Adams Administrator Named CEO Of Berkshire Chamber

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Adams Town Administrator Jonathan Butler is taking over as the president of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce has named Adams Town Administrator Jonathan Butler as its new president.

Butler will start his new role on Sept. 2, filling the role vacated by Michael Supranowicz, who resigned in January.
 
"I've never made it a secret in Adams that my passion is for development in the Berkshires. I come from an economic development background. After five years in Adams, we've had a lot of success and I've learned a lot," Butler said following the announcement.
 
"I've always kind of seen this position as an opportunity to do a lot of things I am passionate about on a countywide scale."
 
Butler spent much of his time as administrator focused on revitalizing Adams' downtown.
 
He headed an effort to brand the town as a "hub of recreation." He ushered in streetscape projects on two main roads, was a driving force in the proposed Berkshire Scenic Railway expansion to North Adams and brought the Thunderbolt Ski Museum to the Adams Visitor's Center. Under his leadership the town created multiple parks, cleaned up blight and furthered progress on the redevelopment of the large-scale projects in the Mausert Block and Greylock Glen. 
 
"Being a town administrator, I have always prioritized development. Economic growth in Adams has been my highest priority," Butler said. "A lot of the things I've done in Adams will translate to a countywide scale."
 
The 32-year-old said he is "fond" of what the chamber does for businesses and when the position opened, he felt it was a good platform to make a bigger impact.
 
"It really just seemed like something that would be a great opportunity for me," Butler said.
 
Butler is a 2000 graduate of Hoosac Valley High School and went to college at Franklin Pierce University. He is a candidate for a master's degree from Suffolk University in public policy and political science. 
 
While earning most of his credit prior to taking the job in Adams, Butler secured a job as an legislative and policy director for state Sen. Benjamin Downing. That led him to the job in Adams.
 
"Growing and retaining the next generation of leadership is not just a Berkshire Chamber strategy, it's essential for the continued prosperity of Berkshire County. [Butler] not only understands that completely, he embodies it: his career represents an ideal example of the opportunities that exist here for those willing to invest in themselves and embrace responsibility," said Berkshire Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Peter Stasiowski.
 
The Adams Board of Selectmen is expected to name a search committee and begin the process of finding a replacement. Butler said he will be helping to create a "smooth transition" to the next administrator. Butler had already told the board that he was not looking to re-sign another contract and as recently as last month warned them that he would be willing to start a new job before his contract expires next June.
 
"We are going to name an interim town administrator, who is a department head and will watch things," Butler said.
 
Meanwhile, June Roy-Martin will continue as interim president of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.
 
The chamber made the announcement Wednesday morning during its monthly Good News Business Salute, which celebrated milestones by Pittsfield Co-Operative Bank,  Berkshire United Way, Berkshires Jazz Inc., StoneHouse Properties LLC, and Moments House Inc.

Nathan Ware, East regional director of AdTaxi Networks, spoke on the growing importance of mobile advertising in promoting business. The breakfast was sponsored by The Berkshire Eagle and Warren Dews, vice president of audience, sales and marketing of its parent New England Newspaper Inc., was the emcee.


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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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