Berkshire Agricultural Ventures announces new interim director, staff, board members
GREAT BARRINGTON — Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) recently announced Glenn Bergman as its new interim director. A native of Philadelphia, Bergman has been a long-term, part-time resident of Stockbridge and currently shares his time between his homes in Philly and Great Barrington. He has a long history of working with nonprofit organizations.
For five years, he was the executive director for Philabundance, the largest hunger-relief organization in the Philadelphia area. Prior to this, he was the general manager for Weavers Way Co-op for 11 years.
The board also welcomes Great Barrington native Ciana Barnaba to the role of executive assistant. In her role, she manages the BAV office, internal and external communications, and other behind-the-scenes work. She came to BAV from GrowNYC, where she managed over a dozen Greenmarkets throughout the New York City area.
BAV’s board is also pleased to welcome two new board members, Amanda Freund and Erik Rasmussen.
An experienced farmer, Freund, of East Canaan, Connecticut, joined the Board in December 2020. She and her family own and operate the multi-generational dairy farm, Freund Farm & Market. She brings years of farming knowledge and will be assisting with the review and development of new projects.
Agricultural economist Erik Rasmussen, of Stockbridge, also joined the Board in December. He comes to BAV after a long career in dairy marketing and related economic matters for the USDA. Previous to that, he was the executive director of the New York State Legislative Commission on Dairy Industry Development.
—A.K.
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Berkshire Community College launches business internship
PITTSFIELD — The Business Department at Berkshire Community College (BCC) recently announced the creation of a business internship for current BCC students, who work 10 hours per week with a local business and receive three credit hours for participation in the program. Designed to provide students with professional work experience in a business environment, the internship recently began with a partnership with SolaBlock Inc., a green energy company based in Easthampton, Massachusetts. SolaBlock, a startup company with connections to the Berkshire Innovation Center, is working with the City of Pittsfield to select a final assembly site for its Solar Masonry Unit (SMU) product.
“It’s a perfect way for us to help educate and retain local talent for our growing business,” said SolaBlock Chief Operating Officer Scott Longley.
Longley and BCC Associate Professor of Business Karen Hines worked together to create the internship. “SolaBlock had an immediate need for an intern, and BCC wanted to establish business internship opportunities while partnering with the local business community,” said Hines. “We will be looking for more business partnerships in the future.”
BCC Assistant Professor of Economics Dhanushka Peru, who supervises the program, said the growing importance of internships has become a deciding factor for some students in choosing a college or university. “Internships are typically offered at four-year schools, but not necessarily at two-year schools,” he said. “This will give BCC business students a competitive edge as they look to further their education or enter the workforce.”
The internship focuses on business administration, planning, and decision-making. Students will be guided in key areas such as critical thinking, effective business analysis, market research, interpersonal skills and work ethics.
“I can’t stress enough the importance of establishing partnerships within the community,” Peru said. “This internship will provide BCC students with hands-on experience and direct access to real-world business professionals.”
To learn more about the internship, email Karen Hines at khines@berkshirecc.edu or call (413) 236-4533.
—A.K.
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William Pitt – Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty partners with Asteroom for 3D virtual listing tours
STAMFORD, Conn. — William Pitt – Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty recently announced it has partnered with Asteroom to provide sales associates with a new leading-edge solution for 3D virtual listing tours. The new product increases efficiency in the creation of virtual tours while lowering costs and continuing to deliver an exceptional online home touring experience for consumers.
One of the largest Sotheby’s International Realty® affiliates in the world, William Pitt – Julia B. Fee is the first company in the brand’s global network to partner with Asteroom, and the first to make the technology available to the luxury tier of the real estate industry.
Asteroom’s 3D tour product allows the online user to move through a house, understand the flow of rooms, and view “dollhouse” floor plans that provide a 3D perspective. According to Asteroom, consumer demand for virtual reality tours has increased for residential listings by 750% during the last year. Citing data from Zillow that 1 in 20 buyers now purchase a home without visiting it in person, Asteroom said that walk-through 3D tours help consumers view homes remotely.
“We are excited to deliver this cutting-edge product to our agents and customers, reinforcing our commitment to delivering the most innovative, best-in-class marketing offerings,” said Vincent Socci, COO with William Pitt – Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty. “These tours empower buyers to view homes on their own schedules … while making the home search process more efficient and alleviating pandemic-related concerns surrounding in-person home visits.”
—A.K.
