Spotlights

The fact that Rezeda Kohlenberger passed her EMT exam a few months ago might sound straightforward, but for Rezeda — who emigrated from Russia — the journey was not easy. When she arrived in America, she went through a lengthy process to get a work permit. By the time the paperwork was complete, the spread of COVID had begun.

Before Kaela Martin completed the Front Line Advanced Supervisor course at BCC, she had already made smart career choices. She had landed a job as a welder fabricator at Lenco in 2023 and was proving herself to be a valuable employee. But Kaela isn't the type of person to sit still and let her career path determine itself — or, worse, become stagnant.

"Our students are filling a need. If you look within a 50-mile radius, there are probably at least 25 or 30 open positions," says Maggie Goss, Assistant Professor of Respiratory Care. "There aren't many jobs out there where you can come out of school with a two-year associate degree and your starting salary is $65,000 to $70,000+ a year."

When BCC's Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Danielle Gonzalez experienced the Berkshires for the first time, she was simply passing through on a visit from her hometown of Tampa, Florida. She didn't know it then, but she and her husband, Franz, would end up settling in Williamstown, now their home for more than 20 years.

"When I arrived to the area, my only family was my husband and his mother," says Workforce program manager Tiffany Moreno, who knows a thing or two about taking opportunities when they present themselves. "I always tell my students that you never know where life will take you. Don't be afraid to take risks — just put yourself out there."