| TOP STORIES AROUND THE COUNTY |
 Some 320 members, guests and officials were attended the Berkshire Chamber's 100th annual meeting at the Crowne Plaza. |
Berkshire Chamber Marks 100th Annual MeetingBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
06:07PM / Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Mary Grant, above with John DeRosa, was this year's Hayden Award winner; below, Michael MacDonald, left, was presented with the Quinn Award by Mick Callahan. |
 |
|
|
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce marked its 100th annual meeting on Wednesday morning with a nod to the many "superheroes" who have made the organization a powerful advocate for county business and helped bring in 2,000 jobs.
Those superheroes stretched from members to staff to the newest recipients of the chamber's most prestigious annual awards for civic and volunteer engagement — local attorney Michael MacDonald and MCLA President Mary Grant.
"Thank your for recognizing some of the hundreds of volunteer superheroes that enable this Berkshire Chamber to be the largest economic development organization in Berkshire County," said chamber President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Supranowicz, speaking to some 320 members, guests and state and local officials filling the ballroom at the Crowne Plaza.
Standing below some "kapow" signs touting leadership, commerce, etc., Supranowicz related the successes of this past year in the long-awaited $22 million Pittsfield runway project; working with other industry assocations and legislators to freeze unemployment insurance rates for 2011, saving $160 per employee; supporting local tax-financing agreements; online job postings; leadership programs, and partnering with ISO New England on a number of initiatives designed to help businesses contain costs.
"We truly believe these advocacy efforts, combined with all membership support, the data research, the referrals, everything else, plus what our superhero staff does, has helped create over 2,000 jobs in Berkshire County over the past 24 months," said Supranowicz.
Looking to the coming year, he pointed to opportunities in the 1,300 miles of fiberoptic cable being strung across the county through the MassBroadband initiative, linking educational, health, government and public safety agencies. The infrastructure "will provide an opportunity for development of cutting-edge fiber home networks," he said.
Also on the horizon is expections that the chamber's pilot program application in pursuing more affordable health insurance for members will come through, and adding to the "up-and-coming stars" that make up the more than 900 Berkshire Young Professionals.
Chairman Gerard Burke of Hillcrest Educational Centers, pointed to recent movement with 1Berkshire in hiring Stuart Chase as director and coordinating the integration of the chamber, Berkshire Economic Development Corp., Berkshire Visitors Bureau and Berkshire Creative as a streamlined experience for people looking to move, visit or start a business in the Berkshires.
"It's about leveraging our strength and giving us a united voice, which means more efficient advocacy," he said.
"It's not unlikely that 2012 will prove to be any less challenging than 2011," said Supranowicz. "As such rest assured that your chamber will continue to find ways to make the Berkshires the very best place to conduct business."
Two of the reasons the Berkshire is good for business — and the arts and education — were the winners of this year's Francis H. Hayden Memorial Award and the Esther Quinn Award for volunteerism.
Michael MacDonald, executive vice president and general counsel at Petricca Industries Inc., was presented with the Quinn Award for his many efforts on behalf of the Colonial Theatre and Downtown Inc. initiatives, including the Beacon Cinema and the Central Block. It included playing a key role in gaining funding for the projects and later helping the Colonial's alliance with the Berkshire Theatre Group to keep the historic venue operating.
"Mike has overseen several of the most challenging restoration projects in the Berkshires," said presenter Mick Callahan. "At a time when many people said, 'it's impossible,' Mike didn't believe that for a minute ... with his commitment, determination and hard work, and as dealer of hope, he played a pivotal role in the transformation of dowontown Pittsfield."
MacDonald credited his parents, who "drilled" a strong set of values into him; a local doctor and neighbor who helped him with college on condition he "pay it forward," and others he'd met for his civic engagement.
"I have been carried along by these people more than I have been lead, and also carried along by the Berkshire sense of volunteerism," he said. Other than his children he felt "the greatest sense of personal gratification for me comes from the way this comunity works; what all these people have given is a great gift."
Mary Grant, coming into her 10th year as president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, was presented with the Hayden Award by John DeRosa, a two-time past recipient. Grant was honored for having "given new meaning to the idea of civic engagement" by bringing the college, the city of North Adams and surrounding communities closer together and y her efforts to instill the values of lifetime learning in its youth.
"Mary Grant has made our community better, Mary Grant has made our community stronger," said DeRosa, "and presenting this award to Mary recognizing her contributions this morning reinforces once again for all of us the notion that the strength and the character of a community comes in the end from the character and the values of its citizens."
Grant said she had to agree with MacDonald, that "you don't get to these places without support," recognizing her parents, husband and the MCLA team for their support, and a job that allowed her to connect and inspire.
"I'm a big believer in the word 'hope.' Not that crazy, rose-colored glasses ... We wouldn't do the work that we do every day if we didn't have that essential ingredient of hope," said Grant. "When we are inspired by a Francis Hayden or an Esther Quinn, we do our best work, and we do our best work together."
► The chamber recognized the members of its many committees, past chairmen, and the employers of the month over the past year.
► Elected a slate of officers for 2011: Chairman Gerard Burke; Vice Chairman Peter Stasiowski; Treasurer William Wheelock; Assistant Treasurer J.Jay Anderson; Clerk Vicki S. Donahue; Assistant Clerk F. Sydney Smithers; Council Vice Chairmen Larry Hazard, John Martin Jr., Linda Febles and Brenda Burdick.
► Recognized Supranowicz with a plaque for his perserverance and five years as president.
 |
 |
 |
| Members had a chance to be superheroes but sadly no one tried on the suits (we were ready with the camera). |
Chamber Chairman Gerard Burke is surrounded by kapows and zowies.
|
A presentation honoring Supranowicz displayed an obsession with buying in the Berkshires that dates to infancy. |
|
Tags: Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, Hayden Award, Quinn Award,
|
Advertise on iBerkshires.com
|
