image description — Collier will leave the NBUW in mid-March.

NBUW Executive Director Takes New Position

Staff Reports 01:00PM / Thursday, March 03, 2022Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Northern Berkshire United Way Executive Director Christa Collier will leave her post and take a position with the Massachusetts Children's Alliance.

Collier took to social media Wednesday to announce that she accepted a position with Massachusetts Children's Alliance (MACA) as the Director of Training, Education and Special Initiatives after nearly six years as the Northern Berkshire United Way (NBUW) executive director.

"The past six years, it has been an honor to serve the community where I was born, raised and where we raised our son (now in college)," she wrote. "I have met new people, made new friends, all while learning about the realities our community members and organizations face each day."

Collier will leave the NBUW in mid-March.

The NBUW Board of Directors announced the appointment of Duffy Judge as Interim Executive Director.

"We're excited to work with Duffy," said Leah Thompson, board president. "We are thankful to Christa for all of the good work she has accomplished here in the past 5+ years and we wish her all the best."

Judge comes to NBUW from Berkshire United Way in Pittsfield where he has served as Development Manager since July 2017.

"It has been a wonderful experience at Berkshire United Way, but I yearn to serve the community in which I have raised a family, Northern Berkshire," Judge said. "This opportunity would allow me to have a direct impact on people I interact with every day and that would be the absolute ideal for me."

NBUW named Collier executive director in 2016. Prior to her appointment, she served as the executive director of the Kids Place and Violence Prevention Center in Pittsfield.

“I’m tremendously proud of everything that Northern Berkshire United Way has accomplished during the past six years,” Collier said.

These accomplishments include initiatives such as Operation Warm and the Born Learning Trail and facilitating the Northern Berkshire Housing and Homelessness Collaborative.

“I am confident that the organization is in good hands and will continue its transformational work,” Collier said.

MACA, an organization that helps victims of child abuse, is an accredited state chapter of the National Children's Alliance (NCA) and membership organization of the 12 Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) in Massachusetts.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to return to the child advocacy field and to collaborate with a community of colleagues I admire," she wrote. "In my new role I will serve as the Director of Training, Education and Special Initiatives."

Collier indicated that she still plans to serve on some local committees and boards. She is also open to volunteer opportunities.

The Board plans to announce a search for a permanent Executive Director in the coming months.

Tags: Northern Berkshire United Way,

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Healey, Driscoll's Campaign Stop Talks Housing, Health and ICE

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Wednesday, February 18, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Gov. Maura Healey acknowledged challenges and touted successes on Tuesday to a packed room at the former Johnson School on Tuesday.

Healey, standing with running mate Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll and Mayor Jennifer Macksey in front of a background "Team Healey Driscoll" logos, the governor spoke to housing, health care, education, energy, infrastructure, and public safety — declaring ICE had to "stay out" to loud applause.

"You know, there's a lot of work ahead. There's a lot of challenge out there. There's a lot of work in communities here in the state and around this country," she said, recalling how she'd stood with Mayor Jennifer Macksey at a "massive sinkhole" in the days following the extreme rain in 2023.

"I'll never forget that moment. And, you know, what can we do as a government to help and that's our job, actually, in government. DC doesn't understand but our job actually is to work together to deliver for people. That means working state and local, really tight. It means also working with our community leaders, our businesses, our not-for-profits, our schools, our hospitals and health-care systems."

Healey is running for a second four-year term as governor. On Tuesday, the Democrat released a list of mayors and legislative leaders backing her, including Macksey and Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti and the entire Berkshire state delegation.

The hall at what is now called the Residences at Amity Square was filled with former and current elected officials including city councilors, School Committee members, mayors, Select Board members from neighboring communities, as well as residents and educational, cultural and business leaders.

"The governor promised four years ago that she would not forget North Adams and not forget Western Mass, and she certainly hasn't," said Macksey in endorsing the governor. "She supported us through floods, she supported us through grants, and she is a trusted, trusted colleague in Boston who knows how to get to North Adams."

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