All of us at 1Berkshire, the BVB and the Chamber, would like to wish you a joyous holiday season with the hopes you will find time to appreciate friends, family, and the many reasons why we are lucky to be in the Berkshires. At 1Berkshire, our primary focus is on how we can all work together to grow our Berkshire economy, the question though is what can each and every one of us do personally to support this goal? There is no right or wrong answer, but of all the conversations we have been a part of in various businesses and board rooms across the county, the one that seems to consistently resonate is the need to change the narrative.
We believe it’s time we begin painting a brighter picture of the region – one that doesn’t dwell upon the sum of all things we are not, but instead focuses on the incredible energy around what we are and what we have the potential to be. It has been tempting for many of us to point at recent challenges, most notably the pending departure of SABIC in Pittsfield, and cite it as another example of the Berkshires’ “decline,” but we certainly don’t see it that way. If we are collaborative and diligent this story won’t be about negative news, in whatever form, it will be about how effectively the Berkshires rose up to meet that challenge. If you have any ideas on how you can work with us on the new narrative, please take a moment to share them with any of us at 1Berkshire.
Here’s to a prosperous 2016!
Jonathan, Lauri, Linda, Katie, David, Julia, Faith, Kristen, Michelle, June, Lindsey, Danielle, Kara, Laura, Elizabeth, and Joshua
