PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Elder Services of Berkshire County has selected a new executive director in John Lutz, who will join the agency at the end of January.  

He replaces Robert P. Dean, who left the agency in March 2012 after six years leading the agency. Nicholas Kirchner was named interim director while the agency searched for a permanent leader.

Lutz has a master's degree in public policy and management from the H. John Heinz III College of Carnegie Mellon University, a graduate diploma in business and industrial administration from the University of Auckland, and a bachelor's degree in economics and business administration from Wittenberg University.

He has been employed at another Aging Services Access Point, Highland Valley Elder Services in Florence, since 2005. He first completed a five-year tenure as associate director of community development, one of a four-person management team sharing responsibility for overall agency management. In this position, he was responsible for Highland Valley Elder Services' nutrition, money management, supportive housing, protective services, caring community build and ombudsman programs.

Two years ago, Lutz was promoted to executive director of the nonprofit elder services agency, which serves 24 towns in Western Massachusetts.

Previously, Lutz worked in various capacities for Tapestry Health Inc. in Florence, was chief operating officer for the homeless agency Union Mission in Savannah, Ga., and president and chief executive officer for Parent and Child Development Services Inc., also in Savannah.

"The board of directors is delighted that John Lutz has agreed to join Elder Services of Berkshire County as its next executive director," said board President Stephen M. Long Jr. "He brings an impressive background to his new role including almost a decade of leadership in a similar organization within Massachusetts' senior care network. His selection was the result of the unanimous decisions of the agency's search committee, the Executive Committee, and the full board of directors. We look forward to working with John and the staff of Elder Services as they continue to advocate for the county's seniors.

"As we stand ready to welcome a new executive director, the board is grateful for the dedication and leadership of Nicholas Kirchner, who stepped in as interim director of Elder Services of Berkshire County in April of this year. Because of his knowledge and understanding of the complexities of the senior care network, we were able to operate at a high level of efficiency during his tenure in that role."