image description — Richard Alcombright, Al Nelson and Christine Hoyt were honored at the Northern Berkshire United Way's first annual Spirit of Caring Awards & Celebration.

Northern Berkshire United Way Celebrates Spirit of Caring and Celebration

03:16PM / Wednesday, May 23, 2018Print Story | Email Story

Mary-Kay Senecal and Cindy Brightly of Crane Stationery received the Outstanding Campaign Coordinators of the Year Award.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Northern Berkshire United Way held its first annual Spirit of Caring Awards & Celebration on Thursday, May 17, recognizing three individuals in the community for their length and breadth of service to Northern Berkshire United Way, its network, and the overall Northern Berkshire community: Alan Nelson, Richard Alcombright, and Christine Hoyt.

With more than150 guests in attendance to celebrate, James Birge, president of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, opened the program with a welcome before the awards ceremony. Jason Dohaney, board president, thanked all in attendance and the sponsors for attending the inaugural event, which will raise funds for the community.

Christa Collier, executive director of NBUW, opened the awards presentation. Hoyt was presented the Spirit of the Future Award. As a former member agency board member and community leader, "Christine was an instant choice for this award. She is not only an active and involved community member and selectperson but she understands the member agency perspective," Collier said.

Hoyt is assistant to the dean at Berkshire Community College and a former director of events and programs at the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce. She has been a member of the board of Youth Center Inc. and Pro Adams and is serving her first term on the Adams Board of Selectmen.

Alcombright, former mayor of the city of North Adams, was presented the Spirit of Community Award for his years of dedication as a former Northern Berkshire United Way and member agency board member.

"Dick truly cares, listens and understands the issues facing the member agencies and our community. He has been in the corner for each one of the community issues we face and we are all glad he will still represent the community in his new role at MountainOne," Collier said.

Alcombright has a long career in banking, to which he returned after four terms as mayor, and has been a member of numerous boards and commissions, including a regional task force on opioid abuse.

Nelson was presented with the first annual Al Nelson Spirit of Caring Award, named after him for his years of dedicated service as former NBUW executive leadership member from 1981-1996. Since his retirement, he has continued to stay actively involved with NBUW projects and member agency boards, as well as spearheading programs in the community such as the Friendship Center Food Pantry.

"Al is still pounding the pavement trying to help the most vulnerable people be served with dignity and respect," Collier said.

Following the awards presentation, a video produced by Keith Foreman titled "Securing the Safety Net in Northern Berkshire" was shown. This video focused on NBUW's obligation to the community to fund member agencies that provide emergency and crisis programs. In addition to providing funding to member agencies that provide health, education and financial stability programs, NBUW is committed to provide funding in the area of safety net services. In order to illustrate this work, NBUW set out to produce this video to showcase the crucial work and need for this work in the community to show the impact on agencies that support the most vulnerable in our community, from the lens of the member agency leadership.

Ellen Sutherland, NBUW board member and vice president of campaign, presented the Outstanding Campaign Coordinators of the Year Award to Mary-Kay Senecal and Cindy Brightly of Crane Stationery to round out the celebration. During their time as campaign coordinators, Senecal and Brightly have increased their campaign and made it fun in the process, educating their employees about what NBUW does in the community, Sutherland said.

"This is not just about what our honorees have done for our agency. This night is about celebrating what they and what we all do to improve our community. Our honorees do the work they do, without expectation of recognition, but we want to recognize that their contributions have contributed greatly to the well-being of our community," Collier said.

The event was held at MCLA's Church Street Center.

Tags: NBUW, recognition event,

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McCann and Taconic Awarded CTI Grants

Staff Reports 04:51PM / Friday, December 20, 2024

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced $525,482 in Career Technical Initiative (CTI) implementation grants awarded to two organizations in the Berkshires to train 80 individuals for careers in high-demand occupations within the trades, construction, and manufacturing sectors in the region.

In North Adams, McCann Technical School was awarded $344,871 to provide training to 60 participants for Automotive Technician, Advanced Manufacturing, and Welding positions. They will partner with T&M Auto Sales Inc., Berkshire Bridge & Iron Co. Inc., Haddad GMC, Haddad Subaru, Bedard Brothers Auto Sales Inc., Lenco Armored Vehicles, TOG Manufacturing, Sinicon Plastics, Adams Plumbing & Heating Inc., and Gills Point S Tire.

"We are excited to be working with our MassHire team to continue to address our workforce needs and build talent pipelines and career pathways in Advanced Manufacturing, Welding and Automotive Technician," McCann Superintendent James Brosnan said. "This CTI award will provide hands-on training and support as we continue to expand our skilled talent pool for employers in the Berkshires."

In Pittsfield Taconic High School was awarded $180,610 to provide training to 20 participants for Metal Fabrication and Auto Technology positions. They will partner with O.W. Landergren Inc., Lenco Industries Inc., Bedard Brothers, Haddad's Auto Group, and RW's Auto Inc.

"Pittsfield Public Schools is incredibly grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Commonwealth Corporation for the CTI award to Taconic High School. This grant will have a significant and lasting impact on our community by providing skilled technicians to address critical shortages in Berkshire County," said Superintendent Joseph Curtis. "We are excited to partner with Lenco Industries, Haddads, Bedards, RW Auto, O.W. Landergren, Northeast Fabricators, and the MassHire Berkshire Career Center. These partnerships will serve as a catalyst for positive change, ensuring that our trainees are well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st-century workforce, while simultaneously strengthening our local economy."

The CTI grant program, a state-funded workforce initiative, partners with career and technical education schools to provide adult learners, especially unemployed and underemployed individuals from underserved populations and underrepresented groups, with career training and technical skills to meet the needs of Massachusetts employers. The program transforms career and technical education schools across the state to become "Career Technical Institutes" that run after dark programs in the construction/trades, manufacturing, and skilled trades career pathways.

"Addressing our workforce needs and building talent pipelines and career pathways in construction, trades and manufacturing sectors is a priority for this administration," said Governor Maura Healey. "CTI offers hands-on training that will support our jobseekers, workers and employers. We're proud to expand the CTI awards to these two schools in the Berkshires to strengthen our workforce and grow our economy throughout the state."

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