BCC Alum of the Month

Issue: # 9May/2010
Upcoming Events 
 BCC's 50th Commencement, Tanglewood, June 4
 
Party at the Peak, a benefit atop Mt. Greylock for the BCC Foundation Annual Fund, June 5
 
BCC Music and Arts Festival - a free fun community day with live music, food, art exhibits and crafters, June 19
 
 click below to visit the website, or call 413-236-2188 for more information
BCC Quad
A benefit for the BCC Foundation Annual Fund
Call (413)236-2188 for more information.
BCC Quad
June 19, 2010
Quick Links
BCC Quad
Nominate an Alum
Each month throughout the 2009-2010 year, we will recognize a BCC alumnus. If you would like to nominate a fellow classmate, please contact Jennifer Kerwood, Director of Development and Alumni Relations at (413)236-2188 or jkerwood@berkshirecc.edu.  Include the alum's name, class year, and an interesting story or examples of exceptional achievement.

Stay in touch! 
Visit the Alumni Page to update your contact information and share your story, or read the latest edition of the BCC News.  All former BCC students and graduates are alumni to us!
Quick Links
BCC campus
In celebration of Berkshire Community College's 50th year, we are proud to feature the BCC Alum of the Month!  Throughout the 2009-2010 academic year, we will spotlight outstanding alumni who have made exceptional contributions to their professions or communities.  Through distribution of this E-Newsletter, we seek to recognize alumni who are doing interesting things in the world, and to celebrate the rich diversity of BCC alumni over the past 50 years.

Christine Mariconti, '01 PTA, '02 Complementary Care
 
Christine enrolled at BCC as a single mom with three kids and working full-time.  She gradually completed the pre-requisites for the Physical Therapy Program, and when she officially entered the program she was well on her way to earning her Associate's Degree.  Upon graduation, Christine decided to add another year to her training and earn a certificate in Massage Therapy, otherwise called Complementary Care.  Christine agreed knowing it would help her, but she never expected it would lead to a new career.
 
 "Michele Darroch was such an amazing instructor.  She taught at such a higher level than anyone I had ever met."
 
When Christine was completing her massage certificate, the Spa at Cranwell in Lenox, MA was just opening.  While it is pretty rare to get a job in a spa right out of school, Christine luckily landed a job in the new venture and immediately loved it.  She explains that working as a therapist in the spa environment is so much different than in other environments.   "You meet a stranger and you need to immediately focus in on that person's needs.  Your mind cannot wander to what you need to do after work or what is going on in your personal life.  Intention is everything.  Then you quickly change the sheets and ready your room for your next guest."
 
Christine says Cranwell attracts a wonderful clientele and the work environment is so beautiful.  "Sometimes I have to pinch myself.  Who gets to work in a place like this?"
 
After 1 ½ years at Cranwell, the Massage Supervisor position was open and Christine was promoted.  She now was in charge of payroll, scheduling, and protocols for at least 30 therapists, while working to fine-tune the service offerings. 
 
Now as Spa Director, Christine oversees not only the therapists and treatment offerings, but also the fitness center and the image center, as well as the spa store.  In addition to local and out-of-town guests visiting for the day, for many locals this is their regular salon, and Cranwell has a growing fitness center and spa membership roster.  Christine has been promoting more specials and the Berkshire Young Professionals held an Open House/Social in the Spa in May. 
 
Christine works to keep the mood positive amongst her staff in the work environment.  Her goal is to make the employees in the Spa happy to be at their jobs, so that they in turn can make people happy.   In this way, Christine and her staff are changing the perception of the Spa for current times.  
 
 "Taking care of yourself cannot be called pampering.  This is wellness.  There has to be a time and place in your life to turn off the cell phone, leave it all behind,
 and de-stress."
 


Berkshire Community College is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, genetic information, maternity leave, and national origin in its education programs or employment.