Berkshire Concert Choir names Ryan LaBoy as Music Director
Pittsfield— Ryan LaBoy has been appointed Music Director of the Berkshire Concert Choir for the 2023-34 season, beginning June 1st.
LaBoy has a masters degree in choral conducting from University of Minnesota and a bachelor of music degree from Westminster Choir College. He is currently a doctoral candidate in music at Teachers College, Columbia University. LaBoy is the Artistic Director of the Berkshire Children’s Chorus and serves as both adjunct music faculty and choir director at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
Mr. LaBoy and the entire choir welcome the public to participate in a community “Summer Sing” to be held at Zion Lutheran Church on First Street in Pittsfield on Tuesday, June 20th from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The concert choir also invites all interested singers to consider joining in the fall. No auditions are required.
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Berkshire Music School welcomes new faculty and staff members
Pittsfield— The Berkshire Music School is pleased to welcome Geoffrey Carter to teach a new youth electronic music group class, Geoffrey Cunningham to their trumpet faculty, and Sarah Prouty as the Program Associate.
Geoffrey Carter owns the BeatNest music school in Pittsfield. A student of piano for over two decades, he pursued a bachelor’s degree in electronic production and design from Berklee College of Music. After graduation, he went to work at a nightclub in the greater Boston area, working live sound gigs until 3 a.m. every night. Once the club closed its doors for good during the pandemic, Geoffrey moved back to Lenox. In Lenox, he worked with children in the after-school program at the Lenox Community Center with group beat-making classes and the idea for BeatNest was born. Geoffrey strongly believes that every child has musical creativity and with the aid of technology, kids can get quick, satisfying results whether or not they have played music in the past.
Geoffrey Cunningham is a skilled performer and music educator with over 20 years of experience in the field. He completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music at UMass Amherst studying classical trumpet training with Walter Chesnut, and Jazz and African American music studies training under the tutelage of Jeff Holmes, Yusef Lateef, and Adam Kolker. Geoff is an active freelance trumpet player who performs in a variety of musical contexts and styles. In addition to trumpet instruction, Geoff also teaches core music theory and other courses at Holyoke and Berkshire Community Colleges, as well as directing and coaching various performance ensembles, including some of the jazz combos at Amherst College.
Sarah Prouty graduated from the Hartt School with a Master of Music in Vocal Performance. She recently relocated to the Berkshires after spending several years in Connecticut teaching voice lessons and school music classes. As a performer, Sarah has been involved with many companies throughout the Northeast including CT Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Oldcastle Theatre Company, and Opera Connecticut. She is an alumna of Barrington Stage Company’s Youth Theatre. Sarah is a member of the Connecticut Yuletide Carolers and will be in Berkshire Opera Festival’s production of “La bohème” at the Colonial Theatre this August. Sarah is passionate about music education and is thrilled to be joining the BMS team.
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Joan Peters of Great Barrington has been promoted to director of the Great Barrington Council on Aging
Great Barrington— Joan Peters of Great Barrington has been promoted to director of the Great Barrington Council on Aging and in her new role will lead operations at the Claire Teague Senior Center.
Peters, previously the administrative assistant at the Teague Center, has served as interim COA director since the retirement of Polly Mann Salenovich this spring.
Peters previously worked as an administrative assistant to the Great Barrington Fire Department. She has worked as a certified nursing assistant and was also the director of youth programs at Berkshire South Community Center. She earned an associate degree in human services from Berkshire Community College.
“We are pleased to promote Joan Peters to her new role leading the COA and the Claire Teague Center”, said Mark Pruhenski, town manager. “Joan has shown dedication and commitment to our community’s older residents and the work and programs of the Claire Teague Center.”
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1Berkshire announces staff promotions
Berkshire— 1Berkshire is happy to announce the promotions of staff members Benjamin Lamb and Kristen Harrington in recognition of their achievements, contributions and dedication to the organization and its initiatives throughout Berkshire County.
Benjamin Lamb has been promoted to Vice President of Economic Development. This well-deserved promotion follows five years of hard work helping to build the economic development team and expand the 1Berkshire footprint. Hired in 2018 as the Economic Development Projects Manager, Lamb was shortly promoted to Director of Economic Development. In his new position, Lamb will continue to lead and expand the outreach of 1Berkshire through its economic development in Berkshire County. Lamb currently resides in North Adams with his wife, two young children, and a dog.
Kristen Harrington has been promoted to Finance & Administration Coordinator, a title that reflects her new responsibilities in accounting and internal operations, and as property liaison. Harrington is integral to office functions that touch all departments. Previously, Harrington functioned as the Accounting Specialist for 1Berkshire, a position she had held since 2019. She joined the Berkshire Visitors Bureau as a Finance Associate in 2015, and a year later, in a merger resulting in the creation of 1Berkshire, Harrington was named Accounting Associate. Harrington currently lives in Pittsfield with her husband and has two adult children, as well as a dog and two cats.
According to Jonathan Butler, President and Chief Executive Officer of 1Berkshire, “Our success as an organization is dependent upon the commitment, talent and passion of our team members. Kristen and Ben are strong examples of the best we have to offer at 1Berkshire. Both have been with the organization for many years and have consistently demonstrated a selfless approach to helping the Berkshires become a stronger community.”
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Christina Rivera joins Berkshire Welco/The Pass as head of wholesale strategy and market development
Sheffield— Christina Rivera joins Berkshire Welco/The Pass as head of wholesale strategy and market development to continue expanding the Pass’ portfolio across the state of Massachusetts. The Pass currently employs more than 75 professionals in the community.
Before joining the Pass, Rivera served as regional director of wholesale for Tilt Holdings where she successfully launched a portfolio of brands including Highsman, Toast, and Black Buddha Cannabis. She also worked on brand development as a wholesale manager at Trulieve and as a marketing and outreach manager for Curaleaf. She brings experience in the health and medical fields to the position.
“Christina’s experience in building lasting relationships and partnerships in the industry is key to our growth strategy and we’re thrilled to have her on board”, said Chief Operating Officer Bill Packer. “She will be a key ambassador of our mission in support of Nature + Culture and our vertically integrated Berkshire-grown brand to expand our footprint in the ever-changing cannabis marketplace.”
Rivera holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Management from Bay Path University. She lives in Springfield with her family.
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Ray Murray, Inc. is pleased to announce that Mike Hopsicker has been named Vice Chair of the National Propane Gas Association
Lee— Ray Murray, Inc. (RMI) is pleased to announce that Mike Hopsicker has been sworn in as Vice Chair of the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA).
Mike Hopsicker has been a Board Member of NPGA or involved in NPGA committees since 1996. He has previously served NPGA as a member of its executive committee as well as Chairman of several committees including the Distributor Section, Convention Committee, and most recently Chairman of the Government Affairs.
Hopsicker has been President and CEO of RMI since 2005 and is currently the sole owner. He has over 25 years of experience in the propane and other related energy industries. Prior to RMI, Hopsicker was CEO of Agway Inc. and spent eight years as the CEO of Agway Energy Products, one of the largest retail marketers of propane and fuel oil in the US.
“Mike’s attention to detail is legendary and his ability to tackle complex problems is remarkable. He has certainly become a valuable resource for me. Someone I can depend on for sound advice and counsel, whether it be in my own business or NYPGA. As you know, today the propane industry is facing historic, existential challenges. Frankly, I can’t think of someone more qualified for a leadership position in this organization than Mike Hopsicker. Mike is the guy you want on your team. I’m proud to count him as a colleague and friend.” – Rick Cummings, Vice President, Mulhern Gas Co., Inc.
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CHP Mobile health team honored by Massachusetts Nonprofit Network
Berkshire— The CHP Mobile Health Team was honored as a finalist for the “Excellence in Resilience” award by the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network (MNN) at the Massachusetts State House in Boston on June 6th.
CHP was among more than 130 statewide nominees for the 2023 awards. Members of the Mobile Health team and CHP leadership attended the awards ceremony held at the Massachusetts State House.
“Our Mobile Health team is fully deserving of this recognition for its on-the-road outreach and vaccination work during the Covid-19 pandemic”, said Rick Gregg, interim CEO of CHP. “With Covid-19 now in a more manageable status, this team is now expanding with broader forms of mobile health care, while keeping pace with ongoing vaccination and booster needs in our community.”
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Berkshire Workforce elects board and honors area businesses, intern, and educators
Pittsfield— The MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board held its annual meeting on June 8th at Hotel on North in Pittsfield.
At the meeting the following Workforce Impact Awards were presented:
- 2023 Board Member of the Year – Robert Keegan from Crescent Creamery for his 24 years of leadership, participation in career center activities, and serving as Secretary and Evaluation Committee Chair.
- 2023 Behavioral Health Employer of the Year – The Brien Center for partnering and implementing the region’s first behavioral health training grant, engaging trainees, and participating in targeted job fairs.
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2023 Youth Champion, Owen O’Brien. Image courtesy of MassHire Berkshire Workforce. 2023 Youth Champion – Owen O’Brien from Lenox High School who participated in internships, is a honor student, became a certified nursing assistant, and is entering the nursing program in the fall.
- 2023 Career Readiness Ambassadors – Tara Romeo and Pam Murray of Lenox Middle/High School for developing innovative pathways in business finance and healthcare/social assistance, and instilling a school culture change by prioritizing career readiness for ALL students.
- 2023 Manufacturing Employer of the Year – Interprint, Inc. for being proactive in addressing workforce needs and participating in MassHire career readiness and training programs.
- 2023 Employer of the Year – Berkshire Health Systems’ Education and Human Resource Departments for their steadfast leadership in making their employees a priority and establishing numerous workforce development pipeline and training programs.
In other business, the Board of Directors elected its 2024 officers including as its President, Eva Sheridan of Jane Iredale; Vice President, David Moresi of Moresi & Associates; Vice President, Michael Taylor of City of Pittsfield; Youth Council Co-chairs Doug McNally of Frosthollow Associates and Bryan House of 18 Degrees; Treasurer, James Brosnan of McCannTechnical School; Assistant Treasurer, Beth Petropulos of MountainOne; Secretary; Chelsea Tyer of Neenah Paper; and At-Large Members, Christopher Smith of Hillcrest Educational Centers and Albert Ingegni of Integritus.
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Lee Bank is thrilled to announce that the doors to their new location at 180 South Street in Pittsfield will officially open on Tuesday, June 20th
Pittsfield— Lee Bank is thrilled to announce that the doors to their new location at 180 South Street in Pittsfield will officially open on Tuesday, June 20th.
Construction began on the project in April of 2022, although conversations regarding the evolving needs of the downtown Pittsfield community and how Lee Bank could make an impact began several years prior to breaking ground. Based on the Bank’s core values and strategy, it became apparent that they had outgrown the storefront space they had occupied for nearly a decade and that a ground-up build would be the next logical step. The building was designed to enable relationship building and engagement with the community rather than serving solely to support banking transactions. President Chuck Leach says, “We sought to create a space that was a living, breathing representation of our core values and headline strategy: to be Berkshire County’s premier relationship bank.”
The manifestation of this includes a full-service branch with dedicated personal, commercial and mortgage bankers, as well as our financial wellness team; a multi-purpose community space available for reservation; “mixed-use” space including apartments and designated outdoor areas for use by community groups and residential tenants; bilingual banking services available by appointment at this location; drive up/drive up ATM; and free customer parking.
In addition to some of the more functional aspects of building a new branch, much thought was also put into ensuring that the space was visually appealing both from the exterior and interior particularly as it is among the first impressions for someone entering downtown Pittsfield. From the different textiles and textures that are visible from the street, to the furniture and fixtures you’ll see when you step inside, the team worked hard to make certain that this location feels like a place where everyone is welcome.
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Construct announces first-time homebuyers ‘final mile’ closing cost grant
Great Barrington— Construct has announced a “final mile” closing cost grant of $2,500 available to low-to-moderate-income south Berkshire County residents to help create access to home ownership.
Massachusetts State Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli successfully introduced an amendment to the Massachusetts American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in the Fiscal 2023 Budget, appropriating $100,000 for a Berkshire County first-time home buyers’ program. Working with area mortgage brokers, Construct administers the funds to provide eligible candidates with “final mile grants” for closing expenses. Berkshire County residents who have already been approved through their financial institution and earn up to 100% of AMI will be eligible.
“I’m a firm believer that creating a path to homeownership is the most effective way for people to build equity,” said Pignatelli. “We want people to be able to live in the Berkshires, establish roots here, work, and raise their families. I hope these ARPA funds will help Construct continue and grow their great work in our community.”
Applicant’s eligibility is based on Area Median Income (AMI) and the town of the home they are purchasing. This program is available to the towns of Alford, Becket, Dalton, Egremont, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Marlborough, Otis, Richmond, Sandisfield, Sheffield, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Washington, and West Stockbridge.
Income-eligible applicants are invited to contact mortgage officers for applications at the following banks: Lee Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Adams Community Bank, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, and Berkshire Bank. General questions about the closing cost grant can be directed to Construct Housing Navigator Kate Coulehan at kcoulehan@constructberkshire.org.
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Berkshire Community College awards Professor Emeritus certificates to two mathematics professors
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC) recently awarded Professor Emeritus certificates to two professors of mathematics, Annette Guertin and Nancy Zuber. The certificates were presented at BCC’s commencement ceremonies at Tanglewood on Friday, June 2nd.
The title “Professor Emeritus” is bestowed upon retiring faculty members at the time of their retirement by the BCC Board of Trustees. Candidates for emeritus status must have taught for at least 20 years in higher education, with a minimum of 15 years at BCC; must have achieved full professor rank; and must have retired in good standing.
Annette Guertin was employed at BCC for 41 years, teaching classes ranging from Elementary Algebra to Math of Art and Nature. With the philosophy that math is everywhere — in nature, in the arts, in the sciences, in the mundane and in the extraordinary — Guertin taught math “as a way of thinking that ties everything else in life together”, said BCC President Ellen Kennedy in her remarks. “Generations of students enjoyed success in math, sometimes for the very first time, because Annette made math matter to them.”
Known as a collaborator, Guertin often teamed up with colleagues and students alike. She researched and implemented biofeedback methods that helped students far beyond the math classroom, tackling the common fear of math head-on.
“Like so many great teachers, Annette has a sense of humor and impeccable timing of delivery — as always, blending math and life in unexpected, entertaining and truly memorable ways”, Kennedy said.
Nancy Zuber began her career at BCC 31 years ago, when she applied for a part-time job in the Math Lab. The mother of two small children, she simply wanted to get out of the house a few nights a week. But through her initial experience at BCC, she discovered teaching was her passion. Zuber taught a variety of mathematics classes, with a focus on algebra and calculus, for 30 years.
“Nancy’s enthusiasm about math was contagious and inspiring”, Kennedy said. “To Nancy, there was no such thing as being bad at math. There were only barriers educators had to help students overcome. Decades of successful teaching proved Nancy right.”
Zuber helped establish BCC’s math task force, which led to a reimagined pre-college math sequence. She was instrumental in adding free practice sessions, called “recitations”, to math courses, and in updating the calculus sequence.
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Lee Chamber of Commerce awards two students with scholarships
Lee— In an annual show of support for the students of Lee, the Lee Chamber of Commerce has named two graduating seniors as recipients for academic grants of $1,000 each to be applied to the cost of continuing education after high school. These grants are awarded yearly to student graduates who live in Lee and plan on attending a college or trade school. The 2023 scholarship recipients are Isabella Lovato and Lindzie Johndrow.
To qualify for the Marie Toole Academic Scholar Award a student must have a GPA of 3.5 or greater, and the Joe Sorrentino Scholar/Athlete Award is awarded to a student who demonstrates athletic and sportsmanship accomplishments and has maintained a GPA of 3.0 or greater.
“We are very happy to provide this assistance toward the education of our young Lee residents,” says Doug Bagnasco, Chamber Board President and owner of the Devonfield Inn. “The purpose is to encourage students to continue their education and enhance their skills.”
This is the 14th year the Lee Chamber of Commerce has awarded scholarships to Lee residents; the awards are based on scholarship, and scholar/athlete achievements. Revenue generated by the Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament provides the funds for the grants. This year’s Golf Tournament will be held on Wednesday, June 28th at Greenock Country Club.
The 2023 Lee Chamber Golf Open, benefiting the Lee Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Fund, includes a day of golf, putting contests, raffle prizes, an awards dinner, and presentation of the Academic Grants. For information about the 2023 Lee Chamber of Commerce Golf Open, contact the Lee Chamber at info@leechamber.org.
