Mission Statement
The mission of Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is to provide focus and leadership towards creating and supporting a vibrant downtown district for the benefit of residents and visitors.
Who Are We?
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. is an association of businesses, downtown property owners, residents, cultural and non-profit organizations joining forces to increase economic activity through promoting downtown as a great place to do business, obtain professional services, shop, dine, work, live, attend events, and enjoy recreational activities.
Background Information:
From its inception in 1983, Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. has brought together downtown merchants and professional businesses to work on strategies to build a strong downtown and find solutions to downtown issues as they arise. It has been a nimble organization responding to changing economic challenges and competition.
It has grown in recent years to include the growing number of downtown cultural organizations, entertainment venues and restaurants that have helped transform downtown. It has also developed a close partnership with City departments that has led to major streetscape projects, parking improvements, and marketing efforts.
Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. carried out a strategic plan in 2010 that outlined a series of priorities for the organization. It established Board Committees to help carry out these goals. They include Business Improvement, Marketing and Promotion, Quality of Life, Arts and Entertainment, Executive Committee, and a Special Events Task Force. The Committees are open to both Board and non-Board members. Please click here to learn more about Downtown Pittsfield Inc. committees.
Current Organization Objectives
- Identify and recruit new businesses for downtown and help retain existing businesses.
- Create smaller commercial sub-districts to enable more effective planning and marketing.
- Develop and carry out on-going marketing and promotion efforts for residents and visitors that benefit downtown businesses and solidify downtown’s identity as the center of activity in BerkshireCounty.
- Improve downtown’s appearance, convenience and safety working with downtown businesses and property owners and City departments.
- Increase the presence and visibility of the arts, arts businesses and cultural organizations in downtown and help facilitate more partnerships and coordinated events
Board of Directors:
PRESIDENT: Peter J. Lafayette (Berkshire Bank Foundation)
VICE PRESIDENT: Robert A. Proskin (BBE Office Interiors)
TREASURER: Richard LaFleche (Adelson, Moynihan & Kowalczyk)
CLERK: Tanya M. Mullin (Giardina & Bresett PC)
VICE PRESIDENT OF ADMINISTRATION: Gerald P. Murray (Greylock Federal Credit Union)
James Benson (Mission Bar + Tapas)
Jeffrey Doscher (Berkshire Community College)
Elie Hammerling (Cultural Development Board, Pittsfield)
Randy Kinnas (Pittsfield YMCA)
Michael R. Lipton (Lipton Energy)
Kate Maguire (The Berkshire Theatre Festival & The Colonial Theatre)
Peter M. Marchetti (Pittsfield Cooperative Bank)
Theresa M. McCoy (The Berkshire Eagle)
Mary McGinnis (Mary’s Carrot Cake)
Christopher Mills (General Dynamics)
Elton O. Ogden (Berkshire Housing Development Corporation)
David N. Powell (Patrick’s Pub)
Donna Todd Rivers (Bisque, Beads & Beyond)
Thomas J. Romeo (Berkshire Health Systems)
Laura Roudabush (Barrington Stage Company)
Valerie Whaling (Whaling Properties, LLC)
Matthew Scarafoni (Scarafoni Financial Group)
Gary Shepard (Berkshire Regional Transit Authority)
Michael Supranowicz (Berkshire Chamber of Commerce)
John Valente (The Beacon Cinema)
Giora Witkowski (USBLUESWARE)
Lou Costi (Wholesale Auto)
Van Shields (Berkshire Museum)