PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A museum administrator with more than three decades of experience with institutions in Texas and California is coming east to take the reins of the Berkshire Museum.
Kimberley Bush Tomio comes from the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, where she was director of museum services for the past decade. Her hiring was announced on Monday by museum President Ethan Klepetar, on behalf of the board of trustees.
Her appointment as executive director comes nearly a year after the sudden departure of Jeff Rodgers last September after 2 1/2 years with the museum. The board contracted with national search firm m/Oppenheim earlier this year to find a new leader for the 119-year-old nonprofit institution.
Bush Tomio also spent 12 years as director of the Tyler (Texas) Museum of Art, where she was responsible for all aspects of administration, programming, and operations.
"Kim brings an amazing amount of experience, talent and passion to the museum, and an additional perspective to the role of executive director. It's clear from her past work, and from getting to know her during the search process, that she is an extremely talented and hardworking museum professional," said Klepetar in a statement. "She is a proven leader who will continue to create exciting exhibitions and inclusive programs that welcome all audiences. We are fortunate to have her as the next executive director of the Berkshire Museum and the board can't wait to start working with her."
The Berkshire Museum was founded in 1903 by Zenas Crane of Crane & Co. along the lines of the popular natural history museums of the time. The institution includes art, local history, natural history, an aquarium and historical artifacts that include the mummy Pahat. The museum in this century has embraced technology and innovation in its educational exhibits and programming. Some $3.6 million has been spent over the last several years on infrastructure upgrades and building improvements.
Bush Tomio will join the Berkshire Museum team at the end of August, as the museum prepares for the coming exhibition season. Having managed hundreds of national, regional, and international exhibitions, led community outreach initiatives, participated in the planning and execution of museum expansion and renovation projects, and developed long-term strategic planning, Bush Tomio comes to Downtown Pittsfield to lead the venerable institution into its next chapter, said museum officials.
She holds a master of museum studies from Johns Hopkins University.
"I am honored to have been selected to lead one of the most remarkable museums of its kind in the country. I look forward to working in collaboration with the staff and board to meet the expectations of the community in building upon its legacy of transformational educational and cultural experiences and anticipate with excitement what the future may bring," said Bush Tomio.
Editor's note: an earlier version of this article had incorrect information on Bush Tomio's degrees. iBerkshires regrets the error.
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BRPC Committee Mulls Input on State Housing Plan
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's Regional Issues Committee brainstormed representation for the county in upcoming housing listening sessions.
"The administration is coming up with what they like to tout is their first housing plan that's been done for Massachusetts, and this is one of a number of various initiatives that they've done over the last several months," Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said.
"But it seems like they are intent upon doing something and taking comments from the different regions across the state and then turning that into policy so here is our chance to really speak up on that."
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and members of the Housing Advisory Council will host multiple listening sessions around the Commonwealth to hear input on the Healey-Driscoll administration's five-year strategic statewide housing plan.
One will be held at Berkshire Community College on May 15 at 2 p.m.
One of Matuszko's biggest concerns is the overall age of the housing stock in Berkshire County.
"And that the various rehab programs that are out there are inadequate and they are too cumbersome to manipulate through," he explained.
"And so I think that there needs to be a greater emphasis not on new housing development only but housing retention and how we can do that in a meaningful way. It's going to be pretty important."
Non-commission member Andrew Groff, Williamstown's community developer director, added that the bureaucracies need to coordinate themselves and "stop creating well-intended policies like the new energy code that actually work against all of this other stuff."
Downtown Pittsfield Inc. proposed angled parking on North Street and was pleasantly surprised that the city responded with an in-depth study and new plans — even if they don't include angled parking.
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Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.
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Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
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