BFAIR Names New Director of Human Resources

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – Berkshire Family & Individual Resources has appointed Michelle Baity as the director of human resources. 

A key member of the senior leadership team at BFAIR, Baity brings great experience and knowledge to the organization. Prior to joining BFAIR, Baity’s extensive human resource experience includes the past 16 years at Berkshire County ARC, most recently serving as the assistant director of human resources. During her tenure at Berkshire County ARC, she worked in all capacities within the human resource field, gaining new responsibilities and skills throughout the years.

Prior to her work in human resources, Baity's career was rooted in a dedication to the field of human services.

"With a strong background in human resources, Michelle will be an asset to the organization," said Rich Weisenflue, executive director of BFAIR. "In the past several years, BFAIR has seen tremendous growth in programs and employee base.  We are looking forward to having Michelle continue to build upon our current employee policies and maintain standards, while evaluating procedure and supporting BFAIR's continued growth throughout the Berkshires and into the Pioneer Valley."

Baity holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from MCLA. She is a 2004 graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program. A lifelong Berkshire County resident and committed to the community, she volunteers for the Berkshire Place as a member of their personnel committee, is the past president of the Reid Middle School PTO and worked on the City of Pittsfield’s Winter Carnival.

Michelle lives in Pittsfield with her husband Tim, owner of Riverbend Millwork, and two stepsons.

MCLA Class of 2024 Told 'This Is Your Time'

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:22PM / Saturday, May 11, 2024

Commencement speaker Shannon Holsey shares some advice from her father: 'My dad always said if you're not hitting a few guardrails, you're not going fast enough.' See more photos here.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts awarded 175 degree and certificates at the college's 125th commencement ceremonies on Saturday. 

 

Keynote speaker Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, said past graduations have occurred during periods of peace with little fanfare. But not so for the class of 2024. 

 

"Your class has come of an age and a moment of great conflict in our nation and for the world," she said. "A rare inflection in points in history where the size and scope of the challenges before us require that we remake our world to its renewed promise. That we align our deepest values and commitments to the demands of the new age. It's a privilege and responsibility afforded a few to a few generations. And for that task that you're now called to fulfill is huge."

 

Holsey told the class not to wait to share their opinions or ideas or to shape the world. Punctuated by applause at several points, the Native American leader said this is a world that "aches under the weight of violence, instability and threats to global order" and invests more in wars and weapons than education and health care. 

 

She referenced the experience of her own nation, dispossessed from the very land that she stood on and reduced from thousands to hundreds as they were forced to move farther west.

 

"This day of all days, is one of my birthright and seems most fitting that this place is a perfect space to celebrate and honor my ancestors who sacrificed so much to be here," Holsey said. Past leaders had seen education as a countercheck for "adapting and understanding a complex system that wasn't necessarily designed for indigenous people."

 

"I have learned that diversity in human experience gives rise to diversity in thought, which creates distinct ideas and methods of problem solving. The power of differences can make us smarter and more creative. If we accept the differences are OK," she said. "The world doesn't need more people trying to fit in like a cookie-cutter sameness."