Berkshire Bank Foundation Welcomes New Member of Board of Trustees

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Bank Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Berkshire Bank, has announced the appointment of Thomas W. Barney to its Board of Trustees.

Barney, a certified financial planner, is a senior vice president/wealth advisor with Berkshire Bank Wealth Management based in Lenox.

Barney has spent over 19 years with Berkshire Bank, rejoining the wealth group out of retirement to work on all aspects of client relationships, including financial planning and strategy implementation. He previously served as an officer of the Foundation and expressed his delight with returning to the board.

"While Berkshire Bank has grown as a successful company, serving the community has always been at the forefront," Barney said. "The Berkshire Bank Foundation was established to demonstrate the Bank’s dedication to its communities and neighbors. I am honored to join their board and support the Foundation's work."



The mission of the Foundation is to strengthen and improve the quality of life in communities where Berkshire Bank or its affiliates have offices. The Foundation supports programs that enhance opportunities for children and adults, specifically in the areas of community and economic development, education and meeting the needs of low- and moderate-income individuals. The Foundation also administers the Bank’s comprehensive volunteer program called the X-Team in addition to a scholarship program for high school seniors.
 
"We are so pleased to welcome Tom to the Foundation’s Board as he shares our vision to support the many community needs throughout our growing footprint," said Lori Gazzillo, director of Berkshire Bank Foundation. "Tom’s close community ties and breadth and depth of knowledge will serve as a valuable asset to our talented board."

In total Barney has over 40 years of experience working on investments, trusts, and planning, including tenures at Michigan Avenue Financial Group of Chicago, Bank of Boston’s Private Bank, Fleet Investment Services, and the First National Bank of Geneva. He is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County, recently serving as its treasurer, vice president and president. A graduate of Monmouth College, Loyola University of Chicago, the National Trust School and the Trust Management School at Northwestern University, Barney resides in Longmeadow.

 


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North Adams Regional Reopens With Ribbon-Cutting Celebration

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz welcomes the gathering to the celebration of the hospital's reopening 10 years to the day it closed. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The joyful celebration on Thursday at North Adams Regional Hospital was a far cry from the scene 10 years ago when protests and tears marked the facility's closing
 
Hospital officials, local leaders, medical staff, residents and elected officials gathered under a tent on the campus to mark the efforts over the past decade to restore NARH and cut the ribbon officially reopening the 136-year-old medical center. 
 
"This hospital under previous ownership closed its doors. It was a day that was full of tears, anger and fear in the Northern Berkshire community about where and how residents would be able to receive what should be a fundamental right for everyone — access to health care," said Darlene Rodowicz, president and CEO of Berkshire Health Systems. 
 
"Today the historic opportunity to enhance the health and wellness of Northern Berkshire community is here. And we've been waiting for this moment for 10 years. It is the key to keeping in line with our strategic plan which is to increase access and support coordinated county wide system of care." 
 
Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, under the BHS umbrella, purchased the campus and affiliated systems when Northern Berkshire Healthcare declared bankruptcy and closed on March 28, 2014. NBH had been beset by falling admissions, reductions in Medicare and Medicaid payments, and investments that had gone sour leaving it more than $30 million in debt. 
 
BMC was able to reopen the ER as an emergency satellite facility and slowly restored and enhanced medical services including outpatient surgery, imaging, dialysis, pharmacy and physician services. 
 
But it would take a slight tweak in the U.S. Health and Human Services' regulations — thank to U.S. Rep. Richie Neal — to bring back inpatient beds and resurrect North Adams Regional Hospital 
 
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