Berkshire Business Journal August 2025

‘People thought he was crazy’ Pittsfield Health Food Centre owner reflects on his father’s dream to start a business 60 years ago. Page 2

Berkshire Business Journal

Tech firms forge united front

The founding partners of Revolution MSP, a new IT services company, from left: Justin Kaczowski, Mitch Lacker, Scott Kirchner and Daryl Corbett. “When we look at a business and its IT needs, we’re able to bring everyone’s expertise to the table and decide, as a team, how to solve that problem best,” Kirchner said.

Revolution MSP combines talents for a singular IT mission

By John Skavlem

PITTSFIELD — It was 1998 when the team at Mad Macs first started providing authorized Apple services to Berkshire County out of Pittsfield.

The store started from humble beginnings, opening under the leadership of its president and director of operations, Scott Kirchner, as a one-stop shop for selling and servicing Apple products.

Kirchner initially founded the company out of his truck, and now, 25 years later, Mad Macs has earned a reputation as one of the most well-respected businesses in the county.

In 2016, Mad Macs began looking for other ways to grow their business, and Kirchner and Vice Pres-

ident Daryl Corbett chose to shift their focus toward providing IT support for local businesses. This led them to adopt a new name, Mad Macs Evolution.

“So, back in 2016, Daryl and I realized it was time for us to pivot,” Kirchner said. “Before, the plan was always that we were going to be an Apple Authorized Service center, but after some consideration, we decided that we needed to broaden our horizons more into traditional IT.”

“We were initially trying to put an Apple spin on IT,” he said. “And what we found was that there wasn’t a huge need, especially in our area, for that kind of support. … That’s when we figured that we

More information

To contact Revolution MSP, call 413-684-8648; email support@revmsp.com; or visit revmsp.com

needed to diversify even more and start bringing in full IT for not just Apple products, but also PCs and cameras and all that stuff. A lot of it we had already been doing, we just never really put a name on it.”

Now, after nearly a decade of quietly expanding their offerings, that name has finally arrived.

Corbett and Kirchner are taking the next big step in their IT jour-

ney with the launch of Revolution MSP, a full-service managed IT provider that offers technical expertise to small businesses in Berkshire County. The company officially launched on July 6 and promises to provide its clients with the following services:

• Cybersecurity and compliance. In other words, keeping your data safe and following the rules.

• Monitoring and IT support. This means watching your systems and helping when things go wrong.

• Cloud and network infrastructure. This is the behind-the-scenes setup that lets your team work and connect online.

• Scalable, predictable IT plans. That is to say, making sure that

MSP, Page 3

STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

GILLIAN HECK

Front pages

Health food shop marks 60 years

By John Skavlem

PITTSFIELD — In 1965, Eric Baumert’s father, Donald, quit the comfortable job he held at GE to fulfill his desire to open a health goods store in the heart of Pittsfield on North Street.

Eric explained that his father had always been interested in health and nutrition. But when his father read the book “How to Be Healthy with Natural Foods,” by Edward Marsh, he was inspired to open his own natural health goods store. He called it Pittsfield Health Food Centre.

“I remember him writing me a letter when I lived in California and telling me, ‘I’m going to quit at GE and I want to open up a health food store.’ I think a lot of people thought he was crazy at first,” Eric joked.

Today, the business is still operating under the same name and out of the same storefront that Donald Baumert opened 60 years ago, which carries on under the ownership of his son, Eric. In 1990, Eric’s stepmother passed away, which led his father to approach him about the possibility of taking over the business.

“He asked me to take a ride with him one day after I got off work when he made the offer to me,” Eric said. “At the time, he said he was only going to keep working at the store for another six months before he retired, and then it would be mine.”

Actually, it would be another 10 years before his father retired. After all, the health goods store “was his whole life, you know,” he said.

Since officially taking the reins, Eric and his wife, Betty have kept the store going, one bottle of vitamins and warm conversation at a time. The shelves are still stocked with a variety of products ranging from weight-loss supplements to homeopathic remedies for immune system support. The store’s inventory has also expanded over the years to include natural home goods products like soaps and lotions, along with an array of local and organic groceries.

However, while business was once booming, helped along by regular radio ads on WUPE-FM and a growing interest in alternative medicine, things have

gotten more challenging in recent years.

“You used to have to come to a specialty store like this for wheat-free or gluten-free products,” Eric said. “Now, you walk into Costco or CVS and they’ve got entire aisles of the stuff. Fifty years ago, none of the pharmacies carried vitamins. People used to say all taking vitamins did was give you expensive pee, but today, all the big stores carry supplements.”

For Eric, it’s not just the products that have changed, but retail culture as a whole that is different. Online shopping has made it easier to click and buy without leaving the house, while fewer people are willing to brave downtown parking meters for a quick stop.

“Today, it’s all about avoiding confrontation and conversation,” he said. “People want whatever they buy to just be at their door tomorrow.”

Still, the Pittsfield Health Food Centre offers something no website or big-box store can replicate, and that is real, human connection. At the shop, customers routinely pop in

not to make a purchase, but to catch up, swap stories, or ask Eric for his take on a particular supplement. The shop does not serve any hot food or drinks, but still a small table and a couple of chairs stand sentinel out front, waiting for the next passerby to take a seat and chat.

“It didn’t matter to my father if you were rich, poor, Black, white, smart, whatever,” Eric

said. “If you came through the door and asked for help, you got it.”

That welcoming spirit didn’t leave with his father, it’s something Eric has carried forward.

His father believed in treating everyone who needed his help with kindness, and Eric has continued that legacy in his own way.

Staying visible is part of sur-

At a glance ...

What: Pittsfield Health Food Centre

Where: 407 North St, Pittsfield

Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.4 p.m.; Closed Sunday Phone: 413-442-5662

Website: pittsfieldhealthfood.com

vival, and although advertising has fallen by the wayside recently, he is proud of what the store has managed to do over the years, even as the market around him has shifted dramatically. “We’ve had a good run going here for a while now,” he said. “Sixty years is a long time after all, especially these days.”

Eric explained how he used to think his father was a little out there for his drastic change in career path all those years ago. “But now, the more I look back, the more I think how ahead of his time he was. He really believed there was no such thing as an incurable disease. I’ve heard countless stories over the years about how he was able to help people when no other remedies were working.”

Whether or not there is a big celebration planned for the 60th anniversary, the one thing that is for certain, is that Pittsfield Health Food Centre is more than just a store. It is a piece of Pittsfield history, a little microcosm of community still standing strong against the current of corporate convenience. Whether it’s a quick stop for vitamins, a long chat about nutrition, or simply a place to sit for a few minutes on North Street, the Pittsfield Health Food Centre continues to do what it’s always done best: care.

And in a world of fast checkouts, faceless brands, and nextday delivery, that kind of care might just be the rarest item on the shelf.

John Skavlem can be reached at jskavlem@berkshireeagle.com.

PHOTOS BY GILLIAN HECK — THE BERKSHIRE EAGLE

Pittsfield Health Food Centre’s owner Eric Baumert stands in his North Street business started by his father 60 years ago. “I’ve heard countless stories over the years about how he was able to help people when no other remedies were working,” he said of his father.

Pittsfield Health Food Centre is one of the few remaining familyowned and operated businesses on North Street.

Revolution MSP

technology grows with your business without surprise costs.

With the new name and mission came reinforcements and a fresh perspective.

Support arrived in the form of Mitch Lacker and Justin Kaczowski, the duo behind Renatus Solutions, a local IT firm known for its impressive client base and deep technical knowhow. Renatus had been providing full-spectrum IT services to businesses across the county since 2013, offering support on everything from email systems and phone lines to cybersecurity and compliance protocols.

The initial spark came when Lacker reached out to Kirchner with an idea. After crossing paths professionally numerous times and realizing how closely their services aligned, Lacker was the first to propose the possibility of joining forces. At the time, both teams were serving similar clients with overlapping tools and goals, but from different ends of the IT spectrum. The conversation ultimately opened the door to a deeper collaboration, one that would eventually lay the foundation for Revolution MSP.

“We were doing a lot of the same things, but separately,” Lacker said. “So, at a certain point, it just made sense to combine our talents and create something together so that we could do even more.”

What emerged from those conversations was a new kind of company, one not centered around a single founder or figurehead, but built on the idea of a collaborative, flat-struc-

tured team. There’s no boss, just four seasoned professionals who know how to complement each other’s strengths.

“We all have leadership abilities,” Kirchner said. “And what’s great is that we get to use

those strengths together. When we look at a business and its IT needs, we’re able to bring everyone’s expertise to the table and decide, as a team, how to solve that problem best.”

This team approach here runs

deep. The founders say it took 18 months of planning to carefully shape Revolution MSP’s structure, goals and service model. But the roots of the merger go back even further. Kirchner said the idea was floated informally as

far back as five years ago.

“When we started down this road back in 2016, trying to offer IT services through Mad Macs Evolution, we were a little blind at first,” Kirchner

REVOLUTION

SCOTT KIRCHNER

Brooks Robinson, a technician with Revolution MSP, checks a network panel. The IT company, which was launched last month, combines the expertise of longtime local tech firms Mad Macs and Renatus Solutions.

Revolution MSP

said. “Then we met Mitch and Justin and realized they were doing exactly what we were trying to do, just better. From there, it just clicked.”

The new entity offers an array of services for small- to mid-sized businesses, including endpoint protection, email and firewall filtering, cloud infrastructure, network management and data backup. But what sets them apart, the founders say, is not just the breadth of the services, but the quality.

“We’re not trying to be the cheapest or the fastest,” Corbett said. “We want to be the most trusted. We want our work to speak for itself. We want to be the team people call when their systems go down, or before they do.”

Revolution MSP may be built for a digital world, but its foundation is thoroughly local. All four partners live and work in Berkshire County, and they’ve spent decades combined supporting the region’s small businesses in one way or another.

“Being local is a huge part of who we are,” Kaczowski said. “We want our clients to know that the people they’re trusting with their data and infrastructure aren’t strangers. We’re their neighbors. We’re part of the same community.”

This sense of connection isn’t just a marketing ploy, it’s built into how the team at Revolution MSP operates. Whether it’s responding to a crisis call after hours or showing up in person to help set up a new office, the partners at Revolution MSP pride themselves on being hands-on and within reach.

“We’re not some anonymous help desk in another state,” Kirchner said. “We’re going to see you at the grocery store, at the school play, in line for coffee. That proximity holds us accountable in the best way possible. It pushes us to do our best work every time.”

Technician Dylan Chaffee works at Revolution MSP headquarters in the Ashuelot

launched last month, offers technical expertise to small businesses in Berkshire County.

Though Revolution MSP is now its own standalone company, separate from Mad Macs, the founders say the DNA of that original business still runs through the new venture.

“Mad Macs will live on, out of the same storefront, under the same name, and on the same mission to serve the Apple community in Berkshire County,” Kirchner said. “But Daryl and I have stepped back from the day-to-day there. We’ve passed the torch to the next generation of leaders inside that store.”

Every day, BFAIR empowers people with disabilities to live with dignity, independence, and opportunity From residential care to day programs and employment services, your gift helps open doors that otherwise remain closed.

It’s a bittersweet moment for two business owners who helped turn a small Mac repair shop into one of the county’s most recognizable brands. But it’s also a moment full of energy, renewal and possibility.

“The name ‘Revolution’ came about by combining Renatus and Evolution,” Kirchner said. “But it also reflects some-

is a

thing deeper, something bigger. This is the next chapter. It’s a team of people coming together to do something bold, local and necessary.”

He paused before adding, “It’s very fitting that we launched on July 6, since unofficially, we’ve been saying July 4. Because this is our revolution.”

SCOTT KIRCHNER

Business Park in Dalton. The IT company, which was

Business updates

NORTH ADAMS

Northern Berkshire TV taps new leadership

Northern Berkshire Community Television Corp. ushered in a new era at its annual meeting June 5, reflecting on past accomplishments while outlining a strategic vision for the years ahead.

During the meeting, members welcomed new Executive Director Matthew Tucker, who served as emcee. The organization approved its first comprehensive revision of the bylaws since its founding and adopted a new three-year strategic plan developed by consultant Julia Dixon.

The organization also introduced new leadership, electing three new board members: Tony Dunne of North Adams, Brenda Hamilton of Adams and Carrisa Sacherski of North Adams. The board also named its officers for the 2025-26 term: Bill Wilson, president; Bob Davis, vice president; Bob Blair, treasurer; and Rick Bua, secretary.

Community producers were honored with five awards. Bua, Tim Morey and the High School Basketball Weekly team received the Excellence in Television Programming Award. Ed Driscoll, producer and host at WMNB-LP, was recognized for Excellence in Radio Programming. Frances “Frankie” Evans, a student at Mount Greylock, was named an Exceptional Volunteer. The Gailanne Cariddi Award for Community Media went to the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition. Michael Putnam was recognized with a facilities dedication of the WMNB-LP radio studios.

NORTH ADAMS

MountainOne wins PR award for Mo’s Storybook Program

MountainOne earned a Silver Bell Ringer Award at the 57th annual PR Club Bell Ringer Awards June 3 in Boston for its Mo’s Storybook Program, recognized in the Communications Campaigns — Content Marketing category. The Bell Ringer Awards recognize outstanding achievement in public relations and communications.

The program, centering around the original book, “How to Climb a Mountain” featuring Mo the Spokesgoat, promotes financial literacy and personal growth in children through storytelling, live readings and community outreach. With over 20 live readings and more than 2,000 copies distributed, MountainOne has released the second book in the series, “Something to Save.” MountainOne credits HATCH The Agency, author Doug Murphy, illustrator Laura Salafia, and PRfirst for their contributions. Learn more at mountainone. com/mo-storybook.

PITTSFIELD

Certified public accountant launches tax, advisory firm

Certified Public Accountant Kevin Garcia announces the launch of KG CPA Tax & Advisory P.C., a modern accounting firm committed to providing strategic tax planning, proactive advisory and attentive client care for individuals, families and small businesses across the region.

Garcia, a licensed CPA with over a decade of experience in public accounting and tax strategy, brings a high-touch, technology-forward approach to the practice. His background includes working closely with business owners and high-net-worth individuals, helping them navigate complex tax matters and make informed financial decisions.

Based in Pittsfield, KG CPA Tax & Advisory P.C. is accepting new clients and offers services including: Individual and business tax preparation; strategic tax planning; accounting and advisory services for small businesses; and entity structuring and compliance.

To learn more or schedule a consultation, visit kgcpataxadvisor.com.

SHEFFIELD

Outgoing Dewey Hall leader earns accolades at sendoff

Dewey Memorial Hall’s Extraordinary Service Award was presented to Maggie McRae on May 9 at the Hall’s annual Donor, Sponsor and Volunteer Appreciation party.

Beth Carlson, Dewey Hall’s board president, and Wenonah Webster, vice president, presented the award with accolades from McRae’s co-workers.

Several of the event’s guests contributed in McRae’s name to meet a matching grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, which will support a Historic Structures Report and Master Plan. The Hall has been working for two years to meet the match, and the evening’s donations closed the gap.

Recipients of the Extraordinary Service Award are honored with their names on a plaque in the Hall, and a tree donated by Webster Landscapes.

It’s a year of change for Dewey Hall, with McRae resigning as Hall manager and the addition of staff members Olivia Sblendorio as operations coordinator, and Renee McBride as rentals coordinator.

New board members Guian Heintzen, Maura O’Malley, Connie Griffin, and Brian Healey have joined Carlson, Webster, Maria Nation, Evelyn Battaglia, and Fred Frayer.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY

1Berkshire, MassHire partner on a small-business survey

1Berkshire and the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board are partnering to promote an Ownership Transition Intentions Survey from the Northeast Transition Initiative, aimed at gathering data from small-business owners about their plans for exiting their businesses.

The survey is designed to help NETI better understand transition trends across the Northeast and connect business owners with succession planning resources. Owners can indicate in the survey if they would like help from experts, regardless of how soon they plan to exit.

NETI has also established a fellowship to train professionals who support businesses through succession planning. Kevin Pink, 1Berkshire’s deputy director of economic development, and Bryana Malloy, MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board’s manager of industry relations, are fellows in the program this year, and are working to share the survey with businesses throughout Western Massachusetts. Business owners of all ages are encouraged to complete the survey at bit.ly/4kp99yQ.

PITTSFIELD

Greylock Federal Credit Union launches loan program for ADUs

Greylock Federal Credit Union has launched a new loan program to support the development of accessory dwelling units, also known as ADUs, in Berkshire County.

An ADU, which is a smaller, residential unit located on the same property as a one- or two-family home, has emerged as a pivotal solution to housing challenges across the country due to the benefits of their convenient size and placement. ADUs can be integrated within the main house, attached to it or constructed as a separate structure. These units typically include a kitchen, bathroom and living space.

In Massachusetts, ADUs are now permitted by right, and cities and towns throughout Berkshire County are updating zoning regulations to facilitate their development. The city of Pittsfield has already updated zoning regulations to address ADU construction.

Greylock’s new loan program requires that the property be the borrower’s primary residence, a one- to four-family home, and the site of the ADU installation. Applicants must provide municipal approval for the ADU and a signed

contract with a licensed contractor at the time of application. Loans may be structured as a first or second mortgage and are subject to credit approval.

PITTSFIELD

BCC offers training program for budding paraprofessionals

Berkshire Community College will offer a six-week para educator training course this fall, running Sept. 8 through Oct. 17 at BCC’s main campus, 1350 West St.

Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday with the final week shifting to Tuesday through Friday during the same hours. Students will gain hands-on support from experienced mentors and receive career preparation and job placement support. Graduates will earn the industry-recognized ParaPro credential and be prepared to work as paraprofessionals in a public or private K-12 education setting.

Para educators play a vital role in supporting teachers in the classroom. The program covers areas such as instructional techniques, classroom management, child development, special education, and effective communication strategies. Participants learn how to assist in the delivery of educational content, provide one-on-one or small group support to students and help manage classroom behavior.

Applicants must be 18 years or older and have a high school diploma, GED or equivalent. This is an entry-level course with no prerequisites.

For questions or more information, email workforce@berkshirecc.edu or call 413-236-2115.

STOCKBRIDGE

Berkshire Art Center welcomes accomplished board members

Berkshire Art Center has appointed Emmy Award-winning editor Gideon Brown and creative strategist Angela Hall to its board of directors as the organization embarks on a new chapter, developing innovative initiatives and a three-year strategic plan.

Brown, of Great Barrington, is a longtime media professional, bringing over 25 years of experience in television editing, having worked with major networks including CBS, HBO, Showtime and NBC. Hall brings a wealth of experience in creative marketing, branding and innovation to the board. As the founder of All Things Creative, she advises nonprofits and entrepreneurs in the arts, wellness and lifestyle sectors. Hall also teaches branding at Marist College, drawing on her background in design, organizational development and storytelling to empower emerging creatives.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY

Local resident named as member of Community Ambassador cohort

Erin Hartwiger, a Berkshire County resident since 2021, has been named to the 2025 cohort of Community Ambassadors by state Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg’s Office of Economic Empowerment.

Representing Berkshire County, Hartwiger joins a diverse group of local leaders across Massachusetts committed to expanding economic opportunity and financial literacy.

Ambassadors will lead free financial education workshops, provide one-onone support, and help connect residents to state programs such as BabySteps and Enrich. They’ll also support local businesses with multilingual resources, promotional materials and the Small Business Resource Toolkit.

Throughout their terms, ambassadors will attend community events, collaborate with local officials and organizations, and gather input to inform future programs and policies.

For more information or to learn how to partner with Hartwiger, visit tinyurl. com/ykek74ss or email ehartwiger@ gmail.com.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank opens a new lending office

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has opened a new lending office at 322 Main St., expanding its presence and commitment to serving the southern Berkshires.

The new office features a team of experienced lenders: LouAnn Harvey and Spring Burke, mortgage lending officers known for personalized service, and Sierra King Watson, a commercial lender supporting local business growth.

The lending office welcomes customers seeking home and personal financing, commercial lending services, and more. For more information, visit pittsfieldcoop.com.

BERKSHIRE COUNTY

BCC offers hands-on course on beginner-friendly AI skills

Berkshire Community College will offer a hands-on, beginner-friendly AI course on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Aug. 26 through Nov. 13.

The course is designed for adults looking to develop career-ready skills by effectively integrating AI into learning and work. Participants will explore the evolving world of artificial intelligence in an accessible and practical way, gaining a strong foundation in AI concepts while focusing on safe and responsible AI usage.

Sessions will be held from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. To apply for the course, visit berkshirecc.edu/ai and complete a workforce trainings application form.

For more information, email workforce@berkshirecc.edu or call 413-2362115.

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Upscale hotel opens in Lenox

By C larenCe Fanto

LENOX — The county’s newest major hotel has opened its doors to guests for overnight, weekend, or extended stays of five days or more.

The 87-room Element by Westin, a Marriott brand, is just north of downtown Lenox at 130 Pittsfield Road (Route 7/20). It will employ 18 to 20 staffers full-time with additional part-timers during the summer, said general manager Elissa Towle.

The site housed a Holiday Inn built in 1964, later branded as a Quality Inn and an Econolodge before being renamed the Magnuson Hotel, which closed in 2017 and was demolished in 2018.

The new hotel represents a $20 million investment, said senior Vice President Carrie Hillenbrandt of the Albany, N.Y., management company BBL Hospitality, during a tour of the property on Tuesday.

It has 1,400 reservations booked so far for the upcoming weeks and beyond. Rates are based on availability, starting at $269 per night, and there are no minimum stay requirements.

Rooms range from standard rooms with a king or two queen beds to single-room studios with kitchenettes, one-bedroom suites, and an elaborate suite complex competing with Airbnb and VRBO online rentals. Those offer configurations of up to four bedrooms, depending on guests’ needs for family and group gatherings.

A spacious lobby includes a front desk for registration and a dining area for hot breakfasts including frittatas and egg whites, as well as a yogurt bar and an all-day espresso machine. There’s also a full bar and appetizers later in the day for guests.

An outdoor patio with fire pits and Adirondack chairs is designed for socializing. There’s a large indoor salt-water swimming pool suitable for laps, as well as a fitness room.

Other amenities include:

• A pet-friendly policy throughout the hotel, but there is a fee for special cleaning when furry friends stay overnight.

• Bicycles available for guests at no additional costs, and there are no resort fees beyond the room rental rates, per Marriott hotel policies.

A pending second-phase construction of 28 residential apartments in seven new three-story buildings on the 13-acre property owned by the affiliated BBL Lenox Hotel Group LLC awaits cost estimates, Hillenbrandt pointed out. The entire project previously has been estimated at $30 million plus.

Veteran banker takes helm at Pittsfield Co-op

By GreG Sukiennik

PITTSFIELD — Throughout Gregg Levante’s commercial banking career, he’s been able to remain in his hometown while gaining experience and responsibility.

When Pittsfield Cooperative Bank offered him the role of president, Levante, formerly a commercial banking executive at NBT Bank and Berkshire Bank, saw it as “a natural next step in my career.”

“It’s not often you find a role where you can make a meaningful impact both inside the organization and across the community,” he said.

A city native and Taconic High School graduate, Levante started his new role as president of the 136-year-old bank this week, working with its current chief executive officer, Michael Daly. The bank announced the appointment on Wednesday.

“What really stood out to me about the Co-Op was its unique position as a community-focused bank with the agility to innovate,” Levante said in an email to The Eagle. “I saw an opportunity to help shape the future of a financial institution that’s

“Gregg embodies everything we stand for, dedication to serving others, a strong commitment to leadership development, and a belief in the power of connection,” Daly said in the bank’s announcement.

Levante comes to the Co-Op from NBT Bank’s Pittsfield office, where he served as commercial banking relationship manager for Berkshire County and Southern Vermont since 2020. Prior to joining NBT, he worked for nearly nine years at Berkshire Bank in commercial banking roles, including three years as vice president of commercial lending.

Daly, the former CEO of Berkshire Bank, had been serving as the Co-Op’s president and CEO since the bank’s former top executive, Jay Anderson, stepped down for health reasons in January. Anderson served in that role for 15 years.

deeply trusted by its customers, while also bringing fresh energy to its digital and strategic initiatives. The chance to work alongside a talented team, in a place where decisions are made with both heart and foresight, was incredibly compelling.”

Levante said the opportunity to work alongside Daly again was “one of the driving forces behind my decision” to take the role as president.

“His leadership, vision, and deep understanding of financial institutions and its community made this an incredi-

bly compelling opportunity,” Levante said. “He has been a mentor to me since my days at Berkshire Bank, and I look forward to continuing our journey together. My focus is on leading the bank forward in my current role, and I’m committed to supporting the executive team in whatever capacity best serves the organization.”

Daly will remain as CEO, Levante said.

“Mike Daly has been instrumental in guiding the bank through a period of transition and growth,” he said. “While I can’t speak to long-term succession plans in detail, I can say that we work closely together to ensure continuity and strategic alignment.”

According to the announcement, Levante will lead the bank’s strategic initiatives “focused on advancing financial prosperity, strengthening local small businesses, and investing in the future of banking.”

“These goals reflect our broader commitment to aligning the bank’s growth with the needs of our customers, our team, and the community,” Levante said. “We’re actively

working in each of these areas to ensure our initiatives are impactful, forward-thinking, and true to our mission.”

Levante is a graduate of Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H., and holds a Master of Business Administration from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. A Hinsdale resident, he serves as treasurer for Berkshire Omega and the Christmas Spirit Foundation and a board member for Junior Achievement of Western MA. He also volunteers with the Knights of Columbus, the Pittsfield Sportsman’s Club and EforAll. He has also served on the Facilities Committee of the Berkshire Family YMCA and on the Steering Committee for 1Berkshire’s Youth Leadership Program.

According to the most recently published FDIC data, as of March 31, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank reported $404,215,000 in assets. The bank, founded in 1889, has its headquarters in Pittsfield and a total of five branch offices in Pittsfield, Dalton, Hinsdale and Great Barrington. According to FDIC filings it had 62 employees as of March 31.

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

Lenox’s newest hotel, Element by Westin, opened in June at 130 Pittsfield Road. It was expected to employ 18 to 20 staffers fulltime with additional part-timers during the summer.

Element by Westin, which opened on Pittsfield Road in Lenox in June, features an indoor saltwater pool.

PITTSFIELD COOPERATIVE BANK

Gregg Levante has been named president of Pittsfield Cooperative Bank. “It’s not often you find a role where you can make a meaningful impact both inside the organization and across the community,” he said.

Dewey’s Pub ends 10-year run

By Dylan T hompson

DALTON — Residents will have to find a new hangout spot — and a new place to clink glasses.

Dewey’s Public House, a local bar and grill, announced through a Facebook post last month that it was closing.

“After 10 unforgettable years, we’re writing today with a mix of gratitude and heavy hearts to let you know that Dewey’s Public House will be closing its doors,” Dewey’s Public House wrote.

Dalton resident Robert Collins, like many, is devastated to lose Dewey’s.

“Most of the food was homemade,” Collins said. “Good, quality food, and I feel that it’s going to leave a hole in the town for that style of pub fare.”

A factor in the decision is the health of owner Joe Dewey, according to the Facebook post. The post said that Dewey needs to “prioritize his health and family,” and that it’s “not an easy goodbye, but it’s a necessary one.”

The owners of Dewey’s Public House did not respond to requests for comment.

Dewey’s Public House, located on Depot Street, opened in August 2015 and offered burgers, wings and other pub grub with live entertainment.

In the post, which was addressed by Joe Dewey and the Dewey’s Public House Family, the business thanked its customers, saying, “From that first bowl of Brew House Mac N’ Cheese to the last round of trivia, you showed up with loyalty, laughter and an appetite for good food, cold beers and great company.”

Collins says he feels bad for Dewey and that he knows closing wasn’t something that he wanted to do. Collins says he supports Dewey “100 percent that he needs to take care of himself and get himself healthy” and that “maybe he’ll come back.”

Dewey’s Public House, a local bar and grill located on Depot Street in Dalton, announced in a Facebook post last month that it was closing its doors after “10 unforgettable years.”

DEWEY’S PUBLIC HOUSE FACEBOOK

when they would play electronic dance music during cleaning.

Godbout said in a Facebook message to The Eagle that it was a great place to work and “the community really came together to make it a place people could enjoy.” He also says it was a place people could reconnect with old friends and share laughs.

“Without it, there’s going to be a void [I] hope can be filled with another amazing establishment,” Godbout said.

Collins says that the bar was a great meeting area and always had a social atmosphere. He also says that it was a “good old-fashioned town pub.”

“You never could go in there and not know a dozen people that were there,” Collins said.

Dewey’s Public House says that their run was a “dream realized, a neighborhood hangout, and a place full of memories.” They also credit their customers for sticking by them through the “chaos of the pandemic, the beer and wine nights shared with our friends at Kelly’s Package Store, and every small moment in between.”

Godbout says that Dewey is a “great guy” and that he helped him over the years. He feels that Dewey’s impact will be missed.

“He will always be the type of guy to give you the shirt off his back,” Godbout said.

Jeremy Godbout was a part of the original kitchen crew at Dewey’s and worked there from before they opened

in 2015 until New Year’s Eve, 2018. Godbout’s favorite memory working at Dewey’s was during kitchen closing time,

It’s a farm market — and much more

By Jane K aufman

LANESBOROUGH — More than five years after drawing up plans, Red Shirt Farm Store is open for business, selling produce grown on the farm and a range of groceries originating primarily from within a 100-mile radius.

The store at 60 Williamstown Road, Route 7, opened May 17. The store isn’t just a farmstand: Look past the counter and you’ll see a gleaming commercial kitchen with space to host workshops and classes on food preservation and cooking.

That’s where par-baked baguettes — from Our Daily Bread of Chatham, N.Y. — are given their final bake prior to sale. Berkshire Mountain Bakery breads are also for sale.

The commercial kitchen is available for workshops on such topics as health, cooking and food preservation, and it is available for rent. It has an anchor tenant, Hexagon Bagels, which is using the kitchen until it opens in space of its own on Main Street in North Adams later this year.

Local chef Michael Moreno is consulting and creating recipes for the market’s value-added products. Betsy Kyle is baking on site for the market.

Jim Schultz, founder of Red Shirt Farm, has turned over the farming lead to his wife, Sarah. He is focusing most of his time and effort on ramping up the store.

Now that the store is open, Red Shirt Farm will scale back its presence at farmers markets in Pittsfield and North Adams.

“So now we’re still at the North Adams Farmers Market through the summer,” Sarah said. “Most likely in the winter, because we can’t grow as much, we’ll probably step back from that market.”

Sarah said she knows there are people who shop at those winter markets who can’t get to Lanesborough.

“So, we’re glad we’re still there,” she said. “But in the winter, there’s just less growing, so we’ll probably be able to move everything we grow through here.”

The Schultzes talked about produce on Red Shirt Farm Store’s shelves that may be new to customers, such as early spring options like garlic scapes (the curly, green flower stalk that grows from a garlic plant) and scallions (a young onion), which can substitute for garlic and onion, respectively.

“We’ll be having a workshop on breaking down a chicken,” Jim said. “Grand-

he said. “So they’re pre-paying, which allows us to have cash flow in the middle of the winter to buy seeds and potting soil and to pay for labor to grow their stuff. So without their support, we’d be hard-pressed to have money to do all that stuff.”

CSA members also have the option of picking flowers in a picking garden behind the store.

Design and construction of the store cost $840,282. Partly due to backlogs following the COVID-19 shutdown, it has taken more than two years and double the amount of time anticipated. The project received several grants, with the Schultzes ultimately adding $30,000 in personal funds to finish the job.

While it’s now open, there are a few punch list items remaining. Solar panels are still to come as well.

The farm serves as a host site for Roots Rising once a week, with a teenage crew helping with mulching, weeding, compost spreading and other large jobs.

Red Shirt Farm uses no pesticides or herbicides on its two acres of vegetable plots, exceeding the United States Department of Agriculture’s criteria for certified organic.

mothers all knew how to take a chicken and break it down into parts, but most people don’t know.”

People who take part in Red Shirt Farm’s longstanding community-supported agriculture, or CSA, model will be using a spend-down card for their vegetables, which they can pick up any time the store is open.

Jim Schultz said the prepaid model for Red Shirt Farm is critical support for the operation.

“It’s about building that connection between the consumer and the farmer,”

It uses animal manure to improve the soil in a type of farming known as regenerative agriculture, where the aim is to improve the soil. Cover crops and mulch also play key roles.

Jim hopes the Red Shirt Farm Market becomes a focal point.

“We’re hoping for this to be just a real community resource that allows people to reconnect with their food to see that there’s an alternative to the conventional food system,” he said. “To build that sustainable food system that’s based on local, based on seasonal and improves people’s health and makes the community a more vibrant place.”

JANE KAUFMAN

Sarah and Jim Schultz have opened Red Shirt Farm Market at 60 Williamstown Road in Lanesborough. Construction took two years, double the amount of time they expected.

New ownership team revives favorite haunt

By Talia l issauer

GREAT BARRINGTON — The Well Restaurant and Bar has reopened weekend under new management, but with some of the same staff, just weeks after four friends banded together to buy the beloved Main Street haunt.

Two weeks after Josh Irwin, Emily Irwin, Nik Rhodes and Lisa Ake were first provided the opportunity to purchase the restaurant, they closed the deal. Two weeks later, the former customers reopening The Well with a few updates, just in time for the Fourth of July weekend.

“We felt like we could do a really fantastic job at making it the epitome of what The Well should be, which is a neighborhood restaurant where everyone can come and eat and drink and be merry and keep it simple and keep it tasty and keep it fun,” Josh Irwin said.

The Well announced on social media that it had been sold and would be temporarily closing on June 15 when the two owners took over. The previous owner, who purchased it from Richard and Hillary Drucker last September, didn’t give a reason for the quick sale of the restaurant in the post and couldn’t be reached for comment.

Although the name and style of the restaurant will stay the same, they’ve made some changes. Rhodes, the chef, has redone the menu and the group has redecorated to personalize the aesthetic of the restaurant.

“We’ve rebranded The Well, but we’re still The Well,” Josh Irwin said of the establishment that first opened in 2008. “And we’ve added the established date to our new logo, to really take it back and honor the previous owners, and we’re excited to be the next chapter of The Well legacy for Great Barrington.”

The biggest addition is Sunday brunch — something Josh Irwin said has been missing from the Great Barrington restaurant scene.

“There are places to get breakfast, but having a boozy brunch with Bloody Marys and smiles and good wavy vibes before noon is something that just hasn’t been readily available,” he said. “I’m excited to be a part of that and to see people’s faces that early in the morning on Sundays.”

After Sunday brunch, it’ll transition into a place to watch sports across big TVs.

“Sundays are gonna be cool,” Rhodes said. “Going from Bloody Marys and mimosas to hanging out all day and watching

some football. I’m excited to create a place to meet up at and have fun.

When the restaurant first shut down, the staff were let go, but after the new owners reached out, many of them have returned.

“The people that we want to serve are the locals here, and no one knows those people better than Emily, the bartender, who’s been here forever, the servers out front, even the guys in back, who know everyone’s special requests and all that,” Rhodes said.

He added the staff are an important part of maintaining the aspects customers loved about The Well.

“That too will make it kind of a seamless transition, because as much as they’re learning our style of who we are, we’re also learning about all their favorite customers and the locals,” Rhodes said.

Since the previous owners wanted to move on quickly, the deal was speedy, but luckily every group member knew their place and was eager to jump in. The group first met when the Irwins, who are married, hired Rhodes and Ake to work at their other restaurant in 2022, which they have since sold.

“I wouldn’t say pulling this off was easy, but we had very clear objectives,” Josh Irwin said. “And when you have a strong team that all has a very clear vision, then it’s just a matter of making it happen.”

Emily Irwin credits their combined many years in the restaurant industry for how they were able to turn it around so fast when a typical project like this would take two or three months.

“I think the fact that we all have been in the restaurant business for so long and been hospitality people enables us to be able to do this,” Emily Irwin said. “I don’t think anyone off the street would be able to just say I’m gonna open a restaurant in two weeks. We just all stepped into our roles and just worked so well together that it was just an instant collab dream.”

The goal has remained clear, to create a place for the community to come to chat or watch a game while having a good meal and a drink.

“Walking around town, people are both shocked that we’re turning it around as quickly as we are, but also really excited that there’s a place to get burgers, wings and beers again, in Great Barrington,” Rhodes said.

TALIA LISSAUER

From left, Josh Irwin, Emily Irwin, Nik Rhodes and Lisa Ake are the new owners of The Well in Great Barrington. The restaurant reopened last month after a brief closure.

This soft-serve is a family affair

BY TALIA L ISSAUER

GREAT BARRINGTON

— Ever since the local Dairy Queen that she frequented as a kid closed, Robin Morrison has felt like there was a soft serve ice cream cone-shaped hole in her town.

When she decided to fill it, Spotlight Cup and Cone came together — thanks to her connections from 45 years in the restaurant business and three generations of women in her family.

she and teen spent six and a half weeks putting the entire shop together, transforming it entirely.

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“This has been my dream,” Morrison said. “And it finally came true.”

With the help of her 11-year-old granddaughter Aleigha and her mother, Jessica Smith, and Morrison’s best friend Kathy Osteen, Morrison turned the old pro shop attached to Cove Bowling and Entertainment, at 109 Stockbridge Road, into a beach-inspired soft serve stand.

“I wanted to build a business with Aleigha and her mother and build it into a great opportunity for my granddaughter to have,” Morrison said. “I’m very proud of her, because she can make a cone like crazy. She’s learning the business, and one day it’s gonna be hers. It’s gonna be a female legacy.”

Morrison’s ultimate goal is a place where families and friends can come out for some creamy soft serve and enjoy quality time together. The shop features outdoor picnic tables with shade umbrellas for sitting and room for family lawn games like Jenga and bean bag toss.

“It’s very exciting, overwhelming, and nerve-wracking,” she said. “I was excited. I was happy, but I wanted to get sick at the same time. It’s been wonderful. Even though we don’t have everything going yet, and are still working out the kinks, it’s so exciting.”

Morrison bought machines for the business one at a time. In late spring,

Seeking to create a beachy atmosphere on a budget, Osteen painted the building and all the picnic tables blue and pink. They transformed the small shop with do-it-yourself projects like upcycling basic plastic garbage cans as palm tree planters.

Spotlight had a soft-serve opening on June 21 — just in time for a heat wave. Once all of the stand’s equipment is up and running, they will have an official grand opening party.

The stand has two flavors of soft serve, chocolate and vanilla, as well two flavors of dairy-free Dole Whip made with coconut milk, and lots of topping options. The Dole Whip flavors will be changed every few weeks and Morrison said they are taking requests.

Morrison collaborated with Crescent Creamery for her ingredients and uses a 10 percent milk fat base. She says that’s what makes her soft serve so creamy and smooth.

“I chose to pay a little bit more for my product because I want my product to stand out,” Morrison said. “I want my product to be so good, it’s where you want to come to. I just think small business, small town, keep everything local. I didn’t want to be like everybody else.”

Spotlight Cup and Cone is open seven days a week from noon to 9 p.m., and is open till 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It will be open year round with adjusted winter hours. For updated hours, check the Facebook page.

PHOTOS BY GILLIAN HECK

Above, From left, Jessica Smith, Aleigha Morrison, 11, and Robin Morrison own and operate Spotlight Cup and Cone in Great Barrington. Right, Strawberry lemonade soft-serve in a dish from Spotlight Cup and Cone in Great Barrington.

A thrift store curated just for women

By L auren Dorsey

LEE — When Elizabeth Conkey stumbled on the perfect pair of high-waisted, flowy cream pants at her local Goodwill, she couldn’t resist — even after she discovered they weren’t her size.

It was a rare move for her.

“I figured it wasn’t a big deal,” she said. “I just had to find a friend to give them to.”

Once she did, the satisfaction of making such a perfect match between clothing and person proved addictive.

“It escalated pretty quickly from there,” Conkey said. “I started buying all sorts of things I saw at Goodwill that didn’t fit me but were simply too good to be left behind.”

Soon, her friends’ closets were full, so Conkey turned to Instagram to begin selling the pieces she had collected.

She called the account Fripérie Berkshires, “second hand” in French, and used it to display an ever-widening selection of curated secondhand women’s clothing. The account quickly took off.

Now, facing a guestroom that’s become nearly impassable, Conkey has decided to bring her business to the world of brick and mortar at 8 Railroad St.

Conkey works full time as a nurse at Miss Hall’s School during the academic year, and at Chimney Corners Camp in the summer. So she plans to keep store hours limited to weekends, and allow people to supplement her regular hours by making appointments.

Unsure about her baseline hours, Conkey turning to a friend, Rebecca Bliss Lilley, the owner of Bliss Crumbs and Coffee.

“Becca, when are you busiest?” she asked, laughing. “I don’t know what my hours should be.”

After some back and forth, she tentatively settled in real time on 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, “although, again, that could easily change,” she said.

Conkey is originally from a small town in upstate New York, near Saratoga. After graduating from SUNY Albany, she spent several years in Vermont — first as a reporter for a handful of local newspapers, then in communications for the Vermont State Colleges.

“I originally came to the Berkshires for a boy,” she said. “And I stayed for a different boy.”

Now, she’s spent 10 years in the area, most recently in Lee, where she moved in 2022.

“I was just immediately enthralled with this town,” Conkey said. “It’s going through this cultural renaissance, more young people are coming, and it feels like a really cool place to be.”

She pointed to the newly opened Yoga Lee, Bliss Crumbs and Coffee, and several new restaurants as signs of some of that change.

“I’m hoping that adding a little store like mine will just build on this feeling, add a

touch of sophistication, and create a new place for women to shop and spend time here,” Conkey said.

While opening a clothing store is a pretty new dream for Conkey, taking big leaps has always been her style.

“When I have an idea, I just kind of make it happen,” Conkey said. “I’m pretty impulsive, but for some reason, things like this have just always kind of fallen into place.”

Thrifting, though, has been a longtime passion, and she’s happy to see it increasingly enter the cultural mainstream.

“Something seems to have shifted in the last couple of years,” she said. “People seem more into finding things on Facebook Marketplace or in antique stores, and they’re being loud about it. Ten years ago, when I was shopping at Goodwill, it wasn’t something people were really bragging about.”

She sees the secondhand boom as driven by two forces: necessity and awareness.

“I have to think it’s partly the economy,” she said. “But also, people are more aware of the horrible working conditions overseas, and the environ-

mental cost of fast fashion.”

While she may still be figuring out exactly how the store will evolve, Conkey knows exactly what feeling she wants to leave people with.

“At the end of the day, I want people to

feel like they can curate a gorgeous wardrobe without spending a ton of money, and that they can do it right here in our small town,” Conkey said. “I also know I want it to be low pressure. I won’t be hovering. I want it to feel very chic.”

PHOTOS BY STEPHANIE ZOLLSHAN

Elizabeth Conkey has opened Fripérie Berkshires, a new, highly curated secondhand store on Railroad Street. Lee is always going be known as this little blue-collar town, but there’s a lot here,” she said. “It’s a cute and fun place to be.”

Conkey plans for the store to be very aesthetic and highly organized. “I want it to have different colors that draw people in, and generally in stores like that I don’t mind spending the extra two seconds to then go find my size,” she said.

Crissey Farm getting makeover, new name

By Talia l issauer

GREAT BARRINGTON — Next-door neighbors

Dan Baker and Daniel Latzman are ushering in a new chapter for Crissey Farm — expanding the types of events, updating the space and rebranding it as Barrington Hall.

The duo, who officially took over from co-owners Andrew Mankin and Gary Happ on July 11, hope to host more community events — like concerts, a kids’ dance class or a dining experience.

“We’re super open to anything and everything that caters to the community,” Baker said. “The sky’s the limit. It’s such a flexible space and such a space to be creative in.”

For the last few months, they’ve been working with the previous owners to ensure all bookings for the upcoming months would be honored during the transition period.

That time will include some minor renovations such as updating the floors, painting trim, adding a stage and updating the sound system.

“That doesn’t mean a complete overhaul,” Baker said. “We’re not going to be shutting down. Daniel and I will be doing some touch ups around the space.”

Baker and Latzman met four years ago, when both their families moved to Egremont within three weeks of one another and they became next-door neighbors. In addition to becoming quick friends, they figured out that they grew up adjacent to each other. They were born in the same hospital, grew up in neighboring cities in New York and each currently has a child under the age of 3.

One of the things they quickly bonded over was a mutual dream to provide for the community they love.

“Once we became friends, we realized quickly that we wanted to do something local and something that really interests us,” Latzman said. “We started sniffing around Great Barrington and Egremont and events really pulled us.”

The day their Realtor got the listing for Crissey Farm, the duo went to tour it and knew it was the right fit.

“It was pretty serendipitous because we were looking, we were hoping, and it really fell into us,” Latzman said. “We felt like we needed to do everything to make it happen.”

Baker is leaving the finance business to work full time at the hall, while Latzman, who owns a software technology company, will be part time.

“It’s a dream come true for me to have something like this, and to have the ability to make it into what we want,” Baker said. “And frankly, not to be really sentimental, it truly is a dream to have him and us be friends and be business partners and our families are fully integrated now.”

Crissey Farm has always had a close relationship with Barrington Brewery, which Happ opened in partnership with Mankin in 1995 before purchasing the adjoining lot that became the event space.

Built in 2007, the 6,707-square-foot meeting and event space at 426 Stockbridge Road was sold after being listed for sale at

$1.4 million, The Eagle previously reported.

According to public records on file with the Berkshire South Registry of Deeds, Blunt Property Group LLC purchased the property from G & A Holdings LLC for $1,150,000. The transaction was recorded on July 11.

“Our vision here is to continue what Crissey Farm is,” Latzman said. “We bought this from amazing people and all we want is to do right by them and the community.”

To help with the transition, they have adopted the name Barrington Hall at Crissey Farm for the interim. Eventually the Crissey Farm name, which dates back to a dairy farm on the property in the 1800s, will be dropped.

“We want to make sure that people who are in the area know what we’re talking about and it’s about also making sure that we honor what they’ve done,” Baker said.

Part of this transition means shifting how the community sees the space, Baker said, emphasizing the vast possible uses the space could have.

“We see it as an event space that offers weddings, not a wedding venue,” Baker said.

Part of why they were drawn to event spaces when looking for business types was because of the opportunity to create meaningful and entertaining experiences.

“We want to create more community and more experiences for people because

the world out there is [not great], frankly, and people need experiences,” Baker said.

“People need areas to forget for a couple hours what’s happening and enjoy one another and enjoy the community together.”

They are paying homage to the street they met on, Blunt Road, by purchas-

ing the building under Blunt Property Group LLC.

“We’re leveraging our relationships with people in the community to help us,” Baker said. “So we’re really trying to utilize as much of the community as possible to help us achieve our goal.”

BEN GARVER

Crissey Farm is an event venue in Great Barrington next to the Barrington Brewery. The new owners hope to expand the type of events held at the space.

TechAMP lands in the Berkshires Berkshire voices

This September, the Berkshire Innovation Center will launch a new education initiative in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. We are proud to introduce the Technologist Advanced Manufacturing Program — TechAMP — to the Berkshires.

TechAMP is a 12-month certificate curriculum designed by MIT’s LEAP Group, funded through the U.S. Department of Defense, to train experienced technicians and operators (those with 3+ years of experience) to become “technologists” — professionals who can bridge the gap between shop-floor work and engineering decision-making.

The curriculum blends online lectures, interactive simulations, and hands-on labs, enabling participants to apply lean and statistical analysis, design of experiments, and process optimization in real-world manufacturing environments.

A standout feature of TechAMP is its hub-and-spoke curriculum structure. The central “hub” includes four core modules covering the foundational “why” of manufacturing — process, systems, supply and people — drawing on systems thinking and proven frameworks.

Surrounding the hub are eight elective “spoke” modules — such as mechatronics, digital manufacturing, design and manufacturing fundamentals along with CNC machining — that teach the “how-to” skills needed to apply advanced technologies. These spoke modules were developed in consultation with defense-connected firms across New England to ensure relevance to current industry needs.

This exciting development builds directly on the work we began in 2023 with the BIC Manufacturing Academy, a regional training program launched in partnership with MIT that has now graduated four cohorts of students. While the Manufacturing Academy’s core program — the STAT Program (Systems Thinking for the Application of Technology) — focuses on systems thinking, communication, and problem-solving for frontline workers and technicians, TechAMP is designed for early-career professionals who are ready to lead technical innovation at the intersection of design, production and process improvement.

Together, they create a powerful and complementary training pipeline. We anticipate that some firms will nominate outstanding STAT Program graduates for the new TechAMP certification.

Both initiatives are led locally by Dennis Rebelo, the BIC’s chief learning officer and architect of our education programs.

“We’ve designed these programs

to meet learners where they are,” Rebelo says. “In the STAT Program, that means helping frontline workers develop systems thinking and apply it to real firm-level challenges while building human skills. With TechAMP, we’re continuing that journey — targeting early-career technical professionals who are ready for growth through applied leadership training, communication development, and innovation skills essential for thriving in a rapidly evolving technical landscape.”

MIT’s goal with TechAMP is to prepare what it calls “future shop floor leaders” — technologists who can connect R&D and operations, navigate both the technical and human dimensions of production and lead cross-functional teams. These individuals are increasingly essential as manufacturing embraces digital transformation, sustainability, and automation.

And now, thanks to this partnership, these leaders can be trained right here in the Berkshires. Participants in our local TechAMP cohort will work with MIT curriculum, local mentors, and industry sponsors to develop technical leadership skills without having to leave the county or pause their careers.

Our region’s innovation story is not new. Pittsfield has long been a leader in systems thinking and manufacturing quality — dating back to the 1960s, when Armand and Donald Feigenbaum developed the principles of Total Quality Management right here in the city. Their work shaped global industry. In many ways, our efforts today are a continuation of that legacy — equipping the next generation with the tools and mindsets needed to lead.

We’re deeply grateful to MIT and to the many partners, companies, and instructors who are shaping these programs alongside us. There are a limited number of seats still remaining in the fall 2025 TechAMP cohort and we invite individuals, employers, and community stakeholders to learn more by visiting our website or emailing us at hello@the-bic.org.

The future of advanced manufacturing will be built in regions that invest in talent and innovation. With the STAT Program and TechAMP working in tandem, that future is already taking shape in the Berkshires.

The word is out — the Berkshire Innovation Center is stepping up to deliver applied training to the companies and individuals who make our community such a great place to live and work. The only question now is: who from your workplace will join us next? Maybe it will even be you.

Ben Sosne is executive director of the Berkshire Innovation Center.

Understanding interest rates and compounding

At a time when we’re all looking for ways to make our savings work harder, understanding interest rates and the concept of compounding has never been more important.

Here’s a quick overview of how each impacts your savings potential:

Ray Smith Money Matters

Interest rates are what financial institutions pay you for depositing money into a savings account, CD (Certificate of Deposit), or money market account. The rate is expressed as a percentage of your balance and determines how much your money grows over time. Not surprisingly, a higher interest rate equates to faster growth. Beyond the interest rate, you should consider compound interest options.

Compounding refers to the interest you earn not only on your original deposit, but also on the interest that accumulates over time. This “interest on interest” can be offered on a monthly or daily basis and can make a significant difference, especially over long periods.

Here’s how compound interest plays out on $100,000 at 3 percent interest over one, five, and 10 years:

While daily compounding provides the best return, don’t ignore higher advertised rates just for more frequent compounding. Ultimately, the rate has the biggest impact.

EXPLORING HIGHER INTEREST SAVINGS OPTIONS

While traditional savings accounts offer higher interest rates than checking accounts and unlimited access to savings, they’re not always the best tool for building savings.

Depending on your need to be able to access cash or comfort with variable rates, certificates of deposit (CDs) and money market accounts may prove to be better options for growing money.

Here’s how they work: CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT (CDS)

Available in short-term (e.g. under 12 months) and long-term (e.g. 12 months or longer) options, CDs require you to leave your money untouched for a specific period in exchange for a higher,

Dennis Rebelo leads the Systems Thinking for the Application of Technology (STAT) and Technologist Advanced Manufacturing (TechAMP) programs at the Berkshire Innovation Center in Pittsfield.

BERKSHIRE INNOVATION CENTER

fixed interest rate. While they work to protect you from future drops in interest rates, you can’t access your money without penalty in most cases, and your rate stays the same even if interest rates rise.

MONEY MARKET ACCOUNT

With interest rates typically higher than savings accounts and sometimes better than short-term CDs, money market accounts provide easier access to savings than CDs, via checks or debit cards with no penalty for withdrawal. However, the rate is usually variable, meaning you may have to live with a slightly lower, fluctuating rate; and they often require a higher opening deposit or ongoing balance compared to basic savings accounts.

Here’s a snapshot of how they compare:

CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT Rate

Rate

While there’s no one right choice for choosing a savings tool, these guidelines may help in the decision:

• If access to savings or an emergency fund are a top priority, choose a savings account.

• If you are able to leave some savings untouched for a fixed period of time and want a guaranteed rate, choose a CD.

• If you want a higher rate plus the convenience of access, choose an MMA.

But don’t forget, you can mix and match! Many savers keep emergency funds in a savings account, put “untouchable” funds in CDs, and use money market accounts for medium-term savings plans that might occasionally require access.

Ultimately, you’re looking to make sure every dollar is working as hard as possible toward getting you to your financial goals. If you have questions or concerns, talk to your banker.

Ray E. Smith is the vice president and marketing officer at Pittsfield Cooperative Bank.

Ben Sosne

Cannabis pricing is a tool; use it well

Just a few weeks ago, reports swirled breathlessly about the numbers coming out of official sources:

Adult-use marijuana establishments in Massachusetts have surpassed $8 billion in gross sales after record-breaking first half of 2025 (according to sales data published to the CCC’s Open Data Platform).

Which is a nice thing to read if you are the state or federal government, who tends to be the recipients of the windfall of capital coming from a beleaguered and struggling industry. Times are tough for most if not all operators that pepper the commonwealth, and every day businesses are forced to pivot, plan and aim for whatever avenue may help with keeping the lights on.

At this point in Massachusetts, we already have taught an entire generation of consumers that cannabis is just another commodity, and not a product that deserves curiosity, intention and care. Operators slash prices and call it a promotion without context of why that price is the way it is. Brands race to the bottom and cite competition-fueled reasons for a variety of interesting tactics at play. But when everyone’s talking about cost, few tend to also talk about value.

Here’s the truth: price is not a strategy. Price is a tool. And like any tool, it only works if you use it well, and with purpose.

Our store in Lee sees thousands of customers a week. And what we know for certain from our own internal data and observations is that most

consumers, especially flower and preroll buyers, are happily promiscuous shoppers. Meaning they value variety, freshness and something new offered to them over other buying factors. They notice price, sure, but most customers are not only buying on price. So if the industry keeps hammering home a “cheapest is best” message over and over, brands and retailers risk flattening the experience for most consumers. Why reduce cannabis products to a dollar amount instead of treating it like an opportunity to educate, surprise and build trust with your store and brand over another?

And if you don’t believe me, look at Michigan. Look at what happens when you make price the entire story: The floor drops out, quality suffers and suddenly nobody’s in a good place. Especially not the operators who thought undercutting everyone else would be their key competitive advantage versus giving a great experience to consumers while also making sure the bills for the business still get paid.

tom line nicely.

But instead of pocketing the win, we decided to pass the savings on to our customers. Not in a gimmicky way. And not forever, either. Just a “while supplies last” opportunity to show people that when we win, they win too.

If your entire marketing plan is basically a discount board, then what exactly are you marketing?

It’s crazy to have to say it, but if you’re selling it for less than you bought it for, you’re not in retail. You’re in slow-motion collapse. Recently, we tested a pricing experiment at our Holyoke location (we only have two retail stores, at present). We had the chance to use our buying power, which has been earned from years of retail experience, as well as our five years operating here in town, to secure unique pricepoints and deals on premium flower with the kind of margin that could’ve padded our bot-

The result? Loyalty grew. Trust has deepened. And customers didn’t just buy more, they also asked why the pricing happened. And that transparency was appreciated. They shared it with friends. They came back. And told us why. That’s what happens when you treat price like a tool. In the right moment, with a real story behind it, consumers become aware of your unique catering to their needs. More than that, communicated properly consumers understand a key value proposition of patronizing your business: When we win, you win. And when brands really put that into practice (and consumers understand and value it) you can see why you can’t compete with price alone and expect a long and fruitful lifetime in this industry.

However let me be clear: I’m not against discounts. I’m against laziness. If your entire marketing plan is basically a discount board, then what exactly are you marketing? (Remember someone will always go lower. And the second they do, your plan falls apart.)

Smart pricing is situational. Maybe you want to move aging inventory. Maybe you’re rewarding loyalty. Maybe you landed a great deal on bulk and want to celebrate the win with your

customers. All of that is good business. But a race to the bottom is not a business model. If anything, it’s a warning sign. And unfortunately, that mindset is everywhere right now. Most Americans, let alone Berkshire residents and the bordering communities and regions we see tourism from, still haven’t walked into a dispensary. So we’re still in the early stages of shaping what this industry will be in the long term, and how consumers will experience it. And right now, we have a choice: We can either teach customers that cannabis is just about price, or we can teach them that cannabis is about quality, intention, diversity, and trust.

For our company, we choose the latter. Because we’re not just here to sell cannabis; we’re here to build trust — and a retail experience people remember and want to return to.

So to the local industry, if you’re building a strategy around thinking about slashing prices, ask yourself something: Are you using price as a tool? Or are you using it as a crutch? Tools build things. Crutches help you limp along. If your cannabis retail “strategy” is centered around marching off the pricing cliff without a deeper connection to your brand ethos, then you don’t have a strategy. You have a liquidation plan.

Bottom line, if you want to run price promotions as a stateless strategy move, but you aren’t also capturing customer data (be it direct communication information, purchasing habits, or even personal stories exchanged through high-touch customer service interactions), all you really have is a cheap price for the sake of it.

Meg Sanders is CEO and co-founder of Canna Provisions.

Meg Sanders Cannabis Corner

A policy update for state nonprofits

By Jim K locK e

Every year the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network tours the commonwealth to share policy updates with the regional nonprofit sectors. Massachusetts has one of the highest numbers of nonprofits in the country!

The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires plays host to the MNN team and identifies a location for our annual visit. This year, we had the pleasure of networking at Chesterwood in Stockbridge, under the gala tent in the garden.

After remarks from the center’s executive director, Liana Toscanini, as well as representatives from the Massachusetts CORE Plan, MNN CEO Jim Klocke took to the podium to provide policy updates.

STATE BUDGET UPDATE

In July, Gov. Healey signed most of the $61 billion budget bill agreed upon by the House and Senate, which does not raise taxes or dip into reserves but maintains unallocated funds to help manage funding uncertainty from the feds.

MassHealth costs total $22 billion, about one-third of the total budget.

Education is another major area of the budget, with Chapter 70 state aid to public schools reaching $7.4 billion. The budget directs the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to study the K-12 school funding formula related to local contribution requirements and report back to the Legislature within one year. In addition, it codifies fare-free regional transit and RTA bus rides, and requires residential broker fees to be paid by landlords rather than tenants.

Notably, with the budget, nonprofit employers with up to 100 employees may now access the CORE plan. And, rather than implementing the “Secure Choice” policy that would require all employers with 25 or more employees to offer a

retirement plan or face penalties, the governor returned the provision with an amendment to create a task force to review and provide recommendations on options to promote and foster financial security in retirement.

MNN supports the creation of a task force and will work with state government as it reviews the proposal. MNN successfully advocated to maintain the current state charitable deduction.

FEDERAL TAX AND SPENDING BILL UPDATE

Also in July, Congress passed H.R. 1, the tax and spending bill that narrowly made its way through the House and Senate. The final bill increases the universal charitable deduction for nonitemizers from $1,000 to

$2,000, removes proposed new taxes on private foundations, a proposed tax on transportation benefits provided by nonprofit employers, and does not include a provision that threatened to remove nonprofit status without due process. It does not include a House section that would limit the ability of federal courts to issue preliminary injunctions or temporary restraining orders against the United States if a bond had not been posted.

There are also sharp cuts to the Inflation Reduction Act’s solar and wind tax credits and provisions that may disincentivize charitable giving by individuals and corporations, including provisions to decrease the value of the charitable deduction for high-income taxpayers by capping itemized deductions, sets a floor (0.5

percent of AGI) and cap for deductions (35 percent of AGI, including SALT), and creates a 1 percent floor for charitable contributions by corporations.

Universities’ endowments are now subject to an escalating tax, with the highest rate of 8 percent, which is lower than the initial proposal of 21 percent.

NATIONWIDE INJUNCTDION BAN HAS BROADER IMPACTS

The Supreme Court of the United States recently issued its decision in Trump v. CASA, the nationwide injunctions case involving birthright citizenship.

In the case, the plaintiffs challenged President Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. The federal district court issued a nationwide preliminary injunction bar-

ring the implementation of the executive order. The administration appealed and asked the Supreme Court to review whether district lower court judges have the authority to issue nationwide preliminary injunctions. The court was not asked to review the legality of the birthright citizenship executive order itself.

The Supreme Court held that district court nationwide injunctions (“universal injunctions”) exceed the powers authorized by Congress for federal courts. In sum, federal district courts can no longer issue nationwide injunctions that provide relief beyond what is necessary to afford relief to the specific plaintiffs in a case.

The decision left open the possibility of effectively ensuring nationwide injunctions with the use of class action lawsuits, state-led lawsuits, and challenges under the Administrative Procedure Act.

The National Council of Nonprofits secured nationwide injunctions in two cases against the administration related to the freezing of federal funds. As of now, both of the preliminary injunctions remain effective but are likely to be challenged or reconsidered. NCN believes that protection from the injunction is likely to remain for NCN and thereby MNN members, even if the injunction is narrowed.

The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network is a statewide organization that brings together all parts of the nonprofit ecosystem to help nonprofits grow and raise the sector’s voice on critical issues. Its mission is to strengthen the nonprofit community through advocacy, public awareness and capacity-building. For more information, please visit massnonprofitnet.org.

Jim Klocke is CEO of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, a statewide organization that aims to to strengthen the nonprofit community through advocacy, public awareness and capacity-building.

Don’t try to invest like Warren Buffett

When Warren Buffett used to make a big investment, it became headline news in the financial media. The same is true for wealthy and successful investors across the spectrum, from George Soros and Ray Dalio to Cathie Wood and Carl Icahn.

We’re all susceptible to the idea that if we emulate the most successful investors, we can become ultra-wealthy as well. I have been known to scroll Reddit threads detailing how a 26-year-old turned $5,000 into $5 million trading options and crypto. But the truth is that the investment decisions of Warren Buffett and RoaringKitty are likely entirely irrelevant to your financial life and mine. Other people’s financial strategies have nothing to do with your goals, timeline or tolerance for risk. Comparing your financial decisions to theirs is like basing your diet on what an Olympic swimmer eats. It might look impressive, but it’s not built for your lifestyle. After the financial crisis, bank stock prices were historically depressed. In 2011, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway invested $5 billion in Bank of Amer-

ica through a deal involving preferred stock and warrants.

This is certainly newsworthy, but how is it relevant to you and me as investors? Berkshire Hathaway had so much money that there was $5 billion sitting around ready to invest. Warren Buffett massively increased his wealth as a result of this savvy trade, but it was hardly something that you or I could have replicated.

When the share price of Dell computers was struggling in the early 2000s, Michael Dell bought $70 million worth of Dell stock. That’s a huge investment for most anyone in the world, but not for Michael Dell. In fact, Mr. Dell had a net worth of about $20 billion at the time, meaning that his $70 million investment was less than half a percent of his wealth. The point is that anyone else’s investments are irrelevant to you and me without context, regardless of their level of intelligence or wealth.

Famous investors operate under a different set of rules. Warren Buffett doesn’t need to save for retirement. Ray Dalio isn’t worried about affording a child’s college tuition. Mark Cuban isn’t calculating whether he can retire at 62 or 65.

Most people live in a world of real goals and objectives. Maybe you want to retire comfortably, buy a vacation home, help your kids with college, or travel

more. These are personal objectives that might be achieved using a disciplined, long-term investment approach designed for you. What billionaires are doing with their money might make headlines, but it won’t help you get where you need to go. Investing isn’t about imitating the rich. It’s about aligning your money with your purpose.

Famous investors also often have access to investments the general public doesn’t — private equity, hedge funds, pre-IPO shares, tax shelters. They also often have entire teams doing research, executing trades, managing risk and modeling outcomes. That’s not real life for most of us.

The beauty is that you don’t need any of that to be a successful investor. You can do extremely well by following a simple, evidence-based investment strategy: diversify broadly, keep costs low, rebalance periodically, and stay invested through good times and bad. The math of compounding and the discipline of sticking with a plan are more powerful than any CNBC soundbite.

Many well-known investors are playing the infinite game. They don’t have a retirement date circled on a calendar. They’re not worried about drawing down assets over 30 years like typical people are. In contrast, your portfolio

has a job to do — and often, that job includes providing reliable income in retirement. That’s a very different job than, say, maximizing growth over an unlimited timeline.

The headlines in the financial media are crafted for clicks: “Billionaire Investor Warns of Market Collapse” or “This One Stock Could 10x in 2025.” These stories are meant to engage you as a reader, not to help you achieve your objectives. The only scoreboard that matters is how well your money supports the life you want to live. Are you on track to retire when you want? Can you support your family and sleep well at night? Are you able to weather downturns without panicking? Those are the markers of a successful investor — not beating the S&P 500 or copying the latest hedge fund move.

The investing world is full of noise, and much of it comes from people with different lives, resources and objectives. The best thing you can do for your financial future is stay focused on your own plan — one that reflects your values, timelines, and tolerance for risk.

What famous investors do might be interesting and sometimes even educational, but it’s certainly not a blueprint.

Luke Delorme is director of financial planning at Tableaux Wealth in Stockbridge. Reach him at (413) 264-2404 or Luke@TableauxWealth.com.

BRIAN BERKEL

Jim Klocke, CEO of the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network, speaks during last month’s event at Chesterwood in Stockbridge. The network is a statewide organization dedicated to uniting and strengthening the entire nonprofit sector through advocacy, public awareness and capacity-building.

Real estate transactions

ADAMS

Susan M. Keefner and Lawrence W. Keefner III sold property at 15 Randall St., Adams, to Karan Tiwari, $299,900.

Nelson B. and Patricia A. Montgomery sold property at 8-10 Reeves St., Adams, to Jason Nocher, $110,000.

Jason Nocher sold property at 23 East Orchard Terrace, Adams, to Jean Fortier, trustee of the Mark and Jean Fortier RVT, $320,000.

Austin M. Worth sold property at 37-37½ North Summer St., Adams, to Daniel P. Milesi, $305,000.

Michael J. Brown sold property at 16 High St., Adams, to Michael T. Packard Jr., $206,250.

William B. Swanson sold property at 166 Orchard St., Adams, to Sarah J. Willey and Karl Alvarez, $325,000.

Cynthia L. Mendel sold property at 20 Richmond St., Adams, to Paul V. and Vanessa L. Mazzantini, $100,000.

Shane and Aimy Levesque sold property at 53 Quality St., Adams, to YHWH LLC, $107,500.

Joseph J. and Marla L. White sold property at 6-8 Smith St., Adams, to Michael White, $215,000.

Michael J. Casteel and Megan D. Buness sold property at 13 Grant St., Adams, to Durval Zacarias Ramos Filho and Dorothy Ramos, $380,000.

Sharyn and Heidi Alibozek, personal reps. of Doris B. Alibozek and Brian Alibozek, sold property off East Mountain Road, Adams, to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, $150,000.

D&B Real Estate Ventures LLC sold property at 208 Columbia St., Adams, to Jeffrey L. Siegel and Jessica Lee, $166,000.

BECKET

David A. and Ilene D. Sheridan sold property at 508 Seneca Drive, Becket, to Jonathan and Susan Carroll Berck, $849,000.

Rubia D. Beraldo and Stephane Serge Girard sold property at Mallard Drive, Becket, to Frank Crocitto and Laura R. Zima, $85,000.

Thomas P. Tabellione, personal rep. of the Estate of Arturo Bravo, sold property at 35 Arrowhead Lane, Becket, to Shaun P. Lennon and Lesley A. Conklin-Lennon, $94,000.

Mark and Sarah Warden sold property at Gentian Hollow Road, Becket, to Gregory Rawlings $25,000.

Patrick Chase and Courtney Marie Dragoon sold property at 180 Long Bow Lane, Becket, to Thomas Rising, $705,000.

Amanda M. Drees sold property at 27 Shore Road, Becket, to Erica L. Jansons, $280,000.

CHESHIRE

Brad P. Lepicier and Lois M. Filiault sold property at 27 Church St., Cheshire, to William and Melissa J. Dawes, $260,000.

Todd J. and Jennifer B. LaChance sold property at 38 Prospect St., Cheshire, to Ethan J. LaChance, $225,000.

Justin Flynn sold property at 114 East Main St., Cheshire, to Cory Wilcox, $190,000.

Deborah H. Franz sold property at 16 Depot St., Cheshire, to 16 Depot Realty LLC, $250,000.

CLARKSBURG

Jolie Hickey sold property at 59 Wheeler Ave., Clarksburg, to Andre Martell Jr., $28,000. Town of Clarksburg sold property at Morris Drive and Lincoln Drive, Clarksburg, to Foxwood Management LLC, $7,100.

Luis P. and Emily M. Rodriguez sold property at 65 Cross Road, Clarksburg, to Jennifer L. Kline, $193,400.

Corydon L. Thurston and Carolie T. Collins, trustees of the Oralie A. Thurston 2005 RVT, sold property at East Road, Clarksburg, to Richard P. Larue, $70,000.

DALTON

Donna M. and Michael P. Walsh sold property at 511 Old Windsor Road, Dalton, to Megan and Andrew Dunn, $339,900.

Joseph Haskell Jr. and Briana Haskell sold property at 359 Hinsdale Road, Dalton, to Thorstein R. and Autumn E. Murray, $305,000.

Thomas J. and Shirley R. Murray sold property at 6 Pomeroy Ave., Dalton, to Shane and Joellen

Stedman, $350,000.

Scott and Erin Beaulac sold property at 64 Marcella Way, Dalton, to Chad and Kennedy H. Raimer, $405,000.

John Shaughnessy sold property at 39-41 Lake St., Dalton, to Isaac Kalema and Eukeria Asamoah, $330,000.

Robert G. and Madelyn H.C. Goldner sold property at 124 Red Barn Road, Dalton, to Susan Riley, $655,000.

Matthew F and Marisa N. Hoag sold property at 12 Riverview Drive, Dalton, to Bryce Webb and Hailey Perkins, $301,500.

Laura Petersoli sold property at 24 Bruce Drive, Dalton, to Matthew F. and Marisa N. Hoag, $420,000.

Hugh Douglas Jr. and Cassie M. Buckhaults sold property at 556 Main St., Dalton, to Jaime Finn, $378,113.

Kristopher Inglis sold property at 387 North St., Dalton, to Rebecca Mary Steele, Scott J. Steele, Margaret Elizabeth Steele, $319,000.

Sean and Rebecca Drozd sold property at 41 Pine St., Dalton, to Beckett S. Rotchford, $230,000.

EGREMONT

John M. Sparkman and Yumiko O. Sparkman sold property at 14 Oxbow Road, Egremont, to Anna Wislocki, $1,300,000.

James A. Schneider and Lila A. Schneider sold property at 9 Jug End Road, Egremont, to STT LLC, $380,000.

James F. Butler III, trustee of Granger Family Nominee Realty Trust, sold property at 33 McGee Road, Egremont, to Kathryn L MacDowell and Richard A. MacDowell, $725,000.

FLORIDA

James D. Thompkins sold property at Monroe Road, Florida, to Cari Ann Henderson, $17,000.

Marcela Ivy Maggi-Kiessling sold property at 97 Monroe Road, Florida, to Cari Ann Henderson, $285,000.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Hana Khosla sold property at 322 State Road, Great Barrington, to Charles Olbert and Kate E. MacNeill, $525,000.

Philip Domenico sold property at 14 Laurel St., Great Barrington, to William W. Keller II and Lonna D. Wilkinson, trustees of Keller Wilkinson Living Trust, $545,000.

David S. Andersen and Toni L. Makarski sold property at 7 Dehon Road, Great Barrington, to Sina Raouf, $579,000.

Peter Franck sold property at 102 Castle Hill Ave., Great Barrington, to Alexander Lange and Samantha Brown, $1,100,000.

Jeffrey M. Homeyer and Samantha A. Homeyer sold property at 230 Grove St. North, Great Barrington, to Matthew D. Acciani and Maria Acciani, $285,000.

Brian J. McKie sold property at 245 State Road, Great Barrington, to Bento Berkshires LLC, $540,000.

Aikaz Makarovskiy and Ida Makarovsky sold property at 11 Prospect St., Great Barrington, to Natalia Castro, $740,000.

Daniel O. Bellow sold property at 17 Railroad Ave., Great Barrington, to Kathleen Triem, $450,000.

Richard W. Gaenzle Jr. and Jennifer Gaenzle Smith, trustees of Marion M. Gaenzle Revocable Trust, sold property at 16 Forest Row, Great Barrington, to Saidiya Hartman and Samuel Miller, trustees of Hartman Family Trust, $415,000.

Paul Myron Adams, Glen Edward Adams, Jerri Ann Perren, and Tammy K. Baker, personal rep. of the Estate of Judie K. Varnum, sold property at 80 Division St., Great Barrington, to Gary Johnson and Marilyn Johnson, $233,000.

Nora T. Fernandez and Kurt C. Goodrich sold property at 115 Brush Hill Road, Great Barrington, to Jin M. Choi, $585,000.

Evelyn Cunliffe de Melker sold property at 6 Rose Court West, Unit B-3, Blue Hill Commons Condominium East, Great Barrington, to Karen Davis, $380,000.

Jill Cancellieri sold property at 107 Christian Hill Road, Great Barrington, to Anne Jacob, $885,000.

Catherine M. McTeigue sold property at 242 State Road, Great Barrington, to Kristen Vorisek, $425,000.

HANCOCK

37 Corey Road LLC sold property at 37 Corey Road, Hancock, to Kwan and Kiyoko Kim, $150,000.

John P. Funiciello sold property at Corey Road, Hancock, to 9261 Mountainside Condominium LLC, $1,025,000.

Wojtkowski Bros. Inc. sold property at 37 Corey Road, Hancock, to Jay S. and Doris Garcia Berland, $255,000.

HINSDALE

Dennis Messana sold property at 121 Calvin Road, Hinsdale, to Steven and Angela M. Gerrard, $354,000.

Carol Demerski, personal rep. of the Estate of Jean T. York, sold property at 152 Ashmere Road, Hinsdale, to Michael Wojtkonski and Kendall Smith, $317,000.

Lanesborough

Joseph Shugrue sold property at 164 Balance Rock Road, Lanesborough, to Annmarie Vogel, $57,000.

Richard J. Weisenflue and Elizabeth M. Nichols sold property at 78 Bull Hill Road, Lanesborough, to Mark and Nancy Bass, $730,000.

LEE

Alison W. Pardee sold property at 170 Laurel St., Lee, to Eduardo Fernandez and Luz Clemencia Quiros, $305,000.

Terry J. and Diane M. Kennedy sold property at 90 Mandalay Road, Lee, to Janeth C. Hendershot, $550,000.

James W. Benson sold property at 180 Laurel St., Lee, to Catherine J Hibbard, $285,000.

Ralph G. Sorely Jr., trustee, Lee Parks Enterprises NT, sold property at 331 Bradley St. and 27 Woodland Road, Lee, to Lee Parks Enterprises LLC, $1,100,500.

Karen Gage sold property at 100 Canal St., Lee, to Mark S. Lester and Donna J. Boschetti, trustees, Paul M. Lester Trust, $126,000.

LENOX

Sandra S. Klick, trustee, Sandra S. Klich RVT, sold property at 260 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, to Lennox Heights C7 LLC, $165,000.

Hillcrest Educational Centers Inc. sold property at

349 Old Stockbridge Road, Lenox, to Overlee LLC, $2,800,000.

Frances, Jeffrey B. and Randy S. Feldman, trustees, Frances Feldman Living Trust sold property at 7-9 Rolling Hills, Lenox, to Shahid Javed Husain and Mahnaz Naveed Shah, trustees, Husain-Shah 2017 Management Trust, $369,650.

David and Risa Shwartz, David Shwartz, trustee, David Shwartz FT, and Risa Shwartz, trustee, Risa Shwartz RVT, sold property at 40 Frothingham Crossing, Lenox, to Overlee LLC, $1,100,000.

Joel Meltzer, Jill Weinstein and Claudia Cohen, personal reps., Estate of Adele Weinstein, sold property at 260 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, to Bhartkumar M. and Ghanshyambhai R. Patel, $152,500.

Michael Tahaney sold property at 260 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, to Richard E. and Bea Andersen, $200,000.

Robert Roy Jr. and Andy McMeekin sold property at 10 Meadow Lane, Lenox, to William S. and Cynthia A. Ackerman, $345,000.

Shakespeare & Company Inc. sold property at 125 Old Stockbridge Road, Lenox, to Cassandra Lane, $1,400,000.

Cassandra L. Lane sold property at 9 Sullivan Lane, Lenox, to William C. Keach and Jacqueline Karch, $615,250.

John J. McNinch, trustee, Eastover East Street NT, sold property at 421 East St. and East Street, Lenox, to Carolyn P. Waugh, $1,500,000.

NEW ASHFORD

Peter F. Harrison, trustee of the Peter F. Harrison Trust, sold property at 78 Mallery Road, New Ashford, to Samantha Baiardi Rutz, $545,500.

NEW MARLBOROUGH

Glenn Soper sold property at 251 Norfolk Road, New Marlborough, to Richard White and Melanie Acevedo, $705,000.

Berkshire Property Rentals LLC sold property at 18 Cross to Canaan Valley Road, New Marlborough, to Mountainside Cross Canaan Valley LLC, $75,000.

Matthew J. Tomich and Garnella J. Tomich sold property at 1084 Hartsville-New Marlborough Road, New Marlborough, to Jesse Watkins, $300,000.

Berkshire county Real Estate Transactions for June 2-27

Real estate

Joseph Figueiredo and Linda Stewart sold property at Hayes Hill Road, New Marlborough, to Rafael Kronzon, $125,000.

NORTH ADAMS

Charles E. Swabey and Belvedere Development Co. LLC sold property at 24-26 & 34 Francis St., North Adams, to Francis Street Partners LLC, $524,000.

Charles W. and Katherine Swabey sold property at Furnace Street, North Adams, to Francis Street Partners LLC, $1,000.

Kathryn J. and Wilfred N. Tessier sold property at 195 Wells Ave., North Adams, to Douglas E. McCusker and Joan Marie Lipscombe, $467,000.

Terry A. Hartman, Kimberly A. Sacco and Deborah M. Pedercini sold property at 54 Gunther St., North Adams, to Gregory E. Pryor II, $290,000.

Trusted Results LLC sold property at 83 Williams St., North Adams, to Rachel Ann and Wendy Lee Spacek Kessler, $265,000.

Namaproperties LLC sold property at 513 Church St., North Adams, to Anubhav Jain and Vyomita Kushwah, $359,900.

Andrew G. Perenick, trustee of the William A. Perenick Real Estate RVT, sold property at 10 Davenport St., North Adams, to Ross G. Betti, $215,000.

Patriot Property Management Group Inc. sold property at 126 East Quincy St., North Adams, to E Quincy Street North LLC, $148,000.

Steven G. Lamb, personal rep. of Doris Mary Tanguay, sold property at 27 Clark St., North Adams, to Scott M. Patenaude, $220,000.

Trevor W. Crombie sold property at 1-5 River St., North Adams, to Sky Mountain LLC, $450,000.

Megan M. Karlen sold property at 48 Windom Terrace, North Adams, to Jeremy and Lisa Richards, $399,000.

Beverly Zaza sold property at 17 Goodrich St., North Adams, to Goodrich Properties Inc., $330,000.

James E. and Mary Ellen Bardsley sold property at 91 Hathaway St., North Adams, to Luis P. and Emily M. Rodriguez, $303,500.

Bobby J. Myshrall sold property at 480 West Main St., North Adams, to Joseph and Christina Giorgio, $135,000.

Guy Patalano sold property at 8 Richview Ave., North Adams, to Daniel R. Berger, $89,000.

Bradford S. and Bernadette M. Smith sold property at 209 North St., North Adams, to Rachel Hammond, $219,900.

Ronald and Judith H. Turbin sold property at 664 State Road, North Adams, to Winthrop and Alexis Todd, $312,000.

OTIS

Douglas G. and Glynis J. Arnold sold property at 62 Tyringham Road, Otis, to Craig A. Bowes and Elizabeth A. Feudale, $387,000.

Jesse and Pamela L. Federowicz sold property at 18 Ticonderoga Ave., Otis, to Nathanial Scott and Alyssa Pilver, $332,000.

Janet McNeill sold property at 101 Windward Road, Otis, to James C. McNeill, $335,657.50.

Kathryn Matlack sold property at 101 Winward Road, Otis, to James C. McNeill, $335,657.50.

Philip J. Magovern sold property at 108 Magovern Drive, Otis, to Alison Magovern and Ruediger Pohl, $975,000.

PERU

Kevin E. Virgilio sold property at East Windsor Road and 52 East Windsor Road, Peru, to Joseph D. Claramunt, $240,000.

PITTSFIELD

Peter A. Trowill, trustee, Trowill Family NT, sold property at 43 Sherwood Drive, Pittsfield, to Zachary Goetz and Dana Marie Frank, $319,000.

John N. and Laurie A. Griffin sold property at 33 Maplewood Ave., Pittsfield, to Joel Oster, $210,000.

Jia Ming Zheng and Yuan Mei Yu sold property at 50 Brenton Terrace, Pittsfield, to Nicholaus and Thomas C. Daverin and Joshua C. Chichester, $345,000.

Richard T. Petricca sold property at Valentine Road, Pittsfield, to John Wendling, $36,000. Akbal Hunjan sold property at 34 Wealthy Ave., Pittsfield, to Jacob F. Selva, $284,000.

Wind Chime Properties LLC sold property at 508 East St., Pittsfield, to CWOJ LLC, $210,000. Sanjay and Preeti Kedia sold property at 41

Meadow Ridge Drive, Pittsfield, to Nathan G. and Migdeliz Girard, trustees, Nathan and Migdeliz Girard Living Trust, $700,000.

Susan E. Wilkes, trustee, Koloski Nominee Trust, sold property at 386 South St., Pittsfield, to Performance Properties LLC, $225,000.

Marilyn E. Gerardi and Leonora Pedraja sold property at 509 Tyler St., Pittsfield, to Santiago Cuevas, $185,000.

Edward J. Ladouceur Jr. and Constance A. Ladouceur sold property at 67-69 Seymour St., Pittsfield, to Justus K. Dadson, $195,000.

Theresa A. Barrett-Lemanski sold property at 322 Onota St., Pittsfield, to Michael B. Barrett, $200,000.

Richard A. and Jean M. Briggs sold property at 38-40 Hull Ave., Pittsfield, to Miguel A. Portillo Sr., $250,000.

Brittany G. Slater sold property at 28 State St., Pittsfield, to Kevin Beaulieu, $340,000.

TMR Realty LLC sold property at 50 Easton Ave., Pittsfield, to Cheyenne Booth, $360,000.

Maru Associates LLC sold property at 179 First St., Pittsfield, to Frank Mendelsohn, $200,000. Cross Development Berkshires LLC sold property at 236-238 Columbus Ave. and 2 Daniels Ave., Pittsfield, to Eric Danillo Senegaglia Pereira Pardinho, $330,000.

Bruce N. and Elyce L. Misher sold property at 44 Walden Lane, Pittsfield, to Michael Wasserman, $465,000.

Joyce Ann Brassard sold property at 19-21 Montgomery Ave., Pittsfield, to C & A Rentals Management LLC, $185,000.

Matthew S. and Pamela R. Burno sold property at 47 Noblehurst Ave., Pittsfield, to Betsy Valade, $512,000.

MAS Properties LLC sold property at 217-219

Bradford St., Pittsfield, to Codi Arthur, $233,200.

Justin J. and Shauna L. Gilardi sold property at 23-25 Montgomery Ave., Pittsfield, to C & A Rentals Management LLC, $160,000.

Amanda Durkee sold property at 255 Lenox Ave., Pittsfield, to Jessica Gamari Lavare, $150,000.

Michael Paul Frekey sold property at 275 Francis Ave., Pittsfield, to Davis A. Albayeros-Garcia, $196,000.

Michael P. and Lisa A. Barosso, trustees, Peter R. Barosso Family Irrevocable Trust, sold property at 75 Meadow Drive, Pittsfield, to Catherine M. Grady, $285,000.

Kay Kim sold property at 95 Gale Ave., Pittsfield, to Kenneth P. Sample, $315,000.

Ibrahim Turan sold property at 21 Somerset Ave., Pittsfield, to Milton Santos, $440,000.

Joan F. Stimpson sold property at 36 Montgomery Ave., Pittsfield, to Hunter W. Brasie, $225,000.

Tim Zhang and Huili Peng sold property at 5-7 Wallace Place, Pittsfield, to Diego Armando Gutierrez Vargas and Jeimy Alejandra Munos Rivera, $250,000.

Robert North sold property at 50½ Dalton Ave., Pittsfield, to Prime Flips LLC, $80,000.

Daniel J. Turner sold property at 69 Nottingham Drive, Pittsfield, to Robert J. Turner, $200,000.

William J. and Jennifer S. Lander sold property at 747 Pecks Road, Pittsfield, to Equity Trust Company, custodian for the benefit of Tarek Warner IRA, $190,000.

Trevor W. Crombie sold property at 1229 North St., Pittsfield, to VFG LLC, $450,000.

William A. O’Bryan, trustee, William A. O’Bryan RVT, sold property at 41-43 Reed St., Pittsfield, to Hurricane Properties LLC, $115,000.

McGowan Pomeroy Properties LLC sold property at 55 Pomeroy Ave., Pittsfield, to Caitlin F. Hanley, $210,000.

Cori L. Kimple sold property at 56 Velma Ave., Pittsfield, to Justin Christopher Martin, $268,000.

G & W Rentals LLC sold property at 105 Fourth St., Pittsfield, to C & A Rentals Management LLC, $390,000.

Herald Properties LLC sold property at 56-58, 60-62, 64, 72-74 and 80 Linden St., Pittsfield, to Melendez Realty LLC, $1,170,000.

Michael J. and Yolanda E. Bartolotta sold property at 65 Belvidere Ave., Pittsfield, to Jeffrey R. Lynch, trustee, 95 Dalton Avenue NT, $239,000.

Sean Peich sold property at 47-49 Atwood Ave., Pittsfield, to Robert Smith, $280,000.

Edward J. Mogul sold property at 11 Rector St., Pittsfield, to Alan Anthony, $150,000.

Lavante L. Wiggins sold property at 33-35 Wellington Ave., Pittsfield, to Naika Ezaty, $335,000.

Philip C. McAteer sold property at 12-14 Willow St., Pittsfield, to Miron and Kimberly Kaczala, $215,000.

Kimberley Bradford Bailey and Christine Bradford Wong, trustees, Bradford Family NT, sold property at 33 Albro St., Pittsfield, to Mackenzie Wolcott

and Max Hoffman, $280,000.

Stanley A. and Ruth L. Greenleaf sold property at 27 Paul Ave. and Ring Street, Pittsfield, to Terence E. Clark Jr. and Cassandra Clark, $300,000.

Carol Jay Riordan, trustee, Carol Jay Riordan 2020 Trust, sold property at 140 Blythewood Drive, Pittsfield, to Allan M. Fen and Kelly Bierly, trustees, Allan M. Fen 2021 Trust, and Kelly Bierly and Allan M. Fen, trustees, Kelly Bierly 2021 Trust, $2,085,000.

David J. Lotto and Norah M. Walsh sold property at 16 Chester St., Pittsfield, to Ryan J. Kasala and Lauren G. Antone, $375,000.

K & C Agar Inc. sold property at 33 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, to Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Inc., $270,000.

Anthony M. Booth Sr. and Kayla L. Booth sold property at 178 Harryel St., Pittsfield, to Jahir Lopez Celaya and Estefania Arias Batista, $445,000.

Stephen R. Demastrie and Carly J. Christman sold property at 58 Franklin St., Pittsfield, to Jonah and Benjamin Kellman, $282,000.

Terry M. Kinnas sold property at 14 Cooper Parkway, Pittsfield, to TMR Realty LLC, $250,000.

David J. Pelletier, personal rep. of the Estate of Ronald James Pelletier, and David J. Pelletier, sold property at 166 Ridgeway Ave., Pittsfield, to Justyn Santiago-Agudo and Patricia Agudo, $255,500.

Stefan J. Casucci, Steven F. Huska and Matthew D. Noyes sold property at 395 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, to Tavian M. Bassett, $211,000.

RICHMOND

Gary E. and Catherine Symanski sold property at Swamp Road, Richmond, to Richmond Shores LLC, $122,500.

SANDISFIELD

Renee M. Lessard and Luc G. Lessard sold property at 217 Sandisfield Road, Sandisfield, to Teronda N. Ellis, $235,000.

Roger Kimberley sold property at Off Town Hill Road, Sandisfield, to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation, $122,400.

Suzanne Michele Kresiak, individually and as trustee of Suzanne Michele Kresiak Living Trust, sold property at 201 North Main St., Sandisfield, to Veronica Martin, $350,000.

SIRI STAFFORD — GETTY IMAGES

Real estate

FROM PAGE 17

SAVOY

Carah A. Cote sold property at 498 Chapel Road and Chapel Road, Savoy, to Nathan H. Cote, $142,797.19.

Edward M. and Emily S. Groner sold property at 51 Bog Pond Road, Savoy, to Russell Doel and Amy Keaton, $410,000.

Deborah E. Bradley sold property at Barnard Road, Savoy, to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, $54,000.

SHEFFIELD

Alan Zablonski and Joyce Vandemark sold property at 884 Ashley Falls Road, Sheffield, to MJW Enterprises LLC, $625,000.

Kenneth Westlake sold property at Route 7, Sheffield, to John C. Cowen, trustee of Cowen Grantor Realty Trust, $15,000.

Anita Sinic sold property at Polikoff Road, Sheffield, to Louis T. Aragi and Louis T. Aragi Jr., $775,000.

Rachel C. Kitchener sold property at 371 Berkshire School Road, Sheffield, to Kevin Dettmar and Robyn Dettmar, $795,000.

510 Clayton LLC sold property at Clayton Road, Sheffield, to Jeffrey L. Stoddard, $25,000.

Sarah Mary Sharma sold property at 246 County Road, Sheffield, to Amy Lee Pasquale and Kenneth Pasquale, $2,295,000.

STOCKBRIDGE

Lise Laprelle sold property at 57 Main St., Stockbridge, to Dennis L. Drake, $371,000.

Miles H. Moffatt, trustee, Moffatt Family NT, sold property at Interlaken Cross Road, Stockbridge, to Echo Valley LLC, $600,000.

Steven Henry Kaim and Orrie Nan Cherkos sold property at 6 Mahkeenac Terrace, Stockbridge, to Peter Bernard Kaim, $466,666.

WILLIAMSTOWN

David and Meltem Burcu Gurcay-Morris sold property at 64 Bridges Road, Williamstown, to

Paul T. and Nicole C. Gordon, $355,000.

160 Water LLC sold property at 160 Water St., Unit 212, Williamstown, to Anna and Joseph Apkin, trustees of the AJ Trust, $625,000.

Maggie M. Jones sold property at 135 South St, Unit 2, Williamstown, to Guy M. Hedreen and Elizabeth P. McGowan, $375,000.

Joshua S. Kleederman sold property at 172 Adams Road, Williamstown, to 172 Adams Road LLC, $522,000.

James J. Sisto, trustee of the McGowan FT, and Edward M. McGowan sold property at 33 Linden St., Williamstown, to Henning Schneider, $315,000.

Ann K. Carr, trustee of the Ann K. Carr 2022 Trust, sold property at 336 Sweet Farm Road, Williamstown, to William T. and Michele S. Hugo, $200,000.

WINDSOR

Michael E. and Sandra Knox Macdonald sold property at 991 Shaw Road, Windsor, to Adam C. and Crystal L. Wood, $976,000.

Melissa A. Zepka sold property at 1523 North St., Windsor, to Justin and Sarah Christensen, $397,500.

Kevin and Susan Harper sold property at 1952 Old Route 9, Windsor, to Warren Addington-May, $135,000.

Susan M. Barrett, Nancy J. Koczela, Carol P. and Michael J. Graves sold property at 97 Access Road 3, Windsor, to Jason M. and Kari L. Richardson, $130,000.

Bernice C. Phelps sold property at 470 Peru Road, Windsor, to Todd B. and Lisa M. Loehr, $505,000.

FT — Family Trust LLC — Limited Partnership LT — Life Trust NT — Nominee Trust

RET — Real Estate Trust RT — Realty Trust RVT — Revocable Trust

The real estate transactions are provided by the Middle Berkshire, North Berkshire and South Berkshire Registry of Deeds offices.

People in the Berkshires

Dr. Brett Matthews, DO, a board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeon, has joined the medical staffs of North Adams Regional Hospital and Berkshire Medical Center, as well as the provider staff of Berkshire Surgical Services.

Matthews is accepting new patients in need of general surgery and surgical endoscopy services. He serves North and Central Berkshire patients at the Berkshire Surgical offices in Pittsfield and North Adams.

Matthews has been practicing general and minimally invasive surgery for the past eight years and came to the Berkshires from Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.

He specializes in laparoscopic and open hernia repair; laparoscopic foregut surgery, such as hiatal hernia or anti-reflux procedures; minimally invasive surgery on the small bowel; colon, adrenal and spleen surgery; upper and lower endoscopy; enteral and vascular access; mediports; and office excision for abscesses, skin and subcutaneous lesions.

Matthews is not new to the Berkshires. After receiving his medical degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine he completed his general surgery residency training at Berkshire Medical Center. He also completed a surgical residency at the University of Hawaii at Honolulu and a fellowship in upper GI endoscopy, advanced laparoscopy and bariatric surgery at the University of Massachusetts.

To schedule an appointment, request a referral from your primary care provider or contact Berkshire Surgical Services in North Adams at 413-664-5411, or its Pittsfield office at 413-447-6420.

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has appointed Alexarey Overbaugh as assistant branch manager of its Williams Street location.

Since joining the team in November 2021, Overbaugh has consistently brought dedication and excellence to every role. Starting as a teller at the bank’s South Street branch, she quickly became known for exceptional customer service and a strong work ethic.

In March 2024, Overbaugh was promoted to head teller at the newly opened Williams Street branch, where she helped establish smooth operations from Day 1.

Now, Overbaugh continues to grow professionally as the assistant branch manager, bringing leadership, experience and a commitment to both team success and community service.

With nearly a decade of experience in customer service and sales, Overbaugh has built a reputation for reliability, leadership and strong client relationships. She began her career in 2015 in retail, gaining valuable frontline experience and a solid foundation in customer care

Greylock Federal Credit Union’s board of directors voted unanimously to appoint Stanley Walczyk as director emeritus in recognition of his long and distinguished service to the credit union.

In April 2025, the board of directors voted to confer the director emeritus designation on Walczyk. Those who are appointed directors emeriti function as an advisory committee to the

board of directors. Walczyk’s designation reflects a two-year term.

Walczyk, who lives in Dalton, was board chairman from 2018 to 2023, and served on a variety of committees during his tenure.

He was the president of O’Laughlin’s Home Care Pharmacy, which was acquired by and now operates as Market 32 Price Chopper Pharmacy. Walczyk was also president of the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy and the Massachusetts Pharmacist Association, and a member of the National Association of Retail Druggists.

Walczyk was appointed as a trustee of Berkshire Community College by the governor, serving two five-year terms, and was also appointed by the governor to the Massachusetts Drug Formulary Commission. Additionally, he is a past president of the Dalton Rotary Club.

American Investment Services has announced that Matthew Burnell, certified financial planner, has joined the firm as a wealth manager.

Burnell brings a strong background in comprehensive financial planning and tax-focused strategies, strengthening the company’s mission to provide objective, research-driven advice to clients.

He holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology with a minor in finance from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, and an MBA with a concentration in taxation from the Massry School of Business at SUNY Albany. He also earned the prestigious certified financial planner designation, underscoring his commitment to fiduciary standards and client-first financial guidance.

Before joining AIS, Burnell served as a financial analyst and senior financial planner at AYCO, a Goldman Sachs Company. In that role, he provided sophisticated financial planning services to high-net-worth individuals and executives of Fortune 500 companies. He also gained valuable experience at a regional CPA firm in New York’s Capital District, where he advised both individuals and business owners in dual roles as a financial adviser and tax accountant.

Outside of the office, Burnell enjoys live music, skiing, golfing, cooking and rooting for the Boston Celtics.

For more information about American Investment Services and its team, visit americaninvestment.com.

The Berkshire United Way board of directors has appointed Katherine von Haefen as the organization’s interim president and CEO, effective immediately.

She will retain her current responsibilities as director of Community Impact.

Von Haefen joined Berkshire United Way as director of Community Impact in October 2021. In this role, she develops and leads region-wide convenings on topics including early childcare and early childhood education, food security and more. She also leads BUW’s $1 million annual investment strategy for Berkshire nonprofits.

She serves on the city of Pittsfield’s Preschool Partnership Leadership Committee, the Massachusetts Early Childhood Funders Collaborative Steering Committee, and is on the board of the Berkshire Area Health Education Center Board.

“Half of the people in our county work full time or more and still struggle to make ends meet,” notes von Haefen. “I look forward to collaborat-

ing with our board, staff and community partners to implement solutions that really move the needle.”

After a national search, the board of directors of the Housatonic Valley Association has named Timothy B. Abbott as the organization’s new executive director. He succeeds Lynn Werner, who retired on July 1 after 42 years with the organization and 30 years as its executive director.

Abbott has 27 years of conservation leadership experience in western Connecticut and eastern New York with national and regional conservation nonprofits, including 17 years at HVA, where he most recently served as conservation director.

Abbott is a well-known and respected conservation leader who grew up in Dutchess County, New York, and began his land protection work with The Nature Conservancy in the Berkshires. He is an appointed member of Connecticut’s Natural Heritage, Open Space and Land Acquisition Review Board and a member of the Steering Committee of The Nature Conservancy’s Staying Connected Initiative.

During his long tenure with HVA, he has championed the federal Highlands Conservation Act, and he represents HVA as Connecticut’s nonprofit member of the four-state Highlands Steering Committee.

A skilled fundraiser, effective advocate and creative problem solver, he created and led HVA’s Litchfield Hills Greenprint Collaborative, an innovative regional conservation partnership among northwest Connecticut’s land trust community.

He holds a master of arts degree in international development from Clark University and a bachelor of arts degree in English from Haverford College. He was the winner of a J. William Fulbright Scholarship in 1997.

The Brien Center has appointed Lindsay Morin Ciepiela, LICSW, as the organization’s new Community Behavioral Health Center division director.

Ciepiela, of Pittsfield, joins The Brien Center with extensive experience in behavioral health program development and leadership. Most recently, she served as vice president of outpatient services at the Center for Human Development, where she worked for many years.

In that role, she led the successful implementation of CHD’s CBHC program, which included mobile crisis intervention and crisis stabilization services. She also played a key role in launching six behavioral health urgent care centers, significantly expanding access to critical mental health services across the region.

The Brien Center is Berkshire County’s largest provider of community-based behavioral health and addiction services.

Lee Bank and October Mountain Financial Advisors welcome Tanya Haas as vice president, trust and private banking. In this dual role, Haas will support clients of both organizations with personalized guidance in trust services and wealth management. She will be based at the OMFA and Lee Bank offices on South Street in Pittsfield. Haas brings over 30 years of experience in banking and financial

services, having advanced her career through a variety of roles across the industry. As a Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor and Certified Senior Advisor, she is known for her thoughtful approach, long-standing client relationships, and deep ties to the Berkshire community.

Her addition reflects Lee Bank’s ongoing investment in Pittsfield. The opening of the South Street location has served as a foundation for growth, allowing the bank to expand its team, enhance branch services, and deepen community partnerships that support local businesses, residents and revitalization efforts.

In addition to her professional expertise, Haas is actively involved in the community, serving on local nonprofit boards and volunteering in areas such as elder services and financial literacy.

Adams Community Bank has promoted Taylor Gibeau to assistant vice president, treasury management officer.

Gibeau’s advancement comes as the bank launches its newly formed Treasury Management Department, reflecting its ongoing commitment to providing products and services for businesses of all sizes.

The Treasury Management Department will collaborate closely with other departments across the bank, including commercial, retail and government banking, to deliver integrated treasury management solutions. The department will enable businesses to maximize cash flow and liquidity as well as manage risk and fraud.

Gibeau has been integral to the bank’s team for eight years, gaining treasury management and client relations experience in her previous roles. Her understanding of businesses’ needs and her consultative approach make her uniquely suited to lead this department.

For information about the bank’s treasury management services, contact Gibeau at 413-749-1121 or tgibeau@adamscommunity.com.

Pittsfield Cooperative Bank has hired Felicia Sayers as assistant branch manager of its South Street location.

Sayers brings a strong track record of supervising staff, overseeing branch operations and mentoring team members while maintaining her own portfolio of responsibilities, from opening complex account types and processing loan applications, to ensuring daily compliance and vault cash management.

She is certified in an extensive range of financial platforms and is a licensed notary Public and NMLS (Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System) holder.

Sayers most recently served as an asset quality collector at Greylock Federal Credit Union, where she facilitated a variety of teller, member service and collection-related tasks for its members in compliance with established policies, strategies and procedures.

Prior to that, she held key roles at TD Bank, where she supervised teller teams, managed vault operations, and trained new hires across Berkshire County. She has consistently been recognized for customer satisfaction and sales performance, winning multiple awards for the highest amount of sales and referrals.

Matthews Overbaugh Walczyk

Burnell

von Haefen

Abbott

Ciepiela

Haas

Gibeau

Sayers