About | Northern Berkshire United Way

ABOUT NORTHERN BERKSHIRE UNITED WAY

Northern Berkshire United Way (NBUW) gathers funds for priority community programs through grant writing and local fundraising in constituent communities. These support major initiatives to improve outcomes for our member agencies. They also provide foundation funding for programs at 20 local health and human service agencies in Northern Berkshire. The local fundraising campaigns each year provide over $450,000 for North County programs. Approximately 12,500 Northern Berkshire residents are served annually by these programs.

Northern Berkshire United Way recognizes that emergency and crisis situations can affect any of us at any time. In addition to providing funding to member agencies that provide health, education and financial stability programs, we are committed to provide funding in the area of safety net services.

Community Partner

In order to illustrate our critical work, we produced this video in 2021 showing the impact on agencies that support the most vulnerable in our community.

2024-2025 Board of Directors

Officers

Kelly McCarthy, President
- Community
Tyler Bissaillon, Vice President
- Smith Bros.-McAndrews Insurance
Jacob Dabrowski, VP Campaign
- Community
Tracy Robert-Sheerin, VP Finance
- KidZone Child Care
Stacy Parsons, VP Allocations
- Community
Marissa Kirchner, Clerk
- Greylock Investment Group
Randall Kinnas, VP Board Development
- United Cerebral Palsy of Western Massachusetts
Thomas Rumbolt, Esq., Past President
- Rumbolt Law, LLC
Leah Thompson, VP Community Needs & Special Grants
- BART Charter School

Directors

Laura Baran
- BFAIR
Doreen Meczywor
- Specialty Minerals
Peter Mirante
- Adams Community Bank
Iris Moresi
- Berkshire Bank
Celia Norcross
- Berkshire Community College
Erik Ray
- MountainOne Banking-Investments-Insurance
Kimma Stark
- Community

Meet the Team

Small in number, mighty in impact.

At Northern Berkshire United Way, our dedicated professionals work side‑by‑side with a growing network of volunteers to fuel big change in our community. Our lean structure keeps overhead low and decision‑making nimble, so every donated dollar goes further.

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Executive Director

Patti Messina

Named Executive Director in 2024 after serving as Interim Director, Patti has demonstrated exceptional leadership, vision and dedication to the mission and values of our organization.

“Patti has proven herself to be a strong and capable leader during her tenure as Interim Director. Her strategic thinking, collaborative approach, and commitment to our organization’s mission has earned the trust and admiration of the board and stakeholders,” said Kelly McCarthy, President of the Board of Directors.

“I am deeply honored and excited to continue serving Northern Berkshire United Way in the role of Executive Director,” said Patti Messina. “I am grateful for the trust and confidence placed in me by the Board, and I am committed to leading our organization with integrity, innovation and a commitment to our mission.”

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Administrative & Outreach Associate

Emily Conley

Born and raised in the beautiful Berkshires, Emily has a strong connection with the local community. Emily is a mom of two children, two dogs, one cat, and 22 chickens!

She has worked as a Certified Medical Assistant for over 10 years at North Adams Regional, Ohio State Medical Center, St. Joseph's Medical Center, and Berkshire Medical Center. Her background in healthcare has instilled in her a tenacious responsiveness to helping others in all aspects of life. Emily is also a dedicated and experienced real estate agent with over 2 years of valuable experience in the industry.

Emily joined the team at Berkshire United Way in her part time role to serve her community.