Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. (DPI) has officially named their new Managing Director. Rebecca Brien has taken over the role vacated by Cheryl Mirer in February of 2022. After a thorough hiring process, Brien will work with Downtown Pittsfield, Inc.’s Board of Directors to tackle strategic areas including public safety, quality of life, increasing foot traffic and decreasing vacant storefronts, and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Rebecca Brien, most recently the Director of Sales & Marketing at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsfield, brings a combined professional background in business, sales, and hospitality, along with a passion for fundraising and volunteerism, to her new role as Managing Director of DPI. Her career in the hospitality field included key positions at Cranwell Resort and Canyon Ranch, and in the business sector, Brien worked for Country Curtains and KB Toys, managing inventory, analyzing sales, and maximizing revenue. Brien brings key skills to her new role in building relationships with business owners, residents, and visitors.
A native of Richmond, MA, Brien attended local schools and studied Hotel Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts at Berkshire Community College. She lives in Pittsfield with her husband, David, and their four rescue dogs. Brien spends her spare time quilting, gardening, and volunteering for organizations such as the Thanksgiving Baking Angels and EforAll. She sits on the boards of the Pediatric Development Center and the Pittsfield Parade Committee and is a member of the Berkshire Business & Professional Women’s group and a 2019 graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program.
“On behalf of the DPI Board of Directors, we are excited to welcome Rebecca as our new Managing Director,” says Branden Huldeen, DPI’s Board President. “Rebecca is joining Downtown Pittsfield, Inc. at an exciting time as we are starting many new initiatives that will have a transformative impact on our downtown. Rebecca’s years of experience coupled with her passion and knowledge of Pittsfield will drive the organization forward.”
“I fully believe that Downtown Pittsfield is prime to become the thriving center of all that this city and the Berkshires have to offer,” says Brien. “With the support of the Board, a strong membership core, new funding, and collaboration with our local officials, I am ready to make great things happen and I am excited to be part of the DPI team!”