BCC Announces New Staff Members, Promotions

04:21PM / Saturday, April 26, 2025Print Story | Email Story

Budzn and Quadrozzi

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces the addition of two new staff members and two promotions.

New staff

Mary Budzn joins BCC as Alumni Relations and Philanthropy Manager. Originally from Cincinnati, OH, she earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in theatre arts from Boston University. A Lenox resident, she has lived in the Berkshires since 2018, when she moved to the area to work for Shakespeare & Company’s training department, which led to her career in development. Most recently, she worked for Bard College at Simon’s Rock in various roles, including Advancement Services Associate, Annual Giving Manager, student advisor and adjunct teacher. At BCC, she will focus on supporting the Alumni Association and creating opportunities for meaningful alumni engagement. From an early age, Budzn has been passionate about singing and acting, and she values being a part of the rich and caring community of artists in the Berkshires. Her hobbies include Irish studies, poetry, traditional Chinese medicine and antiquing.

Darcy Quadrozzi joins BCC as Administrative Assistant II for Humanities, Behavioral & Social Sciences. With 25 years of experience, she arrives from Guardian, a life insurance company. There, she held several different roles, including Senior Learning Specialist and New Business Supervisor. She lives in Pittsfield with her husband Dave and two sons. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, listening to music, watching movies, going to the theater and dancing. Darcy also loves going on Maine vacations with her husband, watching the Boston Celtics with her son Liam and going to listen to her son Owen’s band play.

Promotions

Alicia Ginsberg is now Director of EEC Career Pathways Grant/Initiatives. She had been the Senior Special Program Coordinator - Early Childhood Career Pathway Grant Coordinator. She joined BCC in 2019.

Jonathan Herforth is now a Maintainer II. He had been a Maintainer I since joining BCC in May 2023.

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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