Goodwill of the Berkshires Names New President and CEO

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Goodwill of the Berkshires and Southern Vermont's board of directors approved a management transition plan whereby David Twiggs has succeeded Frank Engels as the next president and CEO of the organization.

Twiggs, a Lenox resident, had most recently served as Goodwill's chief operating officer. He joined the organization in 2012 and has served in other senior management roles at Goodwill, including director of logistics.

"David Twiggs brings a wide range of experience from both the operations, retail, and social service sectors," said President of the Board of Directors Heidi Higgins. "His commitment to our community and personal approach to those needing a hand up are in keeping with Goodwill's philosophy and vision as a community focused organization."

Twiggs said he is honored to take the position.



"Goodwill is a dynamic, well-run organization with terrific employees," he said. "Frank Engels, the board of directors, and the entire staff did an amazing job at Goodwill during his six-year tenure. I look forward to building on the solid foundation they have established while continuing to focus on the needs of the local community."

Before joining Goodwill, Twiggs served as director of operations at Macy's. Prior to that he served on Target's executive retail team and as district manager for Perry Ellis stores. In addition to his career in the retail industry, Twiggs worked with youth in special education programs for more than a decade.

Twiggs also volunteers his time and talents to the community. He is currently serving on the Mass Alliance of Commissions on Disability, the Pittsfield Commission on Disabilities (including as community access monitor), an ombudsman for the executive office of Elder Services of Berkshire County and as a volunteer at the Berkshire Immigrant Center.


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Berkshire United Way to Massachusetts: Early-Learning Educators Need Better Wages

By Katherine von Haefen Guest Column
As reported in iBerkshires, state education officials met with Western Massachusetts childcare and early education advocates at Berkshire Community College recently. I had the opportunity to share the following testimony on behalf of Berkshire United Way and our community partners. 
 
Early childhood education provides tremendous benefits to our region. High-quality child care dramatically influences brain development and the future health and success for children in school and life, as well as provides a safe and secure space for our youngest community members so their parents or caregivers can work and provide for their families. 
 
Berkshire United Way has invested in improving early childhood development opportunities in the Berkshires for decades. We fund high-quality nonprofit child-care centers that provide slots for income-constrained families. We also support the sector by co-hosting monthly child-care director meetings to work on shared challenges and collectively propose solutions. We advocate for early childhood education and have a great partner in this work, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. 
 
Staffing is a key component of high-quality care. The research shows that skilled and consistent educators in a classroom create long-lasting change for children. However, wages are stagnant and frequently do not provide educators with basic financial stability. We often hear that educators have left the field because they are unable to make their finances work. Wages need to improve to better reflect the expertise and indelible impact teachers have in the field. 
 
When we look specifically at our region, our data is concerning. 
 
As Berkshire County emerges from the pandemic, we are struggling with transportation, affordable housing and lack of mental health resources, much like the rest of the state. We are also seeing a rise in economically challenged households. 
 
After nearly 10 years of decline, Berkshire County has experienced a significant jump in income inequality, now exceeding the state and national trends and far above comparable counties, according to the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. Over half of our population are "economically challenged," meaning they are working but struggling to make ends meet. A single parent with a school-aged child needs between $70,000 and $80,000 in income and public benefits just to meet their basic needs. 
 
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