BIC to Host a Panel Discussion on Crypto Capitalism

08:26AM / Wednesday, March 23, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) will host a panel discussion: Rise of Crypto Currency: Crypto, Blockchain, and NFTs on Thursday, March 31, 2022, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

This free event will take place in-person at the Berkshire Innovation Center, 45 Woodlawn Avenue, Pittsfield, MA and will also be live-streamed.

The Berkshire Innovation Center is bringing together a panel of blockchain and crypto enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, and patent counsel to discuss the future of crypto and blockchain.

The discussion panel will be Moderated by Ben Sosne, Executive Director of the Berkshire Innovation Center. Speakers are Justin McKennon, CEO and Co-Founder of CoinBusters.io; Dave Nadig, Chief Investment Officer & Director of Research at ETF Database; Chetan (Chet) Manikantan, Founder and CEO of StonkLeague; Giovanna Fessenden, Counsel at Hamilton Brook Smith Reynolds; and Tim Loew, Executive Director of MassDigi at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI).

"The world of cryptocurrency, NFTs, and blockchain is fundamentally changing the way people exchange data, currency, and communicate. The technology is real, and the use cases are many, and they're growing more and more every day," said Justin McKennon, CEO and Co-Founder of CoinBusters.io. "This event will shed insight into how this technology is becoming more and more a part of everyday life, in an effort to help the audience understand how it will impact their lives over the next decade and beyond."

"We are glad to be hosting this event at the Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC)," said Ben Sosne, Executive Director. "This state-of-the-art facility is designed to welcome people and we look forward to opening our doors for this panel discussion organized by two of our Board members, Justin McKennon and Giovanna Fessenden."

For more information and to register for this free event, visit www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/programming/rise-of-crypto-capitalism-panel-discussion. For help with registration: allison@the-bic.org.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Restructure

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to restructure the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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