BIC Announces 2025 TEDx Berkshires Speakers

10:53AM / Saturday, September 27, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Innovation Center (BIC) will host TEDx Berkshires on Oct. 9 at the BIC.

TEDx Berkshires is a local, independently organized event that brings the TED experience to the Berkshires by presenting ideas from "thought leaders." This year’s event will be held from 2:00 – 5:00 pm, with a reception to follow.

Tickets are now available and seating is limited.

"Innovation usually starts with an idea, sparked in response to a need for change or a desire to improve," said TEDx Berkshires Executive Producer Stephen Boyd, CEO of Boyd Biomedical in Lee. "The TEDx Berkshires stage offers the perfect showcase to share the success of diverse ideas and the vision of the Berkshire Innovation Center. Collective wisdom always wins, and we are thrilled to promote this year’s event as a community focused on life-long learning and exploring technology together."

The 2025 lineup includes:

Dr. Maria Sirois, Consulting Fellow and Chief Wisdom Integrator at LeaderMom, will present on strengthening health and optimism and building a better world for others and the planet.
Dr. Natalie Nixon, Author & CEO of Figure 8 Thinking, will present on new ways to think about creativity – through the lenses of wonder and rigor.
Dr. David Barzilai, Founder & CEO, Longevity Physician, and Healthspan Best Practices Pioneer, will explore the importance of a prevention-first, personalized approach to health and wellness.
Dr. Jennifer Le Blond, Managing Director of Emerging Climatetech at MassCEC, will discuss actionable strategies for sustaining momentum and ensuring Massachusetts remains a global hub for ClimateTech innovation.
Dr. Damon Diehl, Director of Technology at Luminate Optics Accelerator will present his idea that time is the only currency and get us thinking - are we living a life we would pay for?
Dr. Manolis Kellis, Professor of Computer Science at MIT and member of the Broad Institute will present on unleashing human creativity in an AI world.

"We are thrilled to have an eclectic lineup of speakers with unique backgrounds and insights," said IP Attorney, TEDx Berkshires Executive Producer and BIC Board Vice-Chair, Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank. "We invite everyone to come learn, and be inspired by a tapestry of thought-provoking discussions with fresh perspectives and contemporary relevance."

2025 marks the third year that the Berkshire Innovation Center will be the host of TEDx Berkshires. The inaugural TEDx Berkshires was held in Lenox in 2010 and was produced by Ethan Berg, Jamie Berg, and Dr. Mark Liponis.

Tickets for TEDx Berkshires are $100 for seating in the main stage area, or $75 for seating in the auditorium, and will include a reception following the TEDx talks.

Visit https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/tedx-berkshires-2025 for more information.

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Pittsfield Traffic Commission OKs Stop Signs, Parking Requests

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:48AM / Wednesday, August 12, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Traffic Commission granted stop signs and downtown parking requests during its recent regular meeting.

A petition from Ward 7 Councilor Kathy Moody to install stop signs at the corner of Thomas Road and Thomas Island Road was approved. One sign will be installed at Thomas Road and Thomas Island Road, and one at the corner of Thomas Island Road and Pecks Road.

Moody said for some reason, people don't understand they need to stop at the "very clear" intersection into the neighborhood alongside Onota Lake off Peck's Road.

"It's really difficult to see right there. Because of the corners, people are not stopping, and I have several phone calls from constituents that live on Thomas Island who have nearly been in very bad accidents there," she explained about the corner of Thomas Road and Thomas Island Road.

"If we could put a stop sign there, that would be terrific. It would help improve the safety of the neighborhood. It's a very small neighborhood. The roads are narrow. There are pedestrians everywhere. Having a stop sign to protect people at that almost blind corner would be very useful."

Police Sgt. David Hallas couldn't recall any significant vehicle accidents in that area, but said that speeding on that section of Peck's Road is "quite an issue."

Other commissioners commented that the roads on the island are very narrow, and it is one of the few places with mirrors so that drivers can see around corners.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren's request for a stop sign at the intersection of Partridge Road and Oak Hill Road was also approved. He said it is a similar situation to Thomas Island.

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