Bianchi Names New Berkshire Works Director

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Mayor Daniel Bianchi named Ken Demers the new executive director of BerkshireWorks.
 
Demers replaces William Monterosso, who left the job just a few months in earlier this year. Prior to that, former North Adams Mayor John Barrett III headed the organization.
 
Demers is the current vice president of employment and training for the Corporation for Public Management in Springfield. There he is tasked with marketing the organization's employment and training capabilities and maintaining the budget, staffing and day to day operations.
 
He is also the vice president of shelter and housing for the New England Farm Workers' Council. Demers started his career in the Berkshire Learning Center.
 
According to Bianchi's office, "Demers was chosen due to his background in workforce development, collaborative mentality and innovative approach to developing new programs and identifying funding streams."
 
He takes over the position on Sept. 22.
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State Launches Workforce Innovation Tour at Interprint

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Secretary of Labor Lauren Jones starts her statewide jobs tour at Interprint in Pittsfield on Monday. The colors in the signage were inspired by the Eras Tour. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development kicked off its "revolutionary" workforce tour at Interprint and learned some about decor printing.

On Monday, the Healey-Driscoll administration launched the "MassHire 250 Workforce Innovation Tour" to celebrate local and regional workforce innovations across the state. From now until July, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones will visit each of the state's 16 MassHire regional workforce boards to hear about partnerships that fuel and sustain sectors.

"Berkshire companies are innovative in creating new possibilities," said David Moresi, chair of the Berkshire Workforce Board. "Technology and innovation are part of the Berkshires' industrious past, thriving present, and limitless potential."

In celebration of Interprint's 40th year in the city, state and local officials toured the surface design and printing facility and even participated in an ink matching exercise. With around 200 employees, the company sells its decorative papers and films worldwide and has seen several expansions.

"As I often say, workforce development takes collaboration and the network of organizations, community leaders, and workforce partners represented here demonstrates the partnerships that drive outcomes from career coaching and job training to employment," Jones said.

"That was demonstrated certainly by hearing some of the highlights shared during our tour of the partnership with MassHire and the employment and professional development outcomes that we see at a company like Interprint."

In a week, Massachusetts will join five other states in celebrating Patriots Day, commemorating the inaugural battles of the American Revolutionary War: Lexington, Concord, and Menotomy (Arlington). The workforce tour builds on the launch of Massachusetts 250, a statewide initiative to celebrate 250 years of America's independence and Massachusetts' revolutionary legacy.

Jones noted the Taylor Swift's Eras Tour inspired the signage.

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