Main Street Hospitality, Holiday Inn Berkshires partner on Richmond Grille
North Adams — Main Street Hospitality Group has partnered with the Richmond Grille to develop a new attitude for the restaurant. Located in the Holiday Inn Berkshires and owned by Larkin Hospitality of Burlington, Vermont, the restaurant now features a new look and dining experience thanks to a facelift to its surroundings as well as new breakfast and dinner menus. Main Street’s vice president of culinary development Brian Alberg and executive chef Joe Segala have collaborated on a new menu that celebrates classic favorites as well as fresh new selections.
Main Street CEO Sarah Eustis explained the philosophy behind the partnership: “Our goal is to update and refresh the dining experience at The Grille while making sure our local audiences really feel welcome and comfortable. The restaurant’s central location also offers us an opportunity to complement the growing food scene and appeal to new customers who are checking out the fresh energy in North County.”
Mel Karakaya, general manager of the Porches Inn at MASS MoCA, is supporting the Richmond Grille’s operations in close conjunction with the Holiday Inn team. In addition to her role at Porches, Karakaya and her husband own Pera Mediterranean Bistro and CasaLina in Williamstown.
–E.E.
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VIM Berkshires receives Massachusetts Dental Society Foundation grant
Southborough — The Massachusetts Dental Society Foundation has awarded a total of nearly $100,000 in Expanding Access to Dental Care grants to six organizations in Massachusetts. Volunteers in Medicine Berkshires in Great Barrington has been awarded $26,500 to help continue providing dental services to uninsured or underinsured income-qualified residents in the Berkshires. It will also allow VIM to make a concerted effort to attract new dentists and dental hygienists to the Berkshires to help address capacity building in the area.
In the fiscal year ending June 2019, VIM Berkshires provided more than $500,000 in free dental services to nearly 600 members of the community, a demand that continues to increase. With an increasing number of veterans without dental insurance who are coming to VIM, an increasing number of patients over the age of 65 who have no dental insurance, and the general aging of the area’s population, VIM expects this trend will continue.
–E.E.
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CHP names Karen Johnson as human resources director
Great Barrington — Community Health Programs has named Karen Johnson as director of human resources.
Johnson has more than 20 years of leadership experience in human resources, primarily in the health care sector and most recently at First Choice Health Centers in East Hartford, Connecticut. She previously held human resources positions at JGS Lifecare and with CIGNA insurance company’s health care division. Johnson has expertise in employee development, engagement and retention, workplace inclusivity and employee coaching. She is certified as a senior professional in human resources, and also holds certification in culture of safety from ECRI Institute. She earned her Master of Business Administration at Franklin University in Columbus, Ohio, and resides in North Granby, Connecticut.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Museum announces Hilary Dunne Ferrone as chief engagement officer
Pittsfield — Berkshire Museum welcomes Hilary Dunne Ferrone as chief engagement officer. Ferrone has 25 years of experience in nonprofit strategic planning, philanthropy, program development and management for arts, higher education and government organizations, most recently as the interim director of institutional advancement for Bard College at Simon’s Rock.
As chief engagement officer, Ferrone will be a key member of the museum’s leadership team, responsible for all aspects of community engagement including fundraising, membership, foundation grants, corporate and community partnerships, special events, new program development, and communications.
Prior to Simon’s Rock, Ferrone provided strategic guidance for the Spencertown Academy Arts Center, developed and led Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence, and served as a senior implementation coordinator for the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery under New York Gov. Cuomo. Ferrone’s community involvement and volunteerism includes philanthropic advising for the Fund for Columbia County, Berkshire Country Day School and the Columbia Land Conservancy. She has been an on-air contributor for WAMC on issues related to nonprofits and philanthropy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Hamilton College and a master’s degree in preservation from Columbia University’s School of Architecture.
–E.E.