For 11 years running, Berkshire Magazine has recognized individuals who work to make a better Berkshires. What stands out among this year’s honorees is not only their actions, but their attitudes. No matter how challenging the path or how long the road, these Berkshire 25 get to “yes we can” with unmatched determination. From giving voice to individuals with disabilities to taking care of the terminally ill, from teaching our students to make smart decisions to creating affordable housing, from creating a healthy, natural environment to making our cultural richness the envy of the world, these 25 individuals—your neighbors, friends, and coworkers—are shining examples of extraordinary. This year was not easy for the judges. We had more nominees than ever. The result is an A-list that is superlative and diverse, with a healthy dose of positive attitude. With the guidance of an advisory committee consisting of Berkshire 25 alumni, we are thrilled to bring you this year’s Berkshire 25!
Meg Bossong
Meg Bossong is Director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and Health Education at Williams College, and her work has transformed the sexual culture on campus. She is a founding member of Campus Advocacy and Prevention Professionals Association (CAPPA), a national platform for engagement and strategies to reduce violence and support survivors, and Invest in Pittsfield, a multiracial coalition working to reallocate city funds into health, housing, and youth services. Personally and professionally, Bossong advocates supporting the community through direct service or transfer of wealth and resources. “Her commitment is personal, it’s intimate, and it’s rooted in a deep love for the Berkshires,” says Kelan O’Brien, Alumni Fund Development Officer for Communications and Student Engagement, Williams College.
Laura Brennan
Laura Brennan is Economic Development Program Manager at Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, advocating for the region’s arts and culture, small businesses, social services, open spaces, and all that makes the Berkshires a special place to live. Her ability to connect organizations and disparate stakeholders into a common mission is a special skill she brings to the Berkshires landscape. Carrie Holland of Mill Town Capital says, “I have personally witnessed her help leverage local resources to secure millions in grants for the Berkshires, serve our community in the face of COVID-19-related hardships, contribute to the Berkshire’s outdoor recreation economy, and drive meaningful initiatives in the arts and culture economy.”
Jack Brown
Jack Brown has been the Artistic Director for Berkshire Lyric since 2007, not only encouraging Berkshire singers of all ages to appreciate classical choral music, but also building community. Brown directs the adult chorus, the children’s chorus, a high school girls chorus, and a summer chorus—Ubi Caritas—for ages 16 to 28, with proceeds from their August concert donated to Berkshire food banks. Brown also is on the faculty at Hotchkiss School and has taught voice and choral music at several area institutions, including Simon’s Rock and Austen Riggs. “He is a gifted musician, excellent choral director and a wonderful, supportive person and mentor to young and old singers alike in the Berkshires,” says Livingston Van De Water, a member of Berkshire Lyric.
Ed Bride
Ed and Marge Bride are the Berkshire’s dynamic duo. He is the jazz man—founder and president of Berkshires Jazz, Inc., organizer of Pittsfield’s annual CityJazz Festival, and president of the New England Jazz Alliance (and its New England Jazz Hall of Fame). She paints—creating watercolors of iconic Berkshire scenes and teaching watercolor technique, with her work appearing on magazine and CD covers, Pittsfield’s 250th anniversary ornament, and the annual Pittsfield Parade poster. When husband Ed suggested that she expand her work to jazz themes, it was a match made in heaven, and she is now a jazz-loving watercolorist! In addition to Berkshire jazz activist, Ed is secretary of the New England Jazz Ensemble in central Connecticut, and the vice president of American Jazz Venues, encouraging younger jazz audiences. Talk about contributing to the cultural scene in their community and beyond— this couple has it covered.
Marge Bride
Ed and Marge Bride are the Berkshire’s dynamic duo. He is the jazz man—founder and president of Berkshires Jazz, Inc., organizer of Pittsfield’s annual CityJazz Festival, and president of the New England Jazz Alliance (and its New England Jazz Hall of Fame). She paints—creating watercolors of iconic Berkshire scenes and teaching watercolor technique, with her work appearing on magazine and CD covers, Pittsfield’s 250th anniversary ornament, and the annual Pittsfield Parade poster. When husband Ed suggested that she expand her work to jazz themes, it was a match made in heaven, and she is now a jazz-loving watercolorist! In addition to Berkshire jazz activist, Ed is secretary of the New England Jazz Ensemble in central Connecticut, and the vice president of American Jazz Venues, encouraging younger jazz audiences. Talk about contributing to the cultural scene in their community and beyond— this couple has it covered.
Laura Cabrera
Laura Cabrera is a Mexican singer who left Veracruz, Mexico, at age 18, and now lives in the Berkshires with her two children. Also a founding member of Latina413 (see Catheryn Chacon), she is Latino/a Community Liaison at Berkshire Pulse, whose goal is to strengthen community through diverse and accessible programming in performing, movement and creative arts; co-founder of Hispanic artist collective Amor A Nuestras Raíces (Love to our Roots); and founder of Yo Soy Arte (I am Art), focusing on increasing representation of local Latinx artists in cultural spaces. Cabrera is passionate about helping the Latin population in the Berkshires share their cultural background with their community and the rest of the world.
Eugene Carr
Eugene Carr founded Berkshire Busk in 2021, a summer festival of outdoor performers up and down Great Barrington’s Main Street. The idea came to Carr, a professional cellist in a former life and entrepreneur by profession, when he spontaneously joined a group of musicians on Railroad Street in 2020 and saw the joy it brought to all who stopped to listen. With performances by singers, dancers, acrobats, and clowns, Berkshire Busk has a positive economic impact—people come for the show and stay for dinner—and brings the community together. “Gene’s passion for this area and his ability to create and impact has come together in the best possible way,” says Kathleen Drohan, VP Public Relations, New World Symphony, and Berkshire Busk advisor.
Catheryn Chacon
Catheryn Chacon is a co-founder of Latinas413, whose mission is to empower Latinas in the Berkshires to expand their social and economic outreach and be a bridge to county resources. Starting with a small group in 2021, Latinas413 has grown to over 300 members under Chacon’s guidance and now offers mentoring, basic life skills, and ways to share Latin culture. She remembers how isolating it was when she arrived in the Berkshires from Colombia at age 15 but persevered to graduate from Berkshire Community College, then UMass with a bachelor’s degree and a master’s in accounting. Chacon is now a tax accountant at Smith, Watson & Company. She is also on the board of the Berkshire Community College.
Molly Comstock
Molly Comstock built Colfax Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) in Alford, a partnership between customers (buying shares of the farm) and the farmers (providing fresh vegetables). When her lease was not renewed in 2021, she asked the community for help and collaborated with the Berkshire Community Land Trust in establishing the Harry Conklin Fund for Farmsteads. She is working with the Trust to identify suitable land, which they will buy, on which to reopen her farm. In the meantime, Comstock continues to farm at Indian Line Farm in Great Barrington, with enthusiasm and dedication to healthy food for her community. “Molly’s dedication to access land and affordable housing for small farmers, has brought the community together,” says Amy Taylor, Community Engagement Officer, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation.
Peter Dillon
Peter Dillon is an outstanding leader as Superintendent of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District (BHRSD). He has navigated the challenges of the pandemic with thoughtfulness and fearlessness, protecting our children and their families. During this unprecedented social time, Dillon has enacted practical and physical protections, as well as prioritizing the social and emotional health of students and families. He continues to work hard for families affected by food insecurity, and his educational vision reassesses, reimagines, and reconfigures programming to assure the district’s stellar reputation and address equity issues. “Dr. Dillon’s brand of leadership is a rarity—and it’s effective,” says Rebecca Gold, an active parent with children in BHRSD. “He takes a calm and agile approach that’s caring at its core.”
A.J. Enchill
A.J. Enchill is founder and president of Pittsfield’s Berkshire Black Economic Council (BBEC), which is instrumental in supporting Black businesses in the Berkshires. The Pittsfield native returned to the city after graduating from Tufts University to make a difference in his hometown and inspire others to do the same. He was District Aide for State Senator Adam G. Hinds, board member of Berkshire Community Action Council and Community Health Programs, serves on the C4 Arts Initiative and Berkshire County’s NAACP, and participates in Leaders for Equitable Local Economies, supporting Pittsfield’s BIPOC businesses. Liam Gorman, local tech entrepreneur and founder of CozQuest media marketing company, says, “While we still have him, we should support his efforts and the community he so passionately believes in.”
Igor Gomberg and Katya Brezgunova
Igor Gomberg and Katya Brezgunova founded TurnPark Art Space in 2017 to inspire community and unity in their new country after emigrating from Russia in 2012. In the natural beauty of an old marble quarry in West Stockbridge, TurnPark displays artwork, stages performances, hosts educational programs, and recently organized “Healing Flames,” a festival that raised thousands in humanitarian aid for Ukraine. “We are proud of our little town,” says Brezgunova. TurnPark is a playful environment where adults and children engage with art and experience an atmosphere of creativity and freedom, as well as a “place of power from which visitors draw strength and recharge.”
Patti Harper
Patti Harper has spread her special brand of health and happiness throughout Berkshire County not only during her nursing career—25 years in Berkshire Medical Center’s ER and 15 at Monument Valley Middle School—but as a volunteer at Fairview Hospital’s COVID clinic and at Berkshire Botanical Gardens, always going above and beyond the call of duty. In “retirement,” you can find her working at Williams & Sons Country Store in Stockbridge, welcoming locals and out-of-town guests, offering advice on places and events to explore throughout the region. “Keep an eye out for Patti the next time you are in Stockbridge,” says her daughter-in-law, Lora Woodward. “She’ll be one of the brightest smiling faces you’ll see!”
Wanda Houston
Wanda Houston is our very own Berkshire diva. Born in Chicago, she started singing in gospel choirs, and has performed in LA, Hollywood, Las Vegas, Europe, Australia, and on Broadway in NYC. In 2006, she settled in the Berkshires full-time, drawing us in with a mesmerizing mix of mid-20th century jazz and R&B. The Wanda Houston Band performs to packed crowds, from The Mount in Lenox to The Barn in Egremont. Paying forward her parents’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement, she sang the sorrow songs of Berkshire native son W. E. B. Du Bois at his 153rd birthday commemorative in February 2021. “This is the most beautiful place to live,” says Houston. “I could not be happier.” Neither could we.
Adam Klepetar
Adam Klepetar is Interim Provost at Berkshire Community College (BCC) and is considered one of the school’s most valuable and influential leaders. In his previous positions at BCC—Dean of Enrollment Management and Student Success, and VP for Student Affairs—he led the campus’s first-ever enrollment management plan, spearheaded re-organization and efficiency efforts, and developed strong community partnerships. Klepetar is a tireless advocate for students of color and underrepresented populations, and on the boards of the Brien Center and the YMCA. “I am proud to have him as a coworker, a mentor, and to call him a friend,” says Christina L. Wynn, BCC’s Dean of Enrollment Management.
Jim McGrath
Jim McGrath is Program Manager of Open Space and Natural Resources in Pittsfield, overseeing its municipal parks, major lakes, riverways, reservoirs, and similar spaces. As a tireless advocate of quality of life in the city, McGrath’s leadership and advocacy has resulted in progress with GE environmental cleanups, revitalized parks, using outdoor recreation to benefit Pittsfield’s economy, innovative partnerships to take maximum advantage of city park assets, and the extension of Ashuwillticook Bike Path. Describing McGrath as cooperative, supportive, innovative, and with a can-do attitude, Carrie Holland of Mill Town Capital says, “He is a refreshing reflection of efficient civil service in this county!”
Paul W. O’Brien
Paul W. O’Brien is President of the Sheffield Historical Society (SHS) and retired teacher of Mount Everett High School who is dedicated to preserving Sheffield’s rich history. He is an oral history practitioner at the Oral History Center at BCC and an active member of the Sheffield community, always looking for ways to bring town residents together. O’Brien organizes exhibits at SHS, plans celebrations honoring our veterans, and he spearheaded the Elizabeth Freeman Monument project—a bronze statue of Elizabeth Freeman, the first enslaved African American to win a freedom suit in Massachusetts, recently installed on Sheffield’s Main Street. “He is a true public servant and always answers the call to help others,” says Julia Murphy, Chief of Staff for Rep. Smitty Pignatelli.
Rachael Plaine
Rachael Plaine founded Berkshire Yoga, Dance, and Fitness in Pittsfield in 2014. Those who have found their way to her studio discovered a place of transformation and healing, which is very much a second home for both Plaine and the community she has created. With compassion and understanding, she offers a safe, loving, and inclusive studio space for all who are curious about transforming their lives through yoga, dance, and fitness. Plaine routinely offers free trauma-informed yoga, pay-what-you-can studio membership, and free virtual classes during the pandemic. “I appreciate her thoughtful efforts in supporting the community to feel good through movement,” says Joy Ruben Welts, instructor at Berkshire Yoga, Dance, and Fitness.
Jenny Rubin and Nick Keene
Jenny Rubin and Nick Keene run The Barn in South Egremont, where the live music is unparalleled, the food is delicious, and the environment is uplifting and inviting. Jenny—photographer, writer, and stand-up comedian—has been recruiting talent for The Barn since it opened in 2016. Nick—director, editor, producer, and entrepreneur—manages the packed houses, overflowing with folks from the community and beyond, Wednesday to Saturday. The Barn is part of the larger Keene property that includes the historical Egremont Inn, as well as the animals out back. It’s a true Berkshire oasis. All who know them know that Jenny is most dedicated to live music in the Berkshires at The Barn, and Nick is passionate about his work and his community and will help almost anyone.
Ryan Salame
Ryan Salame is passionate about the restaurant business, and it’s making a difference in Lenox. This Sandisfield native reinvested the money he made in Bitcoin and as CEO of Bahamas-based FTX Digital Markets, and created Lenox Eats, a marketing banner under which he operates his growing number of Lenox restaurants. In 2020, Salame purchased Firefly and the Olde Heritage Tavern. In 2021, he bought Cafe Lucia, The Scoop, the old Athena’s Pizza, and another vacant property. When all is said and done, Salame will own six restaurants having had invested more than $5 million. “I find this so admirable,” says Jane Blanchard, longtime Firefly supervisor. “Despite the small profit margins in the restaurant business, his passion drew him in, and he is employing a growing number of people.”
Matthew Scarafoni
Matthew Scarafoni of Scarafoni Financial LLC & Berkshire Fairfield Insurance is not your average financial planner or insurance provider. He has served on countless boards in Berkshire County, most recently the YMCA, helping to spearhead funding for their recent renovation. Scarafoni offers robust support to political campaigns that make Pittsfield a better place, and assists his clients with whatever they need, including financial planning, legal matters, and personal challenges. He helps companies wade through expansion plans, contacts appropriate government officials, strategizes over business plans, and helps negotiate contracts. Matt is well-known as a great supporter of our community, doing whatever it takes to make it a better place to live.
Mia Shepherd
Mia Shepherd is the local project coordinator of Black Legacy Project, a musical celebration of Black history that launched in the Berkshires in 2021 and is now traveling the country. The Texas native is a member of both the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Task Force and Blackshires Anchor Leadership Circle, and a Hate/Race-Based Crimes Victim Witness Advocate at the Berkshire DA Office. “Mia’s work with Music in Common and the Black Legacy Project has been instrumental in bringing the Berkshire community together to advance racial solidarity, equity, and belonging locally and beyond,” says Todd Mack, founder of Music in Common and past Berkshire 25 honoree.
Candace Morey Wall
Candace Morey Wall sees her top priority as the health and wellness of her community. She lives this every day, bringing compassion to patients and compassionate leadership to staff at 413 Theraworks psychotherapy in North Adams. Wall holds leadership roles at Junior League of the Berkshires, Hardman Fund, Northern Berkshire United Way, and Berkshire Food Project. Previous positions include board member of Family Life Support Center/Louison House in Adams, and crisis clinician and program director (simultaneously) at the Brien Center. “She is both a dynamic and imperative asset to keeping our community thriving. Knowing this talented and passionate social scientist and humanitarian has been a privilege,” says longtime personal friend Yohmarie K. Melendez.
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