BCArc Names New Chief Operating Officer

11:46AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc has named Sonja Haecker the new Chief Operating Officer.

Haecker has been serving as the Agency's Executive Vice President, overseeing a wide range of programs for BCArc.

"Sonja continues to show incredible leadership," said Maryann Hyatt, President & CEO. "She is a great motivator, demands high standards, and has great energy for advancing this agency forward. The staff and families are well-served with her as the new Chief Operating Officer."

Haecker's responsibilities, in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, cover the Agency's program operations and strategic planning, along with specific areas such as Clinical Services -- Nursing & Behavioral Supports – and Community Services Programs, including Adult Family Care program, Family Support & Advocacy, Employment & Vocational Services, Day Habilitation programs, and Community-Based Day Services.

Previously, Haecker was the Vice President of Community Services and the Director of Family Support & Advocacy where she expanded the Adult Family Care program, strengthened Family Support Services, and successfully spearheaded several new Agency initiatives.

Haecker has presented at conferences statewide and nationally and has been recognized by the Arc of Massachusetts for her Leadership in Family and Individual Supports. She is a Massachusetts Ambassador for the national initiative "Charting the LifeCourse," and serves on the Clark Art Institute Accessibility Advisory Council.

She holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of New England, a Master's in Education from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, where she is a Distinguished Alumna, and a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work from the College of Saint Rose. She is also an Adjunct Professor in the Social Work program at Berkshire Community College.

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Lenox Applying for Housing Rehab Program

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
11:35AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026

LENOX, Mass. — The town is applying for a federal Housing Rehabilitation Program to help low- and moderate-income residents fix their homes.

The Select Board last Wednesday voted to authorize Bailey Boyd Associates to apply for the Community Development Block Grant funding for fiscal 2026.

The grant is up to $1,150,000 and will help with the renovation of 13 homes with zero-percent interest, deferred-payment forgivable loans.

Cassie Boyd Marsh, president of Bailey Boyd Associates, a community development consultant, explained how the program will work.

"The program prioritizes health and safety, including weather, vacant and other health and safety issues, septic, repair and replacement, roofs, windows, insulation, siding," she said. "We kind of work from the most demanding things in and so we're looking to apply for the next round, because the wait list is so long, we think we could keep applying year on year. That's the goal for as long as there's a need in Lenox."

Marsh said Lenox and Sandisfield have the option to apply together for upwards of $1.25 million, which would help about 13 units with repairs of up to $70,000.

"We can spend up to $70,000 per home. That's a 15-year, zero percent deferred forgivable loan, meaning that if you stay in your home, you don't pay it back. And with each year that passes, 1/15 of your loan is forgiven if you do happen to move and sell your home, the remaining loan comes back to the town of Lenox, which can be put toward programs like this," Marsh said.

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