BFAIR Announces New Board Members and Annual Elections
Sep. 5, 2023 ( North Adams, MA) – BFAIR is excited to welcome five distinct members of the Berkshire community to their Board of Directors: Andrew Briggs, Barbara Chaput, Jacob Dabrowski, Dana Johnson, and Marissa Kirchner.
Andrew Briggs, CPA, CGMA, Chief Financial Officer at Laureyns United, Inc., has over 15 years of experience in financial leadership roles in corporate and public accounting organizations. He earned his master’s in accountancy from Bentley University and his bachelor’s degree from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA). Andrew is an active member of both the AICPA and MSCPA.
Andrew is a proud lifelong Berkshire County resident and currently resides in Pittsfield. He is fiercely passionate about his roles and responsibilities. His favorite activity is spending time with his two boys and their dog, Dixie.
Barbara Chaput has served local Berkshire County organizations in human resources for 25+ years, including in higher education, health care, and manufacturing. Her responsibilities have included human resources, payroll, training, labor relations, and more.
Most recently, Barbara serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA), in North Adams, MA. She represents MCLA on the Berkshire Workforce Board of Directors and has been involved in several workforce development and community initiatives.
Barbara has an MBA from Western New England University and a bachelor’s degree from the College of Our Lady of the Elms. She and her husband, Jeffrey, have two adult children and reside in Cheshire. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling in her free time.
Jake Dabrowski, AVP of Mortgage Originations of Adam Community Bank, has over 18 years of banking experience. He is a Berkshire County Native who loves his community. He serves on the Elder Services of Berkshire County Board and Executive Committee, The Northern Berkshire United Way Events Committee, and the Allocations Committee. Jake is also the President of the North Adams Lions Club.
In his free time, Jake enjoys hiking, fishing, and exploring the Berkshire outdoors in his free time. He lives in Williamstown with his wife, son, and their rescue pup Lola.
Dana Johnson brings over a decade of invaluable IT experience, serving companies in an IT consultant role throughout Berkshire County before joining General Dynamics, where he manages the Program Engineering Solutions team. Dana has a passion for problem-solving and a keen interest in understanding how things work. His career in IT aligns seamlessly with his hobby of building cars. Hailing from Southern Vermont, he completed his education at MCLA and has since made Berkshire County his home, demonstrating a strong commitment to the local community.
Marissa Kirchner has been in the financial services industry for over 18 years and works for Greylock Investment Group as a Financial Advisor in North Adams. She is active in the community and a Northern Berkshire United Way Board Member. She is a lifelong northern Berkshires resident living in Cheshire with her husband and son.
BFAIR’s Annual Elections were held on May 15, 2023, and the new slate of the Board of Directors is as follows:
Officers:
- Peter Mirante, Chairperson
- Kim Baker, Vice Chair
- Patti Messina, Clerk
- Dana Mullen, Treasurer
Directors:
- Andrew Briggs
- Laila Boucher
- Barbara Chaput
- Jacob Dabrowski
- Dr. Gray Ellrodt
- Alex Figueroa
- Dana Johnson
- Steve Narey, Esq.
- Carter White
Alex Kastrinakis was recognized for his nine years of board service.
About BFAIR
Since 1994, BFAIR has provided Adult Family Care (AFC), Residential, Clinical, Employment and Day Services for adults with developmental disabilities, Acquired Brain Injury and Autism. BFAIR is a proud member agency of the Northern Berkshire United Way and the Williamstown Community Chest.
###
