Laura Dickstein Thompson named as the new executive director of Berkshire Art Center
Stockbridge— Berkshire Art Center’s Board of Directors is excited to announce art educator and visual artist Laura Dickstein Thompson as the organization’s new Executive Director. She will succeed Berkshire Art Center’s former Executive Director, Lucie Castaldo, who stepped down in August after 15 years of service to the organization.
Thompson is an artist, meditation and Kundalini yoga teacher, museum curator, art educator, and professor. With three decades of experience in the arts and education fields, Thompson is dedicated to helping individuals and communities build confidence in their innate wisdom and utilize creativity as a restorative practice that fosters resilience, balance, and self-awareness.
From 2002 to 2023, Thompson served as the founding director of education and Kidspace gallery curator at MASS MoCA, where she designed award-winning public programs, artist residencies, and curated 30 exhibitions featuring notable artists. She holds a doctorate in education from Columbia University Teachers College and has earned a 200-hour certificate in Meditation Teaching from Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, where she is a faculty member. Additionally, she holds a 200-hour certificate in Kundalini Yoga Teaching from Yoga Farm Ithaca and teaches at Berkshire Yoga, Dance, and Fitness.
Her vision for Berkshire Art Center is to expand accessible programming and develop classes and spaces that invite everyone to explore their creative and expressive potential. “On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I would like to give a warm welcome to our new Executive Director, Laura Dickstein Thompson. Change is unavoidable and when embraced, represents a new beginning, new vision, and exhilaration,” said Board Chair, Mike Zippel. “We are all very excited for Laura’s new point of view and perspective for our beloved organization and together we shall take Berkshire Art Center into a bright and fruitful future.”
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Greylock Federal Credit Union promotes Becki Beron to assistant vice president, market manager
Pittsfield— Greylock Federal Credit Union is proud to announce the promotion of Becki Beron to Assistant Vice President, Market Manager.
Beron began her career with Greylock as a part-time teller at the Lee branch. In her new role, Beron will coordinate and supervise the ongoing activities of a region that includes Greylock’s Kellogg Street, Allendale, and Lanesborough branch locations. She will supervise and serve the branch managers and assistant branch managers within her market and advise Greylock’s senior leaders on strategies to better support the company’s mission and goals within the region. Beron is also a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor.
Beron has volunteered for Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity where she served as secretary of the Family Selection Committee, and the Women’s Build Committee. She was also a long-time volunteer with Junior League of Berkshire County, having served as President, Treasurer, VP Community Programs, and VP Membership Chair. In 2017, Beron received the Junior League Volunteer Extraordinaire Award and Greylock’s first ever “Good Neighbor Award for Community Involvement. In 2018, she received the credit union’s highest honor, the Bees Prendergast Award. Beron was also among the 2019 recipients of the 40 under Forty Award from Berkshire Community College.
“Becki has been a valued and trusted part of our team for more than 16 years now,” said Senior Vice President of Retail Services Robert Sims. “She’s very well-respected and liked by our staff and the members, and I couldn’t think of a better person for this role.”
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Berkshire Museum welcomes new trustee at annual board meeting
Pittsfield— The Trustees of Berkshire Museum held their Annual Meeting on Monday, September 16th, at which they elected officers and appointed one new Trustee.
Jeff Belair will continue as President for one more year. Rachel Melendez Mabee will continue as Secretary, and Brian Tremblay as Treasurer. Steven Storie was duly elected to serve a full term on the Berkshire Museum’s Board of Trustees.
Steven Storie joins the Berkshire Museum Board of Trustees after serving on the museum’s Facilities Committee since June 2023. After receiving his Master of Science Degree in Information Systems Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2017, Storie has held numerous positions at General Dynamics in Pittsfield, where he currently serves as an Engineering Resource Manager at Mission Systems. From 2019 to 2024, Storie was Hub Manager and Pittsfield Site Manager for GD’s Engineering Leadership Program. He also served as STEM Coordinator for General Dynamics.
“As we continue work on the plans for a significant renovation of the first floor and the museum’s aquarium, we are excited to welcome Steven to our board – a highly qualified and experienced addition. He has served on our Facilities Committee, where he brings his knowledge and skills to the museum’s building system and operations, and contributes valuable insights regarding future facility maintenance and upgrades which will help ensure the building’s longevity and sustainability. We are also grateful for the commitment of all our Trustees, past and present, who have given so much to the museum over the years,” said Jeff Belair, the museum’s Board President.
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W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project and Embrace Boston announce landmark partnership
Great Barrington— The W.E.B. Du Bois Sculpture Project and Embrace Boston have announced a unique partnership to recognize Black leaders, promote Black tourism, and support educational and business opportunities for African Americans in the region.
Embrace Boston, a nonprofit dedicated to dismantling structural racism through arts, culture, community engagement, and research and policy, previously led the creation of “The Embrace” monument honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King on the Boston Common.
In support of the Du Bois project, Embrace Boston has received a $150,000 Destination Development grant from the Massachusetts Department of Travel and Tourism. These funds will accelerate the completion of the Du Bois monument, a life-size bronze figure that will be located in front of the historic Mason Library on Great Barrington’s main street. The unveiling is planned for spring 2025. Both organizations view the monument as pivotal to enhancing the Berkshires as a destination for Black tourism, while fostering a broader focus on racial equity.
“Art pieces that honor leaders like W.E.B. Du Bois are a much-needed addition to our communities. Public art signals to future generations the values and people we hold dear,” said Dr. Imari Paris Jeffries, president and CEO of Embrace Boston. “Monuments like these are vital in transforming public spaces to represent joy and tell the fuller narrative of America. By celebrating figures like Du Bois, we present a more complete and inclusive story, reflecting the rich diversity of our state and nation.”
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MountainOne donates $5,000 for Hurricane Helene and Milton relief efforts
Berkshire— MountainOne has announced a $5,000 donation to assist with the relief and recovery efforts following the disastrous impacts of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, $2,500 each to the North Carolina Bankers Association Foundation Hurricane Helene Relief Fund and to the Florida Disaster Fund.
This financial contribution underscores MountainOne’s dedication to supporting communities in times of need, even beyond its immediate service area. The donation was made in response to a call from the Massachusetts Bankers Association, which has been coordinating efforts to rally support for disaster-stricken regions.
“While the impact of Hurricanes Helene and Milton may be far from our doorstep, we feel a profound responsibility to lend a hand, supporting those in need as they work to rebuild and recover their community,” said Robert Fraser, President & Chief Executive Officer of MountainOne.
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Josh Billings RunAground seeking to complete and update results
Berkshire— The Great Josh Billings RunAground, Inc. announced that the archivist for the Josh Billings is seeking to complete the results from this year’s race, so that they can be compared to results from prior years.
Unfortunately, Ken Platt, the timer who has been so successful with the Josh results for the past many years, was not available this year. The complexity of the race proved to be more difficult than this year’s timer expected. As a result, many split times are missing and at least one team is missing from the results. If your team is missing one or more split times or if your team is completely missing from the results, please contact: info@joshbillings.com.
The Josh is also seeking a new race director, as this year’s race director has resigned to take other employment. Major responsibilities include securing sponsors; collaborating with law enforcement, property owners, and permitting authorities; marketing the event, web management, and public relations. Interested candidates should send an email outlining past experience running races, past experience with the Josh and qualifications to info@joshbillings.com.
