CHP Berkshires Board Welcomes New Member

Print Story | Email Story
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Rachel Melendez-Mabee has been named to the board of CHP Berkshires.   
 
As vice president of culture and brand and DEI officer at Greylock Federal Credit Union, Melendez-Mabee brings to CHP her skills in corporate workplace diversity issues, training and initiatives. She has previously worked for the PGA of America, as PGA WORKS' workforce development and lead manager-DEI.   
 
She has also worked as social and digital brand manager for Berkshire Bank, and as a senior account executive for Roberts Communications, a public relations firm. Earlier, she worked as a sales and marketing specialist for PGA of America. 
 
"Rachel's professional expertise in workplace diversity and inclusion issues, along with her community commitment, will make a valuable impact on our board and the CHP organization," said Brian Drake, president of the CHP board. "We look forward to learning from Rachel's depth of insight and experience."
 
Melendez-Mabee earned a B.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia.  She is also a certified diversity executive (CDE®), which indicates excellence in DEI leadership. 
 
In the community, she has been a Berkshires 40 Under 40 award recipient and has served on the board of the Berkshire Museum, United Way of the Berkshires, Elizabeth Freeman Center and the Women in Golf Foundation. 

Tags: CHP,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Landing at Laurel Lake Celebrates Renovations

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

The stovetops were removed from some of the kitchenettes as safety measures. 
LEE, Mass. — The Landing at Laurel Lake has made renovations to its assisted living building to better help residents continue living with some independence.
 
Some of the changes include carpet removal, shifting tubs to walk-ins, and taking out some stovetops. 
 
The Landing hosted an open house last Thursday for the community to come in and see the renovations.
 
"It's really bringing people in to see the renovations so they know that we have something really cool in our community," said Executive Director Matthew Pinto, a dementia specialist who was hired about six months ago.
 
"The importance of the new renovations is to modernize some things to make it simpler for them. Like the rooms, we are trying to do away with the transitions in the rooms for people that have wheelchairs."
 
Residents sometimes had trouble with the carpeting if using a walker or wheelchair, it's easier for some to walk into their shower, and the stovetops would sometimes be left on. 
 
Pinto said the residents had a hand in the renovations, like helping choose paint colors and what they would like the facility change, which will help future residents with their stays.
 
View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories