fhlb grant for habitat for humanity project

FHLB GRANT FOR HABITAT FOR HUMANITY PROJECT
Commerce Bank and Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester were awarded a
$25,000 grant by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston to help fund the rehabilitation of a
single-family home in Worcester for a wounded veteran and his or her family. RCG worked
with the Bank, Habitat for Humanity and FHLB to draft a press release and caption, which
were sent with a photo to the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal and Banker
& Tradesman.
WORCESTER CHAMBER SILVER HAMMER AWARD
RCG worked with Barry Murchie to draft and submit a nomination for the Bank’s
renovation of the Slater Building for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce’s
annual Silver Hammer Awards, which acknowledge construction or rehabilitation projects
“that have an extraordinary visual and aesthetic impact on our physical landscape and that
have brought new life to some of the region’s most historic assets.” The Chamber selected
the Bank’s entry as the recipient of one of three Silver Hammer Awards, which will be
presented in May.
NEW SENIOR VP & MANAGING DIRECTOR, COMMERCIAL LENDING
RCG drafted a press release announcing that Thomas Rose joined Commerce Bank in the
main office as Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Commercial Lending –
Worcester, which was sent with his photo to the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business
Journal, Banker & Tradesman, Massachusetts Banker, Banking New England, Country
Gazette and Attleboro Sun-Chronicle. Results include:
 Banker & Tradesman (online) – 2/5
WORCESTER BUSINESS JOURNAL INQUIRY
On January 20, Worcester Business Journal Reporter Sam Bonacci contacted RCG
seeking to speak with a representative of Commerce Bank for a story he was writing
about other local banks ramping up their commercial lending efforts, for the WBJ’s
February 2 Focus on Banking & Finance. RCG discussed his inquiry with Brian
Thompson, who spoke with him and was quoted in the story.
TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE
RCG drafted press releases announcing that all Commerce Bank offices in Central
Massachusetts and Boston were collecting toys for “Toys for Tots” through December
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19, which were distributed to the Telegram & Gazette and local daily and weekly
newspapers. Results include:
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MetroWest Daily News – 11/22
Milford Daily News – 11/22
Webster Times – 11/28
Allston-Brighton TAB – 11/28, 12/5, 12/12, 12/19
Telegram & Gazette “Good Deeds” – 11/30
West Boylston & Boylston Banner – 12/3 (online), 12/5 (print)
Leominster Champion – 12/5
Boston Courant – 12/5, 12/12
Following the conclusion of the toy drive, RCG distributed a photo of the toys
presentation with a caption to the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal,
Massachusetts Banker, Banking New England and local daily and weekly newspapers;
results include:
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Sentinel & Enterprise – 12/25
Community Advocate – 12/26
Telegram & Gazette “Good Deeds” (item only) – 12/28
Leominster Champion – 1/9
Webster Times – 1/16
BOSTON GLOBE INQUIRY
On December 2, RCG was contacted by Boston Globe Business Reporter Dan Adams, who
asked to speak with a representative of Commerce Bank for a story about the declining
prices being paid for taxi medallions in the wake of competition from car services such as
Uber and Lyft. RCG discussed his inquiry with Brian Thompson and it was decided to
provide a brief response confirming that the Bank has seen sales and financing opportunities
become limited over the past several months; the story did not run.
WORCESTER COMMUNITY ACTION COUNCIL COAT DRIVE
Employees at the Bank’s main office and local branch offices recently donated 65 coats to
the Worcester Community Action Council’s annual new coat drive, which collects new
coats, hats and mittens for over 325 children from income-limited families. RCG drafted a
caption for a photo of Mike Roy, Bette O’Reilly and WCAC staff with some of the donated
coats, and sent both to the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal, Banker &
Tradesman and local weekly newspapers. Results include:
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Community Advocate– 11/23 (online), 11/28 (print)
Banker & Tradesman “Community Good Works” (online) – 11/26
Telegram & Gazette “Good Deeds” – 11/30
Telegram & Gazette “Town News” (online) – 12/22
Telegram & Gazette TelegramTowns – 12/26
Worcester Business Journal “Photo Finish” – 1/5
FINANCIAL EDUCATION SEMINARS
Commerce Bank scheduled free financial education workshops at the main office on
November 12 and the Fenway office on November 13 presented by Money
Management International. RCG drafted press releases announcing the seminars,
which were sent to the Telegram & Gazette and local weekly newspapers; results
include:
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Telegram & Gazette TelegramTowns – 10/31, 11/7
Telegram & Gazette “Business Briefs” – 11/2
The workshops were subsequently cancelled.
WORCESTER COUNTY SBA RANKING
Following the conclusion of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2014 fiscal year
on September 30, RCG learned that Commerce Bank ranked as a leading SBA lender in
Worcester County for that period. RCG drafted a press release announcing the ranking
and obtained a quote from SBA District Director Robert Nelson for the release, which
was sent to the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal, and local daily and
weekly newspapers; results include:
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Leominster Champion – 10/31
Webster Times – 11/21
Worcester Business Journal “Accolades & Honors” – 11/24
ANNUAL FOOD DRIVE
RCG drafted separate press releases announcing that Commerce Bank offices in Central
Massachusetts are collecting non-perishable food items for the Worcester County Food
Bank and Boston offices are collecting for local food banks, through November 21. The
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releases were sent to the Telegram & Gazette and local daily and weekly newspapers.
Results include:
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MetroWest Daily News – 10/18
Milford Daily News – 10/18
South End News – 10/23
Webster Times – 10/24
Leominster Champion – 10/24
Telegram & Gazette “Good Deeds” – 10/26
Community Advocate – 10/28 (online), 10/31 (print)
GREATER BOSTON FOOD BANK COMMUNITY SERVICE EVENT
Eight employees from Commerce Bank’s Boston offices worked at the Greater Boston
Food Bank inspecting, sorting and packing thousands of pounds of watermelons for
distribution to hunger relief agencies. RCG sent a photo of the group, with a caption, to
the Boston Business Journal, Banker & Tradesman, Boston Courant, Fenway News,
South End News and Allston-Brighton TAB. Results include:
 South End News – 10/16
 Banker & Tradesman “Community Good Works” (online) – 10/17
MARLBOROUGH JOB FAIR
The Bank held a job fair at the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce
headquarters in Marlborough on October 10. RCG drafted a press release announcing
the job fair and sent it to the MetroWest Daily News, Marlborough Enterprise,
Community Advocate and Main Street Journal: the Daily News ran it on October 4.
NEW VP, CORPORATE BANKING
RCG drafted a press release announcing that Jason Truong joined Commerce Bank in
the Fenway office as Vice President, Corporate Banking, which was sent to the Boston
Herald, Boston Business Journal, Banker & Tradesman, Boston Courant, Fenway News,
Globe North, Medford Transcript, Medford Daily Mercury, Massachusetts Banker and
Banking New England. Results include:
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Boston Business Journal “People on the Move” (online) – 9/29
Banker & Tradesman (online) – 9/30
Medford Transcript – 10/9
Boston Business Journal “People on the Move” (print) – 10/10
Banking New England “Personnel File” – November/December 2014
BOSTON PAL GRAND PRIX F-1 FUNDRAISING EVENT
A team representing Commerce Bank’s Corporate Banking Division in Boston
participated in the 6th Annual Boston PAL Grand Prix F-1 in East Bridgewater, driving
European-style karts in a four-hour team endurance race to raise money for the Boston
Police Athletic League’s youth development programs. RCG sent a photo of the team,
with a caption, to the Boston Business Journal, Banker & Tradesman, Boston Courant
and Fenway News; results include:
 Banker & Tradesman “Community Good Works” (online) – 10/3
 Boston Business Journal “Out of the Office” – 10/10
ROYAL 50’S CLUB ED MERCK EVENT & BOOK SIGNING
The Royal 50’s Club hosted “An Afternoon with Ed Merck,” author of Sailing the
Mystery: My Journey into Life’s Remaining Chapters, on September 30 at the
Worcester Senior Center. RCG drafted a press release announcing the event, which
was sent to the Telegram & Gazette; results include:
 Telegram & Gazette Community Calendar (print) – 9/26
 Telegram & Gazette Community Calendar (online) – 9/28-30
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE INQUIRY
On September 17, Telegram & Gazette Correspondent Susan Gonsalves called RCG
seeking to speak with a Bank representative regarding its loan to the Andelman
brothers to finance their purchase of the Mendon Twin Drive-In Theater, for a story
she was writing on the resurgence of local drive-ins. RCG discussed her inquiry with
Brian Thompson, who spoke with her; he was quoted in her story in the Sunday T & G
Business Matters section on September 21.
NEW ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENTS
RCG drafted a group press release and individual releases announcing the promotion to
Assistant Vice President of Commerce Bank office managers Howard Carney, Mina
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Chebbani, Brendan Gallagher, Christopher Kalil, Daniel McElhinney and Dana Spooner.
The releases were sent with their photos to the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business
Journal, Banker & Tradesman, Massachusetts Banker, Banking New England, and their
hometown newspapers. Results include:
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Auburn News (Carney) – 9/12
Tewksbury Advocate (Kalil) – 9/18
Telegram & Gazette “Business People” (all) – 9/21
Ayer Public Spirit, Townsend Times, Shirley Oracle, Harvard Hillside, Pepperell Free
Press, Groton Landmark (Gallagher) – 9/26
 Worcester Business Journal “Movers & Shakers” (all) – 9/29
 Banking New England “Personnel File” (all) – September/October 2014
 Metro West Daily News “Movers & Shakers” (McElhinney, Spooner) – 10/26
NEW SENIOR VP, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
RCG drafted a press release announcing that Paula Mello joined Commerce Bank in the
main office as Senior Vice President, Commercial Real Estate, which was sent with her
photo to the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal, Banker & Tradesman,
Massachusetts Banker and Banking New England. Results include:
 Telegram & Gazette “Business People” – 9/14
 Worcester Business Journal “Movers & Shakers” – 9/15
 Banker & Tradesman (online) – 9/15
CHARLES DUNN PROMOTION
RCG drafted a press release announcing the promotion of Charles Dunn to Assistant
Vice President, Commercial and Industrial Lending, which was sent with his photo to
the Telegram & Gazette, Worcester Business Journal, Banker & Tradesman,
Massachusetts Banker, and Banking New England. Results include:
 Telegram & Gazette “Business People” – 9/7
 Worcester Business Journal “Movers & Shakers” – 9/29
ENERGY MONSTER INFORMATION EVENTS
During September, tables providing information on energy-saving programs and services are
being set up by Energy Monster in the Worcester, Leominster, Milford, Webster and
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Westborough offices on various dates. RCG drafted separate press releases announcing the
events, which were sent to the relevant local newspapers; results include:
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Telegram & Gazette Community Calendar (online) – 9/2, 9/4, 9/6, 9/10, 9/11, 9/23,
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Community Advocate – 9/4 (online), 9/12 (print)
Telegram & Gazette Community Calendar (print) – 9/5, 9/12
Leominster Champion – 9/19
MetroWest Daily News – 9/19, 9/20, 9/23
Milford Daily News – 9/20
LEOMINSTER OFFICE KIDS’ SAFETY EVENT
The Leominster office held their annual Kids’ Safety Event, which once again featured
the Masons’ MYCHIP program, on September 13 in conjunction with the offices of
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella and Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong, the Leominster
Police Department and the Fitchburg Fire Department. RCG drafted a press release
announcing the event that was sent to the Telegram & Gazette, Sentinel & Enterprise,
Leominster Champion and Gardner News. Results include:
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Sentinel & Enterprise – 8/28
Telegram & Gazette Business Briefs – 8/31
Leominster Champion – 9/5, 9/12
Telegram & Gazette Town News (online) – 9/10
Gardner News – 9/10, 9/12
Telegram & Gazette Community Calendar (online) – 9/11-9/13
Following the event, RCG sent several photos taken by Leominster office staff to the
Leominster Champion; they used one in their October 10 edition.
COMMERCE BANK-EMBRACE HOME LOANS JOINT MARKETING AGREEMENT
Under a joint marketing agreement with national mortgage lender Embrace Home
Loans, in July the Bank launched Commerce Bank Mortgage Solutions to provide
customers with access to Embrace’s residential mortgage products for either the
purchase or refinancing of a home. RCG worked with the Bank in editing two press
releases drafted by Embrace’s public relations firm, one for local media from the Bank
and the other for national banking trade publications from Embrace, and distributed
the Bank’s release on August 4; the Worcester Business Journal posted a brief story on
its website that day and ran an item in their August 18 issue.
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**Attached please find the news clips which have resulted from RCG’s recent pitching
efforts; these are the clips we have received thus far from the clipping service. Our next
report will include any items not included below from the past month’s efforts. The
reason they are not included is that we have yet to receive the physical clips from the
service as of today’s date.
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