Berkshire Children and Families announces new president and CEO
Pittsfield — The board of directors of Berkshire Children and Families has announced the appointment of Colleen White Holmes as president and CEO, effective Monday, Aug. 7. She assumes the position held by Carolyn Mower Burns, who died in November 2016.
Holmes has been the chief membership and strategy officer for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts, having joined the organization in 2008. A leader of mission-driven work for children for much of her career, she has experience in many areas of nonprofit management including strategic planning and development, human resources, marketing communications, programming and volunteerism. She holds a BA degree from Princeton University and an MBA from American International College in Springfield. Holmes currently serves on the board of trustees of Baystate Health and on the steering committee of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council of Pioneer Valley. A former professional dancer, she established dance companies in New Jersey and Springfield and continues to volunteer in the dance world as a teacher and choreographer.
–E.E.
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Red Lion Inn expands culinary team
Stockbridge — On the heels of a recent $1 million kitchen renovation, the Red Lion Inn has hired director of food & beverage Fabien Riviere and sous chef Jim Corcoran.
With more than 20 years of restaurant management experience, Riviere returns to the inn, where he was sommelier from 2003 to 2005, from Studio at Montage in Laguna Beach, California. Working stateside and abroad, Riviere’s résumé includes Felix at the Peninsula in Hong Kong, and miX Restaurant by Alain Ducasse and Aureole at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. In his new role as director of food & beverage, Riviere’s responsibilities include the management of all food and beverage operation aspects as well as the supervision and direction of all restaurant staff.
New York native and Berkshire-based Corcoran joins the culinary team from Allium Restaurant + Bar in Great Barrington where his seasonal menus reflected his passion for locally grown ingredients and the diversity of his background. Corcoran worked at restaurants throughout New York including Manhattan’s Delmonico’s Restaurant, Brinkley’s Broome Street, Angolo SoHo, and April Bloomfield’s the Breslin before becoming lead chef at Allium.
–E.E.
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Shakespeare & Company receives United Way grant
Lenox — Shakespeare & Company has announced its the receipt of a $15,000 grant from Berkshire United Way to support its Shakespeare in the Courts program in which adjudicated juvenile offenders in Pittsfield work with Shakespeare & Company education artists for six weeks exploring Shakespeare’s text while preparing their own fully produced Shakespeare production.
In conjunction with the Berkshire Juvenile Court system, adolescent offenders in the Shakespeare in the Courts program study, rehearse and perform Shakespeare as an alternative to more punitive consequences. For the past 17 years, Shakespeare & Company education artists have worked closely with Berkshire Juvenile Court judges and probation officers to engage adolescent offenders and at-risk youth.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Money Management CEO earns CEPA designation
Pittsfield — Berkshire Money Management has announced that it CEO and chief investment officer Allen Harris recently earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor certification. Harris participated in the intensive, four-day, MBA-style program offered by the Exit Planning Institute in Chicago. The CEPA program was specifically designed for business advisors who work closely with private companies.
“Not only is new business creation important to the vitality of the community, but so is recognizing and maximizing the value of existing companies,” said Harris. “We can accomplish this by helping businesses with strategic planning–de-risking, taking action on growth initiatives. Ultimately, baby boomer business owners will look to transition ownership as they enter into their hard-earned retirement.”
–E.E.
