BUSINESS BRIEFS: Paula K. Almgren named Super Lawyer; MOLARI welcomes coordinator; Adams Community Bank announces Vice President; NAACP Berkshire County Branch special guest; BCC announces donation; Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County receives grant

Paula K. Almgren, founder of Berkshire Law Group in Lenox, named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list

Lenox— Paula K. Almgren, founder of Berkshire Law Group in Lenox, has been named to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list, an honor given to less than five percent of attorneys in the Commonwealth. This marks the fifth year that Almgren has earned this recognition.

Almgren has been in practice for over 20 years counseling clients in elder law as well as estate, trust and tax planning and administration, and life care. She is an accredited attorney with the Department of Veterans Affairs and a graduate of Williams College and Albany Law School of Union University. Recognized as a state expert on Medicaid as well as leveraging community resources to help older people stay in their homes, Almgren has gained a reputation for her compassion, integrity, and commitment to those she serves.

In 2020, Almgren served as President of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), Massachusetts Chapter, during a pivotal time. She and chapter peers were behind the successful advocacy effort to stop then-Governor Baker from moving COVID patients into nursing homes. As a Board member for two decades, she and her peers have also been instrumental in changing laws to benefit seniors, the disabled, and veterans.

Almgren also serves on the Fairview Hospital Ethics Committee and the Pittsfield Council on Aging. She is a member of the Alzheimer’s Partnership, the Life Care Planning Law Firms Association, the Berkshire County Estate Planning Council, and the Massachusetts and Berkshire Bar Associations.

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MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services welcomes Rory Baker as administrative coordinator

Pittsfield— MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services is excited to welcome Rory Baker as Administrative Coordinator. In this role, Rory serves as the first point of contact for applicants, screening candidates and scheduling interviews for the employment and healthCare divisions.

With a strong background in office administration, Baker ensures that daily operations run smoothly and efficiently behind the scenes. His keen attention to detail and commitment to service help us continue to provide exceptional support to both clients and job seekers.he is dedicated to matching the right candidates with each client’s unique needs and assisting individuals in achieving their career goals.

Guin Griswold, Director of Employment Services, is excited to have Baker join the team. She said, “his friendly attitude and great organizational skills make him a perfect fit.”

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Adams Community Bank announces Mike Barbieri as Senior Vice President Loan Operations

Adams— Adams Community Bank (ACB) is pleased to announce the addition of Mike Barbieri as Senior Vice President Loan Operations. In this role, Barbieri will oversee the Bank’s loan operations, ensuring the efficiency and effectiveness of loan processes, and driving strategic initiatives to enhance customer service and operational excellence. As SVP of Loan Operations, he will work closely with the bank’s leadership team to continue streamlining loan origination and servicing processes, enhancing technology systems, and ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements.

Barbieri brings over 29 years of experience in the financial services industry, including holding leadership roles with Greylock Federal Credit Union and Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. His deep expertise in loan servicing and operational efficiency will be instrumental in advancing the bank’s commitment to providing exceptional financial products and services. Barbieri serves as current chair of the Board for Heartway Inc (fka Berkshire Housing Services/Development), and also serves as a board member of the Berkshire Life Foundation and the MCLA foundation. Mike holds a BA in Business Administration-Finance from MCLA.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mike Barbieri to the ACB team,” said Julie Fallon Hughes President & CEO of the Bank. “With his extensive experience and knowledge, we are confident that he will make an immediate impact on our loan operations and help drive our ongoing efforts to deliver exceptional value to our customers.”

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NAACP Berkshire County Branch welcomes public for monthly meeting with special guest José J. López, M.Ed., J.D., Legal Director of Compliance and Civil Rights at Boston Public Schools’ Office of Civil Rights

Pittsfield— The NAACP, Berkshire County Branch welcomes the public to their virtual April Membership Meeting with special guest José J. López, M.Ed., J.D., Legal Director of Compliance and Civil Rights at the Boston Public Schools’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR), on Wednesday, April 2nd at 6 p.m.

An accomplished attorney and dedicated resident of Boston’s historic Roxbury community, López has an extensive background in both education and law. He has committed his career to advancing justice, equity, and diversity. Before embarking on his legal journey, José worked with young learners as a history teacher in the Boston Public Schools. His transition into the practice of law saw him rise to the position of Deputy Director of the City of Boston’s Office of Labor Relations, where he represented the city in various labor and employment matters, after serving as a labor attorney for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

In his current role, José oversees the implementation of the district’s equity circulars, ensuring that Boston Public Schools is a welcoming and inclusive environment. He will supervise the Office of Equity and lead the design and execution of relevant equity training across the district. His experience co-authoring reports for the Massachusetts Racial Imbalance Advisory Council and presenting on educational diversity will be invaluable as he facilitates the review and revision of BPS policies with an anti-racist lens.

López will talk about his work in the Boston Public Schools and his vision for advancing integration in today’s complex landscape. Learn more and receive the Zoom link by emailing naacpberkshirecounty@gmail.com.

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Berkshire Community College announces generous donation from Stop & Shop

Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces a generous donation from Stop & Shop of $7,500 in gift cards, making BCC the 50th college partner of the grocery’s School Food Pantry Program. The gift cards are used to supply food and toiletry items for BCC’s Campus Cupboard.

In celebration of the partnership and the generous gift, BCC will welcome its Stop & Shop partners to the Connector on Wednesday, April 2nd at 1:30 p.m. The event will include a reading of student testimonials about the impact of the Campus Cupboard, followed by a presentation of a ceremonial oversized gift card to represent the donation.

Next, Emily McGee, a registered dietician with Stop & Shop’s Nutrition Partners team, will lead a cooking demonstration of a budget-friendly family meal. BCC students who are visitors to the Campus Cupboard will participate in the demo and will be joined by BCC culinary students to support as sous chefs. Students will leave with to-go bags with the recipe and ingredients for the meal to recreate the dish at home. The event will close with words of thanks to Stop & Shop for helping to combat food insecurity on the BCC campus.

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Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County receives $3,000 grant from Mill Town Foundation

Pittsfield— Literacy Volunteers of Berkshire County (LVBC), located at the Berkshire Athenaeum for the past 45 years, is pleased to announce that it has received a $3,000 grant from the Mill Town Foundation. This funding will support LVBC’s mission to provide free English literacy instruction to immigrants, equipping them with essential language skills that empower them to contribute more fully to their communities.

Through programs like those offered by LVBC, immigrants can enhance their English proficiency, opening doors to employment opportunities, civic participation, and deeper connections within the Pittsfield community. The funding from the Mill Town Foundation will go towards providing instructional resources tutor support through training.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Mill Town Foundation for their support,” said Denise Roszkowski, Executive Director of LVBC. “This grant will help us continue to offer high-quality, individualized instruction to immigrants in the Berkshire County area, fostering greater opportunities for economic independence and community engagement.”