Berkshire Opera Festival welcomes new advancement associate
Berkshire— Berkshire Opera Festival welcomes their new Advancement Associate Emma Robertson.
Robertson is a soprano from Georgia, currently living in Boston, with a move to the Berkshires on the horizon. Described as “a soprano with an outstanding range,” and “a gifted performer,” by OperaWire, she holds a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from the University of Georgia.
In her new role, she will be the primary point of contact for all donors. For any inquiries, whether it’s learning more about ways you can support BOF, or if you want to reserve a table at our gala, Emma can be reached at erobertson@berkshireoperafestival.org.
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Williamstown Theatre Festival announces Jeremy O. Harris as the the inaugural Creative Director of artistic leadership model
Williamstown— Managing Director, Strategy & Transformation Raphael Picciarelli announced that Jeremy O. Harris, the celebrated writer, producer, and actor, will be the inaugural Creative Director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival’s Creative Collective, a new artistic leadership model that will ensure boundary-breaking and diverse programming, create new opportunities for emerging artists, and foster shared ownership of the creative vision for the Festival.
The WTF Creative Collective will feature a rotating annual cohort of directors that, in collaboration with Harris, will inform the curation and programming of each season. Working in partnership with Raphael Picciarelli, WTF’s Managing Director, Strategy & Transformation, the Collective will advance the new vision of the organization through annual and seasonal programming, strategic partnerships, and development of new work. Additional members of the first Creative Collective for the 2025 season will be announced later this year.
Harris said, “I’ve made it no secret that my idea of being a theatre maker is a holistic one and my passion to write plays is only matched by my passion to see the best ones being conceived. Nikos Psacharopoulos changed the American theatre by making Williamstown not only the equivalent of a teaching hospital for an entire generation of stars, but by also creating a home on the American summer stock stage for international playwrights. It’s my goal to continue this tradition by galvanizing a new generation of nascent talents across disciplines and challenging what theatre is by bringing artists from around the world together for a summer festival that feels more like a happening. What does a theatre festival that has Jaboukie Young-White, Milo Rau, a set by Billie Eilish and Steve Lacy and a new show with Ayo Edebiri and Paul Mescal look like? I’m not sure but I’m excited to go to my little black book and find out.”
Picciarelli said “When we were conceiving of our new artistic leadership model that will enable our vision for the future of the Festival, Jeremy was one of the first artists that came to my mind. Not only is he one of the most ambitious, bold, and talented artists working today, he also has a gift for curating and generating groundbreaking ideas. Sit with him for 10 minutes and you’ll learn about an emerging avant-garde director in Berlin, the historical evolution of Jacobean tragedy, a fashion trend coming out of Paris, and an unknown writer trending on TikTok, and he’ll connect all of them in fascinating and unexpected ways. I’m so thrilled to be collaborating with Jeremy and his partners in the Creative Collective to lead Williamstown Theatre Festival into its next chapter.”
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Peter Duckett and Christopher Glynn MountainOne
Berkshire— The Commercial Lending Division at MountainOne continues to grow with the recent additions of Peter Duckett and Christopher Glynn as commercial portfolio manager and associate commercial portfolio manager, respectively.
In his role as commercial portfolio manager, Duckett evaluates new and existing borrower relationships; manages, implements, and develops commercial and credit related initiatives, policies, and procedures; and assists with the preparation for internal and external audits, among other responsibilities. Prior to joining MountainOne Bank, Duckett was a portfolio manager with Brookline Bank in Boston. He received a Bachelor of Arts in economics and business management from Assumption College.
As an associate commercial portfolio manager, Glynn is responsible for interacting with and evaluating new and/or existing loan relationships, making credit recommendations, and managing specific credit activities to ensure that performance quality, consistency of underwriting, and timeliness meets or exceeds customer expectations. Prior to joining MountainOne Bank, Glynn was an associate with BrightSpire Capital in Florida. Glynn received a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
“We are excited to welcome both Peter and Chris to our growing commercial lending team,” said Robert Fraser, president and chief executive officer at MountainOne. “Their addition supports our ongoing efforts to enhance our commercial lending capabilities and drive success for our clients.”
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Ashlee Colon and Vincent Leydet join Bishop West Real Estate
Adams— Bishop West Real Estate proudly welcomes Ashlee Colon and Vincent Leydet to its esteemed team of professionals.
With a commitment to elevating client service standards, Ashlee and Vince join as seasoned Realtors, bringing a wealth of expertise and a dedication to excellence in every transaction.
As Bishop West Real Estate continues its mission to redefine real estate service in Berkshire County, Broker Owners Corey Bishop and Peter West are thrilled to have Ashlee and Vince onboard. “Our vision at Bishop West Real Estate has always been centered around providing the utmost in client-level service,” says Corey Bishop. “With Ashlee and Vince’s addition to our team, we reinforce our commitment to this principle.”
With a focus on integrity, expertise, and a dedication to exceeding client expectations, Bishop West Real Estate, Ashlee Colon and Vincent Leydet are poised to set new standards of excellence in the Berkshire County real estate market.
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Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, parent company of Adams Community Bank, elects new corporators
Adams— Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, held its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 10th at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams. The following individuals were elected corporators:
Justin McKennon is a Principal Scientist at Electro Magnetic Applications, Inc. (EMA). He is an internationally recognized expert in the test and simulation of electromagnetic effects across the aerospace, space, defense, and related industries. He holds a Master’s and BS from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Electrical Engineering.
A.J. Enchill is the president and executive director of the Berkshire Black Economic Council (BBEC.) The BBEC is a nonprofit that aids and advocates economic development for Black Entrepreneurs in Berkshire County. AJ served as a District Aide for State Senator Adams Hinds. He holds a BA in American Studies from Tufts University. He mentors young people in the community, including through Lever’s Berkshire Interns and Inclusive Internship Preparation Program.
Karen Sinopoli is the Director of Finance at Mill Town Capital. Karen has 15 years of experience in the finance industry, with a decade in the banking industry overseeing financial reporting and accounting operations for several Massachusetts banks. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University and is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Amherst Isenberg School of Management (Master of Science in Accounting). Karen is also a Certified Public Accountant.
Tim Burke is the CEO and Managing Director at Mill Town Capital. He sources and leads business and real estate investments and partners with entrepreneurs on concept exploration and company formation. Tim spent seven years in the biotech industry in Cambridge in various finance, planning, and operational roles. Tim holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Finance and Accounting from Bentley University and an MBA from Bentley’s Graduate School of Business.
Tina Lamarre is the Director, Enterprise Project Management at Berkshire Health Systems. She has diverse work experience spanning several years, with the last 19 years at BHS in project management and IT-related roles. Tina obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from Bay Path University. Tina has a Master of Science in Information Technology from Western Governors University.
Alexandra “Alex” Glover is a Managing Partner at Lazan Glover & Puciloski, LLP in Great Barrington. Alex is a civil litigator who also handles zoning, permitting, and other land use matters. She serves as a Member of the Planning Board of the Town of Alford, a Corporate Trustee of The Trustees of Reservations, a Director of the Sheffield Land Trust, and a member of its Land Protection Committee. Alex received her JD from Northeastern University School of Law. She received her undergraduate degree from Williams.
Lindsay D. DiSantis is a managing partner at Hunter, Granziano & DiSantis in Lee. She specializes in residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, and business law and is a certified mediator. She concentrates her mediation skills on Family Law, Employment, Real Estate, and General Litigation, and she has argued cases up to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. She is a graduate of the University of Rhode Island and received her law degree from Western New England University School of Law.
Robin Sher is the Chief Financial Officer and Clerk to the Board of Trustees at the Clark Art Institute. She has previously held positions as Director of Finance and Administration, CFO/Controller, and Financial Analyst. Robin received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management in 1986 from the University of Colorado and her MBA in 1991 from A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University. She also serves on the Finance Committee of Williamstown Rural Lands and is a Board Member of the Williamstown Farmers Market.
Stella Downie owns Blue Vista Motor Lodge on Whitcomb Summit in Florida, M.A.. Before restoring and owning Blue Vista, she successfully owned and operated five Sky Zone Trampoline Parks and founded the toy store Stellabella Toys. Stella has worked closely with the Center for Teen Empowerment for over 25 years. She is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, with a degree in Economics and Environmental Studies.
Leonard Light is the Executive Vice President at Lenco Armored Vehicles in Pittsfield. He has held a variety of marketing and sales management roles at Lenco since joining them 16 years ago. He graduated from Northeastern University, where he obtained his MBA and BS. He has previously served as vice chair of the Wahconah Park Restoration Committee and as a mentor in the E for All program.
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Lee Bank elects new corporators
Lee— Lee Bank held their annual meeting on Tuesday, April 30th. During that time, the board of trustees elected four new corporators all of whom have accepted their roles.
New corporators, nominated by the board’s governance committee, include:
- Linda Tyer Clairmont, Pittsfield, Executive Director of Workforce Development and Community Education at Berkshire Community College.
- Leigh A. Doherty, Great Barrington, Program Director at Literacy Network of South Berkshire.
- Sarah Eustis, Great Barrington, founder and CEO of Main Street Hospitality.
- Thomas K. Farley, Stockbridge, owner of Tom Farley Land Design Inc.
For a full list of Lee Bank corporators and trustees, visit: https://www.leebank.com/about-us/meet-our-board-of-directors.html
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Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. announces the second round of Pittsfield Glow Up! business improvement grant recipients
Pittsfield— Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) and the Pittsfield Economic Revitalization Corporation (PERC) have announced the second round of Glow Up! Grant recipients in the city of Pittsfield.
The following businesses and property owners have been awarded grant funding for signs, painting, lighting, and improvements to their entryways: Angelina’s Submarine Shop (W. Housatonic Street), Angelina’s Submarine Shop (Dalton Avenue), Berkshire Pipe & Tobacco, Clark Vintage Lighting, Independent Mobility, Insight Holdings II, LLC (Phoenix Theatres), Hotel on North, Otto’s Kitchen & Comfort, Pittsfield Health Food Store, Soda Chef, Thistle and Mirth, property owner GDL Associates (Brothership Building), and property owner Scarafoni Associates (Dunham Block).
Grant recipients were selected using a grading system that ranked their responses on how COVID-19 impacted their business, on the details of the projects to be funded by the grant, and on the impact the projects would make on their space, keeping in the spirit of “Glowing Up” our community. $100,000 will be distributed in this second round of Glow Up! Grants.
Any grant-related questions may be directed to Rebecca Brien, Managing Director of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc., at 413-443-6501 or businessdevelopment@downtownpittsfield.com
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Shakespeare & Company launches textile recycling program
Lenox— In response to Massachusetts law banning the disposal of textiles, Shakespeare & Company has launched a new program designed to help both the company and the community at large more easily recycle clothing, footwear, bedding, curtains, and other fabrics.
The initiative was spearheaded by Costume Shop Manager Michelle Hathaway and builds on Shakespeare & Company’s existing policy to accept clothing donations year-round. “We receive generous donations all year long, and we make use of many of these items in our costumes,” said Hathaway. “However, we can’t use everything.”
In the past, pieces unusable by the Costume Shop were sent to a spot on campus where anyone could take items at no cost. The next stop, however, was the landfill. A new relationship with New Hampshire-based company Apparel Impact has changed that; focused on the recovery of textiles, Apparel Impact provides bins at no cost to companies, government agencies, colleges, schools, and other entities across the Northeast.
The Apparel Impact bin is located outdoors at the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, on the Shakespeare & Company campus. For more information on the bin or making donations to the Costume Shop, contact Michelle Hathaway at (413) 637-1199 ext. 376, or email costumes@shakespeare.org.
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Berkshire Community College Practical Nurse Program named number one in state and nation
Pittsfield— The Practical Nurse (PN) program at Berkshire Community College (BCC) was recently ranked number one in Massachusetts and number one in the United States for its fall 2023 cohort. The ranking is based on a semi-annual reporting of the percentage of graduates passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) on the first attempt. At BCC, 100% of 2023 graduates of the PN program passed the exam on the first try. The 2023 cohort at BCC comprised 17 first-time NCLEX test-takers, 100% of whom passed on the first attempt.
“BCC’s Practical Nurse program strives to educate students to become nurses with excellent communication and assessment skills, and the ability to critically think. Our goal is to graduate students who will provide compassionate care to our community and are dedicated to patient advocacy,” BCC Dean of Nursing Lori Moon said. “Our graduates far exceed expectations. We are so proud of them and of our program.”
The PN program at BCC is the only accredited Practical Nurse program in the Berkshires. The goals of the program, Moon explained, include supporting students in successfully completing the program; a 100% pass rate on the NCLEX boards on every PN student’s first try; and 100% job placement for each student after they are licensed.
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Berkshire Innovation Center now accepting applications for the 2024/2025 cohort
Berkshire— Berkshire Innovation Center’s ‘Stage 2’ Accelerator program is designed to serve early-stage tech startups that are building a physical product and moving toward the manufacturing phase.
They are looking for hardware-based firms in the life sciences, medical devices, climate tech, robotics and automation, aerospace and defense, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Apply online at https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program.
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Nonprofits to convene to discuss sharing resources
Lenox— The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) and Representative William “Smitty” Pignatelli will host a convening on the topic of sharing resources at Lenox Town Hall auditorium on Friday, June 14th from 10 a.m. to noon.
Nonprofit leaders are invited to advance the conversation about the opportunities and challenges in realizing a structure for sharing services in Berkshire County. NPC Executive Director Liana Toscanini will share recent survey results and research before the audience breaks out into smaller groups to discuss infrastructure models and steps to achieving a pilot program before year-end. The convening will be facilitated by Jim Ayres of Strategies for Collaborative Impact and Justice.
Register for this free event at npcberkshires.org.
