BUSINESS BRIEFS: MountainOne Bank promotes Kyle Shepard; Dalton Rotary Club supports Soldier On; Ghent Playhouse supports Columbia County EMS; Berkshire Wind Power opens scholarships; Stockbridge Cultural Council announces awards; Berkshire Community College announces winners

MountainOne Bank promotes Kyle Shepard to AVP Loan Operations and Business Analyst Manager  

North Adams— MountainOne Bank is pleased to announce the promotion of Kyle Shepard to Assistant Vice President of Loan Operations and Business Analyst Manager.

In his role as AVP of loan operations, Shepard oversees the daily functions of the loan servicing department, including payment processing, escrow management, and collections. As business analyst manager, he supervises a team responsible for developing and implementing strategies and procedures that strengthen operational efficiency, enhance customer service, and mitigate risk.

Shepard joined MountainOne in March 2014 as a personal banker. Over his nearly 12 years with the organization, he has advanced through a series of roles including electronic banking specialist, customer care liaison, and operations analyst. Most recently, he served as AVP operations manager prior to his promotion. Shepard is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with a degree in business administration and management, as well as an Accredited ACH Professional.

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Dalton Rotary Club supports veterans of Soldier On Super Bowl Sunday

Dalton— Dalton Rotary Club demonstrated its support of veterans on Super Bowl Sunday by providing a feast to the residents of Soldier On in Pittsfield.

Members of Dalton Rotary Club delivered enough pizza, wings, soda, and brownies to feed 35 veterans as part of their commitment to serving the local community.

Founded in 1994, Soldier On is a private non-profit committed to ending veteran homelessness with housing and supportive services. Soldier On serves more than 30,000 low-income veterans in 86 counties across four northeastern states. In Pittsfield, 250 to 300 veterans are helped annually with services ranging from transportation for appointments to permanent housing for male and female veterans.

“Saying thank you to those who have served this country is a proud tradition of Dalton Rotary Club,” said Bernie Klem, co-president. “We’re pleased to support this worthy organization.”

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Ghent Playhouse staged reading benefits the Columbia County EMS education program

 Ghent, N.Y.—  The Ghent Playhouse presented a check for $2700 to the Columbia County EMS Education program representative PJ Keeler on February 11th. Ghent Playhouse Artistic Director Cathy Lee-Visscher, “Roman Fever” Producer Vivian Wachsberger, and Board President Linda Murawski were also on hand for the presentation.

The donation resulted from a benefit reading of Edith Wharton’s “Roman Fever” in January.  “We try each Season to give back to the community that has supported us throughout the years”, said President Linda Murawski. “Community theater only survives with the support of the community.”

If you missed the production and would like to donate, checks may be mailed to Columbia County EMS Education, 85 Industrial Tract, Hudson, NY, 12534.

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Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation opens scholarships to Hancock and Lanesborough Students

Berkshire— For the fifth year, Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation (BWPCC) will open scholarships to students from Lanesborough and Hancock.

Two seniors from Mount Greylock Regional High School and Charles H. McCann Technical School will be selected to receive $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships will be awarded to qualifying seniors who are planning to attend either a two- or four-year college or trade school program. Seniors must be from either Hancock or Lanesborough to be considered for the scholarship. Special consideration will be given to students with financial need, but all students are encouraged to apply.

This year, applications will be available online at www.berkshirewindcoop.org/scholarship. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 3rd. Students can email mmwec@mmwec.org with any questions.

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Stockbridge Cultural Council announces awards to 27 local and regional organizations totaling $15,433

Stockbridge— Stockbridge Cultural Council has announced awards to 27 local and regional organizations totaling $15,433, selected from 42 applications representing projects in all areas of the visual and performing arts, sciences and humanities. 

The Council for this grant cycle was comprised of seven Stockbridge residents, including co-chairs Anne Ferril and Audrey Shachnow, Jennie Bernard, Chris Ferrero, Ingrid Raab, Naomi Spatz, and Wendy Strothman. 

“Arts and culture are central to what makes our community unique,” said Anne Ferril, chair of the Stockbridge Cultural Council. “This is an opportunity to support the work of creative people and organizations who offer innovative programs, and even without a huge budget, we feel we make a difference in projects that benefit our residents.” 

The new grant cycle will begin in September, when the Massachusetts Cultural Council opens applications for 2027 grants. Information and forms are available online at www.massculturalcouncil.org.

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Berkshire Community College announces ‘40 Under Forty’ winners

 Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC), together with partners 1Berkshire and Mill Town Foundation, has announced the winners of its annual 40 Under Forty Awards, to be honored on Wednesday, March 18th at 5 p.m. in the Robert Boland Theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. Tickets for the event may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix. Proceeds benefit support Workforce and Community Education programs at BCC.

40 Under Forty celebrates talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community. Nominees are eligible for the award through their professional work and how it makes a difference, their personal commitment to their community, or other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the Berkshires.

Mill Town Foundation will promote purposeful giving by funding each 40 Under Forty Award winner with $1,000 to re-grant to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization. The winners, along with their non-profit of choice to receive the $1,000 funding, are:

• Lilia Baker, Volunteers in Medicine, donating to ViM Berkshires
• Jillian Bamford, On Pointe Barre & Fitness Studio, donating to No Paws Left Behind
• Haley Barbieri, Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion and Museum / Shakespeare & Company, donating to Lenox Library Association
• Patrick Becker, General Dynamics Mission Systems, donating to Craneville Elementary – PTO
• Deirdre Bird, Dri Umbrellas, donating to The Denise Kaley Fund for Berkshire County Women with Cancer at BTCF
• Miranda Bona, Fuss & O’Neill, Inc., donating to Jacks Galore
• Amanda Carpenter, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, donating to Youth Center Inc.
• Lindsay Cornwell, Second Street Second Chances, Inc. / Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office, donating to Elizabeth Freeman Center
• AJ Cote, Food Pantries of the Capital District, donating to Roots & Dreams and Mustard Seeds Inc.
• Charlotte (Linden) Crane, Berkshire Community College, donating to CBRSD – Wahconah Regional High School CPR program
• Jessie Downer, Lamacchia Realty, donating to Strong Little Souls
• Michael Duffy, Pittsfield Public Schools – Taconic, donating to Temple Anshe Amunim
• Devan Gardner, Greylock Federal Credit Union, donating to Berkshire Lyric
• Christa Gariepy, Berkshire Health Systems, donating Boys & Girls Club of the Berkshires (the Seed Room)
• Alexander Hernandez, Berkshire Medical Center, Somos Berkshires, donating to Katunemo Arts and Healing (Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. as its fiscal sponsor)
• Hilary Houldsworth, Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc., donating to Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc.
• Keytoria Jenkins, United States Postal Service and Keys with Keytoria, donating to Choices Mentoring Initiative
• Tom Jorgenson, Berkshire Athenaeum, donating to Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County
• Amanda Lardizabal, Berkshire Community College, donating to Berkshire Humane Society
• Emma Lenski, Berkshire Pride / Collaborative Endeavors, LLC / Indie Readery & Records, donating to Berkshire Pride
• Molly Lovejoy, Railroad Street Youth Project, donating to Railroad Street Youth Project
• Kaitlyn Maloy, Berkshire Medical Center, donating to Berkshire Health Systems Nursing Residency
• Sheetal Manerkar, Berkshire Medical Center, donating to Elder Services of Berkshire County, Inc.
• Zachary Marcotte, Berkshire Money Management, donating to Berkshire Humane Society (Community Cat Program)
• Stephanie Maselli, Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School, donating to Williamstown Youth Center
• Charell McFarland, Community First Therapy and Consulting, LLC, donating to R.O.P.E (Rites of Passage & Empowerment Inc)
• Molly Merrihew, WAM Theatre, donating to Latinas413
• Travis Mille, ConvenientMD Urgent Care, donating to BFAIR
• Octavio Miranda Nallin, Amici Berkshires, donating to Litnet
• Kaitlyn Moresi, BFAIR, donating to Love of T Foundation
• Kaci Nowicki, Greylock Federal Credit Union, donating to Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention
• Katherine Oberwager, Baystate Medical Center, donating to Pediatric Developmental Center
• Erik Ray, MountainOne Bank, donating to Youth Center Inc.
• Nicholas Russo, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, donating to Zion Lutheran Church
• Brianna Sabato, Pittsfield Public Schools, donating to Berkshire Running Foundation
• Alyssa Sakowski, Berkshire County Head Start, donating to Berkshire County Head Start
• Sierra Shehemi, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, donating to MS Support Foundation
• Brittany Sumner, Berkshire ABA, donating to Families Like Ours (FLO)
• Austin White, County Ambulance, donating to Emergency Medical Service Committee of Berkshire County
• Emily Zelenovic, Law Office of Emily Zelenovic, donating to Construct Inc.