BCC's '40 Under Forty' Winners to be Honored

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), together with partners 1Berkshire and Mill Town Foundation, will honor the winners of its annual 40 Under Forty Awards on Thursday, March 27 at 5 pm in the Robert Boland Theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield.  

Tickets are $75 per person (free for award winners and one guest per winner) and may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix. Proceeds benefit support Workforce programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting endowment. 

According to a press release, 40 Under Forty celebrates talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who have a deep dedication to improving the quality of life for those living and working in our community. Nominees, who hail from throughout Berkshire County, are eligible for the award through their professional work and how it makes a difference, their personal commitment to their community, or other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working the Berkshires. 

Mill Town Foundation, for the second consecutive year, will provide funding for each 40 Under Forty Award winner to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization. 

Designed to promote purposeful giving, the Mill Town Foundation initiative encourages each award winner to research area nonprofit organizations to gain an extensive understanding of their mission and work before choosing which group to support. 

The winners, along with their non-profit of choice to receive the $1,000 funding, are: 

  • Melissa Agosto, Director of Finance, Austen Riggs Center; donating to Berkshire Children’s Chorus 
  • Abigail Allard, Development & Communications Manager, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center; donating to Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center 
  • Christian Bianchi, CEO, Berkshire Family YMCA; donating to Community Access to the Arts (CATA) 
  • Dr. Ashley Clancy-Gagnon, Audiologist, Berkshire Medical Center; donating to Berkshire Humane Society 
  • Kate DeWolf, Certified Nurse Midwife, Berkshire OB/GYN & Associates; donating to Berkshire Nursing Families  
  • Marina Dominguez, Community Coordinator, Downtown Pittsfield / Founder, Katunemo Art & Healing / Owner, Maru Art & Studio; donating to Berkshire Immigrant Center 
  • Grace Enchill, Attorney, Heller & Robbins PC; donating to 18 Degrees  
  • Samantha Farella, Reading Specialist, Pittsfield Public Schools; donating to The Love of T Foundation  
  • Luke Fitzgerald, Case Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health / Executive Director, The Love of T Foundation; donating to The Love of T Foundation 
  • Mystie Ford, Fraud and Loss Prevention Officer, Greylock Federal Credit Union; donating to No Paws Left Behind 
  • Kelly Galvin, Program Director, Community Access to the Arts (CATA); donating to BRIDGE 
  • Christopher Hantman, College and Career Readiness Coordinator, BART Charter Public School; donating to PopCares 
  • Darci Hess, College and Career Readiness Coordinator, General Dynamics Mission Systems; donating to Berkshire Music School 
  • Daniel Hudson, Executive Director, Images Cinema; donating to Images Cinema 
  • Michael Jefferson, Family Medicine Physician Assistant, Community Health Programs; donating to Roots Rising  
  • Kevin Kelly, Founder & CEO, After Hours Hospitality, LLC; donating to Berkshire Bounty  
  • Matthew Kosiorek, Program Director, College Internship Program; donating to Wildcat Sports Group 
  • Hayden Kuhn, President, Thunderbolt Ski Runners (TSR) / Pharmacist, Berkshire Community Pharmacy; donating to Roots Rising  
  • Gabriela Leon, Outreach Coordinator/Recovery Coach, Berkshire Health Systems (Berkshire Connections); donating to Berkshire Humane Society’s Safe Pet Program 
  • Cheryl Martin, SVP Consumer Banking, Lee Bank; donating to Berkshire Humane Society 
  • Michael Massery, Owner/Head Coach, The Infield; donating to Baseball in the Berkshires 
  • Brandy McKie, First Vice President, Retail Banking, Lee Bank; donating to 18 Degrees 
  • Cailin McMahon, Special Education Teacher, Branches School of the Berkshires; donating to Road Runners Club of America  
  • Christina Meucci, Owner, The Recovery Room; donating to Girls Inc. at the Gladys Brigham Center 
  • Tiffany Moreno, Program Manager, Berkshire Community College; donating to Latinas413 
  • Mary Morrison, Math Teacher, Pittsfield Public Schools (Pittsfield High School); donating to Berkshire United Way 
  • LaTonia Morton, Behavioral Intervention Paraprofessional, Pittsfield Public Schools; donating to R.O.P.E. 
  • Bethany Prince-Malloy, Program Director, Family Center of Northern Berkshire, Child Care of the Berkshires Inc.; donating to Child Care of the Berkshires Inc. 
  • Adam Rice, CPA, Partner, Killeen Arace & Quinn PC; donating to No Paws Left Behind 
  • Megan Rose, Attorney, Hilgers Graben; donating to Strong Little Souls   
  • Heather Roy, Domestic Violence Specialist, Department of Transitional Assistance; donating to Elizabeth Freeman Center Inc. 
  • Allen Scaccia, Project Manager, Senior Estimator, Thermo Expert; donating to Gladys Brigham Center 
  • Ryan Sears, Executive Director, Commonwealth Collaborative; donating to Berkshire Pride 
  • Taylor Staubach, Community Conservation Senior Manager, Berkshire Natural Resources Council / Founder, Berkshire Family Hikes; donating to Berkshire Natural Resources Council 
  • Mary Summers, Owner, Tommy’s Compost Service; donating to Berkshire Agricultural Ventures 
  • Jeanna Tinney, Founder & CEO, Romans 828, LLC; donating to Berkshire REIGN Youth Sports 
  • Lyndsey Wadsworth, Systems Engineer, General Dynamics Mission Systems; donating to Elizabeth Freeman Center Inc. 
  • Jen Weber, EMS Director, Lanesborough Ambulance; donating to Western Mass Critical Incident Stress Management  
  • Rebecca Wehry, Executive Director of Development, Berkshire Community College; donating to Berkshire Community College Foundation 
  • Andy Wrba, Program Director, Mill Town Foundation; donating to Focus Is Our Children 

 


Tags: 40 under 40,   BCC,   

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Pittsfield Inaugural Artist-In-Residence at the Lichtenstein Center for the Arts

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts' inaugural Artist-in-Residence program offers an opportunity for an artist to gain creative space and exposure while engaging with the local arts community.

The program not only provides a free 6-month studio space starting in April 2025, but also includes a culminating group exhibition in October 2025, giving the resident artist a platform to showcase their work alongside the other artists at the Lichtenstein.

This residency is designed to foster artistic development and collaboration, allowing the artist to focus on creating new work or refining existing pieces while interacting with arts professionals, stated a press release.

The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is a hub for creativity and community in Pittsfield. The historic building and its location in the Upstreet Cultural District make it an ideal setting for artistic development and public engagement. Here's a quick overview:

  • Art Gallery & Performance Area
  • Artist Studios: Nine individual studios providing artists with the space to create.
  • Ceramic Studio: A specialized studio for working with ceramics.
  • Cultural Development Office: Central to supporting the arts in Pittsfield.

Named after Kitty Lichtenstein, the arts benefactor who donated the building, the center stands as a tribute to her commitment to the arts in Pittsfield and beyond. The facility itself serves as a testament to the positive impact of supporting local artists and fostering an arts scene. The Lichtenstein Center is a key resource for both emerging and established artists.

Eligibility

  • Full-time residents of Pittsfield
  • Open to both emerging and experienced artists aged 21 and up
  • Artists must have prior experience exhibiting their work

Selection Process

  • Submit a portfolio with a minimum of 5 images, which can be shared via website, social media, or email
  • Participate in an in-person meet and greet with the Cultural Development office the week of March 24

Benefits

  • Free studio space at the Lichtenstein Center for Arts from April to October
  • Opportunity to exhibit in the OUT OF THE STUDIOS group show in October 2025
  • 100 percent of sales proceeds from artwork sold at the group show
  • $200 stipend for being featured in Palace Park during one First Fridays at Five, where you can showcase your work and/or perform live demonstrations
  • Interaction and collaboration with other artists at the Lichtenstein
  • Promotion via LovePittsfield.com's social media platforms

To apply please email: cultural.development@cityofpittsfield.org.

The deadline to apply is March 19.

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