Selina Lamb establishes new real estate firm, BIRCH Properties
Lenox— Local Selina Lamb has announced the launch of BIRCH Properties, a Berkshire-grown firm dedicated to providing the highest level of services for sellers and buyers in the Berkshires and beyond. They specialize in residential, land, and commercial transactions delivered by caring, meticulous, and smart advisers who foster an environment of trust, integrity, and care.
BIRCH features a next-gen, one-of-a-kind brokerage platform that includes proprietary technology, transaction management, marketing services, legal support, and more. BIRCH has partnered with Side, a real estate tech company headquartered in San Francisco. Side is the only real estate technology company that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to support their transformation into market-leading boutique brands and businesses.
To learn more about BIRCH Properties, visit: birchpropertiesne.com
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Greylock Federal Credit Union promotes Chris May
Pittsfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union has named Christopher May as their new vice president, consumer lending.
“Chris brings years of experience in direct and indirect lending in the credit union space,” said Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer Jodi Rathbun-Briggs. “Adding a talented leader like Chris to our lending team will help Greylock continue to offer the best products and services to our communities.”
Chris oversees all consumer lending activities including vehicle, personal and credit card lending in this role and reports to Rathbun-Briggs.
Chris has been involved in the credit union movement for over a decade and is excited to continue his focus on economic wellness and equity at Greylock. He also coaches youth soccer and Little League and serves on the board of his college alumni association. Chris resides in Suffield, Connecticut with his spouse Karri and their daughter Clara.
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Berkshire Fallon Health Collaborative to continue providing MassHealth care
Pittsfield— Berkshire Health Systems, Community Health Programs, and other members of the Health Collaborative of the Berkshires PHO (PHO) have announced a renewed partnership with Fallon Health to provide high-quality, lower-cost health care to members and communities under the state’s Medicaid program, which is called MassHealth. The PHO and Fallon MassHealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO) offering, known as the Berkshire Fallon Health Collaborative (BFHC), will be available to eligible Medicaid members in the Berkshires. The partnership supports the state’s continuation of the successful Medicaid ACO program.
Effective April 1, 2023, MassHealth members identified by the Executive Office of Health & Human Services (EOHHS) as having a Berkshire Health Systems, Community Health Programs, or other PHO Primary Care Provider (PCP) will be enrolled in BFHC. MassHealth is a state-administered Medicaid program—funded by the state and federal governments—that provides health care coverage to eligible individuals.
To enroll in BFHC, individuals must live in the service area, which includes all of Berkshire County. More information about BFHC is available at fallonhealth.org/Berkshires.
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Ashley Falls locals start tax and accounting O’Connor and Agar, LLC
Sheffield— Nancy (Joch) O’Connor and Kristie Agar grew up in the same town, Ashley Falls, where they lived a couple miles apart and attended the same high school. However, because they were a few years apart in age, they never met until just over 15 years ago when Kristie started working at the same accounting firm Nancy had been at for over 10 years. After years of working together, O’Connor and Agar, LLC came to be this year.
Nancy and Kristie have over 50 years of combined experience in tax and accounting. They are both Enrolled Agents, the highest credential that the IRS awards. This means they are unrestricted as to which taxpayers they can represent, what types of tax matters they can handle, and which IRS offices they can represent clients before.
O’Connor and Agar, LLC offers tax and accounting services to individuals, small businesses, trusts and estates. They are located at 73 Main Street, Sheffield, and are available by appointment. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, go to www.oconnorandagar.com.
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Susan Cohen and Jennifer Seelig join Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc board
Richmond— Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. has welcomed Susan Cohen and Jennifer Seelig to its Board of Directors. In addition, BHW has received a first-time grant of $5,000 from the Scott Fujioka Fund for scholarships for the Ranch Life 101 program and other equine-assisted learning initiatives.
Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc., a 501c 3 mission-driven nonprofit, offers Eagala Model and Eagala-based equine-assisted educational, experiential activities, trail ride lessons, and life skills curriculum for children, families and those at risk with mental health and behavioral challenges.
Susan Cohen, a nationally recognized immigration lawyer who founded & chaired Mintz’s Immigration practice, has played an instrumental role is shaping both federal and state regulation for over 30 years. Cohen recently became a best-selling author with the publication of “Journeys from There to Here”. She is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and resides in both Boston and Becket.
Jennifer Seelig was a producer at Fox News Channel for over a decade and served as deputy director of media affairs for Jon Kasich’s Presidential Campaign in 2016. She has an extensive background working with national news organizations. Currently, she is a Podcaster In-Chief of Podcast PR Pro and the CEO of its parent company Orion Public Relations.
Susan and Jennifer join the rest of Berkshire HorseWorks Board including President Don Fulford, Vice President Don Granger, Secretary Barbara Newman, and member Dr. Steve Hoff.
Ranch Life 101 launched as a pilot summer program and quickly grew into a four day/week after-school offering. The grant will allow BHW to continue supporting those with mental health and behavioral challenges, as well as children in the area who were undiagnosed and experiencing heightened anxiety due to social isolation.
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Infectious Disease specialist Yagya Tiwari joins Berkshire Health Systems
Pittsfield— Berkshire Health Systems announces the appointment of Yagya Tiwari, MD, a board certified and fellowship trained Infectious Disease specialist, to the medical staff of Berkshire Medical Center and the provider staff of Berkshire Internists of BMC. Dr. Tiwari is accepting new patients in need of Infectious Disease care and joins Drs. Arun Bansal, Rebecca Caine, Sangeetha Gummalla, Areej Khan, Jason Kittler and Gregory Malanoski in providing care at Berkshire Internists of BMC.
Dr. Tiwari comes to the Berkshires from New Bedford Community Health Center, where he served as an Infectious Disease and Internal Medicine provider since 2018.
His clinical interests include antimicrobial stewardship, complex lung & abdominal infections and viral infections.
He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease and was fellowship trained in Infectious Disease at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine, NY. He received his medical degree from Tribhuvan University, Nepal, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester.
For an appointment with Dr. Tiwari or one of his colleagues at Berkshire Internists of BMC, call 413-499-8510.
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Miss Hall’s School appoints new Director of Finance and Operations
Pittsfield— Miss Hall’s School has named Aaron Gordon, of Lenox, as the School’s new Director of Finance and Operations.
Mr. Gordon, who brings extensive experience in nonprofit finance, higher education administration, strategic planning, student and residential life, and operations, most recently served as Director of Student Administrative Affairs, Strategy and Planning at Williams College, in Williamstown, Massachusetts. In that role, he was the central administrative and budget officer for the college’s Division of the Dean of the College, working closely with the Dean of the College on a variety of matters, including, but not limited to, budget creation, strategic planning, emergency response, and communications, overseeing annual budgets totaling $14 million.
At Miss Hall’s, Mr. Gordon will work with senior administrators and the School’s Board of Trustees to ensure fiscally responsible and mission-aligned decision-making. His role will include overseeing all financial and operating functions, including budgeting, financial reporting, monitoring investment accounts, and campus services. He will also serve on the School’s Leadership Team, the senior administrative team that meets regularly to exchange information, set institutional goals and policy, advise the Head of School, and anticipate future needs and opportunities for the School’s ongoing success.
