Staff:
Executive Director – Liana Toscanini
Contact Liana if you have an idea for a webinar, partnership or collaboration, need advice or help with starting a nonprofit, fiscal sponsorship, volunteering for the NPC or joining the board.
Director of Operations – Sarah Blexrud
Contact Sarah with any questions about invoices, events and registration, awards nominations, Giving Back guide participation, or membership.
Board Bios:
Stephanie Bosley
Stephanie Bosley serves as a Senior Gifts Officer with Southwestern Vermont Healthcare Foundation. She has focused her career on serving her community and has held a variety of roles in the nonprofit and public sector. She is a graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts’ Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) Program and most recently the Dulye Leadership Experience Gen Now Retreat. Stephanie was a recipient of Berkshire Community College’s 40 Under Forty award in 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a Master of Science in Public Affairs from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Grant Writing Certificate from the University of Southern Maine. She lives in North Adams with her husband Josh and son Rowan.
Marianne Fresia (Treasurer)
Born and raised in Pittsfield, Marianne earned an associate degree from BCC and is currently attending MCLA to earn a bachelor’s degree. In addition, she is taking courses through The American College to become a Certified Financial Planner™. She currently volunteers with Berkshire County Elder Services in their Money Management Program and has volunteered with Elizabeth Freeman’s Money School program and has been a money mentor at Miss Halls School. She is a board member of Berkshire County Estate Planning Council and the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County. She is a dual employee for both Lee Bank and October Mountain Financial Advisors in Lee and has been with the firms for 5 years. Her role with Lee Bank is as Vice President of Private Banking and Trust Services which dovetails with her role in client services with October Mountain Financial Advisors.
Katherine K. Grubbs
Katherine is currently the attorney in charge of the Berkshire County office of the public defender’s division for the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS). Katherine joined CPCS in 2006 as a staff attorney in Bristol County before becoming a supervising attorney. CPCS is dedicated to providing legal representation for those unable to afford an attorney when facing criminal charges. We zealously advocate for equal justice by supporting the rights of individuals and upholding the Constitution to protect the rights of all. Prior to joining CPCS, Katherine taught college writing at the University of California, the University of Maryland and SUNY in Albany, NY. Katherine received her B.A. in English from Middlebury College, her M.A in Composition from SUNY Albany, her C.Phil in Literature from the University of California in San Diego, and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. Moving to the Berkshires during the pandemic was a challenge, but through volunteering and community outreach, she has met many interesting, highly motivated and diverse people. Recently, Katherine and her office have worked with Pittsfield Beautiful, Community Legal Aid, the Pittsfield Jazz Festival, the Williamstown Theater Festival, and Berkshire Community College to bring collaborative projects to Berkshire County. Katherine is on the executive board of Second Street, an organization providing wrap-around services for people who have recently been incarcerated.
Ilene Marcus (Secretary)
A resident of Monterey, Ilene Marcus has been a Berkshire community member for over 20 years. After 30 years in the C-suite of multi-million dollar organizations, including running one of the largest social welfare bureaucracies in the country, she has built her own business over the last 7 years using her experience to guide leaders to build kind, joyful, and purposeful workplaces. Ilene founded Aligned Workplace, working to build cohesive teams for business growth, and is the author of How to Deal with Annoying People. Academically, earning both her MSW and MPA from Columbia University, she served as Adjunct Faculty in the Social Work Masters Program for 10 years and for 4 years as Adjunct at Hunter College in NYC. Ilenespeaks, writes and mentors on how to navigate and create powerful engaged teams.
Cassey Santos-China (she/her)
Cass graduated from Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts with an Interdisciplinary Studies Degree in Business Leadership. She has also completed several certificate programs specializing in Senior Services and End-of-Life doula work, currently she works as the Coordinator for Rainbow Seniors of Berkshire County, a 60+ group of LGBTQ+ seniors and their allies. Cass also serves Berkshire Pride as their President and Executive Director. Cass has learned so much from The Nonprofit Center of The Berkshires and truly believes in their mission and vision and would be proud to serve on the Board of Directors. She is celebrating her 10th year of marriage in 2023 and loves to travel with her wife and dachshund-terrier mix, George. She has recently become a first-time grandmother and spends much of her free time with her granddaughter Hazel. Cass truly sees the world in rainbows, glitter, tacos and tequila!
Dan Stanyon (President)
Dan Stanyon is a Vice President and Trust Officer with Salisbury Bank and Trust Company and holds the Certified Trust and Fiduciary Advisor designation. He moved to the Berkshire area in 2014 from Burlington, Vermont where he met his wife Dawn Stanyon and raised two children. While in Burlington, he served on several boards in varying capacities including HomeShare Vermont Board Chair, Converse Home Board Chair, Foster Grandparent Program Board Chair, and National Alliance on Mental Illness finance committee member. Dan joined the Berkshire County Estate Planning Council in 2016 and has served as Vice President and Clerk. Dan enjoys time with his family and likes to hike, camp, do yard work, and smoke meat.
Laurie Werner
Laurie Werner has been working in nonprofit management and development since 1994, as both staff member and consultant, with a focus on capital and annual fundraising and organizational strategy. She was employed in senior fundraising positions at The Mount, MASS MoCA, and the Berkshire Museum. Prior to this, she was a research analyst in the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and a marketing research director in the corporate sector where her experience included design and analysis of surveys, business strategy, and brand development. Laurie graduated from Barnard College (Columbia University), and has a Ph.D. in Economics from City University of New York Graduate Center. She is a resident of Pittsfield and is currently serving on the board of the Berkshire County Historical Society at Arrowhead.