Berkshire Money Management Hires Compliance Officer

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Money Management, a locally based investment advisory firm, has hired Jayne Bills, a veteran of Citigroup Treasury, as the firm's compliance officer.

Bills joins an already growing team of committed advisors and will be dealing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and all of its outside regulatory requirements and internal policies. She has the essential task of effectively communicating Berkshire Money Management's ethics principles and compliance regulations to the SEC and to BMM's client community.

"We are fortunate to have been able to lure Jayne away from New York City to our Berkshire-based company," said Berkshire Money Management CEO and Chief Investment Officer Allen Harris. "This area has so much to offer other young professionals, and Jayne has a lot to offer to us."

Bills attended Providence College in Rhode Island, where she met her husband Dan. She graduated in 2007 with a B.A. in quantitative economics. For a decade, the couple lived in the New York City area, "commuting, competing, and, at times, wondering if there just might be a different way of life." The arrival of their son, August, gave them the incentive to find out. It was a perfect match — the job, the "Shire" and their mutual interests — hiking, cycling, and antiquing.

"We are excited to call the Berkshires home and for our family to embrace all the wonderful things the region has to offer," Bills said. "I am so grateful to have the opportunity to join Berkshire Money Management, to be part of a company that operates with a great level of respect not only for their clients and employees, but also for their community."

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.