BUSINESS BRIEFS: Berkshire Choral International new artistic team; Greylock promotes Chris Barry; Berkshire Health Systems provider clinics awarded BIC Manufacturing Academy graduates; Berkshire Nonprofit Awards honorees; Lenox Chamber of Commerce job fair; Williamstown Chamber of Commerce and Massachusetts Small Business Development Center workshop

Berkshire Choral International announces new artistic leadership team 

Pittsfield— Berkshire Choral International (BCI) has appointed its new artistic leadership team to succeed Music Director Frank Nemhauser, who is retiring after 38 seasons. Nemhauser, who retires August, 2024 will take on the honorary role of Music Director Emeritus. Steven Smith, BCI’s President & CEO, stated, “As a stellar musician and human, Frank has literally defined the essence of the Berkshire Choral experience.”

Dr. Anthony Trecek-King will step into the new role of Artistic Director, providing leadership to the organization for strategic direction and long-term artistic vision. He will also advise on annual programming and repertoire selection and will be seen on the podium regularly as part of BCI’s rotating guest conductor roster. Trecek-King is a highly acclaimed choral conductor, scholar, pedagogue, and media personality with a career spanning over 20 years. He serves as a Resident Conductor (chorus) with Boston’s Handel and Haydn Society. As a conductor and clinician, Trecek-King has worked with a variety of artists and ensembles including the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, The Houston Chamber Choir, Seraphic Fire, and Roomful of Teeth. He holds a B.M. in Cello Performance from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, an M.M. in Orchestral Conducting from Florida State University, and a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Boston University. 

Regarding the new role, Trecek-King said, “I aim to build on the impactful legacy of Frank Nemhauser and others before me. Together, we’ll leverage the transformative power of music to inspire and unify a new generation of singers.” 

Dr. Sean Taylor will be expanding his role at BCI, taking on the Director of Music position, having served as a frequent BCI faculty member over the past decade. In this role, Taylor will lead chorister education at all in-person programs, oversee artistic administration duties, and supervise music faculty and BCI’s acclaimed Apprentice Program. He is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley where he conducts the Master Chorale and Chamber Singers. Taylor is also conductor of the Valley Symphony Orchestra Chorale, artistic director of Alium Spiritum, a vocal quartet, and director of traditional music at First Methodist Church, all join Texas. He holds a D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music, an M.M. in Conducting from Carnegie Mellon University, where he served as Assistant Conductor to Grammy winner Robert Page, and a B.M. in Music Education from Westminster College. Taylor is also an alumnus of BCI’s Apprentice Program.

Taylor said, “Frank Nemhauser’s wit and wisdom inspired countless choristers, apprentices, faculty members, and conductors at BCI. As Director of Music, I look forward to being part of his legacy by inspiring musicians to bring their very best to BCI.” 

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Greylock Federal Credit Union promotes Chris Barry to Assistant Vice President, Business Banking Officer

Pittsfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the promotion of Chris Barry to Assistant Vice President, Business Banking Officer.

“Chris has been a valued and trusted part of our team for more than 18 years now,” said Vice President & Manager of Business Banking Michael Barbieri. “He has always been incredibly focused on taking care of our business members and we are thrilled to have him in this new role, where I’m confident he will help our team to continue to improve the great service we provide to our business members.”

Barry began his career with Greylock as a commercial credit analyst in 2006. In his new role, Barry will service existing and new business members, work on business development, originate commercial loans, and help to create and manage new products, services and classes to serve the community.

“I’m very excited about my new role,” Barry said. “I get to work with some amazing business members and a great team here at Greylock. I just love helping businesses to succeed and grow.”

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Berkshire Health Systems provider clinics win MHQP patient experience awards

Berkshire— Berkshire Health Systems is pleased to announce that three of its primary care provider clinics have received awards from Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP) for being among the top practices in Massachusetts for patient experience in primary care.

Awards were given to top overall performers in adult primary care and pediatrics in each of nine performance categories. Adams Internists of BMC, Berkshire Internists of BMC, and Lenox Family Health Center of BMC received recognition for the following awards for adult care:

• Adams Internists of BMC: Distinction in Assessment of Patient Behavioral Health Issues
• Berkshire Internists of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and How Well Providers Know Their Patients
• Lenox Family Health Center of BMC: Distinction in Patient-Provider Communications and Office Staff Professional Experience

“It is not easy for a primary care practice to thrive in the current environment,” said Barbra Rabson, MHQP’s President and CEO. “We are thrilled to congratulate each of them on behalf of their patients for their exceptional commitment to excellence.”

“Primary care is the foundation of our health care system,” said Julita Mir, MD, MHQP’s Board Chair. “The practices from all across the state recognized with this award have distinguished themselves where it matters most – in the experiences of their own patients.”

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BIC Manufacturing Academy graduates second cohort

Pittsfield— The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC), is proud to announce the graduation of Cohort #002 from the BIC Manufacturing Academy (BMA).

The BMA is broken down into three phases, each lasting six weeks. In phase one, the students focus on the principles of DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) as a framing tool to enhance their troubleshooting and problem-solving skills to more effectively approach any problem.  As they move into phase two, they apply the DMAIC framework to a micro-manufacturing simulation.  In the last phase, they then apply all of the tools they have learned to a real-life opportunity within the firms that they work for.

Throughout the entirety of the 22-week program they are also focusing on human skills.  They learn about the eight universal core human competencies and then through an administered individual assessment, they come to understand in which competencies they have aptitude (interest, knowledge, and capacity) and what the application level is for each (distribution of that particular competency).

Thursday, April 11th marked the culmination of the 22 weeks.  Each graduate presented a summary and explanation of the capstone project they chose for the final phase of the program.

The Cohort #002 graduates of the BIC Manufacturing Academy:

• Owen Alibozek, Assembly and Machine Operator at Sinicon Plastics (Dalton)
• Jamie Bonacquisti, Manufacturing Planner at General Dynamics Mission Systems (Pittsfield)
• Jake Dardaris, Manufacturing Engineer at General Dynamics Mission Systems (Pittsfield)
• John Dearstyne, Lead Operator / Material Handler at Spectrum Plastics (Pittsfield)
• Jacob Farron, Senior Systems Engineer II at General Dynamics Mission Systems (Pittsfield)
• Joe Leskovitz, Production Lead at Boyd Biomedical (Lee)
• Mayson Morse, Supervisor of Operations at Mativ (Pittsfield)
• Katara Mullet, Operations Data Analyst at Interprint (Pittsfield)
• Hannah Roberts, Production Chemist at Interprint (Pittsfield)
• Nick Rondeau, Supervisor of Operations at Mativ (Pittsfield)
• Brian Scorpa, Sales and QC at Sinicon Plastics (Dalton)
• Laurie Vi Johnston, Quality Inspector at Sinicon Plastics (Dalton)

The BIC Manufacturing Academy Cohort #003 will begin on May 15th and nominations are currently being accepted through May 1st. The format of this cohort will be a 16-week, three-phase program with the entirety of the instruction time being completed online. Visit berkshireinnovationcenter.com for more information and registration.

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2024 Berkshire Nonprofit Awards honorees chosen 

Great Barrington— The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires, in partnership with The Berkshire Eagle, has announced the names of seven honorees receiving recognition at the 7th annual Berkshire Nonprofit Awards on May 21st. 

The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards recognize the accomplishments and dedication of the people who work in the nonprofit sector. A panel of 21 judges from the business and nonprofit sectors deliberated via Zoom to choose honorees in each of seven categories from among 62 nominations. The honorees are:

• Board Leadership: Kate Barton/Berkshire Immigrant Center
• Executive Leadership: Jessica Vecchia/Roots Rising
• Samya Rose Stumo Youth Leadership: Noelia Salinetti/Monument Mountain High School Senior
• Rock Star: Brenda Petell/Berkshire United Way
• Unsung Hero: Karen Richards/Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center/WAM Theatre/Du Bois Center for Freedom & Democracy/The Mount
• Volunteer: Judith Wesselman/Berkshire Community Action Council
• Lifetime Achievement: Chris Melski/Berkshire County ARC

“Reading through the nominations is always inspiring,” said Nonprofit Center founder Liana Toscanini. “I’m reminded of how much one person can enhance the inner workings and success of a nonprofit organization.”

The Berkshire Nonprofit Awards breakfast will take place on May 21st from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Kripalu Yoga Center in Stockbridge. The celebration will feature breakfast and networking, a performance by Kids4Harmony, remarks by Kripalu CEO Robert Mulhall, a video message from Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and presentation of awards. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at npcberkshires.org.

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Lenox Chamber of Commerce to host the Lenox job fair at Lenox Town Hall

Lenox— On Wednesday, April 24th, the Lenox Chamber of Commerce hosts the Lenox Job Fair at Lenox Town Hall, with participants from across Berkshire County representing hospitality, retail, and cultural organizations offering seasonal and year-round part-time, full-time, and internship opportunities. 

Current Lenox Chamber Members are all invited to present at the job fair. This year’s participants will include Shakespeare & Co, Trustco Bank, Norman Rockwell Museum, The Gifted Child, Community Health Programs (CHP,) Canyon Ranch, Integritus Healthcare, Frelinghuysen, Doctor Sax House, Purple Plume, Antimony Brewing, NBT Bank, Adams Community Bank, Carr Hardware, Tanglewood, Berkshire County Sheriff’s, Shakespeare & Co., RMI Ray Murray Inc., Concepts of Art, and more. 

The job fair is free to attend, no registration or appointments are required, and all potential applicants are encouraged to attend. It is recommended that job seekers bring several copies of their resume with them. 

Presenters will be meeting with walk-up potential applicants from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Lenox Town Hall, located at 6 Walker Street in Lenox. For more information, visit https://lenox.org/lenoxjobfair/. 

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In partnership with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Berkshire regional office presents ‘Tuning Your Operations & Business Model’

Williamstown— On Thursday, April 25th from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., In partnership with the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Berkshire regional office presents “Tuning Your Operations & Business Model,” a free virtual workshop. 

“Tuning Your Operations & Business Model” is an illustrative workshop to help small business owners tune their operation and business model.

The following topics will be covered:

• What are the nine elements in a successful business model?
• What are the assets and resources you can use to build your business?
• How can the principle of leveraging be used to grow profitability?
• What are SOPs and how can you use them to run your business?

The workshop will be presented by Keith Girouard, Berkshire Regional Director, and hosted by The Berkshire Regional Center of the MSBDC Network. To register, visit https://bit.ly/MSBDC-Operate