Name: Celia Clancy
Company: Berkshire Business and Professional Women
Title: President
Tell us about your own professional background.
My background is in senior retail management. I have extensive experience in all tiers of retail and channels of distribution, including e-commerce, specialty chains, catalog, mass merchandising and off-price. I started my career in department stores. I was most recently the CEO of the Fitzpatrick Companies, known for the Country Curtains brand.
What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful?
Hard work and a realistically positive outlook along with a great family with a role model mother and father. I just keep going, and I always raise my hand!
Describe the Berkshire Business and Professional Women organization.
Berkshire Business and Professional Women (BBPW) is an organization that elevates and helps women to be the best they can be, regardless of career path. Our flagship event is Woman of Achievement, where we recognize a female leader in our community who also gives back. All proceeds from the evening go toward our scholarship program. We give out scholarships to deserving women across Berkshire county.
Tell us about upcoming programs, events, or initiatives that BBPW will be spearheading.
We gathered feedback from our membership in June. They want a bigger, more robust BBPW. As a Board and an organization, we are working very hard to provide new and exciting programming through our monthly dinner meetings and beyond. Our recent meetings have been sold out and our membership is growing quickly. Our next dinner meeting is scheduled for November 4. See our website for details.
What “secret to success” would you share with young women entering into the (Berkshire) workforce?
Network! Get to know others like yourself and not like you. Get involved with a group like BBPW and in your community.
What Berkshire women in business inspire you and why?
I am inspired by many women in our community, who lead businesses and organizations and are still very engaged in their community. There are some incredible women in Berkshire County, from Andrea Harrington and Jane Iredale to Linda Tyer, to name a few.
What is your favorite Berkshire activity?
Several current favorites include: Tanglewood concerts, Kennedy Park hikes, Ashuwillticook Rail Trail bike rides, Notchview cross-country skiing, the Clark and Berkshire Museum. I’m always looking for new events and activities here in the Berkshires!
Learn more at the Berkshire Business and Professional Women website.
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor: Greylock Federal Credit Union
Special thanks to our media sponsor: BusinessWest