Wheeler & Taylor acquires GoodWorks Insurance’s GB office
Great Barrington — Wheeler & Taylor Insurance has announced that it has purchased the Great Barrington office of GoodWorks Insurance. Chad Yonker, chairman of GoodWorks Insurance, will become a shareholder and chairman at Wheeler & Taylor. George A. Ryan Jr. will continue in his role as president indefinitely and remains the company’s majority shareholder. Wheeler & Taylor will license the GoodWorks Insurance charitable-giving program to continue to support local organizations and charities in Massachusetts. All of the GoodWorks Great Barrington staff have been offered positions at Wheeler & Taylor.
–E.E.
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Massachusetts Nonprofit Network annual meeting at Saint James Place
Great Barrington — Nonprofit leaders from across the Berkshires met Monday at Saint James Place for the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network’s annual regional meeting in the Berkshires. Throughout the afternoon, nonprofits shared best practices for advocacy, outlined issues important to the sector, and brainstormed about how to respond to state and federal policy issues impacting the sector. The Berkshires’ regional meeting was presented in partnership with the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires.
“It was great to hear firsthand about some of the state and federal issues in play right now, and I think Berkshire nonprofits are particularly grateful for MNN’s advocacy in Boston given our distance from the capital,” said Liana Toscanini, executive director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. “People left this regional meeting feeling updated, informed, and even empowered with regard to advocacy efforts.”
Each year, MNN holds eight regional meetings across the state to bring together leaders from the nonprofit sector. This year’s meetings have already attracted more than 120 nonprofit leaders and are focused on several policy issues that will have direct impact on Massachusetts including the Baker administration’s proposed health care assessment for employers, PILOTs, repeal of the Johnson Amendment, and potential changes to the charitable giving incentive.
–E.E.
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Winstanley Partners earns two ADDY Awards
Lenox — As part of the Albany Ad Club’s regional competition, Winstanley Partners was honored this month with two ADDY Awards from the American Advertising Federation. The agency took home a silver ADDY for its annual holiday mailer, which urged recipients to “Make America Grate Again” and included a tree-shaped cheese grater. A new logo design for the Westfield-based HVAC industry manufacturer Dadanco also earned a silver ADDY. Both projects were completed in 2016.
The awards were presented at the Proctors GE Theatre in Schenectady, New York. All gold- and silver-winning entries are eligible to move on to the AAF-sponsored national level of competition.
–E.E.
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Berkshire Botanical Garden gains new development, marketing directors
Stockbridge — Berkshire Botanical Garden executive director Michael Beck has announced the appointments of Julie Schwartz as director of development and Robin Parow as director of marketing communications.
The 23-year career arc in development of Schwartz, who will join BBG in September, has taken her to New York, Boston, the Galapagos Islands and Nantucket, where she has raised funds for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Carnegie Hall, among others. During her tenure at the Clark Art Institute, she was directly involved in capital projects involving the opening of new museum buildings. She currently works in information services and technology at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Her responsibilities at BBG will focus on overseeing all aspects of member and donor cultivation and outreach.
Parow returns to her post as communications director, bringing more than 30 years of public relations and marketing experience in the nonprofit sector. Her career began at the New York Botanical Garden Cary Arboretum (now the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies) where she launched the syndicated gardening column “Down to Earth,” published in newspapers throughout New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. She was the chief communications and publicity officer for the Marian Fathers in Stockbridge and has worked as a communications consultant for Spencertown Academy, Marian Press and Blue Rider Stables. Her responsibilities at BBG include oversight of all internal and external communications including community outreach, media relations and promotion of education and special events. In addition, she will oversee the production of Cuttings, BBG’s magazine.
–E.E.
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Connecticut Business Systems opens Lenox location
Lenox — Connecticut Business Systems will hold a ribbon-cutting celebration and open house on Tuesday, March 21, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in celebration of the grand opening of its new location at 150 Pittsfield Lenox Rd.
“We are so pleased to have our new office located in the green Allegrone business complex,” said sales manager Cindy Mellen. “Plus, we now have an area that will allow people to be hands-on with the equipment before making a purchase.”
The ribbon cutting will be held at 9 a.m. and On A Roll Cafe will cater breakfast and lunch. Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Cindy Mellen at (413) 219-7726 or cmellen@cbs-gsix.com.
–E.E.
