PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More than 300 community members attended the 40 Under Forty Awards celebration on Thursday, recognizing individuals who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those in the Berkshires. 

 

Berkshire Community College received several hundred nominations this year and narrowed it down to 40 unsung heroes who have achieved many accomplishments, college President Ellen Kennedy said. 

 

Kennedy said it was wonderful to see previous winners nominating the next generation. 

 

"They sort of understand the importance of what this recognition can symbolize to people and the inspiration it can provide to people to be connected and committed to what's happening in the Berkshires," she said. "So it's been exciting to see it evolve that way."

 

The event is a moment to both pause but also go forward, Kennedy said afterward.

 

"So pause and really celebrate all of this talent and interest and these really creative, innovative, hard working, committed individuals, but it's also a moment to push forward on the next round of entrepreneurial innovation that can happen in the Berkshires. And a lot of these people bring that spirit to that," she said. 

 

The winners come from diverse backgrounds, including longtime residents with deep roots in the Berkshires as well as newcomers who have recently moved to the area and are already making a mark, Kennedy said. 

 

"There was so much enthusiasm and excitement. It was wonderful to hear the sound of children cheering on and excitedly celebrating their parents or family members. It was just a good moment for Berkshire County to celebrate people who will and are already making a difference and will bring additional creative leadership to the county," she continued.

 

"This year's 40 Under 40 recipients come from all sectors of the community: health care, education, public safety, conservation, farming, small-business owners, nonprofits, volunteering, and so many more."  

 

The event was held in the college's Robert Boland Theatre in partnership with Mill Town Foundation and 1Berkshires.

 

Mill Town donated a total of $50,000 to the college to give $1,000 to each of the award recipients to donate to a Berkshire-based nonprofit organization. This donation was an effort to instill a sense of philanthropic engagement moving forward and encourage people to pass it forward. 

 

"You all represent a unique sample of the Berkshire community. The impact of your work reaches into so many different areas. Each of you are contributing to the growth, vibrancy, and strength of the Berkshires in your own way," Liliana Atanacio, of Mill Town Foundation, told the nominees. 

 

Harrison Ackerman, also of Mill Town, added that the awardees "influence is felt across the entire region, whether it's through innovation, service, or leadership — areas like education, health and wellness, the arts, technology, finance, community developmental stewardship and reception, and beyond." 

 

State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier attended the event and in a follow up said she was inspired by the enthusiasm of young people in the Berkshires and appreciates their diverse contributions to the community, including starting new businesses and working in education.

 

"I definitely notice how they are from all over the Berkshires, which is important to me. You know, they're from Pittsfield, South County, North County, the hilltowns, which is excellent," she said. 

 

"But I also was noticing as I went through the program how many different ways that they contribute …it's like a microcosm of the community right there in those 40 people." 

 

Farley-Bouvier also highlighted how the celebration has substantially grown over the years. 

 

The event started 11 years ago after Craig Smith, BCC's former vice president for advancement, proposed the initiative. 

 

Smith said he wanted to recognize the younger generation's contribution to the community, which he did not think was receiving the attention they deserved. Upon making his proposal, BCC enthusiastically supported the idea. 

 

Since then it has grown, he said. 

 

"It's so exciting for me to see that something that I helped create still has legs, and helps create more opportunities for younger people and the organizations that they serve," Smith said. 

 

The celebration also served as a fundraiser to support workforce and community education at BCC. The remaining $10,000 from Mill Town Foundation was given to the college to sponsor the fundraiser. 

 

The college raised about $30,000 from ticket sales which will fund short-term training, including for emergency medical technicians, commercial driver's licenses and certified nursing assistant.

 

40 Under 40 2025 Winners: 

 

Melissa Agosto, Austen Riggs Center

Donation: Berkshire Children's Chorus

 

Abigail Allard, Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center

Donation: Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center

 

Christian Bianchi, Berkshire Family YMCA

Donation: Community Access to the Arts (CATA)

 

Dr. Ashley Clancy-Gagnon, Berkshire Medical Center

Donation: Berkshire Humane Society

 

Kate DeWolf, Berkshire OB/GYN and Associates

Donation: Berkshire Nursing Families

 

Marina Dominguez, Downtown Pittsfield/ Katunemo Art and Healing/Maru Art and Studio

Donation: Berkshire Immigrant Center

 

Grace Enchill, Heller and Robbins PC

Donation: 18 Degrees

 

Samantha Farella, Pittsfield Public Schools

Donation: The Love of T Foundation

 

Luke Fitzgerald, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and founder of The Love of T 

Donation: The Love of T Foundation

 

Mystie Ford, Greylock Federal Credit Union

Donation: No Paws Left Behind

 

Kelly Galvin, Community Access to the Arts (CATA)

Donation: BRIDGE

 

Christopher Hantman, Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter Public School

Donation: PopCares

 

Darci Hess, General Dynamics Mission Systems

Donation: Berkshire Music School

 

Dan Hudson, Images Cinema

Donation: Images Cinema

 

Michael Jefferson, Community Health Programs

Donation: Roots Rising

 

Kevin Kelly, After Hours Hospitality, LLC

Donation: Berkshire Bounty

 

Matthew Kosiorek, College Internship Program

Donation: Wildcat Sports Group

 

Hayden Kuhn, Berkshire Community Pharmacy

Donation: Roots Rising

 

Gabriela Leon, Berkshire Health Systems (Berkshire Connections)

Donation: Berkshire Humane Society's Safe Pet Program

 

Cheryl Martin, Lee Bank

Donation: Berkshire Humane Society

 

Michael Massery, The Infield

Donation: Baseball in the Berkshires

 

Brandy McKie, Lee Bank

Donation: 18 Degrees

 

Cailin McMahon, Branches School of the Berkshires

Donation: Road Runners Club of America

 

Christina Meucci, The Recovery Room

Donation: Girls Inc. at the Gladys Brigham Center

 

Tiffany Moreno, Berkshire Community College

Donation: Latinas413

 

Mary Morrison, Pittsfield Public Schools (Pittsfield High School)

Donation: Berkshire United Way

 

LaTonia Morton, Pittsfield Public Schools

Donation: ROPE

 

Bethany Prince-Malloy, Child Care of the Berkshires Inc.

Donation: Child Care of the Berkshires

 

Adam Rice, Killeen Arace and Quinn PC

Donation: No Paws Left Behind

 

Megan Rose, Hilgers Graben

Donation: Strong Little Souls

 

Heather Roy, Department of Transitional Assistance

Donation: Elizabeth Freeman Center Inc.

 

Allen Scaccia, of Thermo Expert

Donation: Gladys Brigham Center

 

Ryan Sears, Commonwealth Collaborative

Donation: Berkshire Pride

 

Taylor Staubach, Berkshire Natural Resources Council and Berkshire Family Hikes 

Donation: Berkshire Natural Resources Council

 

Mary Summers, Tommy's Compost Service

Donation: Berkshire Agricultural Ventures

 

Jeanna Tinney, Romans 828 LLC

Donation: Berkshire REIGN Youth Sports

 

Lyndsey Wadsworth, General Dynamics Mission Systems

Donation: Elizabeth Freeman Center, Inc.

 

Jen Weber, Lanesborough Ambulance

Donation: Western Mass Critical Incident Stress Management

 

Rebecca Wehry, Berkshire Community College

Donation: Berkshire Community College Foundation

 

Andy Wrba, Mill Town Foundation

Donation: Focus Is Our Children