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Trendsetter Winners Named at Celebrate the Berkshires Event
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01:54PM / Friday, September 16, 2016
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The BSO's Mark Volpe, left, Michele Butler, Giovanna Fessenden, Cindy Bartlett and state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing pose at Thursday's Trendsetter event.

LENOX, Mass. — Seven individuals and organizations were feted on Thursday night as the this year's Berkshire Trendsetters.

The awards were presented at the sixth annual Celebrate the Berkshires event at Tanglewood before a crowd of more than 300 with state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield, as master of ceremonies. The awards are a program of 1Berkshire.

The night's special honoree was Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, for "Putting the Berkshires on the Map." Mark Volpe, managing director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, accepted the award.

Over the past 10 years, close to 3.5 million people have enjoyed the "Tanglewood Experience" and it has been a cornerstone in defining the Berkshires to visitors from all over the world. Volpe was given a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted mobile from Joel Hotchkiss of Hotchkiss Mobiles Gallery in West Stockbridge, named, appropriately, "Overture."

The Berkshire Trendsetter Awards recognize the many different ways that people and organizations excel in several categories that showcase the Berkshires. After a comprehensive  process of reviewing more than 120 quality nominations, 35 local companies and business leaders were selected as Trendsetter Awards finalists. Out of those 35, seven winners were announced at the event.

In the Creative Economy Standout category, BlueQ of Pittsfield was chosen for its vast array of interesting and unique products in addition to innovative approaches to business management, teamwork, and employee growth.

The city of North Adams received the Comprehensive Marketing Campaign award for implementing a successful year-round marketing campaign that rebranded the city and attracts visitors from all over the country by combining traditional, digital, and social tactics, and has resulted in increased visitation rates to North Adams and the Berkshires.

The Newcomer of the Year Award was presented to Methuselah for helping to revitalize North Street, Pittsfield, and for all it has done to attract people to Pittsfield. The restaurant provides great service, food, and drink in a trendy, hospitable and friendly atmosphere.

The Berkshire Family YMCA, Pittsfield, was named Nonprofit of the Year for its slate of community programming for people of all ages. It has worked in partnership with the Christian Youth Center in Pittsfield on a number of these programs and has collaborated and partnered with Berkshire Family and Individual Resources and Berkshire County Arc to provide custodial services for both YMCA locations in Pittsfield and North Adams.

Winning the Entrepreneur/Visionary of the Year award was Paul LeBlanc of Zogics in Lee for his creative and effective management style, his support of local arts and culture, and his company's many employee programs that incentivize more environmentally friendly lifestyles.

Christina Barrett, director of marketing and student recruitment at Berkshire Community College, was named the Under 40 Change-Maker for her collaborative vision for Berkshire County and her desire to focus on the bigger picture while remaining involved in numerous committees, boards, and programs that are working for the betterment of our region.

The Growing & Advancing the Berkshire Economy award was presented to Unistress for its leadership in promoting the future of manufacturing in the Berkshires, continued success in growing the company, increasing staff, and the high-quality reputation of its projects.

Jonathan Butler, CEO of 1Berkshire, thanked the Berkshire business community for its support and for showing up to celebrate all that is great in the Berkshires.  

"1Berkshire is proud to bring so many people together each year to celebrate our business community's achievements, innovations and commitment to excellence," he said. "We have real momentum, not only in the fantastic support for this event but in the countywide efforts this region is making towards growth."

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