BNRC Welcomes Three New Members to the Board of Directors

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LENOX, Mass. — Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) announced the appointment of Grace Enchill, Chuck Leach, and Victoria Mills to its Board of Directors. 
 
In addition, local leader and previous member Timothy T. Crane returns to the Board. 
 
Grace Enchill brings a specialized legal perspective to the board. An attorney with Heller & Robbins PC in Lenox, Enchill focuses her practice on real estate, land use, and zoning. Her professional path in law and land conservation began twelve years ago when she first moved to the Berkshires, working for longtime board member and lawyer, F. Sydney Smithers. 
 
"My practice has given me a unique appreciation of how closely our community is connected to the land, its history, and its resources," Enchill said. "I am thrilled and honored to have this opportunity to support BNRC's work to conserve the landscapes that define and sustain this region."
 
Joining the board from the regional financial sector, Chuck Leach brings extensive experience in mission-driven growth. As President and CEO of Lee Bank, Leach oversaw the formation of the Lee Bank Foundation and launched the bank's financial wellness and wealth management platforms. A frequent hiker on BNRC's trail network, Leach is deeply involved in the Berkshire community. 
 
"My family and I have long enjoyed the incredible trail network and natural spaces that BNRC helps protect and steward. Having free and open access to such a high-quality network of trails is an invaluable resource for people across our community, and it's something that makes this area truly special," said Leach. "I'm honored to join the board and support an organization that plays such a critical role in preserving and expanding these opportunities for everyone."
 
Victoria Mills rounds out the new appointments with a career steeped in environmental advocacy. Mills spent 26 years at the Environmental Defense Fund and continues her public service today as a member of the Canaan, NY Town Council and co-chair of the Climate Smart Task Force. An avid hiker, Mills advocates for making the outdoors accessible to everyone.
 
"BNRC has done extraordinary work to conserve critical landscapes in the Berkshires," said Mills. "I'm excited to join the board and help carry that legacy forward – protecting lands that sustain biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and keep the natural beauty of this area accessible to all."
 
In addition to the new appointments, BNRC welcomes Timothy T. Crane back to the Board. He previously served on the Board for 22 years, including 10 as Board Chair. Tim is now retired after a career at Crane & Co. He and his wife, the poet Patty Crane, live in Windsor and have linked conservation easements on their property into the vast state-owned wildlife management properties on the Berkshire plateau. He first joined the Board of Directors in 2000.
 
"It is great to be back on the BNRC board after my one-year mandatory hiatus," said Crane. "Now, having attended my first board meeting of 2026, I am reminded of the commitment to BNRC's mission, displayed by staff, board, volunteers, and donors."
 
"BNRC is delighted to welcome Victoria, Chuck, and Grace to their new roles, and to welcome Tim back to the board," said BNRC President Jenny Hansell. "Each brings valuable expertise and a deep commitment to BNRC's mission of caring for the Berkshires' natural spaces. Their leadership will strengthen BNRC's ability to serve our community and conserve land for years to come."
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A Boutique Hotel is Bringing Guests a Luxury Stay in Lenox

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LENOX, Mass. — A new Inn is bringing a boutique-style stay for visitors and locals to enjoy.

Owners, Sullivan Capital LLC, purchased the property, located on 135 Main Street, in 2024. After a year or renovations, Garden Gables Inn is open for business. 

"Garden Gables started off as one of the many Berkshire cottages, 1790 was the date on that, and it's always operated as an inn," said Hospitality Manager Yvonne Walton. "It's just a great gathering place and relaxation spot for people to come and get the feel of Lenox, and just slow down and enjoy the nature and the surrounding area...get culture and art and see some great concerts. I think it'll be a wonderful place, definitely does more of the upper-scale hospitality." 

Owners Niko Giallouis and Eric Sullivan bought the property from the former owner. Sullivan had his eye on Lenox since attending a wedding almost 10 years ago.

"I came to a wedding in Lenox, probably six or seven years ago. Personally, just kind of fell in love with the area, and I guess that's kind of how it got on my radar. So you know from that perspective, as we got into the hotel business out towards an area, it was a place I was kind of monitoring and waiting for the right property to show up."

After purchasing the two underwent a full renovation, a project that cost around $1.5 million. The building, first built in 1780, required some TLC. Sullivan's wife, Jessica, who owns Jessica Sullivan Design, designed the inn.

Sullivan said they installed a new roof, repainted everything, renovated the bathrooms, installed new floors, a new HVAC system, and new plumbing.

"We really touched everything from the outside...I mean, all the aesthetics and layouts changed a bit," he said. "As I said, put about a million and a half into it. All new furniture, fixtures, everything. The design's completely different. It wasn't a full gut, but it was a heavy, heavy renovation."

The two like to collaborate with local businesses, and they make a point to direct visitors to local restaurants, businesses, and attractions.

"If guests are asking for recommendations, our customer service team, our guest services team, will relay that kind of information. Even if we can call and make a reservation for somebody, happy to do it," he said. "We aren't doing breakfast, but what we do is we have partnerships with a lot of the breakfast places downtown. We actually purchase a gift certificates for each person each day, so that they can use that to go downtown."

Sullivan hopes that guests don't see their inn as just a place to sleep and dump their bags, but make it an experience for anyone who stays.

"We really focus on kind of the experience side of things, so again, we want to give you the best experience you can have here...and we want that not just to be the place you put your bag and go do things. It's important to think of everything," he said.

Sullivan said partnerships are important to their business and are a way to connect with locals.

"The local partnerships, I can't stress that enough, because no matter how much and how great the room is, people are still going to want to go do other things," he said. "So, I think it just benefits everybody if we're all working together and so forth, and supporting the community, being neighborly too, because we are surrounded by residential homes...But we really try to put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, a lot of love into the building, all the details, really care about the senses," Sullivan said.

The Inn's check-in and reservations are completely online. When guests arrive, all they have to do is check in online and receive their code that they will use to enter their room. Sullivan hopes this helps create less stress for guests and gets them to their room as fast as possible, especially after a long trip.

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