Levy Economics Institute of Bard College welcomes Pavlina R. Tcherneva as President
Annandale-On-Hudson— The Levy Economics Institute of Bard College has appointed Pavlina R. Tcherneva as its next president, succeeding Dimitri B. Papadimitriou, who has held the role since its founding in 1986.
“After 38 years as president of the Levy Institute, the time has come to pass the baton to the new generation,” Papadimitriou announced. “I can think of no one better than Pavlina to lead the Levy Institute into its next phase of development in exploring solutions to the economic challenges that lie ahead.” Papadimitriou will remain at the Institute as president emeritus and senior scholar.
Tcherneva, who first joined the Levy Institute in 1997 as a forecasting fellow, has been a scholar at the Institute since 2007, specializing in modern money and public policy. She is a professor of economics at Bard College and founding director of the Bard-OSUN Economic Democracy Initiative. Her book “The Case for a Job Guarantee” (Polity 2020), one of the Financial Times economics books of 2020 and published in nine languages, is a timely guide to the benefits of one of the most transformative public policies being discussed today.
Her early work assessed Argentina’s adoption of a similar large-scale job creation proposal she had developed with colleagues in the United States. Tcherneva has collaborated with experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council, the International Labor Organization, members of the European Parliament, as well as policy makers from the United States and abroad on designing and evaluating employment programs. She also worked with the Sanders 2016 Presidential campaign after her research on inequality had garnered national attention. In 2020, she was invited to serve on the Biden-Harris economic policy volunteer committee, during their Presidential run.
Tcherneva stated “My mission is clear: to continue to curate cutting-edge research, grow our graduate programs, and amplify the Institute’s impact on policy. We have produced some of the most influential work on financial instability, money, inequality, gender, and employment policy and we will continue to make these impacts and expand the Institute’s reach.” She added, “Our work matters. Financial markets crash. Mainstream theories fail. At the Levy Economics Institute, we will continue to do what we do best: make sense of the senseless, find patterns in the chaos of global economics, and produce actionable policies for a safe, sustainable, and stable economy.”
***
Berkshire Bank welcomes Tracy Sicbaldi as SVP, Government and Municipal Sales Officer
Berkshire— Berkshire Bank is pleased to announce Tracy Sicbaldi has joined the bank as senior vice president, government and municipal sales officer. In this role, Sicbaldi will be responsible for managing and expanding Berkshire’s government banking relationships in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont.
Sicbaldi has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry with special expertise in cash management and government banking. Before joining Berkshire, Sicbaldi was vice president, commercial and institutional banking at PeoplesBank in Holyoke. Prior to that, she served in town treasurer roles in Monson and Hampden, and held other positions in the financial services industry.
“With Tracy’s role, Berkshire is establishing a dedicated municipal banking team as part of our continued efforts to enhance our service to meet the specialized needs of government banking clients,” said Keara Piscitelli, managing director, Cash Management and Treasury Services.
***
CHP Berkshires Names Eva Sheridan as Senior VP for Human Resources
Great Barrington— Community Health Programs (CHP) has named Eva Sheridan to the role of senior vice president for human resources.
Sheridan will lead a staff of 280 across the CHP healthcare network, which has practice locations in Great Barrington, Lee, Pittsfield, Adams, and North Adams, as well as Mobile Health.
Most recently, the vice president of human resources for Iredale Cosmetics, Sheridan, has previously led human resources operations at Boyd Biomedical in Lee, Main Street Hospitality Group, and Mountain One Financial Partners. A graduate of American International College, Sheridan holds a master’s degree in human resource development. She earned her B.S. in biological sciences from Mount Holyoke College, and she is a national graduate of Stonier School of Banking (American Banking Association) where she earned a finance certificate. She is also a graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program.
A resident of Stockbridge, Sheridan is president of the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board and she is a volunteer for the Massachusetts Medical Response Core. She is vice president of the board of Community Access to the Arts and she has held prior board leadership roles with Berkshire Hills Youth Soccer, Stockbridge Golf Club, Berkshire Strategic Alliance, and the Berkshire Visitors Bureau.
***
Stone House Properties names Timothy Gallagher Director of Commercial-Industrial Sales
Berkshire— Stone House Properties, LLC proudly announces the appointment of Timothy Gallagher as the Director of Commercial-Industrial Sales, bringing extensive expertise and a deep understanding of the local commercial real estate market to their esteemed team.
Born and raised in the Berkshires, Gallagher has spent the last 35 years cultivating the skills, resources and relationships that provide clients with more than just real estate services, but a source of expertise deeply rooted in the business culture of the Berkshires. He considers his professional experience of founding several small local companies, in addition to holding executive positions at larger corporations such as Hillcrest Educational Centers, Inc., Ramblewild, and Canyon Ranch of the Berkshires, as providing him with a skill set that is unique and provides a resource not often found in a field such as Commercial Real Estate.
“Understanding the nuances of brokering Commercial Real Estate, as well as understanding Berkshire County culture, allows me to meaningfully engage clients and help mesh their business needs with our local real estate market”, said Gallagher.
More about the Commercial-Industrial Team can be found online.
***
Berkshire Regional Office of the Massachusetts SBDC announces the retirement of Keith Girouard
Pittsfield— The Berkshire Regional Office of the Massachusetts SBDC announces the retirement of long-time Berkshire Regional Director, Keith Girouard on July 30th. Keith joined the organization in December 2007, first as a Senior Business Advisor and then as Regional Director in 2009.
Over the years, Keith worked with over 1,765 businesses and entrepreneurs, held 8,780 business advising sessions and offered 12,660 business advising hours. He taught many workshops and business development classes, led business events with the U.S. Small Business Administration and with numerous state and local organizations, and published articles on Creative Venturing.
He was designated as a Massachusetts star performer at a national convention of America’s Small Business Development Centers, and helped the Berkshire Center achieve the U.S. Small Business Administration’s designation as a Center for Excellence and Innovation.
According to Girouard, he is pleased to have had the honor to work with so many small business owners and emerging entrepreneurs during the last 16 years. “It has truly been a great privilege to assist and to witness the many successes.” On his future he comments, “Although I will miss so much, I am looking to embrace other adventures and interests.” He asks, “to please stay tuned.”
***
Construct awarded $3.1 million grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration
New Marlborough— Construct was awarded a $3.1 million grant from the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s 2024 Affordable Housing Development Program.
The state funds will help construct and subsidize 11 units at Cassilis Farm, a Gilded Age estate in New Marlborough, making them affordable to families and workers at or below 60 percent of the area median income (AMI).
Governor Maura Healey and Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Construct Executive Director Jane Ralph, local officials, and other housing developers from across the state to announce the grant awards, totaling $227 million in state and federal tax credits and subsidies. The grants will support the creation or preservation of 1,874 rental units across Massachusetts.
“This award demonstrates that affordable housing can be created in rural communities while preserving the character of existing neighborhoods and supporting local businesses,” says Jane Ralph, Construct’s Executive Director. “Receiving this funding is a tremendous step toward our $7.4 million goal, bringing us to 80% of our target. It is gratifying to see our shared vision for affordable housing in New Marlborough gain such momentum.”
“These awards are one of the most effective tools our administration has to increase the development of housing that is affordable for people across the state,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Along with our Affordable Homes Act, we’re working to lower the cost of housing across Massachusetts to benefit our families, businesses, and economy.”
***
TIME names Berkshire Bank one of America’s best mid-size companies of 2024
Berkshire— Berkshire Bank announces it has been named one of the 500 top-performing U.S. companies of its size as determined by TIME’s America’s Best Mid-Size Companies 2024, the latest in a series of honors that also include Newsweek naming the bank one of the Most Trustworthy Companies in America and one of America’s Best Regional Banks.
All companies that operate in the United States and recorded between $100 million and $10 billion in revenue in 2022 or 2023 were considered for the America’s Best Mid-Size Companies 2024 list, but only the top performers were selected based on an evaluation of more than 15 specific criteria along three dimensions:
- Employee satisfaction
- Financial performance
- Transparent reporting on the company’s commitment to a more sustainable, just, and equitable future.
“This award reflects the deep commitment of all Berkshire bankers to provide industry-leading expertise and deliver personalized service and tailored solutions to help our clients achieve their financial goals, a pledge we’ve been delivering on for more than 175 years,” said Berkshire CEO Nitin Mhatre.
***
2024 Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists winners announced
Sandisfield— The Sandisfield Arts Center announces the winners of the 3rd Annual Daniel Manacher Prize for Young Artists. Aidan White, Mico Aldmar Mendoza, and Warwick Willow were selected by Juror Josephine Halvorson, an accomplished artist and the Chair of the MFA Program in Painting at Boston University’s College of Fine Art. Each winner receives $400 in support of their art practice, as well as a group show of their work at the Sandisfield Arts Center. The artists and their work will be featured in an Opening Reception on September 15th from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The gallery show will run through October 6th.
The prize was created by Adam Manacher and Carol Birnbaum in memory of their son, Daniel Manacher, who had a great passion and talent for art. Eligible artists are those 17-26 years of age living or attending school in Berkshire County. “With this prize, we hope to carry forward values that were important to Daniel. We are happy that the judges have found young artists who tenaciously pursue their vision, seek to make ordinary objects extraordinary, and bring community into conversation.”
Warwick Willow grew up surrounded by art. Their early creative experiences involved painting with homemade watercolors, sculpting with salt dough, and exploring their mother’s vast art collection in their family home in New Mexico. They began their formal study of the arts at the age of 15, going on to graduate from Bard College at Simon’s Rock with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts. Having discovered their love of clay, they transferred to the Kansas City Art Institute where they studied ceramics and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. They currently work at Bard College at Simon’s Rock as a Community Director.
Mico Aldmar Mendoza grew up in a small rural town in Central Luzon, Philippines. He is a computer science major with a background in environmental sustainability and studio art. He plans to pursue an MFA after graduation and wants to explore the possibilities when it comes to upcycling waste, minimizing material dependence, and exploring sustainable practices and techniques in art.
Aidan White has lived in the Berkshires since he was eight. He is a painting major at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and expects to finish his BFA in August.
More information can be found at online.
***
After 20 years of service, WBCR-lp must replace its ‘heart’
Great Barrington— WBCR-lp, Great Barrington’s community radio station, celebrates its 20th anniversary this October.
The lower-power FM station, broadcasting at 97.7, was launched in 2004 by a group of volunteers dedicated to community radio. Broadcasting began at 195 Main Street in Great Barrington (what was then known as the “Pink Cloud” building), then moved to the top of Rosseter Street, and now resides on Main Street in the Mahaiwe building. Although the address and volunteer staff have changed over the years, WBCR-lp remains a non-profit 501(c)3, non-commercial, all-volunteer organization.
At present, the FCC-licensed station is facing what one volunteer team member calls “an existential crisis,” because the piece of equipment at the heart of the station, a 20 year-old Wheatstone Professional Audio Radio Mixing Console Board, has hit the end of its lifespan.
“This is the component at the control center of every live show. It has been in constant use since the launch of the station,” said John Prusinski, a programmer and member of the tech team. “Every day, programmers use it to engineer their shows, and it has started to become nearly impossible to keep in working order…The need is real, and the need is immediate.”
After consulting with WBCR-lp’s engineer, John Ramsey, acting station manager Asa Steady Hardcastle has determined that the roughly $10,000 Audioarts Lightning 16 mixing board is the best investment in the station’s future.
So far, WBCR-lp has received pledges totaling more than $3,000 toward the board’s cost. Programmers are hopeful that their goal will be met in time for the station’s milestone anniversary this October. Tax-deductible contributions can be made online or by check made out to “WBCR-lp” and mailed to P.O. Box 152, Great Barrington (write “mixing board” in the memo).
***
District Attorney’s Office teen program to screen podcast film
Pittsfield— A group of local high school students will premiere their podcast-style film on Tuesday, July 16th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum. This project was created by the students following weekly meetings during the spring semester. The group was led by licensed clinical social workers Ariel Ramirez and Kelly Heck, and Jamaal Degraffenried from 18 Degrees.
The sessions provided a space for the students to discuss issues affecting their lives and those around them. At the end of the semester, the students were challenged to create a project expressing their feelings and perspectives. The students chose to write personal narratives and produce a podcast based on their stories. The resulting video podcast, named VP/VP (Violence Prevention/Voice Projection) features both personal narratives and roundtable discussions.
The event is on Tuesday, July 16th from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Berkshire Athenaeum. There will be a community discussion following the screening. Attendees will include the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, the Pittsfield Mayoral Office, members of school communities, and local leaders. All community members are encouraged to attend and participate in the conversation.
