Freeman Center announces new executive director
Pittsfield— The Board of Directors of Elizabeth Freeman Center (EFC) announce that effective September 16th, Divya Chaturvedi will assume the role of Executive Director
Chaturvedi follows in the footsteps of the current Executive Director, Janis Broderick, who is retiring after 16 years of outstanding service in this position. During Broderick’s tenure, EFC has more than tripled in size, significantly expanding the options available to survivors of domestic, dating, and sexual assault.
These additional services now include: SAFEPLAN advocacy in Pittsfield District Court; special projects for LGBTQ Access, Disability Justice, and Homelessness Response; two transitional housing grants to help survivor families stay in their homes rather than in shelter; a 10-year grant to develop and deliver sex ed that is more inclusive of queer and BIPOC kids; Money School/Escuela de Finanzas, a trauma-informed program to promote economic security and long-term safety for abuse survivors; triple the violence prevention work with youth; and expanded services for immigrants and their children.
Chaturvedi comes to EFC a seasoned nonprofit professional with diverse, global, and multicultural work experience. In addition to her master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, Ms. Chaturvedi holds a certificate in nonprofit management and leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.
Her extensive work experience includes roles with several United Nations programs, the Ford Foundation, and the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), managing global social impact projects, developing women’s leadership programs, and overseeing gender initiatives across Asia, Africa, and the United States. Most recently she led two Massachusetts nonprofits. She served as Executive Director of Found in Translation, a nonprofit that gives low-income bilingual women an opportunity to achieve economic security through use of their language skills. Previously she was the Co-Executive Director of a community-based nonprofit, Saheli, serving immigrant survivors of domestic violence. She currently serves on the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women as a State Commissioner.
For all persons affected by domestic and sexual violence, EFC is accessible 24/7 via their hotline: 866-401-2425.
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Berkshire Immigrant Center welcomes new directors
Pittsfield— The Berkshire Immigrant Center (BIC) is pleased to welcome two new members to its 15-member Board of Directors, Susan Puddester and Erin Seagrave.
After graduating from the University of Vermont, Susan Puddester worked as a geriatric social worker in nursing homes, adult day care, and home health. She became involved with Higher Ground, an organization helping 325 residents of the Spruces Mobile Home Park to relocate after flooding from Hurricane Irene. She has served on multiple boards including Williamstown Community Chest, Louison House, the Fund for Williamstown, Williamstown Council on Aging, Williamstown Planning Board and on the Williamstown Comprehensive Plan Committee. She currently works with two immigrant families from Afghanistan, and was honored to be present at the birth of their babies. Susan is thrilled to be joining the BIC Board, as the care and treatment of immigrants is a priority for her.
Erin Seagrave attended ASU, earning her B.A. and M.A. in Sociology, an Ed.S. in Community College Administration, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership. More recently, she earned several certifications to teach English as a Foreign Language. Erin has worked for 20 years in higher education institutions with a focus on student success and creating a culture of inclusion and belonging within the academic community. In addition to joining the Berkshire Immigrant Center Board, she has also recently joined the Board of Berkshire HorseWorks. Erin works at Berkshire Community College.
BIC also is pleased to announce a new slate of Board officers for the 2025 fiscal year: Josh Hochberg, President; Auric Enchill, Vice President; Gloria Escobar, Secretary; and Dave Russell, Treasurer. Bios for all board members are on the BIC website: https://www.berkshireic.org/about/bic-board-of-directors.
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Sandra Rodriguez Aponte and Jane Lehman join the Board of Directors at Literacy Network
Lee— Literacy Network (LitNet) welcomes the additions of Sandra Rodriguez Aponte and Jane Lehman to its Board of Directors.
Sandra Rodriguez Aponte, a native Colombian, is a Certified Public Accountant, and Financial Audit Specialist. She holds a master’s degree in risk management and has more than 17 years of professional experience. She volunteers as a member of the English Learners Parent Advisory Council (ELPAC, or CAPEI in Spanish) in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District. She supports the improvement of English Learner programs for the Latino community in the Berkshires and works to get the Latino community more involved in their children’s educations by strengthening their presence in BHRSD school activities. Aponte has worked on her English with LitNet tutors since June 2021 and is an advanced-level speaker. She also serves on LitNet’s First-Generation College Council, co-leading FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and MASFA (Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid) workshops, and otherwise working on behalf of first-generation college hopefuls and their families.
Jane Lehman is a retired attorney with a BA from Mount Holyoke and a JD from Albany Law School. After a stint as a traditional associate, Lehman worked for a firm that provided research services for other attorneys. She then spent nearly 20 years writing legal treatise material for major publications. She has served on several nonprofit boards relating to at-risk and underserved populations and social justice issues and is a certified trainer in Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Resolution. She has sung with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, Berkshire Opera, and opera companies in Connecticut. She currently sings with the Berkshire Hills Chorus, Berkshire Lyric, and the Threshold Choir. She is also a Hospice volunteer.
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Tableaux Wealth welcomes new director of financial planning
Stockbridge— Tableaux Wealth is pleased to announce the addition of Luke Delorme, CFP® & ChFC, to its team of respected financial professionals.
Delorme joins Tableaux Wealth after serving as Director of Financial Planning at a Great Barrington-based registered investment advisor. He has a Bachelor of Science in Economics and an MBA from Boston College, where he received the Wall Street Journal award for the top finance student.
“Luke’s extensive background and his commitment to personalized financial planning make him an excellent fit for our team,” says Tableaux Wealth founder, Matthew Chester.
For more information about Tableaux Wealth or to schedule a consultation with Luke Delorme, please visit Tableaux Wealth’s website, www.tableauxwealth.com, or contact the firm directly at 413-264-2400.
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MountainOne President and CEO Robert J. Fraser elected chair of Mass Bankers Association
Berkshire— MountainOne is pleased to announce that President and CEO Robert J. Fraser was elected as chair of the Mass Bankers Association (MBA), a one-year post which began on July 1st.
In welcoming Fraser as the 2024-2025 chair, Kathleen Murphy, President and CEO of MBA said, “Bob is a demonstrated community partner, and we are thrilled to welcome him to this role.”
“I am honored to have been elected to the position of chair by my peers,” said Fraser, who joined MountainOne in 2007 and has served as its President and CEO since 2014. “I truly enjoy working with our members and with the Mass Bankers professional staff team to achieve the strategic priorities for the association.”
Fraser noted that key focus areas already in full swing for 2024-2025 include creating greater awareness of the role of banks and their positive impact on communities across the Commonwealth and expanding the association’s engagement with the industry’s emerging leaders.
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Berkshire Community College Theatre Program gets at boost
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC), thanks to a federal Carl D. Perkins Grant, will install new theater equipment and hire a full-time faculty member this fall.
The grant covers expenses for a new LED lightboard, which complements a recently upgraded mixing board. In addition, a new full-time Assistant Professor of Theatre, Jack Golden, will join BCC in the fall semester.
“We are so pleased to have been awarded Perkins Grant funding for a new state-of-the-art LED lightboard, which will allow us to train students on the most up-to-date technology used in the field,” said Matthew Muller, Dean of Humanities, Behavioral and Social Sciences. “We are also thrilled to welcome Jack Golden, our new Assistant Professor of Theatre, to campus. Jack will be leading the program and bringing a wealth of technical theatre experience to share with students.”
Technical Director Alzie Mercado said newer technology better prepares BCC students for the work they will do in the local theaters. “The theater companies in our area — such as Berkshire Theatre Group, Barrington Stage, the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center and Berkshire Production Resources, to name a few — all want to hire our students as soon as possible,” Mercado said. “It’s a mutually beneficial partnership. Theaters get a readily available pool of local technicians to hire from, rather than relying on hiring out-of-state personnel. Students have the opportunity to get technical theatre jobs during their college years at BCC, or right after they graduate.”
Applications are now being accepted to BCC for both an associate degree program in Fine Arts (theatre concentration) and a certificate program in Technical Theatre. Both programs prepare BCC students for careers in the rich and varied theatre arts institutions in the Berkshires. A certificate can be earned in as little as one year and an associate degree can take two years, and both can be completely free, thanks to the Commonwealth’s MassEducate and MassReconnect programs. To learn how to apply to BCC, or for more information on MassEducate and MassReconnect, visit www.berkshirecc.edu.
