I love that it is still a fantastic institution. I’m a very proud alum of Bridgewater State. The value is amazing. I think it’s phenomenal. The school is really a local treasure for us.
Cate Adams, ’01, moved around in her early undergraduate years, attending colleges in Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Florida. But the now-banking executive realized the ideal school was actually close to home in Massachusetts.
Bridgewater State “offered a great education and value,” said Adams, the chief commercial banking officer at North Easton Savings Bank. “It was an awesome, awesome experience.… Every professor was wonderful and every professor was encouraging.”
Adams graduated with a degree in marketing, and loved the relationship-building, communications and sales aspects of that profession. Meanwhile, an accounting professor recognized her knack for working with numbers, understanding relevant theories and staying organized. Banking, Adams said, requires a mix of marketing and accounting skills.
Adams took part in a prestigious loan officer development program through Citizens Bank. She excelled even among her peers from Ivy League and other big-name universities. She pursued a successful career in commercial lending at Citizens, South Shore, and Eastern banks before starting her current job in May.
In her new role, Adams is a member of North Easton’s senior management team and leads the commercial banking department.
“I love what I do,” she said. “What commercial lenders do is help local businesses grow. … Everyday, you get to meet someone new and build new relationships.”
Adams credits Bridgewater State with laying the foundation for this success. While on campus, she explored a variety of classes from advertising to art to zoology. She appreciated professors such as Sylvia Keyes, whose marketing classes were intense yet filled with useful knowledge.
“I love that it is still a fantastic institution,” Adams said of BSU. “I’m a very proud alum of Bridgewater State. The value is amazing. I think it’s phenomenal. The school is really a local treasure for us.”
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