Berkshire County Arc Nu-Opps participant Kathleen Ryan displays artwork she created for the recent "Unmasking Brain Injury" exhibit. Nu-Opps will hold an open house Thursday, Jan. 24, at its Lee facility. Photo courtesy Berkshire County Arc

Business Briefs: Berkshire County Arc opens Nu-Opps; Rigas joins Berkshire Museum; Miss Hall’s welcomes Telfer; donor research workshop for nonprofits; designations for Berkshire Money Management team

Bridget Rigas has over 20 years of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and management of cultural and educational organizations, most recently as director of development at MASS MoCA in North Adams.

Berkshire County Arc opens Nu-Opps brain injury day program

Lee — Berkshire County Arc has announced the grand opening of Nu-Opps, a brain injury day program providing new opportunities for cognitive wellness. Offering a broad range of therapeutic and clinical services, the person-centered Nu-Opps program has been designed to meet the specific and unique needs of people with brain injury, and includes both formal and informal work on cognitive and memory skills, fitness and health. Nu-Opps allows opportunities to engage in artistic and creative expression through in-house programming and partnerships with various community organizations including Community Access to the Arts and Williamstown Theatre Festival. In addition to working on their own individualized programs, attendees can choose from a wide variety of social and leisure activities, and take part in individual or group volunteer projects.

An open house will be held Thursday, Jan. 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at 133 Quarry Hill Road. During the open house, the program will be open to the public, and visitors will be able to meet participants and staff, and hear directly about their experiences.

–E.E.

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Bridget Rigas joins Berkshire Museum as chief engagement officer

Bridget Rigas. Photo courtesy Berkshire Museum

Pittsfield — The Berkshire Museum welcomes Bridget Rigas as its new chief engagement officer. Rigas has over 20 years of experience in fundraising, donor engagement, and management of cultural and educational organizations, most recently as director of development at MASS MoCA in North Adams.

As chief engagement officer, Rigas will be a member of the leadership team and responsible for all aspects of fund development, including the annual fund, membership, grants and sponsorships, special events, capital campaigns, and other initiatives. She will also oversee communications and community engagement. At MASS MoCA, Rigas led a development team that raised up to $4 million annually and was part of a team that raised $30 million from private support toward the renovation of MASS MoCA’s B6: The Robert W. Wilson Building. She has worked with several other nonprofit and cultural organizations, including Glimmerglass Festival, Farmers’ Museum, Museum of the Earth, Boyce Thompson Institute and Wharton Studio Museum. Rigas received her Master of Arts in museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program.

–E.E.

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Miss Hall’s School welcomes Helen Telfer as director of finance and operations

Helen Telfer. Photo courtesy Miss Hall’s School

Pittsfield — Miss Hall’s School has announced that it has named Helen Telfer as its director of finance and operations.

Telfer, who brings with her 28 years of experience as a financial manager, most recently served as chief financial and operating officer at Lincoln Academy in Newcastle, Maine. She previously served as director of finance and operations at Bridgton Academy in Maine, and as chief financial officer at the Long Trail School in Dorset Vermont.

At Miss Hall’s, Telfer works with senior administration and the board of trustees to ensure fiscally responsible and mission-aligned decision-making. Her role includes overseeing all financial and operating functions of the school including budgeting, financial reporting, monitoring investment accounts and school operations. She also serves on the school’s leadership team. She joined the school in July 2018 as the interim director for the 2018–19 school year.

Telfer lives locally with her daughter, Brooke, who is a sophomore at Miss Hall’s; her son, Mack, who is a senior at the University of Maine Farmington; and her husband, Mike. Telfer holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from Post University and is currently working on a master’s degree in public administration.

–E.E.

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NPC Berkshires to hold donor research workshop for nonprofits

Roger Magnus. Photo courtesy Roger Magnus Research

Stockbridge — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires will hold a workshop titled “The Value of Donor Research” Tuesday, Jan. 29, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge.

Participants will learn how to get a more complete picture of a donor in the workshop, which covers both free, do-it-yourself web-based research and the use of paid “wealth screening” databases. Participants will also discover how the components of such research fit into the formulation of a wealth capacity rating and overall prospect profile. Presenter Roger Magnus of Robert Magnus Research, a research consulting firm that helps nonprofits locate donors and foundation funding, will provide a list of free and subscription resources and show how they work together.

The workshop fee is $25 for NPC members and $35 for nonmembers. For more information or to register, call (413) 645-3151.

–E.E.

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Berkshire Money Management team earns designations

Zack Marcotte. Photo courtesy Berkshire Money Management

Dalton — Berkshire Money Management kicked off the new year with two hard-earned designations for members of its team. Zack Marcotte has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards to use the certified financial planner and CFP certification marks in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirement. Marcotte has worked at BMM since 2007 and is responsible for drafting and reviewing financial plans.

Lauren Russo. Photo courtesy Berkshire Money Management

BMM client success coordinator Lauren Russo recently earned her certificate in exit planning from the Exit Planning Institute. The six-module program is designed to take professional advisors through an “exit planning 101” course that provides an overview of the Value Acceleration Methodology. Attendees leave the program with a baseline understanding of what exit planning is and how to help business owners plan effectively.

–E.E.