Document 6593733

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APPOINTMENTS, EXPANSIONS,
PROMOTIONS, & RECOGNITIONS
Lisa Cunningham has joined True North as a
Financial Advisor at the Williamstown office.
Cunningham started her career in Boston and has chosen
to return to the Berkshires to continue her career growth.
She is a CFP® practitioner and has experience in all areas
of financial planning, including tax, estate, life insurance,
and cash flow planning. She holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree from Assumption College and a Master of Science
in Financial Planning degree from Bentley University.
Berkshire Community College (BCC) named
Richard Felver director of the Jonathan Edwards
Library. In this role, Felver will provide leadership and
direction in the operation of the library. He will direct,
organize, and oversee all areas of operation as he seeks
to apply his artistic and creative background to the
ever-changing world of the academic library.
Paula M. Walczyk joined the Pittsfield office of
Raymond James located at 7 North Street in downtown Pittsfield as Vice President, Investments. Paula
has been in the financial services industry for over 15
years, most recently with Wells Fargo Advisors in
Northampton. She is a Berkshire County native and
an active member of the local community, serving on
numerous non-profit boards.
The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has hired Karen
Sinopoli as AVP, Assistant Controller. Sinopoli ¬– a
graduate of St. Joseph’s Central High School – reports
directly to Chip Moore, The Co-op’s Chief Financial
Officer (CFO). Prior to signing on with The Co-op, she
served as AVP, Assistant Controller at Berkshire Bank.
Long-time local banker Richard E. Whalen has
joined The Pittsfield Cooperative Bank’s Mortgage
department and will serve as their Secondary Market
Manager. Whalen ¬– a Lenox native now living in
Pittsfield who has completed the Berkshire Leadership
Program ¬– began his career with City Savings Bank
1984 and most recently served as Senior Loan
Underwriter at Berkshire Bank.
United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of Berkshire
County hired Kristen Baker as its new director of
marketing and development. In this role, Baker will
foster brand and program awareness across the
Berkshires and beyond as well as spearhead fundraising
campaigns and special events. Baker is a native of the
Berkshires and before coming to UCP, worked for organizations including Citi Performing Arts Center,
Worcester Art Museum, and the Berkshire Museum.
Lee Toole Insurance has appointed Anne Stout as
Director of Business Development & Marketing and
Chrystal Beaumont as a Personal Division licensed
P&C Client Representative. Stout will be building
market position by locating, developing, defining, and
closing business. She has 20+ years of success in marketing and consistently strives to maximize the reach,
efficiency, and business impact of communications.
Beaumont has been in the insurance industry since
2006 and aspires to be your agent for life and has built
long lasting relationships with her customers – by acting with honesty and integrity.
Berkshire County Arc opened its 35th residence on
Dug Road in Westfield, MA. The house is the third
Berkshire County Arc residence that is funded through
an Acquired Brain Injury Waiver through the
Department of Developmental Services. The residence
provides four individuals who have had brain injuries
with a supportive alternative to nursing home placement, which is often common for brain injury survivors.
Berkshire County Arc is also celebrating its 60th anni-
versary this year – with 35 residences that serve 123
individuals with developmental disabilities and brain
injuries throughout Berkshire and Hampden Counties.
Eleanore Velez, an admissions counselor and coordinator of the Multicultural Center at Berkshire
Community College (BCC), was honored at the
Literacy Network of South Berkshire (LitNet) annual gala with the sixth annual Founders of America
Award, which pays tribute to immigrants who have
made important contributions to American society in
general, and to life in the Berkshires in particular.
Velez was honored alongside Massachusetts Governor
Deval Patrick and First Lady Diane Patrick.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA)
announced that Charlotte Degen ’73, vice president of
student affairs, is retiring from the College after 40 years
of service. Throughout her career, Degen authored
numerous federal, state, and foundation grant proposals,
and participated in many initiatives – such as MCLA’s
educational enrichment program, which evolved into the
Center for Student Success and Engagement (CSSE).
Ron Mason, President and CEO of Alarms of
Berkshire County announced the recognition of
Thomas R. Kelley, General Manager for his 30 years
of service. Tom joined the company on November 5,
1984 as a service technician and his years of dedication
are much appreciated.
AWARDS, GRANTS, PROGRAMS,
& SCHOLARSHIPS
Robert Thistle of Pittsfield, MA has been awarded
the sixth annual James C. Kapteyn Prize for his
extraordinary work as a teacher and coach at Mount
Greylock Regional High School in Williamstown.
The prize, which is granted through a fund of the
Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, comes
with a $10,000 award and was established to recognize
high school teachers who are of exemplary character,
integrity and honor and who lead by example and
impart to their students a lifelong love of learning and
dedication to personal growth.
Tapestry Health, which provides confidential reproductive health care to women, men, and adolescents at
a low cost, has relocated to the MountainOne
Wellness Center on the Massachusetts College of
Liberal Arts (MCLA) campus. Members of the community and the College’s students alike may access
Tapestry Health’s services at its new MCLA location,
at 289 Church St. Appointments are available by calling (413) 662-5258 or (413) 443-2844.
Greylock Federal Credit Union, in partnership
with Collegiate Funding Solutions (CFS), is now offering a brand new, hands-on college admissions and
financial aid service that is available exclusively for
Greylock members to help ensure that their child goes
to the right college for them and for “pennies on the
dollar!” This helps parents of college-bound high
school seniors, juniors, or sophomores learn how to get
discounts from high-priced colleges, why expensive private schools can cost the same as or less than state universities, and how to avoid making the 10 biggest mistakes that most parents make, costing them thousands
of dollars in lost financial aid.
Berkshire Bank Foundation again will be donating
to New England Habitat for Humanity chapters during
NESN’s coverage of the Boston Bruins 2014-15 season
through its Hockey 4 Housingsm initiative. This
donation is connected to the team’s level of play during the regular season, and will directly benefit twelve
regional Habitat for Humanity chapters. $200 will be
donated for each successful Boston Bruins penalty kill
during NESN televised games. Last season, $44,000
was evenly donated among New England Habitat for
Humanity chapters.
On Sept. 20, a team of employees from Adams
Community Bank participated in the Walk to End
Alzheimer’s at the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in
Cheshire. The team, led by Dawn Lampiasi and
Nancy Hubbard, raised the money through various
effort – ultimately raising over $13,000 for the
Alzheimer’s Association.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts’ (MCLA)
has received a National Athletic Training Association
(NATA) Ethnic Diversity Enhancement Grant for
$2,400. This funding will benefit MCLA’s primary outreach and admission activities to attract and expand
multicultural student applications to MCLA’s athletic
training program.
Cranwell Resort, Spa & Golf Club raised more
than $10,000 for the Pittsfield Family YMCA to support their Facility Improvement Project to renovate
the Women’s Locker Room and Annual Campaign,
which provides financial assistance for childcare, membership, programs and more.
With lead support from MountainOne, Hillcrest
Educational Centers’ 2014 Fall Golf Classic benefit
raised over $60,000 from tournament sponsorships and
silent auction and raffle sales. The event was held on
Friday, September 26th, at Wahconah Country Club
in Dalton. Additional lead sponsors included: The
Kraft Group and The New England Patriots, Barry
Architects, Inc., Graphic Impact Signs, Inc.,
Commercial Distributing, Inc., Restorations, Inc.,
Haddad Dealerships, NDS Electronics, Berkshire Bank,
Pignatelli Electrical Contractors, Reliable Yarwards
Inc., The Nichols Family and Climate Heating and
Cooling, Inc. Gross and net team prizes, closest to the
pin and longest drive for men and women winners
were awarded. The 2015 tournament is scheduled for
Friday, September 25th.
Berkshire Community College (BCC) and the
University at Albany (UAlbany) entered into an academic agreement allowing qualified BCC atmospheric
science graduates to transfer to the University at
Albany’s atmospheric science bachelor’s degree program
in Albany, NY. BCC launched its new Atmospheric
Science concentration in the Liberal Arts degree program this fall. The concentration provides a strong foundation in the sciences, particularly the fundamental calculus, physics and chemistry courses necessary to transfer
into baccalaureate programs in the physical sciences.
Berkshire Enterprises and Pittsfield Community
Connection are organizing a county wide business
pitch contest for high school students. Informational
meeting for potential business coaches/mentors will be
on Nov. 18th, 6:30PM; Location: 2nd floor conference
room, 1Berkshire, 66 Allen St. Contact Steve Fogel at
sfogel@berkshireenterprises.com.
Berkshire Enterprises will host a Business Breakfast
Forum on Friday, Nov, 7th titled: Good Help—How do
you find it and how do you keep it?—a forum for owners
and managers of small businesses to discuss what works
and what doesn’t. The forum is held on the 2nd floor
conference room, 1Berkshire, 66 Allen St. Contact
Steve Fogel at sfogel@berkshireenterprises.com.
ARTS & CULTURE
Norman Rockwell Museum returned as a category
on the popular TV game show, “Jeopardy!” this
October, featuring footage originally shot at the
Museum last December, the show’s Clue Crew tested
contestants’ knowledge of Norman Rockwell’s work for
“The Saturday Evening Post.”
Berkshire Museum opened their “Spark!Lab” in
October, which provides hands-on space for people to
experiment with everything from building electrical
circuits to box-car size vehicles. The center is one of
four Spark!Labs currently operating in the nation. The
original was developed and opened in 2008 by the
Smithsonian Institution by the Lemelson Center for
the Study of Invention and Innovation at the National
Museum of American History.
The Red Lion Inn’s Executive Chef Brian Alberg
will be traveling to Haven’s Kitchen in New York City
to teach monthly recreational classes that will feature
hands-on cooking along with tastings that highlight
ingredients and products from the farms and purveyors
in the Berkshires. The classes will highlight ingredients
and products from Berkshire farms and small-batch artisan food makers, several of whom will be joining him as
special guests to share their story and food-making process with the class, including Wandering Star Craft
Brewery. For more information, visit redlioninn.com.
The Clark Art Institute welcomes new parents and
their infants to a series of New Parents Gallery Talks on
select Friday mornings through late winter. The free
hour-long sessions are designed to give parents a cognitive break from thinking about “all things baby” and are
best suited for parents with pre-toddlers. The talks offer
a chance for parents to engage with the Clark collection
with their infants and participate in open-ended guided
conversations about the art in a way that welcomes all
contributions. For information, call 413 458 0410.
The prestigious Martha Hill 2014 Young Professional
Award will go to Danielle Robin Reinstein, an alumna
of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, located in Becket,
MA. The award includes a $1,000 gift from the Martha
Hill Dance Fund and will be presented in NYC at the
fund’s annual Gala. Reinstein was a participant of The
Contemporary Program of The School at Jacob’s Pillow
during the summer of 2014.
The Berkshire Museum has announced that the
2014 Festival of Trees theme is “On Safari”. The annual holiday event will feature more than 100 holiday
trees decorated to evoke an exotic safari adventure.
Featuring trees sponsored by businesses, schools, and
community organizations, visitors can expect to see
lots of wonderful trees with animals incorporated into
the designs. This event is a fundraiser for Berkshire
Museum every year — the proceeds benefit the education programs that provide more than 17,000 educational experiences annually. On display from
November 14 thru January 4, 2015.
Norman Rockwell Museum announced that tens of
thousands of digitized black-and-white photographs
from its Norman Rockwell Photographic Print
Collection—the largest single collection in the
Norman Rockwell Archive – are now available for
viewing freely on the Museum’s website, www.nrm.org,
under “View the Collections,” and by appointment
through the Stockbridge museum’s Reference Center,
which has a computer workstation to accommodate its
many visiting researchers. ■
Three Cheers information is published on a first come, first
served basis as space allows. The Chamber reserves the
right to edit all copy. Only Berkshire Chamber members
may submit material and must be sent on or before the
15th of each month. Information should be sent via e-mail
to news@berkshirechamber.com.