Crandell Theatre names Brian Edward Leach executive director
Chatham, N.Y.— After an extensive search process, Brian Edward Leach has been named Executive Director of the Crandell Theatre.
Leach has extensive background in arts administration, programming, fundraising, and marketing for arts organizations. He was previously Managing Director of the Colonial Theatre in Westerly, R.I., and Marketing Director of PICT Classic Theatre and Pittsburgh Festival Opera. Earlier, he served as Curator of the art collection housed at Nemacolin Resort in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania.
“My first priority is to guide the completion of the fundraising campaign for the renovation of the Crandell Theatre and to oversee the year-long construction,” says Leach. “Working with tremendous support from the board of directors, I look forward to building on the creative programming already taking place to stimulate and entertain Chatham’s moviegoing public while the theater is closed and after it reopens.”
On Thursday, September 12th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Leach will be welcomed by the community at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Business After Hours reception hosted by the Crandell. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will enjoy light refreshments and learn more about the Crandell’s upcoming renovation. Reservations are recommended and can be made by visiting https://crandelltheatre.org/film/crandell-open-house-reception/.
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Williamstown Theatre Festival leadership announcement
Williamstown— Williamstown Theatre Festival names Kit Ingui as Managing Director,
Operations & Advancement.
Of the appointment, Ingui said, “It is with an abundance of joy that I introduce myself as the new Managing Director, Operations & Advancement of Williamstown Theatre Festival. Joining this vibrant organization is an honor, and I am excited to build the future with you.”
She continued, “Williamstown Theatre Festival will continue to produce the excellent theater it is known for and to push the boundaries of the art form, illustrating how theatrical storytelling crosses genres. With the success of this summer’s WTF IS NEXT weekend, you enjoyed a glimpse of what is possible when we stretch beyond the edges of expectation. I am delighted to partner with Raph Picciarelli to continue creating joyful experiences that inspire new audiences to join us. Our shared vision of a thriving, inclusive, and dynamic theater festival will guide us as we create unforgettable opportunities for human connection.”
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Staffing updates at The Mahaiwe
Great Barrington— The Mahaiwe announces staffing updates, Jenna May Cass as Office Administrator, and Hannah Kogut as Membership and Stewardship Coordinator.
Jenna May Cass is delighted to unite her backgrounds in both the performing and administrative arts in support of the Mahaiwe. Born and raised on the West Coast, she is happy to have settled in the Berkshires, by way of her career in theatre and education. She is a former classical musician and remains an enthusiast for the art form.
Hannah Kogut considers herself an arts management generalist, having worked in a variety of arts and culture spaces. She comes to the Mahaiwe from the Clark Art Institute, and before that The House of the Seven Gables, where she worked in both digital marketing and fundraising.
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Adams Community Bank announces promotion
Adams— Adams Community Bank (ACB) is pleased to announce the promotion of Laila Boucher to Senior Vice President. In this role, Laila will continue to oversee the Government Banking department and further contribute to the Bank’s strategic growth and success.
Bouche has been with Adams Community Bank for over 16 years, during which time she has demonstrated exceptional dedication and expertise. Laila finely tuned her customer service skills throughout many of the Bank’s branches. She began as a teller and worked up to a branch officer before being promoted to VP of Government Banking Development.
“Laila has consistently shown a deep commitment to our Bank’s values and mission,” said Andre Charbonneau, COO/Executive Vice President of the Bank. “Her relationship management skills have been invaluable. I am confident that in her new role as Senior Vice President, Laila will continue to drive our success and deliver exceptional results for the Bank’s customers.”
In addition to her professional achievements, Laila is an active Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) board member and a Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District committee member. She volunteers for various youth activities and was a past recipient of Berkshire Community College’s 40 Under Forty award.
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MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board summer north county Youth Works program
Berkshire— Ten high school students completed grant-funded and local sponsored paid internships this summer through the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board’s summer youth employment programming.
Each student received a signed certificate of completion from North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey and a gift card to recognize their success. The internship sites included Historic Valley Campground at Windsor Lake, Moresi & Associates, Porches Inn, 413 Salon, Williamstown Clip Shop, Mt. Williams Greenhouse, Cheshire Youth Camp, and NAPs Summer Science Camp.
All of the youth participants demonstrated tremendous dedication to their employment experiences this summer and exemplified what it means to have a strong work ethic. For more information about MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board’s Career Development Education Model, please reach out to kat@masshireberkshire.com
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The Olana Partnership welcomes new trustees and staff
Hudson, N.Y. – The Olana Partnership (TOP) is pleased to announce the appointment of three new trustees and two new staff members.
Trustees recently elected are Eric Blair-Joannou, Jennifer Krieger, and Michael Tavano.
“I am thrilled to have Eric, Jennifer, and Michael join our board and bring their enthusiasm and expertise to our work to ensure a dynamic and sustainable future for Olana,” said Peter Warwick, Board of Trustees Chair. “I have always had an interest in the rich history of the Hudson Valley” said Blair-Joannou. “I am looking forward to bringing the importance of Frederic Church and Olana to a national level.” “Olana is a physical testament to an artist who could create and contribute in so many different ways,” said Krieger. “To join the board and be a part of the effort to explore, share, preserve and conserve this very special place is truly exhilarating for me.“ “Church’s unique blending of art, architecture, and landscape design at Olana is a testament to his genius, and I look forward to working with the team to continue preserving and share this legacy to future generations” said Tavano.
Over the summer, two new staff members joined TOP. Maggie Dimock is TOP’s new Associate Curator, taking over from Allegra Davis, who has left to continue her graduate education. At the same time, Clare Fleming joined TOP as Research Archivist, stepping into a role established by Ida Brier, who retired after 26 years at Olana.
“We are so pleased to have Maggie and Clare join the TOP team at Olana. They bring substantial professional experience to their positions and great enthusiasm for advancing our public-facing mission at Olana,’ said Sean Sawyer, TOP’s President.
Maggie Dimock joins TOP from the Greenwich Historical Society, where she was Curator of Exhibitions and Collections, where she oversaw art and history exhibitions and interpretation of the ca. 1730 Bush-Holley House, once the center of the Cos Cob Impressionist Art Colony. She is a curator and art historian, whose primary areas of focus include decorative art, design movements, and social histories of late-19th and early-20th century in the United States. Dimock previously held curatorial positions at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, in Delaware and has contributed consulting research and curatorial services to museums and historical societies across Connecticut.
Clare Flemming joins TOP as Research Archivist from the New York State Archives. She earned her M.S. in Archives Management from Pratt Institute, and an M.A. in Photographic Preservation & Collections Management from the University of Rochester. Flemming has served as archivist in several cultural-heritage organizations, including the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor in the College of Information Science at SUNY Albany.
To learn more about Olana State Historic Site and The Olana Partnership, visit OLANA.org.
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Dare Bottleshop & Provisions closes Great Barrington location
Great Barrington— Mary and Benjamin Daire of Dare Bottleshop & Provisions have decided to close their 28 Railroad Street, Great Barrington location.
In a statement, they said, ”After much consideration and planning, we have decided to consolidate our operations into one location and close our Great Barrington shop at 28 Railroad Street. Although our second location in Great Barrington was both rewarding and successful, the experience of managing the two locations turned out to be too stressful and complicated for our small team. We want to avoid overextending ourselves. This decision comes as part of our strategic efforts to streamline our services and focus on delivering even better wine & food experiences, while balancing time for our young family. We are excited to continue providing the same level of service, dedication and exciting events from our shop in Lenox that you’ve come to expect from Dare since 2021.”
They continued, “We look forward to continuing to serve Berkshire County and beyond from our Lenox location in sourcing the best in wine, beer and beverages, unique foods and specialty items to help you savor every moment! A special thanks to our customers, your support has been instrumental in our journey, and we look forward to continuing to serve you with excellence for many years to come. Find us at 11 Housatonic Street in Lenox.”
Matrushka Toys & Gifts will be moving into the Railroad Street space.
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Berkshire Community College new culinary apprenticeship program
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces a new culinary apprenticeship program that combines instruction in the classroom and in a teaching kitchen with professional work in the field. The certificate program begins this fall, and applications are being accepted now. Student apprentices are paid, and thanks to the Commonwealth’s MassEducate program, students of all ages can qualify for free tuition and fees.
Successful program graduates will be awarded the industry-recognized ServSafe Food Handler Certificate and will be job-ready for a wide range of food service employment opportunities, from school cafeterias and hospital kitchens to restaurants and private households. Upon successful completion of the program, students should be able to demonstrate professional knife skills, correctly choose and use kitchen equipment and hand tools, maintain food safety and kitchen sanitation requirements, understand basic preparation techniques for a variety of foods, manage production of simple baked goods and participate in a fast-paced professional kitchen environment, among other skills.
“The culinary apprenticeship program is a great way to get a certificate quickly and be ready to enter the workforce with real-world, hands-on experience,” said BCC President Ellen Kennedy. “By working with professionals in the field, our students can learn from the best in the business — and they can fill a need in the Berkshires. Even better, apprentices are paid, and the program can be completely free. We encourage everyone to apply.” To apply to BCC, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/apply. To learn more about MassEducate, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/freecollege.
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Berkshire Bank and Greylock Federal Credit Union sponsor Berkshire HorseWorks 10th Anniversary Gala
Richmond— Berkshire HorseWorks, Inc. has secured a $2,500 “Stallion-level” sponsorship from Berkshire Bank and a $500.00 grant from Greylock Federal Credit Union to support the nonprofit’s upcoming 10th Anniversary Gala, “Rescues On The Runway: A Walk Of Resiliency,” happening on Friday, September 20th in Lenox. The evening will fund equine assisted therapy and educational programs for children, families, veterans first responders, and active-duty military.
“Our first grant since becoming a nonprofit 10 years ago, was from the Berkshire Bank Foundation. In meeting with Lori Gazzillo Kiely at the time, we were thrilled to have shared our process, where through metaphorical activities, horses can transform lives. Berkshire Bank has been a champion since the nascent stages of this work,” stated Sumner.
She continued, “This financial support from Greylock opens the door for a larger collaboration to ensure those throughout Berkshire County can access a highly efficacious treatment for their mental health issues. Horses truly can transform lives and we are so grateful that we can provide that conduit to change here at the ranch.”
Tickets to Berkshire HorseWorks’s Gala are available online. Call 413-698-3700 or email info@berkshirehorseworks.com for more information.
