Lenox Resident Joins the BIC Board of Directors

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Giovanna Fessenden, an attorney at the intellectual property law firm Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds, has been newly elected to the Board of Directors of the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC).
 
"I am thrilled to be appointed to the Board of Directors of the Berkshire Innovation Center," Fessenden said. "These are exciting times of technological growth, expansion, and innovation in the Berkshires. As an IP attorney, I am fortunate to work at the forefront of technological innovation. As a Berkshire resident, I look forward to working with the Berkshire Innovation Center to help further cultivate a technological renaissance in the Berkshires."
 
Giovanna is a computer scientist, intellectual property attorney, and blockchain specialist with 17 years of experience advising high tech companies and startups in software patents, software product development, software licensing, open source software licensing compliance, and intellectual property strategy. She helps Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds maintain a presence in western Massachusetts by servicing clients in that area and all over the world.
 
"We are delighted to have Giovanna join the Board. She is a tremendous asset to the community and her deep knowledge of cutting-edge technologies across a range of sectors make her an ideal addition to our team," said B. Stephen Boyd, Chair of the BIC's Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, Boyd Technologies, Inc. "She brings a unique perspective and is committed to our goal of driving economic development here in the Berkshires.  It's a great fit."  
 
Since 2018, Giovanna has received the distinction of Best Lawyers in America for her patent law expertise. For the past five years, she has also been ranked a top-rated Intellectual Property Attorney by Super Lawyers, a rating of outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Giovanna is the executive producer of TEDx Berkshires and has a TEDx talk on the Blockchain Revolution.
 
She has a family history of inventions over the last 100 years. Back in January 1938, Giovanna's great-grandfather George R. Fessenden Jr., a botanist, and conservationist, developed and patented a process of preserving animal and plant specimens in clear plastic, which was quickly adopted by the Department of Agriculture. She is also related to prolific inventor Reginald Fessenden, the first to transmit speech by radio (1900) and the first to transmit and receive two-way radio telegraphic communication across the Atlantic Ocean (1906).
 
Giovanna is a frequent speaker on the topics of open source, blockchain, non-fungible tokens (nfts), and esports technologies. She frequently speaks on these topics at many national and global events, including as a panelist on medical devices and open source technology at the MIT Enterprise Forum in Cambridge, MA in 2020, blockchain and gaming at the LES Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ in 2019, software patents at the MIP International Women's Leadership Forum in London in 2017, and blockchain payment systems at the Casino Esports Conference (CEC) in Las Vegas, NV in 2019.

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Friday Front Porch Feature: Allendale Pines North

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Are you looking for an inexpensive home to raise your family in? Then this might be the home for you. And if not, there's a couple other options.

Our Friday Front Porch is a weekly feature spotlighting attractive homes for sale in Berkshire County. This week we are showcasing model homes at Allendale Pines North.

Teton Management is opening its new manufactured housing development next Allendale Pines at 395 Cheshire Road, and has three different model homes to choose from.

The Monroe with a full porch and with a half-porch, and The Aspire are available to move into in March. 

All the models have three bedrooms and two baths in 1,280 square feet, and include two parking spaces. The Monroe full-porch is on the market for $194,900, Monroe half-porch $189,900, and The Aspire for $204,900. View a video tour here.

The lot rent is $550 a month and it includes trash removal and recycling, as well as water and sewer. Tenants are responsible for their own utilities and lawn care/snow removal. Dogs and cats are allowed, for up to two pets.

We spoke with Val Whaling from Teton Management about the new homes.

What do you think makes this property stand out in the current market? 

The three models — Monroe Full- Porch, Monroe Half -Porch, and The Aspire — are Titan Home products manufactured by Champion Homes and stand out in the current market because:

  • The purchase price of these homes is well below current market rate single-family homes in Berkshire County.

  • The 5 Star Energy-Efficient rating (featuring energy-efficient windows and high- performance insulation) and one-year warranty on the home, sets these homes apart from older, stick-built homes.

  • These homes are built to strict HUD standards and include structural integrity in order to meet federal standards for durability, safety and wind resistance.

Are there any stand-out design features? 

Stand out features include: open concept floorplan, covered porches, stainless steel appliances, large laundry room /mudrooms, and large glass walk-in showers.

What kind of buyer do you see this home being perfect for? 

First time homebuyers/ professionals preferring home ownership vs. renting, empty nesters wanting to downsize, and cost-conscious individuals preferring the affordability of these homes.

What's the neighborhood like? 

Allendale Pines North will be comprised of 22 brand-new homes, on individual lots, set on beautiful property, neighboring the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail. The property is located at 395 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, offering proximity to retail shopping and dining. Additionally, Allendale Pines North property is well managed by a reputable owner/operator. (All adult community residents are approved via community application approval process.).

What would you say to a buyer trying to imagine their life in this space? 

"Imagine the cost savings of owning a brand-new, energy-efficient home, easy to maintain and allowing the convenience of modern day and easy living, in a quiet, well-managed community."

What does the home come with? 

Included are: Stainless steel Whirlpool appliances (refrigerator with icemaker, dishwasher, and gas stove/oven), and closets equipped with shelf/hanging rod. Plus an 8-by-10-foot Amish built shed, two wooden entrance stairs with wooden handrails and black wrought iron spindles, two-car driveway, sidewalks and brand-new water/sewer infrastructure.

You can find out more about these homes on its listing here.

*Front Porch Feature brings you an exclusive to some of the houses listed on our real estate page every week. Here we take a bit of a deeper dive into a certain house for sale and ask questions so you don't have to.

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