PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Workforce and Community Education department at Berkshire Community College (BCC) presents the final segment of its Berkshire Summit Signature Series, "AI for Nonprofits," on Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

 

The half-day session will be held in the Koussevitzky Arts Center, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield.  

 

The fee for the summit is $75. The event is free for BCC students, faculty and staff. To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/summit. 

 

The summit is designed for tourism and hospitality leaders, solo business owners and small teams who want practical, strategic ways to use AI to save time, improve operations, enhance guest experiences and stay competitive. Participants will hear from industry professionals through a keynote, featured sessions and a closing fireside chat covering tools for market research, knowledge management and software development. 

 

About the Speakers and Facilitators

 

Randy Kinnas, keynote speaker, serves as the Chief Executive Officer of UCP of Western Massachusetts and BFAIR. With more than 21 years of experience as a nonprofit CEO and over three decades in human services leadership, Kinnas has built a reputation for strategic vision, collaboration and organizational growth. Prior to his current role, he served as COO of the Alliance of MA YMCAsC and CEO of both the Northern Berkshire YMCA and the Pittsfield Family YMCA. He holds a master's degree in human service administration from Springfield College and further enhanced his leadership expertise through Harvard University's Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program. 

 

Samantha Anderson is the Executive Director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires with a background in mission-driven leadership, nonprofit management, philanthropy and organizational strategy. She designs programs that respond to community needs, diversify revenue and elevate organizational visibility — from Berkshire County nonprofits to global philanthropy initiatives. She previously led Essential~Wholeness LLC and has held leadership roles at Heading for Change, the Jewish Funders Network and Jewish Women INVEST, Arabella Advisors, the Skoll World Forum and the Yale School of Management–Goldman Sachs Foundation Partnership on Nonprofit Ventures. Anderson holds degrees from Tufts University and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. 

 

Mark Avnet has spent more than three decades at the intersection of advertising, technology, creativity and learning. He has built digital and innovation groups at several advertising agencies and most recently led professional development and AI integration initiatives at the Interactive Advertising Bureau. Avnet has taught at Marist College, New York University, Syracuse University and Virginia Commonwealth University's Brandcenter graduate program. His current work focuses on helping organizations and their people use AI effectively, thoughtfully and responsibly. He is a member of the Institute for Advertising Ethics/IEEE working group on AI for Human-Powered Advertising, where he is helping develop standards for the industry. 

 

Adam Graney helps businesses turn AI complexity into competitive advantage. A co-founder of Gold Flamingo AI Solutions, Graney has more than 15 years of digital expertise and team leadership and more than three years specializing in AI integration, with a strong foundation in communication, marketing and software development. He also leads the AI initiative at BCC, where he has developed five AI workshops and teaches a 10-week AI for Business course. His work reflects a commitment to making AI practical, accessible and valuable for business professionals. 

 

Dr. Stacey M. Silkey Schultze, Ed.D., MFA is an education, strategy and research consultant based in the Berkshires. She supports nonprofits through data gathering, analysis, synthesis and application of findings that connect proficient project management with goal realization. As an experienced educator, she seeks to highlight others' talents and promote their personal and professional growth. Her research centers on leadership and professional practices concerning collective efficacy, perceived insider status, job satisfaction, partnership trust, adult education and lifelong learning.  

 

AI for Nonprofits is sponsored by BFAIR, UCP of Western Massachusetts and Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires.