Berkshire Workforce Board Presents FY25 Workforce Impact Awards

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — MassHire's Berkshire Workforce Board recapped successes of FY25 and honored workforce professionals

The Board of Directors of the MassHire Berkshire Workforce Board (BWB) highlighted its FY25 successes and presented their FY25 Annual Workforce Awards on June 5. 

The BWB recognized the following individuals for their tireless commitment toward enhancing the region's skilled workforce:

• Community Health Programs, Inc./CHP Berkshires – Employer of the Year -  Celebrating 50 years of serving Berkshire County residents, CHP Berkshires provides medical, dental and nutrition services throughout the region and is essential in supporting the region's health. CHP has been actively engaged in career readiness programs, and is a new partner in MassHire's Healthcare Hubs grant, CHP embraced the pay-to-train model and is aiming to onboard 15 certified medical assistant through this three-year training grant.
• Heather Boyko & Chris D'Aniello – Educators of the Year. Heather has transformed Monument's internship model to allow all seniors to participate and has worked to engage a wide array of businesses in South County in providing these vital work-based-learning experiences. She has also instituted a portfolio project that allows students to document and showcase all of the knowledge and skills gained through their internship – and she does all of this while dually serving as a Math teacher. Chris has served as the driving force to enhance Monument's Automotive Technology CTE Pathway and has always been at the table for many years working to elevate career readiness and career-technical skill development as a priority for all students.
• McCann Technical & Taconic High School – Workforce Professionals of the Year.  McCann & Taconic implemented the first Career Technical Initiative (CTI) training grant for adults to address the persistent demand for skilled labor in Berkshire County.  Partnering with MassHire, CTI programs develop talent pipelines to meet the skill needs of businesses in high-demand occupations. Partnering with MassHire, McCann & Taconic implemented adult training in advanced manufacturing, welding, and auto technician.

In FY25, the BWB provided more than 40 career awareness, exploration and immersion experiences to 2,800 youth in grades 6-12.  Career Teams continued in all 11 school districts, two additional Innovation Pathways were established, and 350 internships were hosted in the region's critical industry sectors. 

Together with its regional partners and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center, BWB worked with 800 Berkshire County businesses in supporting their workforce needs, ignited the CTI initiative, provided 14 on-the-job training opportunities for the manufacturing sector, and implemented fifteen healthcare training programs for 142 individuals embarking on a career in the Healthcare sector. Additional programs, services and accomplishments can be found at www.masshireberkshire.com.   

Mayor Marchetti reappointed the following individuals to the Board & Youth Council for 2-year terms:

• Deni Evans, Dept. of Transitional Assistance
• Paul Gage, Adult Learning Center
• Tammy Gage, Pittsfield Public Schools
• Doug McNally, Frost Hollow Associates
• David Moresi, Moresi & Associates
• Brian Morrison, Central Berkshire Labor Council
• Beth Petropulos, MountainOne
• Eva Sheridan, CHP Berkshire

Youth Council

• Bryan House, 18 Degrees
• Kathy Yon, Pittsfield Public Schools liaison
• Doug McNally, Frost Hollow Associates
• Rebecca Lilley, Bliss Crumbs and Coffee

BIC Expansion to Begin This Fall

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:20PM / Monday, July 06, 2026

PEDA officials are hoping the momentum will carryover to other sites in the business park. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With about $8 million in public funding secured, the Berkshire Innovation Center is expected to break ground on its expansion this fall. 

An 8,000-square-foot addition is planned for the BIC to welcome a new company, Myrias Optics Inc.  Executive Director Ben Sosne recently gave the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority an update on the future advanced optics tech hub, the larger vision for this project. 

Myrias, a meta-optics producer, has a partnership with BIC tenant Electro Magnetic Applications for testing and simulation services. They will be able to work side by side once the expansion is complete. 

"There is not a part of me that thinks Myrias wouldn't be here looking to work with the BIC if we weren't already working with EMA," Sosne said. 

"That was the draw, 100 percent."

Governor Maura Healey visited the Berkshire Innovation Center last week to see where millions in state funding will help build a tech hub for advanced optics. 

On the same day, her administration announced a $2 million award to the BIC for its upcoming Advanced Manufacturing for Advanced Optics Lab.  This is on top of $5 million from the MA Tech Hub designation and a total of $1 million from the city’s economic development funds. 

Myrias will bring up to 55 employees to Pittsfield with an average salary of $110,000. The project's budget is being finalized, and PEDA will have to conduct a design review process for the addition. 

Sosne reported that they hope to break ground this fall, and construction will happen "relatively quickly."  Earlier in the meeting, the PEDA was notified that Mill Town Capital has closed on space on Site 9 and on Woodlawn Avenue for development.