A new funder has made a major gift to the Local Farmer Awards
Pittsfield— The Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture (MSPA) has become the newest lead funding partner with a contribution to the Local Farmer Awards. The Local Farmer Awards is a 9-year program providing annual grants of up to $2,500 for infrastructure improvements to farms in the four-county region of Western Massachusetts. Harold Grinspoon, whose foundation in partnership with Big Y and in collaboration with twelve other community funders makes these awards possible, calls the MSPA gift “transformational.”
Founded in 1792, the MSPA has long provided grants towards the study and improvement of agriculture. In his letter awarding the gift, Society president John Lee said, “We are thrilled to join a group of funders whose total devotion to the well-being of our region’s farms aligns perfectly with our own 230 years of commitment.”
January 2023 saw a record 182 grant applications from local farmers, a 20% increase over 2022. This support from the MSPA will allow the program to expand the number of grants it awards by more than twenty. To qualify to receive an award, project applications must be related growing, harvesting, or processing of farm products. Past award winners have used the grants to expand planting areas, improve fencing to keep their animals healthy and safe, acquire machinery to produce items for market, and put in place a host of other efficiencies.
This year’s Local Farmer Award winners will be announced in April.
* * *
Berkshire Community College welcomes a new Vice President of Institutional Advancement
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC) has named Louise Lydon, an accomplished leader in higher education and nonprofit development, as Vice President for Institutional Advancement (VPIA).
Lydon has spent more than 20 years in higher education advancement roles, working at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, Pennsylvania; George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; and, most recently, as the Assistant Dean for Law Advancement at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. There, she partnered with university leadership in engaging donors to solicit multimillion-dollar gifts and spearheaded a $36 million comprehensive campaign for the law school.
In her role as VPIA, she is the chief advancement officer for the College. As such, she advises President Ellen Kennedy on the management and operation of alumni relations and donor relations. The VPIA also serves on the President’s Executive Council and Cabinet, providing guidance to maximize philanthropic impact. Other responsibilities include developing, executing and evaluating donor engagement. This includes annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, legacy giving, donor and alumni relations, research and prospect management, advancement services, donor cultivation, stewardship and communications/marketing.
In collaboration with BCC leadership, Lydon will drive campaign planning to ensure the school’s ability to raise capital matches its ambitions to broaden its positive impact on Berkshire County. “A key focus in my first year is making sure BCC is campaign-ready,” she said.
A first-generation college graduate, Lydon earned a bachelor’s degree from Seton Hill University. She is passionate about providing educational opportunities to students of all backgrounds and experiences. She lives with her husband in Cheshire, Massachusetts.
* * *
Greylock Federal Credit Union promotes Mindy Brown to Branch Manager
Lee— Greylock Federal Credit Union promoted Mindy Brown to the role of branch manager in its Lee, Massachusetts location. The position became available through the prior manager’s promotion, Jennifer O’Neil, to Vice President, Market Manager.
“I am looking forward to Mindy’s tenure as manager of the Lee branch,” said Senior Vice President, Retail Services Robert Sims. “There are many exciting things happening for that team and I couldn’t think of a better person to lead the way.”
Mindy oversees all activities for the Lee Branch and will play a pivotal role in the renovations of Lee’s future site on Park Street. She has been with Greylock for 22 years, last serving as Lee’s assistant branch manager. Mindy and her husband Ken reside in Stephentown, New York.
* * *
BFAIR Director Christine Meiklejohn takes home Provider’s Council Prestigious Award
North Adams— Christine Meiklejohn, Director of ABI/MFP Residential Services at BFAIR, has been awarded the February 2023 Workforce Hero Award by the Provider’s Council. The Providers’ Council is a statewide association of primarily nonprofit, community-based organizations that provide human services, health, education, and vocational support to one-in-ten residents of the Commonwealth.
Christine is honored to receive this award and her heart has always been in human services, stating, “My desire to work with people goes back as far as I can remember. When I was in school, I volunteered in programs for at-risk youth – this is where I got my first taste of what helping people could do. It did not take long to realize that even a few minutes of attention to someone could change the entire trajectory of their future. I knew back then human services would be for me.”
* * *
Berkshire Money Management Vice President Scott Little has obtained “Behavior Financial Advisor” designation
Dalton— Berkshire Money Management (BMM) is proud to announce that Scott C. Little, financial advisor and Vice President at the firm, has earned the Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA™) designation. Behavioral financial advisors combine financial knowledge with psychology and neuroscience to increase their ability to coach clients in making rational, values-based decisions.
Behavioral finance acknowledges that while numbers are rational, people are not, which can make carrying out financial plans challenging for client and advisor alike. The BFA™ program was developed by Think 2 Perform to teach advisors to recognize their clients’ emotions and help them stick with their plans, even when those emotions run high. To earn the certification, advisors must complete two multi-part courses on behavioral finance, pass an online proctored exam, and complete twenty hours of continuing education to renew their status every two years.
Scott C. Little, CEPS®, BFA™ is committed to building lasting relationships and delivering personal, professional service that his clients can rely on. He has been helping BMM clients build secure retirements for more than twenty years. Scott is a licensed financial advisor, a Certified Elder Planning Specialist (CEPS®), and now Behavioral Financial Advisor. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Economics from MCLA.
