BCC Announces New Staff, Promotions

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of four staff members, two promotions and a title change.   
 
New Staff 
Lori DuBois joins BCC as EDP System Analyst III – LMS Administrator in the Division of Teaching and Learning Innovation. Originally from Maine, DuBois earned her BA in Psychology with a minor in Education from Colby College and a MS in Library Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Most recently, she was a customer support specialist and trainer for the ed-tech company Springshare. Previously, she was a reference librarian and instruction coordinator at Williams College. At BCC, DuBois will be managing the learning management system and supporting faculty in their use of instructional technologies. 
 
Michelle Mellace joins BCC as Administration and Finance Division Manager. Mellace brings over 20 years of experience in contract management and 18 years in public purchasing. Most recently, she served as the Money School Coordinator at the Elizabeth Freeman Center, where she coordinated their financial independence program and provided comprehensive support to participants. Previously, she was Program Manager at General Dynamics Mission Systems and Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Pittsfield. Mellace holds an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management and a bachelor of science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.  
 
Jessica (Jess) Pemble joins BCC as Administrative Assistant II for Workforce Development and Community Education. She was most recently Senior Administrative Assistant for Charter Communications (Spectrum)'s Western Massachusetts and Eastern New York technical operations management teams. Pemble brings over 18 years of experience in office administration, management support, data analysis and events coordination. She resides in Dalton with her two sons, Jaxson and Logan, who keep her spare time busy with sporting events and local children's theater shows. She enjoys playing golf, exploring new hiking trails and spending as much time as possible with family. 
 
Thomas Weeks joins BCC as Network/Systems Administrator. He brings extensive expertise in IT, encompassing servers, switches, applications and cybersecurity. Before joining BCC, Weeks was the IT Manager at Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing. Previously, he was the Associate Director of IT at a performing arts theater in New York City. Together with his wife Shannon and their dog Reese, Weeks relocated to Pittsfield two years ago and has been enjoying the natural beauty of Berkshire County. In his leisure time, he is an avid kayaker and paddleboarder, and he also enjoys building furniture and engaging in restoration projects. 
 
Promotions 
Kelsey Breault is now Director of Payroll & Budget Management. She was previously Payroll Manager, a position she held since joining BCC in April 2024. 
 
Tom Warner is now the Senior Network & Data Warehouse Administrator. He was previously Network & Systems Administrator. Warner has been with BCC since July 2012. 
 
Title Change 
Abby Powers is now Interim Student Engagement and Communications Specialist. She was previously Administrative Assistant – Student Engagement, a position she held since April 2021. 
 

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PHS, Taconic Seniors Honored With Superintendent's Award

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Taconic's Nicholas Kerwood and Pittsfield High's Lisa Chen are the top students in the class of 2025. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Two Pittsfield Public Schools seniors have been recognized for excellence in and out of the classroom.

Pittsfield High School's Lisa Chen and Taconic High School's Nicholas Kerwood were given the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents' Certificates of Academic Excellence during Wednesday's School Committee meeting.

The annual award is given to students who go above and beyond in academic achievement and community involvement.

Guidance counselor Jillian Galvagni, who has known Kerwood for four years while attending Taconic commended him for an impressive workload of advanced courses and inspiring leadership in extracurriculars.

"Nicholas has consistently demonstrated a remarkable commitment to advancing educational opportunities and promoting excellence within the academic community," she wrote in a letter of recommendation.

"His proactive approach to educational leadership and his ability to inspire and empower both students and educators are truly impressive."

Along with being at the top of his class, Kerwood has taken six Advanced Placement courses and 11 honors courses during his high school tenure. He is currently taking three AP courses at Berkshire Community College and still finds time to be a part of the Taconic community.

"Nicholas is the kind of leader who brings people together. As captain of the cross country team, a member of several clubs, and part of the theater department, he's always working to keep communication flowing and build strong connections. He has made a real difference during his time at Taconic," Galvagni wrote.

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