Kurtis Durocher joins BFAIR as director of learning and employee development
North Adams— BFAIR has announced the appointment of Kurtis Durocher as the new Director of Learning and Employee Development. With a rich background in Operations Management and Training, combined with extensive experience as a military Veteran, Durocher brings over a decade of expertise to drive forward our organization’s commitment to employee growth and organizational excellence.
Durocher’s extensive skill set includes cross-functional leadership, organizational planning, process optimization, team building, and continuous improvement. With a keen eye for high-impact strategies and a dedication to staff development, he embodies the values of innovation, efficiency, and collaboration. Prior to joining BFAIR, Durocher served with distinction in the military, where he honed his leadership skills in demanding and dynamic environments. His commitment to excellence and his unwavering work ethic have earned him recognition as a dedicated and innovative team builder.
Commenting on his appointment, Michelle Baity, SVP of Human Resources, expressed her excitement, saying, “I am excited to have Kurtis joining the Human Resources’ team. I am looking forward to working together to develop a training program to further support our employees through career pathways, leadership initiatives, and aligning with the agency’s strategic plan.”
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Pittsfield Cooperative Bank hires Joshua Burgos as cash management officer
Pittsfield— Pittsfield Cooperative Bank announced the hiring of Joshua Burgos as its new Business Development and Cash Management Officer. In this role, Burgos will oversee the multitude of cash transactions for the institution’s commercial customers as well as manage business deposits, real estate and non-real estate loans.
Burgos worked most recently at Canyon Ranch as a senior accountant. He has ten years of experience working in financial services, having served in positions at MassMutual and Greylock Federal Credit Union.
Burgos has an Associate of Science in Business Administration from Cambridge College, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Capella University, and will be completing his Master in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the fall of 2024.
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Berkshire Health Pediatrics practice opens as former Dempsey Pediatrics joins BHS
Pittsfield— Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has announced that the former Dempsey Pediatrics provider practice has joined BHS, furthering the legacy of care provided by Dr. Brian Dempsey and his team and providing continued access to important pediatric services for thousands of children and families.
Berkshire Health Pediatrics retained the majority of the office staff and clinical care team and welcomed Dr. Adam Gicewicz to the team of caregivers after serving with MACONY Pediatrics in recent months. Dr. Gicewicz received his medical degree from Tulane University, New Orleans, and completed his residency at Albany Medical Center. Dr. Dempsey will remain at the practice during the transition period.
“BHS is very pleased to welcome the Dempsey Pediatrics team to our provider practice organization,” said Darlene Rodowicz, BHS President and CEO. “The service and support that thousands of families have come to expect from Dempsey Pediatrics will continue through the team at Berkshire Health Pediatrics. “
The office remains at 758 East Street in Pittsfield and will have expanded hours. After-hours access will be provided through an on-call provider. Berkshire Health Pediatrics will also use the Berkshire Patient Portal, ensuring secure, accurate and integrated patient information with other BHS services, which helps providers to have a comprehensive view of each patient’s care.
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BFAIR to hold Annual Meeting
North Adams— BFAIR will hold its Annual Meeting of the corporation on Tuesday, May 14th at the Berkshire Hills Country Club from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Rich Weisenflue, CEO, and Peter Mirante, BFAIR Board Chair will lead the meeting. The meeting will include awards for employees with five or more years of service, special awards, and an inaugural presentation of the Hart Family Fund Award for tuition reimbursement, educational assistance, and appreciation for BFAIR employees.
The 2024 BFAIR Annual Meeting Sponsors are:
- Gold Sponsor – Greylock Federal Credit Union
- Silver Sponsor – Laureyns United
- Bronze Sponsors – KB Accounting and Shire Wealth Management
Register online: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/202annumeet/event/bfair2024annualmeeting/ or visit bfair.org.
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Bard Prison Initiative receives $4.5 million in congressionally directed funding
Annandale-On-Hudson— Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) announced that the organization is receiving $4.5 million in congressionally direct funding to deepen Bard’s college-in-prison work. The funding was secured by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and was supported by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Representative Ritchie Torres (NY-15).
“On behalf of the College, I’d like to express my gratitude to Senators Schumer and Gillibrand and Representative Torres for securing this important funding,” said Bard College President Leon Botstein. “The Bard Prison Initiative has led the nation in shaping the way we think about higher education for incarcerated people and its role in changing the impact of imprisonment for the better, inside the prison system and beyond.”
BPI enrolls more than 400 incarcerated students in degree granting programs. Students earn Bard college AA and BA degrees through the program. BPI begins working with students to plan their reentry at least a year ahead of release and then works with students and alumni as they transition back into the community and throughout their careers. Reentry services at BPI include continuing education, career development, housing services, and mental wellness.
In the “Effects of College in Prison and Policy Implications,” authors Matthew Denney and Robert Tynes find that participation in a college-in-prison program leads to a “large and significant reduction in recidivism rates” and that people with “higher levels of participation” in a college in prison program recidivate at lower levels. The recidivism rate for BPI students who earn an AA degree is 8.7% but that of students who go on to earn a BA degree falls to 3.1%. These rates stand in stark contrast to the national recidivism rate which is above 60%.
In addition to lowering recidivism, providing college opportunities in prison has been found to deliver strong employment outcomes, develop employer-demanded skills, make prisons safer, and strengthen pathways to successful reentry. These programs also hold the unique potential to improve students’ lives, help narrow racial and economic equity gaps in postsecondary attainment and workforce participation, strengthen local economies and communities, and disrupt cycles of incarceration that continue to target, harm, and limit opportunity for Black and Brown people and people from low-income backgrounds. Further, A 2016 RAND study found that for every $1 a state invests in college in prison, it saves $4-5 in terms of incarceration costs.
