BFAIR CEO Rich Weisenflue Announces Retirement Effective March 27, 2025
Thur. Nov. 21, 2024 (North Adams, MA) –
BFAIR announces that Rich Weisenflue, its long-serving CEO, will retire effective March 27, 2025. Rich’s departure marks the end of a remarkable career spanning over three decades of leadership in human services, including 25 years with BFAIR.
Rich’s tenure at BFAIR has been transformative. Under his leadership, the organization expanded its offerings to include a wide range of Residential, Day, Employment, Community Based, Family, and Individual Support services, as well as a Bottle and Can Redemption Center which offers employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Today, BFAIR serves over 400 clients and employs more than 300 staff members, making it a vital part of the region’s human services landscape.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Rich began his career in the Human Service field as a live-in House Manager with Keystone City Residence and later developed innovative recreation and community inclusion programs for people with disabilities through the Deutsch Institute. After relocating to Berkshire County, Rich dedicated 35 years to nonprofit human services, joining BFAIR in 2000 as Associate Executive Director. He was promoted to Executive Director in 2001 and to CEO in 2018.
Rich earned a B.A. in Psychology and an M.A. in Human Resource Administration from the University of Scranton, complemented by nonprofit management coursework at the Harvard Business School Executive Education. In 2019, he was honored for Executive Leadership by the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires and most recently presented with a Lifetime Achievement award by UCP of Western Massachusetts.
An active member of the community, Rich serves on the Board of Directors of the Provider’s Council, a statewide association of community-based organizations, and previously on the Northern Berkshire United Way. His past board roles include the Employers Association of the Northeast, the Human Service Forum, the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of North Adams, among others.
Reflecting on his tenure, Rich stated, "It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead BFAIR and work alongside such talented and compassionate colleagues. Committed and caring professionals throughout are to be commended for their work contributing to BFAIR ’s success offering quality services for the past thirty years. I am confident the organization’s mission and positive culture will continue to thrive under new leadership."
Pete Mirante, Board Chair, remarked that “the Board of Directors extends its deepest gratitude to Rich for his dedication and leadership. It was a pleasure working together along with the Senior leadership team focused on service excellence and options, staff recognition and professional development and building community partnerships.”
The search for BFAIR’s next CEO is being managed by the Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE). This transition will ensure that the organization continues to provide exceptional support and services to individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injuries throughout Berkshire County and the Pioneer Valley.
About BFAIR
For over thirty years, BFAIR has been providing Adult Family Care (AFC), Residential, Employment and Day Services for adults and children 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.
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