The Berkshire Leadership Program (BLP) has been preparing leaders in the Berkshires since 1997. BLP seeks, prepares, involves, and sustains leaders from diverse backgrounds who are committed to addressing community challenges and improving the quality of life in the Berkshires. BLP is a program of 1Berkshire, planned by a Steering Committee of 16 volunteers and supported by individuals and businesses in the community who donate their time for our sessions. The Steering Committee carefully reviews each application for the program and selects a wide variety of leaders in Berkshire County.
Kicking off with a two-day retreat at Jiminy Peak this April, 25 individuals began a journey that focused on their leadership styles and working within a team. Following the retreat, the class spent a day on an economic development bus tour highlighting stops “off the beaten path” while discussing several areas of opportunities and challenges throughout the County; stops along the bus tour included a behind the scenes tour at The Adams Theater, a tour of Berkshire Sterile Manufacturing, a trip down the runway of the Pittsfield Municipal Airport, a tour of The Mount, and a visit to The Norad Mill.
We are excited to be working with the following individuals who make up the BLP Class of 2024:
Crystal Adelt, Town of Adams
Anthony Arevalo, Best Western
Luke Brady, Carr Hardware
Karrie Buratto, Berkshire United Way
Catheryn Chacon Ortega, Smith, Watson & Co.
Farrell Garrity, General Dynamics Mission Systems
Kara Graziola, Elder Services of Berkshire County
Cameron Hadley, Northwestern Mutual
Scott Haviland, General Dynamics Mission Systems
Caitlin Healy, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Vanessa Justice, Berkshire Athenaeum, City of Pittsfield Library
Cathleen King, 1Berkshire
Megan Lussier, Berkshire Community College
Bill MacFarlane, General Dynamics Mission Systems
Madeleine McKeon, MCLA
Miranda Meyers, Berkshire Health Systems
Max Mirabello, Onyx Specialty Papers
Sarah (Bachli) Mitchell, General Dynamics Mission Systems
Kaitlyn Moresi, BFAIR
Olivia Nealon, Smith, Watson & Co.
Nicole Pelczynski, Williams College
Deborah Salmon, Choices Mentoring Initiative
Jonn Semexant, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank
Tyler Shedd, City of Pittsfield
Colin Wilson, Berkshire Community College
For more information about Berkshire Leadership Program, please visit https://1berkshire.com/berkshire-leadership-program-blp/