Lenox Memorial Middle High School names Marcus Hass Assistant Principal
Lenox— Superintendent William Collins is pleased to announce that Marcus Hass has been named Assistant Principal of Lenox Memorial Middle High School (LMMHS) beginning on August 5th, ahead of the start of the 2024-2025 school year.
Hass comes to Lenox from the Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School (BART.) He began working with the school in 2020 as the Communications and Enrollment Coordinator and was named Assistant Principal in 2022. At BART, Hass assisted in updating and managing several school policies and practices, including lockdown and shelter in place scenarios and student support systems.
Hass also has experience working as an Academic Mentor Coordinator at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vt. While there, he helped grow the number of students served by the Academic Mentoring program by 27 percent. Hass holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Public Relations from Castleton State University in Castleton, Vt.
“We are excited about Mr. Hass bringing his knowledge and experiences to Lenox Public Schools,” said Superintendent Collins. “He has proven to be a great facilitator and leader in his previous roles, and I am confident he will do excellent work to meet the needs of our community.”
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Railroad Street Youth Project hires Lívia Moraes Rodrigues as Immigrant Youth and YOB Outreach Advocate
Great Barrington— Railroad Street Youth Project hires Lívia Moraes Rodrigues as Immigrant Youth and YOB (Youth Outreach Board) Outreach Advocate.
Moraes Rodrigues is proudly from Juiz de Fora, Brazil, where she enjoyed nature and studied accounting and finances.
When asked about working with children, she said, “Working with young people is very fulfilling because of their open-mindedness, energy, and passion. Being around them energizes me and reminds me to be more open and passionate, too. I get so much pride and joy by supporting them and making sure their voices are heard. Besides that, I am surrounded by amazing staff who believe in the same things I do, like communication, empowerment, self-worth, authenticity, and humanity. Personally, it also heals my inner teenager, who was not ever fully heard or valued.”
She continued, “I believe in the potential of young people to create positive change. I love seeing their passion and creativity, and I want to help guide them as they discover their strengths. It’s rewarding to support their growth and be a part of their journey as they navigate challenges and explore their identities.”
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Berkshire Pulse welcomes new board members
Housatonic— As Pulse continues to grow, so does the board of directors, welcoming Kelly Baxter Spitz, Melissa Canavan, and Sylvana Proano to the Pulse family.
Baxter Spitz has over 30 years of experience in development and fundraising. She has held leadership positions at Volunteers in Medicine, Berkshire Country Day School, Indian Mountain School, Kripalu, and Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation since. She currently serves as the Director of Development at Community Health & Wellness Center, a federally qualified health center with sites in North Canaan, Winsted, and Torrington, Conn. She was first introduced to Berkshire Pulse when her daughter, Emma, began dancing at age five. During Emma’s time at Pulse, Baxter Spitz served on the board for several years, taking a 10 year break before returning in 2024.
Canavan pursued dance as an undergraduate at California State University, Long Beach. She first came to the Berkshires in 2015 to intern at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Becket. After her internship, she decided to stay in the region, working first at the Pillow, then at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center. Currently, Melissa serves as the Executive Director of the Berkshire Immigrant Center. She holds a Master of Science in Arts Administration from Boston University. She volunteers with Latinas413, a group dedicated to empowering Latina women in Berkshire County, and continues to nurture her passion for dance by performing in local choreographers works and as the founder and artistic director of her own dance company, the Melissa Martinez Project.
Proano is the founder of Casa Multicultural, a nonprofit organization that supports immigrant families, and communities through art, dance, music, and education, building strong bonds with families and communities throughout Western Massachusetts. With over 10 years of experience in social work, she has a proven track record of working in the community for other nonprofit organizations. She began her career at Berkshire Medical Center, as a certified medical interpreter, and then Berkshire Children and Families, now 18 Degrees, where her passion for helping families and keeping them together grew tremendously. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social studies from The University of Ecuador, her home country.
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MountainOne Bank promotes Matthew P. Lauro to senior vice president
Pittsfield— MountainOne is pleased to announce the promotion of Matthew P. Lauro to Senior Vice President, Western Massachusetts Commercial Team Leader.
In this elevated role, Lauro has assumed responsibility for the oversight, management, and growth of MountainOne’s commercial banking activities in Western Massachusetts. In addition to having the Western Massachusetts commercial lenders reporting to him, Lauro is responsible for working closely with the bank’s credit administration and commercial portfolio management staff to ensure the integrity and quality of the loan portfolio.
Lauro joined MountainOne Bank in May 2022 as Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending. Previously, he served as Vice President of Emerging Markets at State Street Bank and Trust in Boston, bringing a wealth of experience to his current role.
A proud graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Lauro is deeply involved in his community, serving as a Director of the Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust and Berkshire Education and Correction. Additionally, Lauro is a National Council Member of Avon Old Farms School and an active supporter of Grit & Gratitude Wrestling Academy in Longmeadow.
“Over the past two years, Matt has been instrumental in developing new commercial loan and deposit relationships in the Berkshires and Pioneer Valley for MountainOne,” said Robert Fraser, President and CEO. “Furthermore, his impressive skills and ability to build strong partnerships with our credit and loan administration teams, senior management, and key stakeholders have been invaluable.”
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Elder Services of Berkshire County celebrates golden anniversary and relocates administrative offices
Pittsfield— Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc. relocated its administrative offices to a central location in the heart of Pittsfield at 73 South Church Street in Pittsfield. The new space, previously occupied by Wayfair’s open-concept call center, underwent significant renovations on the first and second floors to construct offices and other spaces for Elder Services’ growing workforce. It offers ground level access, an enhancement for clients and visitors with health and mobility issues as the Agency’s former space required a journey to the fourth floor to access services.
The Agency is also celebrating its Golden Anniversary. Elder Services was incorporated in 1974 as a private, non-profit home care corporation with three staff. What was once an agency focused solely on home care support has grown to offer an extensive list of services including home care, information, referral, caregiver support, SHINE counseling, housing options, long-term care ombudsman advocacy, money management, and the senior nutrition program (Meals on Wheels).
“Berkshire County is a much different community in 2024 than it was in 1974. With one of the oldest and poorest populations in Massachusetts, living in Berkshire County poses considerable challenges for seniors, individuals with disabilities and caregivers. Elder Services is proud of our legacy of supporting individuals for more than half a century and look forward to serving even more people in the future,” said Executive Director Christopher McLaughlin.
To help honor the past and look forward to the future, please consider donating to Elder Services’ $50 for 50 Years campaign by visiting www.esbci.org. All donations support our mission and help aging individuals remain independent in the homes of their choice.
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Berkshire Bank Foundation supports Berkshire County nonprofits
Berkshire— The Berkshire Bank Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Berkshire Bank, invested more than $500,000 in communities across its five-state footprint through grants and other giving in the second quarter of 2024.
The Berkshire County nonprofits supported from April to June by the foundation include:
- 18 Degrees Inc.
- Barrington Stage Co Inc.
- Berkshire Agriculture Ventures
- Berkshire Community College Foundation Inc.
- Berkshire County Arc Inc.
- Berkshire Dream Center Inc.
- Berkshire Pride
- Berkshire Theatre Group Inc.
- Brien Center For Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services
- Central Berkshire Habitat For Humanity
- Fairview Hospital
- Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Inc.
- Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art Foundation Inc.
- Multicultural BRIDGE.
“Nonprofit organizations provide our communities with an important safety net for those in need,” said Lori Kiely, managing director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “For more than 175 years, Berkshire Bank has been the partner our communities rely on to help create a better tomorrow.” Learn more at BerkshireBank.com/Foundation.
