GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — The Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires (NPC) announced that Kim Baker, Brian Berkel and Julia Dixon have joined the Board of Directors. 

 

Now in its 8th year, NPC offer over two dozen programs and services for nonprofits, including 180 member organizations. 

 

"We are actively growing our board to address continued growth and strategic planning," said Liana Toscanini, Executive Director of the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires. "These three new members are very experienced, are fully behind the mission of supporting nonprofits, and ready for the challenge of bringing NPC to the next level."

 

Kim Baker is a Senior Account Executive at the Toole Insurance Agency helping businesses and nonprofits understand their risks. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and a certified Worker Compensation Advisor. Kim has over twenty years of board leadership experience with a variety of organizations including Berkshire Business & Professional Women, United Cerebral Palsy, Berkshire County Kid's Place and Berkshire Family and Individual Resources (BFAIR).

 

Brian Berkel retired from the Massachusetts State Police as a Detective Lieutenant in 2021. During his 25-year career, he was involved with various local nonprofit organizations and volunteered as a mentor to at-risk youth through Big Brothers of Berkshire County and 18 Degrees. Affiliated with the Berkshire Coalition for Suicide Prevention since 2009, he currently serves as the board President. He also serves as Treasurer on the board of Berkshire HorseWorks and for the Pittsfield Lions Club.  

 

Julia Dixon is a cultural and strategic planning consultant, educator, writer, and artist based in North Adams. She is an expert in rural creative economy strategy and is an adjunct professor in the Fine and Performing Arts Department at MCLA. Previously, she served as managing director of Berkshire Creative and creative economy specialist at 1Berkshire. Julia has served as a member of the BerkShares board of directors, North Adams Makers' Mill founding board, Berkshire Cultural Resource Center advisory board, North Adams Cultural District core group, and chair of the North Adams Public Arts Commission.