Name: Diane Marcus
Place of Employment: Belvoir Terrace Visual and Performing Arts and Sports Camp, located in Lenox, MA.
Title: Owner/Director
What is your 3 – sentence biography? / What is your personal elevator pitch?
I am third generation owner/director of Belvoir Terrace. I grew up at Belvoir Terrace, first, as a camper, then later as a camp counselor, unit leader, teacher, chairperson, assistant director and for the last 20 years, director. As a child, I spent winters on the Bousquet Ski Team and my father was on the Bousquet Ski Patrol. My education includes Bachelors from Oberlin Conservatory in piano performance, Masters from The Juilliard School, and Doctorate from CUNY. My husband, Michael Marcus, is the owner/director of Camp Greylock, a boys camp located in Becket, MA. We have a 14-year-old daughter, who enjoys sports, visual arts and music. We feel fortunate to be part of the Belvoir Terrace and Camp Greylock legacies.
Tell us about a challenge you faced on your path, and what you learned from it.
Life is challenging and always changing. Listening to campers, staff and parents, working together, is the way I approach solving and overcoming challenges. Speaking directly, sharing ideas, having a positive outlook, and handling problems as they arise, is how I approach each day.
What “secret to success” would you share with young women entering the workforce?
I believe that people should work in an area that gives them joy. For me, teaching and working with children is truly rewarding work. Helping others and making a difference is both important and meaningful. It is also essential to be willing to work hard, build personal grit, and not to give up when situations get difficult. Women need to be well prepared, comfortable working with others, and have the tenacity to overcome challenging situations.
What Berkshire women in business inspire you and why?
My grandmother, who purchased Belvoir Terrace and started a summer camp in 1954, is my first role model. She was unique and progressive, starting a business at a time when businesses were mostly run by men. She had a dream to start a summer camp for girls, right here in Lenox. She followed her dream, and Belvoir Terrace has positively changed thousands of women’s lives. I am also inspired by my mother, Nancy Goldberg, Belvoir’s second director. She is an example of dedication, hard work, and excellence. For over fifty years, she has dedicated herself to helping others, including The Williams Syndrome Association and Berkshire Hills Music Academy in South Hadley, MA, of which she is a founder. I admire women who choose to make a positive difference in our society and who stand up for women’s rights.
One More Important Point:
Summer camp is more important in today’s world than ever before. Camp gives young people the opportunity to be in a media-free environment, where they learn to interact and connect with others and build confidence. Girls benefit from women role models. I recognize the importance of being one of only a few women camp owner/directors in our country. I feel privileged to work with the campers and staff in the Belvoir community. The Berkshires are the perfect location for Belvoir Terrace – a beautiful setting, positive, supportive and vibrant community that values the visual and performing arts.
