Berkshire United Way Board Welcomes Three New Members

08:18AM / Thursday, August 21, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Berkshire United Way (BUW) welcomes three community leaders – Stephanie Ham, Jennifer Kerwood and Bethany Kieley – to its board of directors.

At a time when our neighbors are facing growing challenges and uncertainty, the mission of Berkshire United Way is more important than ever," offered BUW Interim President and CEO Katherine von Haefen. "The leadership, experience and commitment that Stephanie, Jennifer and Bethany each bring to the table will be invaluable in ensuring that everyone in our community has an opportunity to thrive."

Ham is an assistant branch manager and digital banking guru for Adams Community Bank. She has nearly two decades of experience in retail banking. As a member of the bank's Culture Committee and ACB Impact Committee, she has led the annual snack drive for Morris Elementary School as well as efforts to support POPCares, The AYJ Fund and The Alzheimer's Association.

"I have a passion for giving back and volunteering in the Berkshire community. BUW's and ACB's approach to supporting our community are very much aligned and I look forward to representing both organizations. I hope to inspire others to get involved and make a meaningful impact in Berkshire County," said Ham.

Kieley is the CEO of Community Health Programs and has nearly two decades of leadership experience in the healthcare field. She once served as a table captain for a United Way Women United's Power of the Purse event and has volunteered with a food pantry in Connecticut and Literacy Volunteers of Southern Connecticut.

"Serving on the Berkshire United Way board is a perfect extension of the community impact we have at CHP Berkshires. I'm inspired and motivated by BUW's work providing financial support to critical community resources and bringing together organizations, volunteers and other community members to tackle some of our biggest problems," said Kieley.

Kerwood is the director of philanthropy at Miss Hall's School. She has almost 30 years of experience advancing the missions and fundraising for local organizations including Berkshire Community College and Berkshire United Way. Prior to her development career, she worked in Massachusetts government and politics, mostly campaigning with Jane Swift from North Adams, the first woman to serve as governor of the Commonwealth. She is an appointed member of the Board of Registrars of Voters in Pittsfield and formerly served as a director and treasurer on the board for Berkshire Arts and Technology (BART) Charter Public School in Adams.

"I love my community and I am honored to join this team as we work to help more of our neighbors thrive," said Kerwood.

The board also includes Krystle Blake (chair), Melissa Orazio (vice chair), Jaime Campbell (treasurer), David Reinhart (clerk), Dr. William DeMarco, Laurie Gallagher, David Harrington, Rachel Melendez Mabee, Arthur Milano, Chris Montferret, Tiffany Moreno, Michael Obasohan, Timothy O'Donnell, Kristin Pedrotti, Stephanie Storie and Daltrey Turner.

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Healey Announces Housing Development Supports at Former Pittsfield Bank

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:29PM / Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Gov. Maura Healey poses with the bank's old safe. The building is being refurbished for housing by Allegrone Companies. The project is being supported by a commercial tax credit and a $1.8M MassWorks grant for infrastructure improvements.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Gov. Maura Healey stood in the former Berkshire County Savings Bank on Tuesday to announce housing initiatives that are expected to bring more than 1,300 units online.

"People come here from all over the world. We want them to stay here, and we want kids who grew up here to be able to afford to stay here, but the problem is that for decades, we just weren't building enough housing to keep up with demand," she said.

"And you guys know what happens when there isn't enough supply: prices go up. We have among the lowest vacancy rates in the country, so against that challenge, we made it our priority from day one to build more homes as quickly as possible."

Approximately $8.4 million from the new Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative (CCTCI) is designed help communities transform empty or rundown commercial buildings into new homes along with $139.5 million in low-income housing tax credits and subsidies through the Affordable Housing Development grant program.

The historic 24 North St. with a view of Park Square has been vacant for about two years, and Allegrone Companies plans to redevelop it and 30-34 North St. into 23 mixed-income units. The administration announced its Commercial Conversion Tax Credit Initiative (CCTCI) and the Affordable Housing Development grant program as ways to aid housing production, both of which Pittsfield will benefit from.

The state is partnering with Hearthway for the construction of 47 affordable units on Linden Street, utilizing the former Polish Community Club and new construction, and Allegrone for its redevelopment of the block.

The Linden Street project is one of the 15 rental developments the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is supporting through $25.7 million in federal low-income housing tax credits, $32.4 million in state low-income housing tax credits, and $81.4 million in subsidies.

Allegrone's project is supported by the commercial tax credit and was recently awarded $1,800,000 from the MassWorks Infrastructure Program.

Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll said she fully comprehends the importance of housing and how crushing it is in communities that need it and want to build, but face difficulties with high construction costs.

"Housing is the key to keeping people in the community in a safe way and giving them an opportunity to fill those many roles that we need throughout the Commonwealth in cities and towns, large and small, urban and rural, these are all important work. Having somebody fix your boiler, fix your car, we want those individuals to be able to live in our communities as well, particularly in our gateway cities," she said.

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