News and Ideas Worth Sharing
BCC Commencement at Tanglewood
Pittsfield— Berkshire Community College (BCC) held its 66th Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 29th at Tanglewood. The College awarded 218 associate degrees (including 159 Associate in Science degrees and 59 Associate in Arts degrees) and 159 certificates. A total of 377 awards were conferred to 341 students in 38 programs of study.
The 2026 graduates, listed by degree or certificate awarded, include the following:
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Berkshire Pride Community Partner of the Year
Pittsfield— Berkshire Pride has named the Elizabeth Freeman Center as Berkshire Pride’s 2026 Community Partner of the Year Award, recognizing the organization’s outstanding commitment to supporting and uplifting LGBTQ+ individuals and families throughout Berkshire County.
The award honors a local organization, business, or individual whose dedication, collaboration, and advocacy have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the Berkshire Pride community. The Elizabeth Freeman Center was selected for its deep partnership with Berkshire Pride and its ongoing investment in programs that advance equity, safety, and empowerment for LGBTQ+ youth and community members. The award will be presented during Berkshire Pride’s Pride Kick-Off Event on Friday, May 30th at noon at Pittsfield City Hall.
The Elizabeth Freeman Center has played an integral role in several cornerstone Berkshire Pride initiatives, including the Educating Equity Program, the GSA Unification Project, and Berkshire Pride’s After-School Program for LGBTQ+ youth. Through these collaborations, the organization has helped create affirming, trauma-informed spaces where young people can feel safe, supported, and connected.
In addition to direct program collaboration, the Elizabeth Freeman Center has provided consistent financial support, staffing resources, and professional development opportunities that have strengthened Berkshire Pride’s capacity to serve the community. Their contributions include partnership on the Educating Equity Project, sponsorship of leadership training opportunities, and hands-on participation in community outreach and youth initiatives.
The Elizabeth Freeman Center has also demonstrated visible and meaningful allyship through active participation in Berkshire Pride events, collaborative outreach efforts, and dedicated LGBTQ+ affirming services for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. Their work ensures that LGBTQ+ individuals across Berkshire County have access to compassionate, competent, and affirming care when they need it most.
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Greylock staffing update
Pittsfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union has announced the promotion of Kaci Nowicki to Vice President, Asset Quality and Real Estate.
Nowicki will oversee underwriting and asset quality across Greylock, set risk standards and align teams to support growth, new lending programs, and secondary market expansion. She will work closely with senior leadership to build scalable credit systems, improve risk governance and position Greylock for future opportunities while leading teams.
Nowicki began her career with Greylock in 2013. She serves on the board of directors for Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity, Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention, and Footprints Family Foundation, Inc.
“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting Greylock’s community‑driven mission. In my new role, I look forward to expanding access to homeownership across our communities even further while also developing additional resources and tools to better support our members at every stage of their journey,” said Nowicki.
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NBT Bank staffing update
Lee— NBT Bank has announced the promotion of Amanda Goewey to Business Banking Officer and Michael Hogan to Commercial Banking Relationship Manager. In addition, James Truden has joined the company as Branch Manager for the company’s Lee office and Marzena Jarosinska-Doherty has joined as Branch Manager for the Great Barrington South Branch.
In her new role, Goewey helps business banking customers clearly define their goals and then connect them with the financial tools that best support their business needs. Goewey joined NBT in August 2023 with the merger of Salisbury Bank into NBT Bank. Most recently, she served as Massachusetts Market Manager with responsibility for overseeing NBT’s eight branches in Berkshire County. She has more than 15 years of experience in banking, including positions in branch management, wealth management and home lending. Active in her community, Goewey is involved with youth coaching and the Great Barrington Rotary Club.
In his new role, Hogan is responsible for new business development and management of a loan portfolio, along with maintaining and building customer relationships. Hogan also joined NBT Bank in August 2023 through the merger with Salisbury Bank, and most recently served as Business Banking Officer. He has nearly 10 years of experience in finance, commercial lending and portfolio management, including prior roles where he gained relevant experience in construction loan portfolio management and commercial lending support. Hogan is active in his community, serving as Treasurer and Coach with the Great Barrington Little League, and on the Board of Directors for the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the current class of Northwest Conn. Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Northwest program.
Prior to joining NBT, James Truden served as Store Manager at TD Bank in Great Barrington for more than 15 years. He earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from Berkshire Community College and served as a Sergeant and Squad Leader in the United States Army. Jarosinska-Doherty previously held leadership positions at JP Morgan Chase and Berkshire Bank. She attended the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.
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Board updates at The Mount
Lenox— The Mount, Edith Wharton Cultural Center, announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Trustees: bestselling novelist and short story writer Lauren Groff and landscape architect Mark Strieter, principal at the distinguished firm Nelson Byrd Woltz.
Lauren Groff is The New York Times–bestselling author of “The Monsters of Templeton,” “Arcadia, Fates and Furies,” “Matrix,” and “The Vaster Wilds,” as well as the celebrated short story collections “Delicate Edible Birds,” “Florida,” and “Brawler.” She has won The Story Prize, the ABA Indies’ Choice Award, France’s Grand Prix de l’Héroïne, and the Joyce Carol Oates Prize, and is a three-time finalist for the National Book Award. She was presented the Howard D. Vursell Memorial Award by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and was named to Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People list in 2024. Her work regularly appears in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and elsewhere, and has been translated into thirty-six languages. A devoted admirer of Edith Wharton, Groff last appeared at The Mount in 2024, captivating audiences with her deep knowledge of and affection for Wharton’s work and world.
Mark Strieter is a principal at Nelson Byrd Woltz, one of the nation’s most distinguished landscape architecture and planning firms, which he joined in 2011. He holds a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and has earned numerous honors in his field, including the Kluesing Prize for Art in Landscape Architecture, the ASLA Honor Award, and recognition in the ASLA National Design Competition. His portfolio spans urban and rural contexts alike, from Hudson Yards in New York City to comprehensive landscape planning for rural cultural institutions in California. His current projects include the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art, Vizcaya House and Gardens in Miami, Filoli Gardens in Woodside, California, and the Shaker Museum in nearby Mt. Lebanon—as well as The Mount’s own ongoing Landscape Master Plan.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lauren and Mark to The Mount’s Board,” said Barbara Cooperman, Chair of The Mount’s Board of Trustees. “Lauren’s profound engagement with Edith Wharton’s work and her stature in contemporary American letters, together with Mark’s exceptional expertise in revitalizing cultural landscapes, each bring invaluable perspective as we continue to expand The Mount’s reach and shape the institution’s next chapter.”
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Board updates at Community Health Programs
Great Barrington— Community Health Programs (CHP) welcomes new board members, Marlene Eichholz and Derek Scammahorn.
Marlene Eichholz has been a patient with CHP since moving to the Berkshires almost 20 years ago, and her partner and mother also rely on CHP for their care. As an organization that touches her own family directly, its mission and long-term sustainability are especially meaningful to her. Her background in community health began with her service as a Peace Corps volunteer, where she worked on health and nutrition programs in rural communities. That experience shaped how Eicholz thinks about healthcare, not just as a service, but as something rooted in trust, access, and long-term community impact. A Senior Leader at SAP Americas, Inc., since 2012, Eicholz brings experience in governance, strategy, and operational leadership, including building scalable programs, aligning stakeholders, and strengthening systems to support sustainable growth.
Derek Scammahorn’s career spans human resources, community engagement, behavioral health operations, and creative industries. As the current Community Engagement and Public Relations Coordinator at Guidos Fresh Marketplace, Scammahorn manages outreach initiatives, community involvement, and strategic planning to enhance the company’s investment in the community. His commitment to community wellbeing drew him to CHP’s mission of expanding access to health and human services across the region.
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Great Barrington seeking Library Trustees
Great Barrington— The Town of Great Barrington is seeking residents interested in serving on the Board of Library Trustees.
The Board of Library Trustees supports and advocates for the Town’s public library system, helping to guide long-range planning, policies, community engagement, and stewardship of library resources and services at both the Mason Library and the Ramsdell Library. Trustees work collaboratively with library leadership to ensure the libraries continue to serve as welcoming, accessible, and evolving community spaces for residents of all ages.
The Selectboard is seeking applicants who have an interest in public libraries, literacy, education, or civic engagement; value community service and public access to information; are willing to participate collaboratively in board discussions and decision-making; and can commit time for regular meetings and related responsibilities. Residents with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are encouraged to apply.
Interested residents should submit a letter of interest and/or resume no later than Thursday June 25th by email. More information can be found online.
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