BHS Announces Two New Trustees

09:01AM / Monday, October 17, 2022Print Story | Email Story

David Moresi and Ana Suffish were elected to the BHS Board of Trustees.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the election of David Moresi and Ana Suffish to the BHS Board of Trustees.

Moresi and Suffish were both recently elected to three-year terms.

"We are excited to welcome Ana and David to the BHS Board of Trustees," said BHS President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz. "Both are recognized leaders in our community, and BHS will be lucky to benefit from their perspectives as we continue working to advance health and wellness for everyone in the region."

David Moresi, a native of North Adams, studied at Union College in Schenectady, NY, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1997. He soon returned to the Berkshires where he embarked on an entrepreneurial career. In 2000, Moresi established the firm of Moresi & Associates, a diverse real estate management, investment, and development company in North Adams. He has made a strong commitment to bringing jobs and businesses to North Adams and has had great success with achieving that with the redevelopment of the NORAD Mill. Moresi has developed numerous small businesses for more than a decade, including the NORAD Toy & Candy Company, NORAD Café, as well as being a partner in Moresi Real Estate Partners and co-owner of Grazie Italian Ristorante. He serves as Chair of the Williamstown Fire District Prudential Committee, Treasurer of the Board of Northern Berkshire EMS, and is a member of the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board. He resides in Williamstown with his wife, Amy, and two daughters, Tess and Alli.

Ana Suffish has been the director of the Berkshire Community College Adult English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Program since January 2018. In this role, she serves over 115 students each year, overseeing a variety of free classes for adults who are not native English speakers. Prior to her position at BCC, she worked in the Pittsfield Public School system as an ESOL tutor for seven years. A native of the Berkshires and the daughter of two Guatemalan immigrants, Suffish is a graduate of Pittsfield High School and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. She started her professional career in the human resources field in Boston but returned to the area with her husband and growing family in 2001. Suffish serves on the Board of Berkshire County Kids Place and Violence Prevention Center and enjoys hiking and alpine skiing.

Tags: BHS, BMC,

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction.

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.

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