Hillcrest CEO Invited To Join Mass. Business Roundtable

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Gerard Burke
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hillcrest President and CEO Gerard Burke has been asked to join the Massachusetts Business Roundtable.

The MBR is a statewide public affairs organization of chief executive officers and area executives of the state’s leading companies representing a range of Massachusetts industry and business enterprises.

"The Massachusetts Business Roundtable is thrilled to add Jerry, a proven business leader from Berkshire County, to our group of 68 top executives, who are working to strengthen the state's economic vitality," said Roundtable Executive Director J.D. Chesloff. "His leadership through the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce, his commitment to improving public education and his passion for providing services to some of our most vulnerable citizens all make him a welcome addition to the Roundtable, which is working to develop sound public policies that make Massachusetts a better place to live, work and raise a family."

A CEO's participation in the Roundtable means that he or she is concerned with quality of life issues in Massachusetts and is willing to work directly with peer business leaders to study and address key public policy issues such as health care, economic development and education.

Their mission is to inform the state's elected and appointed leaders by applying the knowledge, experience, insight and unique managerial perspective of its membership toward the resolution of complex public policy issues. Through research, evaluation and communication, the Roundtable strives to influence the state's public policy agenda, and develop and articulate long-term views, programs and policies that promote the economic and social vitality of Massachusetts.

“I am honored to be included in this prestigious group of leaders in Massachusetts. I look forward to developing relationships with business peers and to collaborate on work that is important to the commonwealth, in particular, Berkshire County," said Burke.

As a statewide business group, MBR now has four business leaders from Berkshire County: Burke, C. Jeffrey Cook of Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook LLP; Berkshire Bank President and CEO Michael P. Daly; and Petricca Industries CEO Perri Petricca.
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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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