CDCSB appoints Marchese as executive director
Great Barrington — The Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire has appointed longtime executive and fundraising director Allison Marchese as its executive director.
Marchese has directed the fundraising and marketing activities at CDCSB and acted as a consultant since 2015. She is responsible for building the organization’s first formal fundraising and marketing program. Previously Marchese held executive positions at Austen Riggs Center, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and Canyon Ranch.
Marchese began her career in New York City working with hotel and spa real estate investor and developer Edward J. Safdie. Marchese was vice president of public relations for the Edward J. Safdie group of hotels and spas worldwide, and while in that position, launched such luxury hotels as the Sonoma Mission Inn in California; the California Terrace in Monte Carlo, Monaco; and the Norwich Inn and Spa in Connecticut.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation launches Bridging Divides, Healing Communities grant program
Sheffield — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation has announced a new grant program to support community-building efforts that can bridge differences and drive positive change at the local level. Bridging Divides, Healing Communities will support activities by organizations and groups that are embedded in their communities and that bring together residents to build and strengthen relationships, especially among people who may hold different views or come from different backgrounds.
BTCF will award grants between $500 and $2,500 to support small-scale, community-based actions such as virtual forums, service projects, and artistic and cultural activities. Applicants should consider how their projects will create new or strengthen existing relationships among people of different backgrounds, experiences or beliefs; forge connections around a shared experience through which participants can explore different points of view; and bring residents together to pursue a common goal. Compliance with state guidelines will be required for any in-person activities. Berkshire Bank is providing funding support for these grants.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits, schools, municipalities and local governments, and faith-based organizations (for nonreligious activities) located in Berkshire County in Massachusetts, Columbia and northeast Dutchess counties in New York, and northwest Litchfield County in Connecticut. Community groups may also apply through a fiscal sponsorship with an eligible organization.
The first deadline for applications is Tuesday, Dec. 1.
–E.E.
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Riverbrook receives grant for accessibility improvements
Stockbridge — Riverbrook, a residential and day habilitation program for women with intellectual/developmental disabilities, will improve its facilities with the addition of a small elevator in the main house, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the Jane and Jack Fitzpatrick Trust.
Riverbrook’s primary residence is a historic mansion that began its life as a Berkshire Cottage. The building features a grand front staircase as well as a narrow spiral staircase at the rear of the house. To increase convenience and comfort and improve safety, the organization will replace the back staircase with a small elevator, making the house more accessible from the basement through the second floor.
The project, which also requires substantial plumbing and electric upgrades as well as a bathroom remodel, has been assessed and designed by architect Pamela Sandler. Carefully planned to avoid disruption to residents, the construction project is set to begin in the spring with an approximate three-month duration.
–E.E.
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H. Raymond Fed Jr. Joins Salisbury Bank
Lakeville, Conn. — Salisbury Bank has announced that H. Raymond Fed Jr. has joined it as senior vice president, senior credit officer.
Fed brings with him over 20 years of diversified commercial credit and lending experience, including the last five years at Liberty Bank as its vice president, credit officer and senior portfolio manager, syndicated lending. Before joining Salisbury Bank, Fed worked as commercial credit officer spanning multiple business types at TD Bank, N.A. and credit manager overseeing the underwriting process at United Bank. He holds a Bachelor of Finance and a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University. He lives in Rocky Hill and is planning to relocate to the Litchfield County area.
–E.E.
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BCC hires new faculty, staff
Pittsfield — Berkshire Community College has hired a number of new faculty and staff.
Nicole Cerda has been hired as an assistant professor of practical nursing. She previously worked as the nurse educator at Canyon Ranch, where she is employed part-time. Cerda earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Connecticut.
Kelley Alibozek has joined the nursing division as an assistant professor. Alibozek is a BCC nursing class of 2011 alum. She graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Elms College and earned her Master of Science in nursing in 2019 from Southern New Hampshire University. Alibozek most recently worked as a clinical educator for Berkshire Medical Center and brings an abundance of nursing knowledge and skills with her.
Christine Kiernan has joined the nursing division as an assistant professor. Kiernan graduated from Maria College with an associate degree in nursing in 2007 and earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing from Elms College in 2016. Kiernan has spent her nursing career in acute care at BMC and has specialized training in neurology, stroke care, arrhythmias and pulmonary care and is an instructor. She was most recently a nurse educator at BMC for acute care nursing staff.
Jennifer Charbonneau has joined the nursing division as an assistant professor. Charbonneau is a BCC alum from the nursing class of 2006 and earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing at UMass Amherst. She has worked in pediatrics, hospice and in acute care. She worked as an adjunct clinical instructor last year and is teaching in both the practical nurse and associate degree nurse programs this year.
James Storey has joined as the faculty and curriculum coordinator, hospitality. Previously he worked for Western Carolina University, University of South Carolina, James Madison University and Kansas State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater State University, a master’s degree from West Virginia University and a doctorate from Iowa State University. Storey lives in Williamstown and spent 25 years in the hospitality industry before starting a career in higher education.
Dhanushka Peru has been hired to as an assistant professor of economics and general business. Previously he worked for five years at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka as an assistant director, taking part in developing national policies on foreign investment and trade. Peru also has teaching experience at the University of Houston. He holds a doctorate in economics from University of Houston, a Master of Financial Economics from the University of Colombo in Sri Lanka and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Moratuwa, also in Sri Lanka.
Ann Stevens was hired as the employee services coordinator in human resources. Previously Stevens worked at Safariland LLC as the category coordinator/SHE administrator. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
–E.E.
