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News


We are pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Brown to the Board of Directors at Sugar River Bank. With his wealth of experience in finance, Paul brings valuable insights and leadership that will help guide our continued growth and commitment to serving our customers and communities. 

Paul Brown

Paul has spent 32 years serving the Town of Newport in many capacities. Beginning in 1992, Paul served as the Finance Director and Assistant Town Manager before becoming Town Manager in 2011. He currently consults with the Towns of Newport and Sunapee to perform bookkeeping and annual reporting. In addition, Paul serves as the President of the Newport Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Economic Corporation of Newport, and Treasurer of the Jake Maxfield Connection. He is a prolific volunteer for many organizations and was bestowed the honor of being named Newport’s “Citizen of the Year” in 2025. Paul lives in Newport.

Sugar River Bancorp, the mutual holding company of Sugar River Bank, is pleased to announce the recent appointment of new board director Paul Brown and the election of four new Corporators,  at its 130th annual meeting held on April 16th.  

Derek Medlin

President & Chief Growth Officer

Katapult Holdings, Inc

 

Derek Medlin has over 20 years leading teams for financial and technology firms, spanning product, technology, operations, business development, legal/compliance and strategy functions. Currently, he is the President and Chief Growth Officer of Katapult Holdings, Inc, a publicly traded financial technology company, since August 2024 and previously was Chief Operating Officer of Katapult and other operational roles since July 2017.  Prior to Katapult, he spent nearly 15 years in roles that spanned strategy, go-to-market, operations, finance and advisory responsibilities at companies including J.P. Morgan Chase, Elavon (U.S. Bank) and Ernst & Young.  He has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and a Master of International Business from Georgia State University.  Derek is also active in the community recreation programs in Sunapee, volunteering and coaching for activities alongside his wife and three children. They live in Georges Mills.

 

Brett Barselle

President

Colby Insurance Group

 

Brett started his insurance career in 1999 with Colby Insurance Group, a family business, and he has been the owner and President since 2011.  Colby is a community-oriented Independent Insurance Agency, serving over ten thousand clients from its offices in New London, Sunapee, Lyme and Woodsville, NH.  He’s Treasurer for Lyon Brook Community Association in New London, and he’s proud to be able to support various local non-profits in the communities Colby serves.  He graduated from UNH in 1994 with a BA in Political Science.  He lives in Bradford, NH with his wife and two children.

 

Sandy Demeis

Owner

Universal Physical Therapy, LLC

 

Sandy has owned and operated Universal Physical Therapy, LLC in Newport for the last 28 years. Through her business, she has been a vital supporter of her surrounding community by sponsoring numerous town events. She is a 1990 Magna Cum Laude graduate of the University of Connecticut with her BS/PT degree, where she received the McMillian Scholarship.  The managing partner, chief physical therapist and Clinical coordinator roles keep her busy, but treating her patients remains her passion. Sandy has two children; her son has moved back to New Hampshire to raise her new granddaughter, and her daughter, currently living in LA, always enjoys coming home to visit. Sandy lives in Newport.

 

Melissa Biagiotti

Owner

Pumpkin Blossom Farm

 

Melissa owns and operates Pumpkin Blossom Farm with her husband Mike. She previously worked as a real estate agent for Camarda Premier Properties and Active Florida Realty. She has 25 years of realtor experience in luxury real estate sales, investment, and property renovations throughout Florida.  She is now a licensed real estate broker in both New Hampshire and Florida. Pumpkin Blossom Farm has been the center of her family's gatherings, special events and family weddings since 2007. It initially began as a vacation retreat and was rented to guests from over 40 states and 7 different countries over the span of 9 years. In 2016, the Biagiotti’s began improving the features of the 14-acre farm, which is now home to over 10,000 lavender plants. In 2024, the farm welcomed over 7,000 visitors to pick lavender, enjoy the fields and shop their expanding line of lavender products which are now showing up in stores across the county. Their unique property has been featured on NH Chronicle, in NH Business Magazine, NH Home Magazine, and several other state wide publications.  Melissa lives in Warner.

 

 

Congratulations to Manuela Lippincott on her promotion to Commercial Analyst. Manuela is celebrating her 10th year at SRB this July.  She is a hardworking dedicated employee that is essential to our Commercial team's success.    
 

 Congratulations to Sheila on her well-deserved promotion to Loan Servicing Officer! She is an exceptional leader and a vital contributor to the department’s continued success. Sheila began her journey with SRB 24 years ago as a teller and has held various roles within the loan servicing department, most recently serving as Loan Servicing Supervisor. 
 
On March 6th, some SRB officers had the opportunity to meet Governor Kelly Ayotte at the Concord Chamber of Commerce’s State of the State Luncheon. Governor Ayotte shared her vision and priorities for New Hampshire’s future. 
 
March 18th was Capital Day for NH Bankers! Brittany, Jenny, and Kelly visited the State House learning about the amazing advocacy work NH Bankers Association provides for the banking industry. They also get a close-up look at the legislative process and learn about current issues that impact our industry. 
 Congratulations to Shaina Greenwood Shaina GreenwoodVice President Compliance Officer & Internal Audit Manager for passing the Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager (CRCM) exam. This is a huge accomplishment that shows your dedication, expertise, and hard work in the field of regulatory compliance.   


Thanks to the generous spirit of our employees, we’ve had a truly impactful year of giving. Our “Jeans Day Fridays’” initiative, where employees donate in exchange for wearing jeans on Fridays, raised a total of $𝟰,𝟮𝟭𝟯 in 2024. These funds were distributed to 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝟯𝟱 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀, supporting a wide range of services that benefit our community. We’re incredibly proud of the collective effort that has allowed us to give back to so many in need.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our employees who participated, helping to create positive change right here in our own neighborhoods. We look forward to continuing this tradition of giving in the year ahead!

We would like to thank all of our employees for participating in the SRB's Spirit of Giving week. From themed outfits to team spirit, your enthusiasm and creativity were truly inspiring! We also want to thank you for your generous donations, which will benefit organizations in our local communities.

We are proud to announce Colleen DeAngelis was ranked the #2 Loan Originator in Sullivan County as reported by the Registry Review for the month of October 2024.   Colleen is known for her outstanding customer service and going the extra mile. 

We are also pleased to announce that Sugar River Bank ranked in the top 3 Mortgage Lenders in Sullivan County. 

Thank you to Colleen and all of our lenders for making Sugar River Bank a success! 

 

On November 26th Sugar River Bank held it's annual employee service awards ceremony.   Awards are given to employees with milestone anniversaries.  Pictured left to right Peter Haynes 15 years, Ginger Marsh 25 years, Shaina Greenwood 15 years, Tamara Heiser 5 years, Nickole Matheson 5 years, Brittany Hamel 5 years, Brad Rand 5 years. Not pictured 5 year recipients Ellen Lessard, Karen Knabb, and Terri Spanos. Congratulations to all and thank you for your hard work & dedication to SRB!
Our employees were super creative again this year.  Newport  branch decorated their hall & lobby with a Harry Potter theme for the Richards school children to walk through during their annual parade.  Thank you everyone for making it a fun day!  
Tor StenbergCongratulations to Tor Stenberg
Congratulations to Tor Stenberg, Mortgage Loan Origination Officer on his graduation from The New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College, Wellesley, Massachusetts. The graduation was the culmination of an intensive two-year program that provides banking professionals with the tools they need to manage effectively in today’s changing industry.

Above: Mark Pitkin, President and CEO & Tor Stenberg, Mortgage Loan Origination Officer.

Terri CrateCongratulations to Terri Crate
Congratulations to Terri Crate, Vice President Loan Origination Officer for receiving the Upper Valley Board of Realtors 2024 Affiliate of the Year Award. Thank you for the dedication & commitment in making SRB part of the Upper Valley Community.




Karan KnabbCongratulations Karen Knabb
Congratulations to Karen Knabb for her recent promotion to Senior Digital Banking Specialist. We also want to congratulate her on earning the American Bankers Association Digital Banker certificate. Karen started with SRB in 2019 as a teller and has worked in multiple positions before her most recent position in digital banking. Karen's vast knowledge and leadership makes her a key member of the digital banking team.


Heather RobertsHeather Roberts promoted to Vice President Senior Loan Officer.
Heather started her SRB career in 2001 and has held many key roles such as Loan Processor, Loan Underwriter and most recent Assistant Vice President Mortgage Operations Officer. Heather has received graduate certificates form Northern New England School of Banking and the New England School for Financial Studies at Babson College. Her dedication and positive attitude make her a critical part of the lending department team.

Dori PetrinDori Petrin promoted to Assistant Vice President/Operations and Digital Banking.
Dori joined the bank in 1983 and has served in deposit operations for over 40 years. Dori’s vast experience and knowledge of operations and digital banking will be critical to the ongoing success of the department and the bank. She has proven herself to be an invaluable team member over the past several decades.


Lynn RodeschinLynn Rodeschin, Vice President/Head of Operations, after 44 years of dedicated service to Sugar River Bank retired on May 3, 2024.Lynn began her career in 1979 as a Teller in the bank’s retail department and worked in various other positions throughout her tenure at the bank. Over her many years of service, she has guided the company through numerous operational changes, updates, upgrades, and installations. Lynn has played a vital role in implementing numerous new products, services, and operational innovations. She has also remained highly committed to giving back to the community, serving as the Treasurer for the Friends of the Lempster Meeting House, Trustee of Trust Funds for the Town of Lempster, and Treasurer of the Newport Salvation Army. Mark Pitkin, President & CEO, said “after more than four decades of loyal service to the bank, its customers, and employees, Lynn will be dearly missed. Her leadership of the operations department and her contributions to innovation have been an integral part of the bank’s success over the years.”

Michelle DufordMichelle Duford promoted to Vice President/Operations and Digital Banking.
Michelle joined Sugar River Bank in 1997 and has nearly 40 years of combined banking experience. Serving 27 years in operational roles at the bank, Michelle provides extensive knowledge, experience, and insight to her new executive role. She is focused on customer experience, including convenient and consistent access to bank products and services through multiple channels.

Tor StenbergTor Stenberg promoted to Mortgage Loan Origination Officer.
Tor has been building strong community connections over the last 3 years making him one of the top three leading mortgage originators in the Connecticut River Valley multiple times. Tor is currently attending the New England School of Financial Studies and will graduate in June.
Newport, NH – Sugar River Bancorp, the mutual holding company of Sugar River Bank, is pleased to announce the recent election of three new Corporators.
At its 129th annual meeting held on April 19th, the Bank welcomed April Royce, Lauren Snow Chadwick & Scott Austin.

April Royce
Chief Financial Officer/Operations Manager
Robert A. Lucas & Associates
April is a financial/operations professional. Since 2018, she has served as CFO of Robert A. Lucas & Associates, a Public Insurance Adjusting Company. April also serves as an Adjunct Professor of Accounting & Finance at Colby-Sawyer College. Since 2017, she has been a business consultant for Royce Enterprises, LLC, and served as CFO of NEK Holdings from 2020 to 2022. April is currently the Treasurer of the Claremont Learning Partnership and Treasurer of the Sunapee Booster Club. She holds a B.S. Degree in Accounting & Finance from Franklin Pierce University and a M.S. in Accounting from Suffolk University. April lives in Sunapee.

Lauren Snow Chadwick
Attorney
National Education Association (NEA)
For the past decade, Lauren has worked as Staff Attorney with the National Education Association that represents over 16,000 members in the public education system across the state of New Hampshire. She previously served as a Staff Attorney with the NH State Employees Association. Lauren’s legal experience includes labor and employment law, and she previously practiced personal injury law in Colorado. Lauren is currently a member of the New London Zoning Board, and a member of the New Hampshire Legal Aid Board, which provides free legal advice and representation to low-income individuals in civil matters. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree from Union College and a J.D. from the University of NH Law School. She lives in New London.

Scott Austin
Real Estate Developer and Restaurateur
S&A Austin Properties
Scott has been investing in commercial and multifamily real estate for nearly 20 years. He currently owns and manages several properties in the Concord area. Scott also is co-owner of Tandy’s Top Shelf Restaurant, Vinnie’s Pizzaria, and most recently Hermanos Cocina Mexicana in Concord. Prior to real estate development, he previously served as a regional sales representative for Frito-Lay for over 12 years. Scott holds a degree in computer science from SUNY Broome Community College. He lives in Penacook.
Mark Pitkin, President and CEO stated, “We are pleased to welcome our newest Corporators. They each understand the importance of serving the needs of customers and communities, and are a perfect fit to serve the ‘hometown’ bank.”