Scott Nardozzi began working at his local community bank the day he turned 16, and never looked back. For nearly 30 years, the joy of working within his community, and giving back to it, has made his job a pleasure.

Now on the boards of six nonprofits in the Farmington Valley, he said the interconnection between his position at Union Savings Bank – vice president of new business development – and his volunteer positions is one of the most important parts of his life.

“They are really very intertwined,” he said. “I feel very fortunate in my life, and these are great opportunities to give back. I’ve met some great people who are just amazing.”

He began his career at Colonial Bank, which was purchased by another bank, and then another, and another, until he found himself employed by what became Bank of America. Eight years ago, he stepped back from one of the biggest banks in the country and returned to community banking.

“I decided to seek out a community bank, where I could give a high level of service to our clients and the community,” he said.

And the community has embraced him.

‘Spirit and Humor’

Ronelle Cipolla, development director at The Arc of the Farmington Valley (FAVARH), an aid organization for adult and children with intellectual disabilities, said of Nardozzi – currently a member of the nonprofit’s fundraising committee – that “despite Scott’s busy schedule at work, he continues to make an effort to reach out and touch the lives of others of so many others. It is so rewarding to see him interact with our clients, always with spirit and humor that endears him to them.”

“He has also diligently worked to bring the new services and products of Union Bank to our organization,” Cipolla said. “Just recently, he helped us to streamline our credit card transactions by introducing a phone application for card swiping. It has made our fundraising events that much more efficient.”

Rebecca Makas, vice president and treasurer of Prudential Bank & Trust FSB in Hartford, also had strong praise for Nardozzi.

“I have known Scott for most of my professional career,” she said. “He has built a large client base … because he treats his clients with the utmost care and respect. He gets to know them as people and business owners, and truly wants to support them.

“He is creative with solutions to meet personal goals, and always goes the extra mile to meet his clients’ needs. I have referred countless friends, family members and customers to Scott,” she added. “I have used Scott as a banker myself. He is the consummate community banker.”