WHAV (https://whav.net/category/business/)
Paul Francis Bridal Boutique is the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s April Business of the Month. Located at 2 Washington St. in downtown Haverhill, the shop offers bridal gowns, accessories and consultations. The store is online at paulfrancisbridal.com.
Carol Wilson was recently promoted to executive vice president, operational excellence and performance management at River Run Bancorp, MHC, parent of Pentucket Bank and Newburyport Bank. In her new capacity, officials said, Wilson assumes responsibility for spearheading organizational efficiency, streamlining processes and nurturing a culture of continuous enhancement. “Carol’s keen focus on data and metrics makes her the ideal individual for a role that will have a significant impact on the operational excellence of River Run and our banks, particularly as we continue to grow,” said River Run CEO Lloyd Hamm. Wilson, of Bedford, N.H., brings more than 25 years of experience in the banking sector, having most recently held the position of senior vice president and chief experience officer at Pentucket Bank. She earned her bachelor’s from Bethel University and also studied at Massachusetts School of Financial Studies and New England College of Business and Finance.
Merrimack Valley Credit Union this week sponsored a community meal at the Haverhill Citizen Center on Welcome Street. Every Monday, the nonprofit Community Meals serves meals prepared by a local chef that are free to the public. Local organizations and businesses sponsor these weekly meals and provide volunteers. In addition to a financial donation and bringing desserts, the credit union’s volunteers helped prepare and serve a meatloaf dinner to dozens of Haverhill residents. “MVCU looks forward to sponsoring Haverhill Community Meals each year,” says Anthony Marino, the credit union’s senior vice president of Organizational Development.
A workshop on “Using AI for Digital Marketing” takes place as part of the Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce’s next monthly Leads Lunch. The workshop, which discusses artificial intelligence tools for email and other digital marketing campaigns, takes place Wednesday, May 1, from noon- 1 p.m., at the UMass Lowell Innovation Hub, Harbor Place, 2 Merrimack St., third floor, Haverhill. Admission is free for Haverhill Chamber members and $10 for guests. Registration takes place online at HaverhillChamber.com. Leads Lunches takes place on the first Wednesday of every month.
A grand opening of the state’s first automated Amazon warehouse in North Andover near the Haverhill border brought in such dignitaries as Gov. Maura T. Healey yesterday morning. Amazon workers fill customers’ orders alongside robots at the new building that opened in January, bringing over 1,500 jobs to the area, according to Sergiy Sushalskyy, the facility’s general manager. Higher-ups at Amazon as well as local and state officials packed into a white tent just outside the warehouse for the ceremony. Speakers emphasized the efficient and high-tech nature of the operation, which uses robots the governor said were all built in Massachusetts. Touting the state’s high per capita investment in robotics startups, Healey said “that’s the power of being a leader in technology.
Haverhill’s John Greenleaf Whittier School students will enjoy a variety of end of school year activities thanks to a donation from Covanta. Teacher Barbara Greenwood said graduating eighth graders will enjoy a promotion ceremony with food, music, a photo booth, decorations and favors. Covanta’s donation also helps children whose families cannot afford for the end of the year field trip to Canobie Lake Park and provides scholarships for field trips to the Museum of Science and Blue Man Group. “Teachers have worked tirelessly to raise money throughout the year, but needed that extra boost to make it happen,” Greenwood said. “We are so very appreciative of Covanta’s continuous support of our school community.”
The money also enables seventh grade students to take their first trip in more than five years to STEM day and also attend the New Hampshire Fisher Cats ball game.
Those who entered a lottery to live in one of 48 new affordable apartments at Bethany Community Services’ Merrimack Corner will be notified by mail of their ranking following a drawing this past Wednesday. Eligible applicants will be matched with an available apartment that meets their criteria. The drawing took place in public at the Haverhill Public Library with participation by Mayor Melinda E. Barrett. In total 252 eligible applications were drawn and each was assigned a number. Once the 48 units are filled, all remaining applicants will be included on the wait list for future openings.
Merrimack Valley Credit Union was included in Banker & Tradesman and The Registry Review’s Top Lenders of 2023, marking the first time the credit union has been featured on these lists. In Massachusetts rankings, the credit union was ninth for volume of single-family mortgages and 10th for number of loans, seventh for volume of loans and eighth for number of condominium mortgages, seventh for volume of residential nonpurchase loans, 10th for volume and eighth for number of commercial purchase loans and fourth for volume of loans and fourth for number of multifamily purchase loans. In New Hampshire rankings, Merrimack Valley Credit Union was 10th for volume and ninth for number of single-family mortgages and 10th for volume and eighth for number of condominium mortgages. Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer Brad Egan credited the accomplishments to the credit union’s professionals. “Looking forward, we will be launching exciting new products and continue investing in technology to improve the speed and convenience of obtaining loans,” he added.
To submit Business Bulletin announcements, click on image. Downey Law Group, with offices in Haverhill and Topsfield, is planning a free document shredding and food drive. “Shred it with DLG Day” takes place Saturday, April 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, at its main office at 462 Boston St., Topsfield. In return for shredding, Downey Law Group asks residents to bring canned goods, cereals, pasta, juice drinks or diapers or give a $25 to $100 Market Basket gift card. All food and gift cards will be distributed to food pantries in Haverhill, Ipswich and surrounding communities. “This is a great opportunity to shred confidential documents and give back to those in need of help with basics we sometimes take for granted, like food.