September 10, 2024 — Berkshire Magazine has released the names of this year’s Berkshire 25. The annual selection recognizes individuals in the community who are the most dedicated, most creative, and most influential persons in their fields. Representing every aspect of the community, the 25 people are highlighted in the just-released fall issue of Berkshire Magazine.
These individuals have contributed tremendously to our community—selflessly, in many cases. They come from various walks of life, reflecting the diversity and dedication of people who have made themselves an integral part of our unique region. This is our 11th year of honoring a select group of individuals. Nominations were received from the community, and, with the help of a panel of advisors, the editorial board made the final selection.
“I am humbled every time I read through the list of this year’s talented and dedicated individuals,” Berkshire Magazine Editor-in-Chief Anastasia Stanmeyer writes in her “Scribbled Note” in the Fall issue.
View past Berkshire 25 honorees on Berkshire Magazine’s new website that has just been unveiled. A total of 275 individuals have been honored since 2013—a reminder of the many individuals in our community who have so greatly dedicated their time and efforts.
This year’s panel of advisors, who are all Berkshire 25 past honorees, include the following:
—BRIDGE CEO & Founding Director Gwendolyn Hampton VanSant
—Berkshire Athenaeum Director Alex Reczkowski
—Berkshire Innovation Center Director Ben Sosne
—BIFF Founder & Director Kelley Vickery
The Berkshire 25 reception will be held on Monday, September 30, at 5:30 p.m. at Barrington Stage Company’s Boyd-Quinson Stage, located at 30 Union St. in Pittsfield. Please go to barringtonstageco.org to purchase tickets. Proceeds from the ticket sales will go toward celebrating Barrington Stage’s 30th season. Catering for the reception will be provided by KJ Nosh Catering Company, and beverages will be provided by Nejaime’s Wine Cellars and TÖST Beverages. The event is presented by Old Mill Road Media and Barrington Stage Company. Masters of Ceremonies will be State Representative Smitty Pignatelli and Berkshire Magazine Publisher Dr. Joshua Sherman.
“I am looking forward to co-emceeing this year’s Berkshire 25 reception on the Boyd-Quinson Stage,” says Dr. Sherman. “I will be joined by Smitty in this heartwarming celebration. It’s an extra-special event because Smitty, who was a Berkshire 25 honoree in 2017, is wrapping up his 22-year tenure as State Representative this year. We highlight him also in the Fall issue, and we look forward to welcoming him and all the honorees at the reception. Please join us!”
The 2024 Berkshire 25:
Dr. Nisar Ahmad, a board-certified and fellowship-trained hematologist oncologist, Dr. Ahmad joined Berkshire Health Systems in 2018 and is a member of the Berkshire Medical Center (BMC) medical staff and the provider staff of the Phelps Cancer Center at BMC. Dr. Ahmad is partnered with Drs. Trevor Bayliss and Sean Mullally in providing hematology and oncology care across the county. “Dr. Ahmad’s approach to care is guided not just by his exceptional clinical judgement, but also his great compassion,” says Dr. Bayliss.
Amy Aldrich, Boston Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO’s) director of patron experience. With her staff and enthusiastic volunteers, Aldrich makes sure you leave Tanglewood content, whether from a laid-back lawn party or a seat in the Koussevitzky Music Shed. This Dalton resident began her 25 years at Tanglewood as a teenager in the box office and today is responsible for customer service, box office, ticketing services, group sales, front of house, and accessibility.
Sabrina Allard, deputy director of the Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP), is an extraordinary advocate for youth and marginalized populations. Her work at RSYP focuses on supporting high school students and young people by amplifying their voices and helping them to navigate the world. Allard is also vice president of the NAACP Berkshires. “Sabrina is a wonderful advocate for systemic reform and a great thought partner,” says Peter Dillon, superintendent of Berkshire Hills Regional School District.
Emanuel Ax, an eight-time Grammy®-winning classical pianist, splits his time between NYC and the Berkshires. He regularly performs at Tanglewood and has collaborated many times with Yo-Yo Ma. Ax’s commitment to young musicians is evidenced by teaching at Julliard and working with students at Tanglewood Learning Institute. He also has performed for Greenagers, an organization that engages teens and young adults in environmental work, and Kids 4 Harmony, a program that uses classical music as a vehicle for social change.
Carmen Baker, outreach volunteer for Latinas413, works to connect Latinas with arts and cultural organizations in the Berkshires. Baker has created partnerships with Jacob’s Pillow, Tanglewood, and, most recently, with MASS MoCA, recreating an altar for the Day of the Dead last November. She is currently working on this year’s exhibit for MASS MoCA. “Latinas413 is honored with Carmen’s work and contributions to continue our mission to represent Latinas and connecting them with resources in the county,” says Liliana Atanacio Garcia, founding member of Latinas413.
Kevin Coleman, a founding member and director of education for Shakespeare & Company, proudly acknowledges the more than 40,000 students and teachers who take part each year in Shakespeare & Company performances, workshops, and residencies—nearly one million participants since 1978. The theater group is recognized as having one of the most extensive arts-in-education programs in the Northeast. Coleman also was honored by the White House for Shakespeare & Company’s work with juvenile offenders, among other recognitions.
Oskar Hallig and Mike Zippel are serial entrepreneurs, grassroots organizers, and supporters of LGBTQIA+ businesses in the Berkshires. They own Only In My Dreams Events, creating galas for Berkshire Immigrant Center, Railroad Street Youth Project, The Mount, and others. They also own The Shop in South Egremont, a self-described “over-the-top candy store for grown ups looking for unique gifts.” Hallig is on the board of the Southern Berkshire Chamber and a mentor for EforAll Berkshire County; Zippel is board chair of Berkshire Art Center.
Kayla Hollins, executive director of student persistence at MCLA, focuses on the drive and determination that propels students to succeed. Since she implemented success coaching, which identifies a person (or two or three) on campus who students can go to for support, the retention rate of first-year undeclared students—a group with typically high dropout rates—was 92 percent in 2023. Hollins is on the board of the Elizabeth Freeman Center and teaches dance and is a member of MCLA alumni dance troupe DysFUNKcrew.
Margaret Keller executive director of Community Access to the Arts (CATA), has led the organization through a period of dramatic growth over the past ten years, forging collaborations with major cultural organizations and expanding community partnerships. From its fully accessible facility in Great Barrington and beyond, CATA provides over 2,500 arts workshops annually for 1,000 people with disabilities across the Berkshires, and the vibrant work of CATA artists can be seen and heard throughout the community in art exhibits, performances, and poetry readings.
Lori Gazzillo Kiely is “truly one of the highest impact leaders in the Berkshires,” says John Bissell, president and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union.” As chair of the 1Berkshire Alliance Board and coordinator of Berkshire Funders Roundtable, Kiely brings together the region’s primary funding entities, driving collaboration and boosting economic development initiatives in the Berkshires. Kiely is also managing director of the Berkshire Bank Foundation, and serves on the board of the Brien Center and the board of trustees of Berkshire Community College.
Barbara Malkas, superintendent of the North Adams Public Schools since 2016, has guided her district through reconfiguring the elementary schools, including a proposed new $65 million elementary building. She was named Commonwealth Superintendent of the Year in 2024, is a past board president of Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, board president of Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, and board member of Northern Berkshire Community Coalition.
Yina Moore is the visionary who bought the Adams Theater back to life. She is the founder and artistic director of the “new” Adams Theater that offers diverse programming, artist residencies, and community events. To get to that point, Moore was general contractor, cheerleader squad, grant writer, and more—all while slowly gaining support of the community and local and state leaders. Last year, she became co-owner of the former Topia Inn behind the theater and renovated it into an art hotel, The Trail in Adams.
Michael Obasohan is a man of Berkshire firsts. He was the first Black person to serve on North Adams City Council, Pittsfield’s first diversity officer, and the first employee in Pittsfield’s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Focusing on racial justice and inclusive communities, Obasohan works across higher education and local and state government and fosters strategic partnerships with local businesses to champion DEI practices. He consults on LGBTQIA+ and competency trainings for local businesses and nonprofits throughout Berkshire County.
Maeve O’Dea is Berkshire Taconic Foundation’s longest-serving (over 30 years) employee. As program director, O’Dea is an integral part of itsgrowing impact on the region. She oversees all the foundation’s grant- making, working with hundreds of donors, advisory committees, and applicants. O’Dea is the foundation’s first point of contact for many nonprofits and serves as a mentor for her foundation colleagues. “She has been thoughtful and steady,” says Gwendolyn VanSant, CEO and founding director of Multicultural BRIDGE.
Melissa Provencher is the environmental and energy program manager at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Provencher oversees the Berkshire Brownfields Program, which marks its 20th anniversary this year. She led the effort that recently saw the program receive $3.5 million from EPA to recapitalize the Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund, helping private, public, and nonprofit entities cleanup contaminated sites in the Berkshires. The money also will encourage investment in previously developed locations, conserving undeveloped land in our region.
Jane Ralph, Construct, Inc.’s executive director, leads the nonprofit in creating affordable housing and supportive services in 15 southern Berkshire towns. In 2022, Construct partnered with New Marlborough to purchase the town’s Gilded Age mansion, Cassilis Farm. Ralph led the charge in transforming the property into the Cassilis Designer Showcase this summer—the first fundraiser of its kind in Construct’s history—which drew over 1,000 visitors. Construct got closer to creating 11 affordable housing units on the site with a recent $3.1 million state grant.
Cass Santos-China, executive director of Berkshire Pride, has been instrumental in establishing Berkshire Pride as its own nonprofit. Santos-China also has propelled the Berkshire Pride Festival from a small event with a few hundred attendees in 2018 to a major annual celebration drawing over 3,500 in 2024. Her dedication to creating safe spaces and fostering inclusion has significantly enhanced the community. Santos-China also serves on the board of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires and coordinates The Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County.
Steve Sears and Maria Cruz bought The Stationery Factory in Dalton in 2013 and have created a collaborative environment for business, private events, and top-notch performances. The Stationery Factory boasts 25 tenants—including arts and entertainment, food, wellness, manufacturing, and retail—as well as Stationery Factory Events. “They have done a tremendous amount for the local community in terms of economic and cultural development,” says Mark Greenlaw, content director for Music in the Berkshires.
Yvette “Jamuna” Sirker, founder of the Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) Arts Integration and Community Partnership program, strives to ensure that all PPS students experience equitable and embedded access to arts-based learning by partnering with dozens of cultural institutions. Sirker designs and administers classroom-based artist residencies, field trips, and after-school programs. This award-winning playwright, producer, director, and choreographer came to the Berkshires from New Orleans in 2006 and is active in local theater and dance.
Pamela Tatge, Jacob’s Pillow executive and artistic director, leads an organization anchored by an annual nine-week international dance festival, a prestigious school for professional dancers, renowned archives, and community engagement programs. Tatge has strengthened the Pillow’s year-round activity, including the creation of Pillow Lab, and engagement with local schools and community through programs such as Curriculum in Motion, Dance for Social Justice, Pittsfield Moves, and Jacob’s Pillow on the Road. She is shepherding the rebuilding of the Doris Duke Theatre.
Nancy Thomas is creative director and co-founder of Mezze Hospitality Group (MHG)—Mezze Bistro+Bar in Williamstown, BLUEBiRD & CO. in Hancock, Mezze Guesthouse capsule hotel, and Mezze Events. Thomas is just as much about the people as about the food, prioritizing Berkshire agriculture, farmers, and community, as well as providing a safe space for others in the industry to grow. “Nancy has led consistent business and employment growth at MHG, providing a beacon of quality and ethics for all,” says Mezze’s co-founder Bo Peabody.
JV Hampton-VanSant is content creator and operations manager at Multicultural BRIDGE. They are a Black nonbinary transfemme person, drag performer, seamstress, voice actor, children’s book author, and advocate for the queer and trans community, working with grace and positivity. Her gender-inclusive sewing class, Sew Runway Ready, is always full. They co-designed BRIDGE’S youth education program Happiness Toolbox. She is a reader with Drag Story Hour Berkshire. They work with Berkshire Pride, having performed at their 2024 Festival.
Nicki Wilson held a meeting in her living room when she heard last year that Great Barrington’s Triplex Cinema was permanently closing, and the grassroots organization Save The Triplex was born. With Wilson as its board president, the nonprofit bought The Triplex. She continues to lead fundraising efforts to renovate and transform The Triplex into not just a movie theater, but a community resource. The Triplex has partnered with local schools, civil rights and environmental groups, and has hosted celebrated artists and the Berkshire International Film Festival.
Berkshire Magazine is your go-to guide to western Massachusetts. The high-quality publication explores the arts, homes, happenings, personalities, and attractions with an informed curiosity, high-quality editorial content, and beautiful photography. Berkshire Magazine reaches thousands of readers via subscriptions, newsstand sales, a robust social media following, and in-room at area inns and hotels. Berkshire Magazine is published by Old Mill Road Media. Based in East Arlington, Vermont, Old Mill Road Media is also the publisher of Music in the Berkshires, Vermont Magazine, Vermont News Guide, Stratton Magazine, and Manchester Life Magazine. The award-winning magazines and websites showcase the communities, people, and lifestyle of the region.
