Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation

Two Columbia County Residents Join Berkshire Taconic’s Board of Directors

May 2, 2011

SHEFFIELD, MA—Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation announced today that Eileen Halloran of Hudson, NY and M. Scott Wood Jr., of Chatham, NY have joined its board of directors. Ms. Halloran and Mr. Wood join 17 other community residents on Berkshire Taconic’s board.

Eileen Halloran is the Treasurer for the City of Hudson, NY. Prior to this, she worked for 39 years with AT&T, rising to be the National Manager of AT&T’s Local Services Division. From 1996 until retirement in 2007, she was responsible for Interconnection negotiations with Verizon in support of AT&T’s entry into Local Services. Ms. Halloran was an advocate at both the State and Federal level, in NY at the Public Services Commission and in Washington at Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission, regarding issues and policies critical to AT&T’s entry into Local Services. Following her retirement, she accepted an appointment as Treasurer of the City of Hudson to fill an unexpected vacancy. She served on the Board of Directors for the Hudson Boys and Girls Club; on the Advisory Board of Hudson Salvation Army; volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Columbia County; committee member of the Hudson Children’s Book Festival and a reading mentor at the Montgomery C. Smith Intermediate School. Eileen resides in Hudson, New York.

“It is an honor to be associated with Berkshire Taconic,” said Halloran, “I look forward to supporting their leading role in strengthening the array of wonderful organizations serving our community.”

M. Scott Wood, Jr. is the President of Metz Wood Harder Insurance Inc., a closely held 3rd generation Independent Insurance Agency. Mr. Wood serves as a Director to both the Columbia County Economic Development Agency and Columbia County Agricultural Society. He is also a Board Member of Columbia Memorial Hospital Foundation. Mr. Wood is a holder of the CPCU and CIC Professional Designations and a past director of PIA (Professional Insurance Agents) of NY Board of Directors. He has also served on various National and State Insurance Company Advisory Boards. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee University and served in the US Army. He lives in Chatham, New York with his wife Jane.

“I’ve seen Berkshire Taconic at work for many years and helped support a number of programs”, said M. Scott Wood. “It’s wonderful for me now to be part of the foundation’s inner workings.”

Ms. Halloran and Mr. Wood join Sally Berg, Andrew Vickery, and Vera Weintraub as Berkshire Taconic board members from Columbia County.; Bill Dunlaevy, Edward Hoe, David McCarthy, Virginia Stanton Smith, and John Hoyt Stookey from Berkshire County, NY.; Sia Arnason, Gloria Callen, Christopher Kennan, Holly Nelson, and Nancy Stahl of northeast Dutchess County, NY; and Ann Goodbody, David Rich and Catherine Tatge of northwest Litchfield County, CT.

“We are thrilled to have two such talented community leaders from Columbia County join our board and help guide out work”, said Virginia Stanton Smith, Berkshire Taconic’s board chair. “We welcome their advice with openness”.

Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation builds stronger communities and improves the quality of life for all residents of northwest Litchfield County, CT; Berkshire County, MA; and Columbia County and northeast Dutchess County, NY, acting as an agent for positive change in the region. Since 1987, Berkshire Taconic has managed a growing collection of charitable funds created by individuals, families and businesses. Each year, the foundation distributes over $7 million through grants and scholarships for programs in the arts and education, health and human services and environmental protection, helping thousands of donors achieve their philanthropic goals and hundreds of nonprofits carry on their good work. Berkshire Taconic is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public charity.

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