Al Bashevkin

Executive Director
email: abashevkin@nbccoalition.org

Al has been the Director of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition since its inception in 1986.  He has seen many changes for the Northern Berkshire community since the mid 80′s.  A native of North Adams, Al turned back to the Northern Berkshire community midway through his career.  To stay healthy for the work of the Coalition, Al enjoys bicycling, cross country skiing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, and singing with the Battenkill Chorale in Cambridge, NY.  Al lives in Bennington, VT with his family.

Kate Merrigan

UNITY Program Coordinator
email: kmerrigan@nbccoalition.org

Kate, a proud North Adams native, has been working in the Coalition’s UNITY programs since 2005.  She feels honored and lucky to have a job that allows her to explore her dual passions for youth empowerment and engaging people in community change.  When she’s not at work, Kate can be found spending time at local coffee shops with her father, volunteering with the New Hampshire Teen Institute, trying to make the perfect cupcake, working on plays with Mill City Productions, and talking endlessly about Battlestar Galactica.  Kate, who holds a BA in American Studies/ Gender Studies from Marlboro College, previously worked as a counselor at Tapestry Health Family Planning (you might also recognize her from her years cooking and wise cracking behind the counter at the Appalachian Bean Cafe).

Lois Daunis

Grants Manager, CMCA
email: ldaunis@nbccoalition.org

Lois Daunis works as the Grants Manager at the Coalition, and also as Program Coordinator for Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol (CMCA) and Safe Homes of North Berkshire.  Contact her at the Coalition for more information on making your home safe for youth.  Lois also owns Papyri Books in North Adams, and divides her time between these responsibilities.  When not grantwriting or bookselling, Lois enjoys spending time with her family, walking, teasing her cats, mission and relief work, and, of course, reading.

Liz Boland

Business Manager
email: lboland@nbccoalition.org

Liz Boland came to the Coalition from the Mount Williams Greenhouses and Flower Shop, where she had kept the books for 22 years.  Liz claimed the Coalition was to be her first experience with a non-profit organization, but she is one of a five-member committee that organizes Berkshire Idol, a yearly singing competition that raises funds for local charities, and she also volunteers with the parent-teacher group at Greylock Elementary School.  A graduate of North Adams State College (now MCLA) with a B. S. in Computer Science, this Northern Berkshire native is drawn to the non-profit world.  At the center of Liz’s life are her two boys, Sully, age 13, and Jon, who is 10.  In the precious bit of free time that comes her way, Liz follows her two passions: football (she cheers for the Patriots!) and good ole rock ‘n’ roll.

Wendy Krom

Northern Berkshire Neighbors Program Coordinator
email: wkrom@nbccoalition.org

Wendy Krom joins the nbCC as our Northern Berkshire Neighbors Program Coordinator. For the past 12 years, she has served as the Founder/Director of Community Consulting Services, where she provides training and technical assistance to nonprofit organizations in the areas of leadership development, strategic planning and community organizing skills. She practices mindfulness meditation, serves on the leadership council of the Manchester (VT) Shambhala Meditation Group and is an Assistant Director in that lineage of meditation instruction.

Bert Lamb

Bert Lamb
email: blamb@nbccoalition.org

Bert is the Communications Coordinator for the nbCC. She is an alumni of MCLA and has been working in the printing industry for over 20 years. She loves to cook, quilt and spend time with family.

Annie Kirkpatrick

Annie Kirkpatrick
email: akirkpatrick@nbccoalition.org

Annie joins the Coalition as the UNITY and Northern Berkshire Neighbors Program Associate. Having volunteered as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and later as a member of the College Advising Corps, she is enthusiastic to rededicate her work to community organizing and youth development.  Annie also owns Sunshine Bagels, which operates out of her home in North Adams. When she isn’t at the Coalition or slinging bagels, you can find her at the Elf Parlor, playing with her kitty Zappa, hiking or relaxing by the fire place at her lake house.

Amber Besaw

Our newest staff member is Amber Besaw, the Project Director for our new and evolving center for families, The Family Place. Amber lives in North Adams with her husband and two sons, 9 and 5 who attend school at Brayton Elementary. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from SUNY Potsdam and a Master’s Degree in Human Services and Community Counseling from SUNY Oswego. Her work experiences include working in clinical mental health in a rural hospital setting, working with therapeutic foster families and the children they care for, community mental health, and more recently with the Massachusetts Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative program at the Brien Center.

Amanda Chilson

Amanda Chilson is our newest member of the Coalition. She joins us as the Mass in Motion Project Coordinator. Prior to working at the Coalition Amanda spent the past few years traveling throughout the U.S. and abroad. She is a North Adams local and is proud to be back representing and giving back to her community.  Just as she will be helping others live a healthy and active lifestyle, she also practices that same sort of lifestyle. Amanda is an avid runner, skier, hiker and yoga practitioner. She also loves to travel, camp, attend fitness classes of all types, read, work with and eat a variety of foods, and spend time with family and friends. Along with working at the Coalition Amanda is also an employee at Wild Oats Co-op in Williamstown, and a yoga instructor. Anytime you see Amanda out about in the community, teaching yoga or out for a run feel free to join in!