Founded in 1997, the Berkshire Leadership Program (BLP) has been on a mission to bring together community-minded individuals who are looking for the opportunity to learn about their communities and make a commitment to address community challenges and improve the overall quality of life in the Berkshires. With nearly 500 graduates of the program, BLP is looking to add 29 leaders to the BLP Alumni network.
As the title of the program indicates, there is a focus on leadership. Participants begin the program with a self-assessment tool which identifies the strengths and challenges of their individual leadership style; helping them with group dynamics, problem-solving techniques, and networking. It is at the two-day retreat at the beginning of the program, where participants really get to learn more about themselves while getting to know the others that will be on this journey with them.
During the twelve-week program, participants learn about their own leadership style, as well as the various leaderships styles of their peers. They also get to see Berkshire County in a way that few of us get to; with an economic development bus tour, tours of companies, and panel discussions with community leaders. Each week, participants explore a different industry within Berkshire County. Session topics include workforce development, education, community service, creative economy, energy, government, and healthcare. Outside of the program sessions, each BLP class addresses a countywide issue rooted in economic development, giving the class a real-life example of how to get involved and affect change in Berkshire County.
This year, the Berkshire Leadership Program kicked off the program April 1-2, with a retreat at Jiminy Peak and will complete their program on June 16 with a commencement ceremony and presentation of their class project.
1Berkshire is excited to guide the following individuals on this journey and can’t wait to see what’s next for the BLP Class of 2016:
Amanda Bankowski, Dominion Dealer Solutions
Adam Bradley, General Dynamics
Juan Carrion-Almeida, Sabic
Rebbecca Cohen, Tunnel City Transportation
Sara Durant, NBT Bank
Chantel Flanery, Commonwealth of Mass. Dept. of Transitional Assistance
Faith Gagliardi, 1Berkshire
Nataly Garzon, Berkshire United Way
Bonnie Howland, MCLA
Joseph Johnson, General Dynamics
Paramjit Kaur, Guardian Life Insurance
Michele Kotek, The Red Lion Inn
Christopher Morin, Overlook Industries
Brett Morris, General Dynamics
Michelle Murphy, 1Berkshire
Elena Noummano, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics
Holly Palardy, Haiti Plunge, Inc.
Eric Pratt, Coakley, Pierpan, Dolan & Collins Insurance
Keri Purcell, Department of Development Services
Dana Robb, Berkshire Bank
Hannah Schiff, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation
Kellie Scovil, Guardian Life Insurance
Lo Sottile, Berkshire Museum
Jillian St. John, Williams College
Benjamin Steffans, Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook LLP
Michael Taylor, City of Pittsfield
Tochi Ubani, Berkshire Community College
Lynn Wallace, Greylock Federal Credit Union
Bonita Wilson, Main Street Hospitality Group