Randle to lead Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture

BOSTON — During the annual meeting of the Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NEASDA), Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) Commissioner Ashley Randle, was elected as the president of the organization.

NEASDA is a regional association that brings together the commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture from 10 states in the Northeast: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

Under Randle’s leadership, NEASDA will continue to shape national agricultural policy, promote interstate collaboration, and strengthen partnerships with federal entities and key agricultural stakeholders.

In addition, Randle was re-elected to serve a second, one-year term as board secretary/treasurer of Food Export-Northeast. This nonprofit organization, created in 1973, has worked to assist 10 Northeastern state agricultural promotion agencies and the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Randle will lead the next NEASDA regional meeting in Amherst, scheduled for June 2026. The multiday event will spotlight and promote Massachusetts agricultural businesses and operations to delegates of the member states.

Three promoted by bankESB

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently promoted the following three employees.

Darci Furr, of Westfield, was promoted to assistant vice president, branch officer at bankESB’s 85 Broad St., Westfield office. Furr has 27 years of banking experience and joined bankESB in 1997 as a teller.

Throughout her tenure she has held the role of teller supervisor, assistant branch manager, and most recently branch officer in Westfield. In her new role, Furr will continue to ensure day-to-day operations of the branch run smoothly, while supervising and supporting frontline staff, and building strong relationships within the Westfield community.

Betsy Schabacker, of Southampton, was promoted to assistant vice president, branch officer at bankESB’s 134 College Highway, Southampton office. Schabacker has 21 years of banking experience and joined bankESB in 2004 as a teller.

Throughout her time at the bank, she also held the role of senior teller, assistant branch manager, and most recently, branch officer in Southampton.

In this expanded role, she will have enhanced leadership responsibilities and will continue to deliver exceptional service to customers while playing a more active role in business development, community engagement, and cross-departmental collaboration.

Schabacker earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Westfield State College. She is currently treasurer on the board of directors for Riverside Industries in Easthampton and is also a member of their development committee.

Robyn Michaud, of Indian Orchard, was promoted to branch manager at bankESB’s 241 Northampton St., Easthampton office. Michaud joined bankESB in 2018 as a teller.

She has also worked as a personal banker, teller supervisor, and most recently senior assistant branch manager at the bank’s 605 Granby St., South Hadley office. In this new leadership role, she will have the opportunity to drive branch performance, ensure compliance with regulatory standards, and lead business development efforts to grow the bank’s presence in the Easthampton community.

Michaud earned a certificate in branch management from the Massachusetts Bankers Association. She currently volunteers for Westfield on Weekends, Junior Achievement, and Veterans in the Park, and enjoys attending local chamber events.

Hilltown CDC lands $155K grant for small business training

CHESTERFIELD — The Hilltown Community Development Corporation has secured a $155,750 state grant through MassDevelopment’s Small Business Technical Assistance Program (SBTA).

The funding, totaling $6.7 million statewide, went to 73 nonprofits that deliver technical assistance, training, and access to capital to Massachusetts small businesses.

Hilltown CDC will use its funding to provide businesses with trainings in business planning, advertising, finance and accounting, securing financing, strategic review, computer literacy, and legal issues.

Administered by MassDevelopment, the Small Business Technical Assistance Program was created in 2006 by the former Mass Growth Capital Corporation to empower small business support organizations, such as community development corporations and community development financial institutions, to increase access to business planning support and capital for underserved small businesses. In February 2025, Mass Growth Capital Corporation merged with MassDevelopment, which now administers the program.

Lively joins Project Bread’s Council of Experts

AMHERST — Merideth Lively, of Amherst, has joined Project Bread’s 2025 Council of Experts with Lived Experience.

Launched in 2023, the Council of Experts was founded to challenge exclusionary systems that perpetuate food insecurity by ensuring that those with lived experience of hunger inform and shape Project Bread’s decision-making, strategy, and policy initiatives as trusted community leaders.

Lively will be among seven new council members who will bring their expertise to shape programs and policies that make it easier for others living in Massachusetts to access and afford food with dignity.

Project Bread is the leading statewide food security organization in Massachusetts with a radical approach to ending hunger. The nonprofit engages residents, elected officials, service providers, and businesses to act against hunger and empower communities, so everyone in the Commonwealth has reliable access to food. Through the 10-month program, Lively will have the opportunity to be part of the nonprofit’s strategy development and anti-hunger advocacy while receiving training to strengthen their leadership skills, build expertise as a community leader and advocate, and provide significant value in advancing impactful and effective solutions to food insecurity.

Currently a student at Holyoke Community College, Lively brings a variety of experiences navigating community resources like SNAP and developing a practical knowledge of food security as an herbalist and forager. With Appalachian and Melungeon heritage, Lively is an experienced farmworker and nonprofit employee, and they have done advocacy work at the federal and state levels, driving change as a collaborative and empowering leader.

They hope to learn from other council members and continue to grow as a leader, engaging in strategic planning, developing stronger advocacy skills, and gaining more confidence in their ability to speak up.