Blog

Lee Bank Appoints New VP to Expand Services to Broader Income Spaces

LEE – Lee Bank has appointed a new Financial Wellness Officer to expand the bank’s financial planning and money management services to residents of diverse incomes and needs.

Matthew R. Freitag, a Certified Financial Planner ™ and native of Cheshire, has been named vice president, Financial Wellness. He works with Lee Bank clients to help them achieve better financial stability and develop personalized financial plans regardless of income. This service is offered free of charge to Lee Bank customers.

“The pandemic has shown us how fragile some people’s finances are,” said Chuck Leach, president of Lee Bank. “We want to dispel any misconception that financial planning services are only intended for the wealthy. Our goal is to be an inclusive source of finance that helps empower the lives of all of our clients, which in turn empowers our community. “

Financial planning encompasses a range of money matters: budgeting, debt management, saving, tax issues, college planning, social security strategies, investing, and retirement planning.

“As we leave COVID, many of our customers are anticipating their financial future after pandemic-related money challenges,” Friday said. “For many people, their bank is already a trustworthy financial partner on which we can build. Even for those who have weathered the effects of COVID-19, it may be time to do a financial assessment and adjustment. “

Friday will be based at Marble House in Lee but is available by prior arrangement with customers at any Lee Bank branch in Great Barrington, Stockbridge, Lee, Lenox or Pittsfield.

In addition to his work at Lee Bank, Freitag will also work with October Mountain Financial Services to provide asset portfolio management and financial planning to Lee Bank clients with significant assets.

Most recently, Freitag was Senior Client Advisor at RINET Company LLC in Boston and received a Masters degree in Personal Financial Planning from Bentley University. He also earned his bachelor’s degree in finance with a focus on ethics and social responsibility from Bentley, where he graduated cum laude. He lives in Lenox now.

—AK

* * *

Construct welcomes five new board members

LARGE BARRINGTON – Construct, the leading nonprofit provider of affordable housing and support services to needy residents of South Berkshire County, has appointed five new members to its board of directors. Hinda Bodinger, Wanda Houston, Laura Jordahl, Christa Montano and Richard Slutsky join the board.

“We regularly evaluate our board of directors and have come to the conclusion that it is time to fill the limited number of seats,” said CEO Elizabeth Rosenberg. “The newest members bring with them a wealth of complementary and diverse perspectives and skills.”

The new board members took over their official duties on June 2, 2021. Officials this year include CEO Elizabeth Rosenberg, Board Vice President Rabbi Neil Hirsch, Board Treasurer Keith Seidman, and Board Secretary Elaine Silberstein.

Hinda Bodinger. Photo courtesy Construct

Hinda Bodinger moved to the Berkshires full-time in 2013. In 2016, she and her husband, Bill founded Berkshire Baby Box, a non-profit organization with a mission to help all new families feel welcome and valued, and to connect new families with resources and services regardless of income or immigration status. In 2021 they found a new home for the Berkshire Baby Box with the Community Health Program (CHP) after they had distributed over 1,000 Safe-Sleep-Boxes and their “Baby Shower in a Box”. Bodinger wants to use her energy to fight food and housing insecurity in Berkshire County.

Wanda Houston. Photo courtesy Construct

Wanda Houston is a performer, band leader, music / choir director and teacher. She comes to the Berkshires from Chicago via Los Angeles and New York City. She has worked in film and television and on the Broadway stage, and has performed and lived in Europe and Australia. Initially working in the corporate real estate development and management world, Houston is now Music Secretary for the First Baptist Church in Pittsfield and directs the Wanda Houston Band, HBH Band and is a private singing teacher and coach.

Laura Jordahl. Photo courtesy Construct

Laura Jordahl has long been committed to reducing housing and food insecurity through her volunteer leadership and philanthropy. In her former home outside of Chicago, Jordahl was involved in Housing Forward, a local nonprofit that focuses on ending housing instability. For nearly two decades, she oversaw the nightly meals and bed set-up for 25 homeless people once a month. After becoming a full-time resident in Great Barrington, she volunteered at Construct, supervising the reception and working with staff on various projects. Professionally, Jordahl has a background in architecture / project management and early childhood education.

Christa Montano. Photo courtesy Construct

Christa Montano grew up in the Berkshires and recently moved all over to Great Barrington. After attending New York University, she started working in marketing for grocery brands and CPG startups. She currently works remotely for an indoor urban farming company based in Brooklyn, taking care of marketing and public relations.

Richard Slutsky retired to the Berkshires in 2019. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, he graduated from Washington University and the Emory University School of Law.

Richard Slutsky. Photo courtesy of Konstrukt.

Richard practiced general civil law in Kansas City for five years. For 12 years he was executive director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City and later the Jewish Community Foundation of Metrowest, New Jersey. For 20 years Richard was Senior Vice President and Institutional Sales Director for the Philanthropic Solutions Group at US Trust and Merrill Lynch in New York City.

—AK

* * *

Berkshire County Historical Society Receives Education Task Force Grant

PITTSFELD – The Berkshire County Historical Society (BCHS) has received a $ 6,000 grant from the Berkshire County Education Task Force (BCETF) to support a new educational initiative aimed at researching and understanding the history and culture of Native Americans as well as the Promoting civic responsibility in Berkshire will be the county’s public schools. This initiative is a collaboration between BCHS, Berkshire Museum, Stockbridge-Munsee Community, Pittsfield Public Schools and the Central Berkshire Regional School District. More organizations, including school districts, will be added over time.

“While working with several partners on the upcoming joint exhibition“ Moo-he-con-ne-ok: People of the Waters that are Never Still ”, it became clear that teachers and schools had few resources to use in their lesson planning validated information on and from Native American nations, ”said Lesley Herzberg, BCHS Executive Director. “This project will provide resources to address this shortcoming, initially for Pittsfield Public Schools and the Central Berkshire Regional School District, and as the project grows, additional counties and schools in the region.”

The exhibition, which can be seen at the Berkshire Museum from August 1, 2021 to January 9, 2022, is a collaboration between BCHS, Berkshire Museum, Trustees of Reservations, Bidwell House Museum, Hancock Shaker Village, Williams College, Stockbridge Museum and Archives, Housatonic Heritage and Stockbridge-Munsee Parish.

BCHS will host a summer workshop that will bring together teachers, community leaders and museum professionals with moderator Heather Bruegl, Stockbridge Munsee Congregation’s cultural director and curator of the exhibition. She will guide educators and museum professionals in activities, along with readings and interactions, that will deepen their understanding of Mohican history and the broader context of indigenous history and culture in today’s United States.

The workshop will help identify ideas for projects that middle and high school teachers can implement in the fall and winter of 2021-22.

—AK

* * *

Berkshire Economic Recovery Program seeks counselors for examination

PITTSFIELD – 1Berkshire is seeking, in partnership with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and with assistance from the United States Economic Development Administration, experienced consultants to be recruited under the Berkshire Economic Recovery Program.

The Berkshire Economic Recovery Program is a biennial initiative to provide enhanced technical assistance to businesses and communities in the Berkshires to support recovery and ongoing resilience work. Advisors with broad expertise are considered to facilitate efforts through the provision of workshops and / or direct face-to-face counseling services.

To be considered as a potential employed advisor, individuals must complete the Berkshire Economic Recovery Program Technical Assistance Advisor Admission Form.

For more information or inquiries, please contact the 1Berkshire Economic Development Team at [email protected].

—AK