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Those looking for jobs or changes in career paths were able to connect with possible employers at the annual 1Berkshire career fair.

1Berkshire Sees More Employers At Career Fair With Move To BCC

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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A total of 80 employers had tables in the Paterson Field House.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With a new location, 1Berkshire grew its annual career fair this year.
 
The fair was traditionally held at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, which limited the number of employers to around 50.
 
Berkshire Community College has since offered up the Paterson Field House for it and on Wednesday some 80 employers were able to set up tables for the event.
 
"BCC approached us and asked if it was something we'd be open to doing. This is a perfect thing for us to work on together," said 1Berkshire Program and Event Specialist Danielle Thomas. 
 
Even with the additional space, Thomas said the organization still had to turn some employers away. Companies set up tables throughout the space and job seekers were able to browse through the available jobs. 
 
"The diversity of industry here is great for people looking for jobs as well as diverse geography," Thomas said. 
 
As of 2 p.m., the organizers didn't have an estimate on exactly how many job seekers attended. But Thomas said the fair typically draws about 250 people. This traffic levels seemed to eclipse that number, she said, with an increase in college students. With the move, the organization also asked employers to provide information on internships for students as well.
 
Thomas said the biggest rush of job seekers came right when the doors opened around 10 and traffic was steady until noon. It slowed down in the afternoon but when another round of classes let out around 2, Thomas expected to see yet another boost in traffic. 
 
This is also the first year the organization ran the fair under the 1Berkshire umbrella. The event was previously headed by the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and last May it was merged into 1Berkshire, a combination of the chamber, Berkshire Creative and the Berkshire Visitor's Bureau.
 
"It is also the effort of 1Berkshire with us merging we were able to reach different businesses," Thomas said.
 
Using resources from the other former organizations, 1Berkshire's reach for finding new employers grew. Thomas said this year there were a number of businesses which never participated before joining, adding to the ones that traditionally participate every year. 
 
The organizers added one more feature this year. Tricia McCormack Photography was hand to take free professional headshots for the job seekers. 
 
The primary focus of the annual career fair is to help connect those seeking jobs or changes in work with the companies with vacancies. But, an additional bonus is that the company representatives get time to network with each other. 
 
The fair has its ebbs and flows with some years seeing huge numbers of job seekers - as high as 400 one year - and other years without so much. The same goes for employers. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

ServiceNet Warming Center Hosted 126 People This Winter

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

ServiceNet manages the warming shelter next to the church. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — ServiceNet's warming center has provided more than heat to unhoused individuals over the last four months and will run to the end of April.

It opened on Dec. 1 in the First United Methodist Church's dining area, next to ServiceNet's 40-bed shelter The Pearl. The agency has seen 126 individuals utilize the warming center and provided some case management to regulars.

While this winter was a success, they are already considering next winter.

"I've been on this committee many years now. There's probably only a few months out of the year that I don't talk about winter, so I'm always trying to plan for next winter," Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.

"We are in this winter and I'm already thinking what's going to happen next winter because I want to be really clear, winter shelter is never a given. We don't have this built into the state budget. It's not built into our budget, so there is always trying to figure out where we get money, and then where do we go with winter shelter."

She pointed out that warming centers are "very different" from shelters, which have a bed. The warming center is set up like a dining room, open from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., and folks are welcome to stay for breakfast.

"We are asking people to come in, get warm, be out of the elements," Forbush explained.

The warming center will close on April 30.

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