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BUSINESS BRIEFS: The Olana Partnership elects Paula Forman; New staff and board members at 1Berkshire; Berkshire Money Management’s Nate Tomkiewicz receives certification; Saint James Place appoints Seth Keyes; New board members at Flying Cloud; Berkshire Agricultural Ventures announces board president; Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce ‘Women in Leadership Luncheon and Awards’; Berkshire Bank Foundation community investments

“I have been a frequent visitor to Olana over many years, and now I look forward to making a contribution to a place I have enjoyed so often, and to an organization I have long admired, ” said Paula Forman.

The Olana Partnership announces that Paula Forman has been elected to the Board of Trustees

Hudson— The Olana Partnership, the not-for-profit cooperative partner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation at Olana State Historic Site, is pleased to announce that Paula Forman has been elected to the Board of Trustees. 

Paula Forman. Photo by Valerie Shaff.

“We are very grateful to have someone with Paula Forman’s background joining The Olana Partnership’s board,” said Peter Warwick, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

In 2010, Forman established Perfect Ten, an afterschool program for the girls of Hudson, as a platform to inspire, mentor, and guide girls on their journey to success. Paula served as the Board Chair until 2020 and led the growth of that institution from the initial ten girls to a program that currently serves over fifty girls every day. Before Perfect Ten, Paula had a long career in advertising. She was the first Worldwide Account Director for her major client, Procter & Gamble, and in that capacity helped to start advertising agencies for Saatchi & Saatchi throughout Asia. She received the Matrix Award for Outstanding Achievement in Communications in 1993. In 1995, she left Saatchi to become President of Wells Rich Greene BDDP.

Forman said, “I have been a frequent visitor to Olana over many years, and now I look forward to making a contribution to a place I have enjoyed so often, and to an organization I have long admired.”

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1Berkshire announces two new staff members and welcomes four new board members

Berkshire— 1Berkshire is happy to announce the addition of two staff members and four new members to its Board of Directors.

Hannah Pimenta has been hired in the role of Member Engagement Associate. In this position, she will support our Director of Member Services with membership-related initiatives, special events, and the Berkshire Leadership Program. Additionally, Pimenta will work in conjunction with the 1Berkshire business office, President and CEO Jonathan Butler, the 1Berkshire Strategic Alliance Board of Directors and the 1Berkshire Foundation Board. Pimenta is certified in project management and has a bachelor’s degree in English and Communications from MCLA. She had previously worked for Berkshire Family & Individual Resources (BFAIR) before joining the 1Berkshire team.

Hannah Pimenta, 1Berkshire Member Engagement Associate.

Alex LaValley has been hired in the role of Economic Development Associate. In this position, he will work with both the Vice President of Economic Development and the Deputy Director of Economic Development.

Alex LaValley, 1Berkshire Economic Development Associate.

1Berkshire is pleased to announce that Ari Zorn of Devine Retail Cannabis, Christian Hanson of Balderdash Cellars, Scott St. George of Berkshire Health Systems, and Dubois Thomas of Blackshires Community Empowerment Foundation have joined the 1Berkshire Board of Directors for 2024.

“We are looking forward to a great 2024. With the addition of our new team members, along with our new board members we are pleased to continue expanding the ideas and voices that drive our work. We look forward to the fresh perspectives they will bring to the 1Berkshire team,” stated Jonathan Butler, CEO and President of 1Berkshire.

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Berkshire Money Management’s Nate Tomkiewicz Becomes CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional

Dalton— Berkshire Money Management congratulates Nate Tomkiewicz on becoming a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. Nate is also a licensed financial advisor and Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor SM.

Nate Tomkiewicz. Image courtesy of Berkshire Money Management.

Nate specializes in retirement planning and maximizing employee benefits for people who have worked hard for their money and want to pass it on to children or charity. He is skilled at identifying opportunities within 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans. With this knowledge, Nate helps nurses, doctors, and other professionals in the Berkshires find opportunities they didn’t know they had. With his new CFP® certification, Nate is looking forward to tackling a broader set of challenges for his clients, including helping them reduce their tax liabilities, secure their estate for the next generation, and plan a fulfilling retirement.

“Nate understands that retirement readiness goes beyond making the best investments,” shared Berkshire Money Management CEO and Chief Investment Officer Allen Harris. “Clients seek proactive advice, organization, and implementation, and I am proud of Nate for attaining this credential to help him do these things for our clients.”

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Saint James Place appoints Seth Keyes as executive director

Great Barrington— Saint James Place announces the appointment of Seth Keyes to the position of Executive Director.  

Seth Keyes, Saint James Place, Executive Director.

Seth Keyes has been a producer and presenter of world-class performing arts for forty years.  He began his career in 1984 as Manager/Director/Producer of the Francis Wilson Playhouse in Florida, and progressed to pivotal roles in talent booking and senior programming for renowned performance venues in Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Akron. Prior to founding his consultancy, Artist License, LLC, he served as Vice President for Innovation Arts & Entertainment, overseeing touring Broadway seasons in markets throughout North America and collaborating extensively with luminaries such as David Sedaris, Anthony Bourdain, William Shatner, and Neil deGrasse Tyson, among others.

As Executive Director, he will be charged with extending the growth of Saint James Place through management of finances, marketing, and expanded program development.

Sally Harris, President of Saint James Place, and co-founder with her husband Fred Harris, said, “After working with Seth for the past seven years as our General Manager, Fred and I have come to appreciate the talent, experience, and professionalism he has demonstrated. We enthusiastically look forward to the contribution Seth can make to the future of Saint James Place working in this new role.”

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Flying Cloud Institute announces new board members

Great Barrington— Flying Cloud Institute is pleased to announce that Alison Brigham, Leigh Doherty, and América López have joined the organization’s Board of Directors.

Alison Brigham. Image courtesy of Flying Cloud Institute.

Alison Brigham is the AVP of Marketing & Community Engagement at Lee Bank and the Treasurer of the Lee Bank Foundation. She has an extensive background in science with degrees in physiology, psychology, and genetics. Alison is a member of the Lenox Business Partners, Lenox Finance Committee, and EforAll Advisory Board, while also acting as a board member and programming committee member with the New England Financial Marketing Association. She also serves on the board of Link to Libraries.

Leigh Doherty. Image courtesy of Flying Cloud Institute.

Leigh Doherty is an experienced organizational leader with diverse experience working in schools, as well as in the non-profit sector. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Literacy Network and previously worked at Berkshire Country Day School as an Associate Head of School, at the International School of Boston as the Lower School Director, and at Community Day Charter Public School as the Lower School Head. Prior to that, Leigh served as a Curriculum Coordinator at two international schools, one in Belgium and the other in Namibia. She has also been a preschool, elementary and middle school teacher, mainly in multilingual settings.

America Lopez. Image courtesy of Flying Cloud Institute.

América López is a Mexican immigrant who has spent half of her life in the Berkshires. She works full-time as a community health worker at Volunteers In Medicine in Great Barrington and is an active member of Latinas413, a non-profit organization that empowers Latina women. She also leads hikes for the Berkshire Natural Resources Council, focusing on Spanish-speaking Latinx participants. América is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in social work and is excited to combine her professional knowledge with her love for nature to promote mental wellness through outdoor activities.

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Berkshire Agricultural Ventures announces Maryann Tebben as board president 

Great Barrington— Berkshire Agricultural Ventures (BAV) announced today that local food advocate and Bard College at Simon’s Rock Professor Maryann Tebben has stepped into the role of Board President.

Tebben succeeds Tom Gardner, who led the Board since BAV’s founding in 2017. Rebecca Busansky, Executive Director of BAV, said “Tom has guided BAV from our earliest days, helping to significantly expand our services and impact. Under his leadership, BAV has assisted over 165 local farms and food businesses with more than $3.5 million in direct financial support. We are so grateful for his dedication, generosity, and vision—and we are thrilled to welcome his Board colleague Maryann as his able and future-focused successor.”

Maryann Tebben, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures Board President.

Maryann Tebben brings professional expertise and personal enthusiasm at the intersection of food, culture, and community. She directs the Center for Food and Resilience at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, where she has been on faculty as a Professor of French since 2000 and has headed the food studies program since 2013. She organizes the annual ThinkFOOD conference at Simon’s Rock, which connects farmers, activists, and community members on issues of sustainability, the future of farming, and other topics. Her scholarly interests combine food history and literary studies; she is the author, most recently, of “Savoir Faire: A History of Food in France” (2020), the first comprehensive treatment of the subject in English. Tebben has served on the BAV Board for four years, most recently as Vice President. 

Tebben was elected to the position in December at the BAV Board of Directors’ annual meeting. Elected to Vice President was Erik Rasmussen, a former market administrator for the USDA. Dan Schaeffer remains Treasurer, and Don Perdue continues as Secretary for the nine-member Board. 

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Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce to hold 2nd annual ‘Women in Leadership Luncheon and Awards’ on International Women’s Day

Great Barrington— The Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce will hold the 2nd Annual Women in Leadership Luncheon and Awards on International Women’s Day, Friday, March 8th at Crissey Farm in Great Barrington.

Following the success of last year’s debut “Women in Leadership Awards,” the event celebrates women in both official and unofficial leadership roles – from business owners and organization directors to volunteer mentors and experts in their fields – who have contributed to the Berkshire region in ways that might not otherwise receive adequate recognition. The recipients were selected from over 90 nominations.

The 2024 Award Recipients in each leadership category are:

  • Rising Star – Lily Mercogliano Easton, Camp Wa Wa Segowea, Executive Camp Director
  • Equity & Justice Advocate – Mary Feuer, CHP Berkshires, Director of WIC and Family Services
  • Hidden Gem – Susie Brown, Lee Bank, SVP of Administration
  • Change Maker – Bettina Montano, Berkshire Pulse, Founder
  • Mentor Leader (Non-Profit) – Christine Sierau, Blue Rider Stables, co-founder and Mentor to Riding Instructors
  • Mentor Leader (For-Profit) – Robin Helfand, Robin’s Candy, Owner and “Sweet Chief”
Rising Star, Lily Mercogliano; Equity & Justice Advocate, Mary Feuer; Hidden Gem, Susie Brown; Change Maker, Bettina Montano; Mentor Leader (Non-profit,) Christine Sierau; and
Mentor Leader (For-profit,) Robin Helfand.

The event will also feature a “power panel” of speakers on the topic of women in leadership in the Berkshires including Stacey Carver of Berkshire Money Management, Emily Irwin of Home Love/Mooncloud, Christine Hoyt of 1Berkshire, and Julie Steuernagle of Mt. Everett High School.

To attend the event, register online or contact the Southern Berkshire Chamber business office at 413-528-4284.

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Berkshire Bank Foundation announces nearly $2.5 million in philanthropic community investments

Berkshire— Berkshire Bank is pleased to announce that nearly $2.5 million in philanthropic investments were provided from its foundation in 2023 to more than 500 local nonprofits to assist with a range of critical projects in the areas of health and wellness, housing, food insecurity, and economic enrichment. 

“The foundation is inspired by many nonprofits making a daily impact,” stated Lori Gazzillo Kiely, director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation. “We are proud to contribute to those in need and help organizations providing vital services to the communities that Berkshire Bank serves.”

The 2023 grant recipients included Berkshire Innovation Center. The Berkshire Bank Foundation has been a committed supporter of the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) since the idea of bringing an innovation center to the Berkshires was first proposed. “When we eventually opened the doors to our new facility, the foundation immediately stepped forward to support a nascent program aimed at helping high school students pursue careers in technical fields,” stated Ben Sosne, executive director, Berkshire Innovation Center. Sosne explained, “The foundation’s continued support has allowed that program to blossom into a cornerstone of a comprehensive STEM education platform, one that has impacted the lives of young people throughout our region. The power of the BIC is rooted in the commitment of our community, and we thank Berkshire Bank for being such an important partner in this initiative.”

Berkshire Bank CEO Nitin Mhatre meet with Ben Sosne, executive director, Berkshire Innovation Center.

Additional details on the foundation’s grant programs and focus areas can be found online.

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