Thomaston Savings Bank Announces the Election of New Board Members at Annual Meeting

New Board Members:

The Board of Directors of Thomaston Savings Bank elected two new Board members and welcomed two new Corporators at the Bank’s Annual Meeting on October 26, 2016.

James R. Nichol has been elected to the Board of Directors of Thomaston Savings Bank. He is a valued employee of the bank for over 25 years and also serves as a Bank Corporator and Secretary of the Thomaston Savings Bank Foundation. As Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at TSB, Mr. Nichol’s responsibilities include the direction of all lending functions, operations, retail banking, human resources, and compliance functions.

Mr. Nichol is a passionate advocate in his community and dedicates time and effort to many local organizations; his service includes Co-Chair of the LARC Capital Campaign; Member of the Grants Committee of the Northwest CT Arts Council; Board of Directors, Finance Committee Chair, and Strategic Planning Committee Member of the Torrington Country Club; Rotary Club of Torrington; Elks Club of Torrington; Past Board of Finance, City of Torrington; and various other organizations.

Jim earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Nasson College and is a graduate of the Connecticut School of Finance & Management (CBA), National School of Banking (Fairfield University), and the Senior Leadership Institute of America’s Community Banks.

“I am proud of Jim’s veteran service at TSB and to his community and extremely pleased about his expanded role as a member of our Board of Directors. For over 25 years, Jim has distinguished himself as a passionate advocate for the Bank and its customers. His years of experience in the lending and banking industry, coupled with his dedication to the Bank’s mission of philanthropy, ensure not only a robust Board of Directors and Bank, but also a vibrant economic market and community.”  – Stephen L. Lewis, President & CEO

Jim lives in Torrington, Conn. with his wife and has two adult daughters.

Mark DiVenere has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Thomaston Savings Bank. Mr. DiVenere has been a Corporator of the Bank since 2014 and is the owner and president of Gemco Manufacturing Company, Inc. in Southington. He is a lifelong Bristol resident who is passionately engaged in his community and currently serves on numerous boards and committees. Mr. DiVenere is a Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Club and Family Center of Bristol and a past president of the Older Members Association, an alumni organization that raises money for the B & G Club. He also serves as a trustee and past president of the Environmental Learning Centers of Connecticut, an organization that is comprised of the Harry C. Barnes Nature Center and the Indian Rock Nature Preserve, both located in Bristol.

Mark exerts his passion in the business community as well: he is co-chair of the Manufacturing Division for the Central Connecticut Chambers of Commerce; board member and past president of the New England Spring and Metalstamping Association; board member of the Connecticut Workforce Partners; and director of the Spring Manufacturers Institute, a national manufacturing association based in Chicago. He also serves as a member of the Bristol Technical Advisory Committee, whose primary goal is to expose high school students and young adults to the various career opportunities available in manufacturing and the trades.

Mark is a graduate of Saint Paul Catholic High School in Bristol and Western New England College in Wilbraham, Mass. 

“I look forward to the opportunity to serve as a Board Member for Thomaston Savings Bank, as its dedication to the surrounding communities mirrors my own.” – Mark DiVenere

Mark resides in Bristol, Conn. with his wife. They have three adult children and a granddaughter.

New Coporators:

Two new Corporators were appointed to promote the mission of Thomaston Savings Bank and advocate the vision and value of its historic mutual charter to the community.

Richard Caruso, managing partner with the insurance and financial firm Tracy-Driscoll & Co., was welcomed as a Corporator at the Bank’s Annual Meeting on October 26, 2016. Mr. Caruso began his career at Tracy-Driscoll & Co. in 1987 and is a specialist in healthcare and employee benefits as well as retirement and estate planning. Prior to his career with Tracy-Driscoll, he was a physical education teacher and coach at Pomperaug High School in Southbury. Richard holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Springfield College in Springfield, Mass.

Mr. Caruso is involved in the Bristol community and has served on the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Club Family Center of Bristol, The Greater Bristol Visiting Nurses Association, Bristol Preschool and Child Care Center, United Way of West Central Connecticut, and Lewis Mills High School Scholarship Board.

Richard resides in Harwinton, Conn. with his wife. They have three children.

Michael J. Pinette, co-owner of Thomaston Oil, Thomaston Self Storage, Thomaston Comfort Control, and Alliance All Trades was welcomed as a Corporator of Thomaston Savings Bank at its Annual Meeting on October 26, 2016. Mr. Pinette has worked for his family-owned businesses all his life. In 1996, he attended school to hone his business skills and created a residential, commercial, and construction HVAC service company that operates throughout the state and employs over fifty people in the Thomaston community.

Michael is a dynamic force in many local organizations, including LARC Board of Directors; Rotary Club of Thomaston; Harwinton Youth Sports Association; Team Superman for Cystic Fibrosis; Harwinton Food Pantry; and Saint Thomas Church in Thomaston where he and his family are members. He received awards in 2012 and 2016 from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for his many years of dedication to Team Superman for Cystic Fibrosis.

Michael resides in Harwinton, Conn. with his wife and two sons.