PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), together with partners 1Berkshire and Mill Town Foundation, will honor the winners of its annual 40 Under Forty Awards on Thursday, March 28 at 5 pm in the Robert Boland theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield.  

 

Tickets are $75 per person and may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix.

 

Proceeds benefit the BCC Foundation, which manages about 180 scholarships totaling more than $375,000 for BCC students and supports a number of programs at the College. 

 

40 Under Forty celebrates talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of 40, who try to improving the quality of life for those living and working in the community. Nominees, who hail from throughout Berkshire County, are eligible for the award through their professional work and how it makes a difference, their personal commitment to their community, or other efforts to improve the quality of life for those living and working in the Berkshires. 

 

This year, for the first time, Mill Town Foundation will provide funding for each 40 Under Forty Award winner to re-grant $1,000 to an eligible Berkshire-based nonprofit organization of their choosing.  A total of $40,000 will be given to our local non-profits. 

 

Designed to promote purposeful giving, the Mill Town Foundation initiative encourages each award winner to research area nonprofit organizations to gain an extensive understanding of their mission and work before choosing which group to support. 

 

"Mill Town Foundation is proud to partner with Berkshire Community College to celebrate and empower this year's 40 Under Forty award winners," said Program Manager Andy Wrba. "Our philosophy of philanthropy is rooted in the belief that impact requires a thoughtful and holistic approach to giving. It goes beyond the mere act of charity, with an emphasis on collaboration and sustainability. We hope that this empowerment

will lead to a lifetime of philanthropic engagement for future generations of community leaders." 

 

Because the nonprofit sector is extensive and vital to the fabric of the Berkshires community, Wrba explained, the role of philanthropy and charitable giving is of critical importance.  

 

The 2024 Berkshire County 40 Under Forty winners are: 

 

Princewill Abanulo, Quality Manager, Premium Waters 

 

Ciana Barnaba, Community Relations & Resource Development, Berkshire Agricultural Ventures 

 

Scott Barschdorf, Director of Brain Injury Services, Berkshire County Arc 

 

Jessica Bartle, Co-Founder, President, Investment Adviser, EvoQue Investments 

 

Christine Bile, Licensed Certified Social Worker (Clinician), Boston Neurobehavioral Associates 

 

Meaghan Bresnahan, Positive Options Program Coordinator, Lee Public Schools 

 

Josh Brilliant, Engineer, General Dynamics - Mission Systems 

 

Andy Cambi, Director of Public Health, City of Pittsfield 

 

Kalee Carmel, Treasury Management Manager, Adams Community Bank 

 

Zorelly Cepeda Derieux, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Williams College 

 

Jacob Dabrowski, AVP Mortgage Originations, Adams Community Bank 

 

Olivia Daly, Patrol Officer, Pittsfield Police Department 

 

Izinna Degraffenried, Police Officer, City of Pittsfield 

 

Emily Dominik, Corporate Controller, Mill Town 

 

Meghan Donnelly, School Counselor, Pittsfield Public Schools 

 

Paul Farella, Partner, Moneco Advisors, LLC 

 

Cameron Hadley, Financial Advisor, Northwestern Mutual 

 

Dr. Sonja Haecker, Executive Vice President, Berkshire County Arc 

 

Sidney Hamilton, School Adjustment Counselor, Pittsfield Public Schools 

 

Dr. Claire Horth, Physician, Community Health Programs 

 

Samantha Kendall, Prevention Supervisor and Harm Reduction Trainer, Berkshire Harm Reduction 

 

Christy Lemoine, Volunteer Coordinator/911 Dispatcher, Berkshire and Franklin Medical Reserve Corps/Williamstown Police 

 

Lenny Light, Executive Vice President, Lenco Armored Vehicles 

 

Sara Luciani, Principal, Stearns Elementary School 

 

Andre Lynch, Executive, A. Lynch DEI Consulting 

 

Caitlin McKinnon, Site Supervisor, Intensive Outpatient Program + Recovery Coach Services, The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services 

 

Jay Meczywor, Physical Therapist, Berkshire Sports and Physical Therapy 

 

Shawn Mille, Program Associate, Community Access to the Arts (CATA) 

 

Brent Osborne, Director of Berkshire Lake Camp & Director of Special Projects, CampGroup 

 

Khalil Paul, Police Officer, City of North Adams Police Department 

 

Jordan Romeo, Teacher of Deportment, Pittsfield Public Schools 

 

Julia Sabourin, Director of Community Engagement and Communications, Berkshire District Attorney's Office 

 

Allison Schmitt, Executive Director, Entrepreneurship for All, Berkshire County 

 

Brian Seminara, Technical Manager, General Dynamics - Mission Systems 

 

Alicia Starsja, TRIO Academic Counselor, Berkshire Community College  

 

Colin Sykes, Environmental Health Inspector, Berkshire Regional Planning Commission 

 

Dr. Mark Taylor, General Surgeon, Berkshire Health Systems 

 

Kristen Tool, Managing Director, Heart & Soil Collective  

 

Crystal Wojcik, Finance Director/Town Accountant, Town of Adams 

 

Julie Zdon, AVP, Branch Officer, Adams Community Bank