Berkshire Community College Announces Five New Hires

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College has announced new faculty and staff additions.

Jonah Sykes joined BCC as the manager of Marketing and Communications. Sykes previously worked for six years at Berkshire United Way, first as their executive assistant, then as the coordinator of marketing and communications and finally as the development manager. During his time at BUW, he oversaw the fundraising efforts of more than 190 employee charitable campaigns and led marketing efforts around website design, digital marketing analytics, and event planning.

Sykes has a bachelor of arts degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and a master of arts degree in public communication from the College of Saint Rose. He also serves as the chair of Berkshire Young Professionals and lives in Pittsfield with his husband, two dogs and two cats.

Deborah Thayer joined BCC as a database analyst in the Information Technology department. Thayer comes to the college from the CSC Corporation, a worldwide IT consulting services company. She has extensive programming and analysis experience, project management skills, and software development expertise. She received her associate's in science at BCC and went on to receive a bachelor of science degree in computer science from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

Thayer, who lives in Lanesborough, Mass., brings more than 25 years of experience in software development lifecycle, quality assurance, and data analysis.

Colleen Kays joined BCC as an accountant II in the Student Billing Office. Kays holds an associate of arts degree in Selected Studies from BCC and a bachelor of science degree in accounting from the former North Adams State College. She has worked as a data coordinator and a support and stabilization coordinator at Berkshire Children and Families for the past seven years. Prior to that, she worked in Accounts Payable at KB Toys.



Kays has extensive experience working both with families in crisis and with vendors, collections and auditors. Colleen lives in Dalton, Mass., with her husband and three children.

Tricia (Burr) Guerino joined BCC as an assistant professor of nursing in the BCC Nursing–LPN Program. She comes to the college from Berkshire Medical Center, where she has been a staff/charge nurse in the emergency department and also held a position as clinical nurse manager of Critical Care Services. Guerino's nursing education started at BCC before she earned a bachelor of science in nursing degree through the Elms College.

She is now working on her doctor of nursing practice degree and lives in Adams with her husband and three dogs. Guerino will bring her experience and knowledge to the classroom and clinical education to students in our Practical Nursing Certificate program.

Kathy Timpane joined BCC as the learning specialist in the Disability Resource Center. Timpane has worked with students with disabilities for more than 20 years. She recently comes to the college from the College Internship Program in Lee, Mass., where she served as a student advisor and wellness instructor for college-age students on the autism spectrum.  At CIP, Kathy collaborated with various departments to create treatment plans, developed and implemented individualized academic plans, and supported students in life coaching and personal development, nutrition review and guidance, and sensory integration.

Prior to her work at CIP, she served as an adventure-based counselor program coordinator and clinical case manager for Hillcrest Educational Center in Lenox. Timpane has a bachelor of arts degree in human services from Springfield College and lives in Lenoxdale with her husband.

 


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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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