, Human Resources for NHMB. “We continue to focus on acquiring, developing and retaining top talent, while constantly working to ensure our corporate culture continues to positively benefit our employees, our communities and our customers. A great deal of time and energy is invested in ensuring our actions and policies promote a healthy workplace culture, one that includes meaningful long term career options along with many community involvement opportunities that are rewarding for all.”

Tamara Van Lenten, IRA/HSA Specialist in NHMB Deposit Operations, accepted the “Circle of Excellence Peer among Peer” Award. Circle of Excellence allows company employees to nominate their co-workers for demonstrating outstanding examples of support for the organization’s values: accountability, mutuality, excellence, respect, integrity, teamwork and stewardship. Each month, the previous winners and two members of the senior management team select four winners. At the end of the year, all employees vote to determine who of the monthly winners best represent company values.

Also honored were long-term employees of the organizations.

Dawn Martin, VP Mortgage Lending, SBW; Barbara Konopka, Senior Retail Banker, SBW; Laura Hilliard, Commercial Loan Administrator, MVSB; and Robin Pelczar, Benefits Officer, NHMB, were each recognized for 25 years of service. Additionally, Richard Sears, Senior Systems Analyst, SBW; Brenda Pvirre, Certified Teller, the Merrimack; Debra Sturgeon, Branch Services Manager, MVSB; John Swedberg, SVP, Senior Commercial Lending Officer, MVSB; Colleen Kelley, Commercial Credit Analyst, MVSB; Kim Elfstrom, VP, Commercial Loan Administration, MVSB; Alison Whynot, VP, Facilities, CRA Officer, NHMB; Danielle Wakefield, Financial Accounting Officer, NHMB; Michelle Robinson, Corporate Staff Accountant, NHMB; Becky Reposa, Branch and Business Development Manager, MVSB; Katrina Randlett, Learning and Development Officer, NHMB; Patricia Crane, Loan Operations Representative, NHMB; Nancy Zattler, Mortgage Loan Underwriter, the Merrimack; and Nanci Coughlin, Mortgage Loan Originator, MVSB, celebrated 20 years with the organization.

“We continue to be grateful for the exceptional employees of New Hampshire Mutual Bancorp,” continued Cronin. “We’re especially fortunate for their dedication and commitment throughout the years, and we’re thrilled to celebrate these incredible milestones with them.”

Fifteen-year service recognition awards were given to Michelle Driscoll, VP, BSA Officer and Retail Compliance, NHMB; Emily Walenda, Deposit Operations Representative, NHMB; Sandra Ball, Deposit Operations Supervisor, NHMB; Susan Carter, Document Imaging Clerk, NHMB; Stacie Elliott, Digital Banking Representative, NHMB; Benjamin Pepper, AVP, Corporate Reporting and Systems, NHMB; and

Nancy Mardin, AVP, Branch and Business Development Manager, MVSB.

Recipients of ten-year service awards included Dennis Newell, Network Specialist, SBW; Joshua Nyecki, Commercial Loan Administrator, MVSB; Susan DeNauw, Deposit Operations Representative, NHMB; Nancy Lachance, Imaging Operations Supervisor, NHMB; Jason Hicks, Chief Financial Officer, NHMB; Stephanie Andruss, RVP, Branch Manager, the Merrimack; Cathleen Sleeper, Branch and Business Development Manager, MVSB; Marcia Gagnon, Branch Services Representative, MVSB; Denise Hubbard, Mortgage Loan Program Specialist, MVSB; Stacy Trites, Branch and Business Development Manager, MVSB; Carla Nielsen, Branch and Business Development Manager, the Merrimack; and Steven Aiken, VP, Financial Advisor, MillRiver.

Employees who received 5-year service recognition included Elizabeth Varone, Retail Banker, SBW; Debra Simoneau, Teller, the Merrimack; Kristin Clark, Business Banking Development Officer, the Merrimack; Daniel Osetek, VP, Commercial Loan Officer, MVSB; Christina Simpson, Commercial Credit Analyst, MVSB; Carol Ritchie, VP, Consumer Loan Manager, the Merrimack; Brooklyn McBee, Branch Services Manager, the Merrimack; Andrea Aste, Teller Supervisor, the Merrimack; Patricia Manning, Document Imaging Clerk, NHMB; Jacob Zoeller, Network Engineer, NHMB; Timothy Corsetti, Support Specialist, NHMB; Charles Miller, Senior Support Specialist, NHMB; Jennifer Stone, Teller Supervisor, MVSB; Eric Petell, AVP, Branch and Business Development Manager, MVSB; Lisa Lee, Teller, MVSB; Kerry Herward, Branch Services Representative, MVSB; Kelly Schwaner, Loan Operations Representative, NHMB; Thelsa Moore-Gray, Assistant Collector, the Merrimack; Melanie Thibault, Marketing Reporting and Support Specialist, NHMB; Peter Thompson, Mortgage Loan Originator, the Merrimack; and Jenifer Williams, Mortgage Loan Originator, the Merrimack.