Greylock Federal Promotes Branch Manager at Great Barrington branch

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Greylock Federal Credit Union announced the promotion of Brianna Lison to branch manager of its Great Barrington branch.
 
"I am thrilled about Brianna’s promotion to branch manager of our Great Barrington location. Since joining Greylock six years ago, Brianna has consistently demonstrated a passion for excellent member service and a commitment to advancing her knowledge and expertise of the credit union industry," said Jennifer O’Neil, Vice President, Market Manager. "In this new phase of her career, I know Brianna will continue to serve all of our members with intentionality, care and thoughtfulness."
 
In her role, Lison manages an expanded team, and plays an active role in business development, promoting Greylock’s products and services. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, managing branch compliance, originating mortgage and home equity loans, originating and underwriting consumer loans, and maintaining an extensive variety of member accounts.
 
"I am very grateful for this new opportunity, and it is a privilege to continue to work alongside the dedicated and hardworking staff in Great Barrington. I strive every day to create positive and meaningful interactions with our members and I look forward to continuing to serve our members and community," Lison said.
 
Lison, a Pittsfield native, began her career with Greylock in 2019 as a branch specialist in the Great Barrington, Lee, and Lenox branches. Within the credit union, Lison successfully completed Greylock Management Academy and also earned a Certified Credit Union Financial Counselor (CCUFC) designation in 2024.
 
Lison currently resides in Chester.
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King and Confidantes Debate Hope and Change in 'American Five'

By Alan PetrucelliSpecial to iBerkshires
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — Fiction and fact meld in the regional premiere of "The American Five," now playing at the Larry Vaber Stage of the Unicorn Theatre. 
 
The play takes a fictionalized look at the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his four closest confidants in the months leading up to the famed March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963. The quintet, through differing opinions, animated arguments, constant threats of violence and a late-night meal featuring challah bread and wine, become a family as they prepare for the history-making march that galvanized the Civil Rights movement.
 
Most of us know the King saga. It's the second act in which playwright Chess Jakobs' genius shines. Prejudice runs rampant here: Is Stanley Levison, a Jewish lawyer from New York who shows up in Montgomery to join the fight for racial equality and "to repair the world," viewed as white? Jewish? Both? And march strategist and organizer Bayard Rustin experiences his own fight for civil rights because of his homosexuality. Here, Jakob explores prejudice on different levels.
 
The cast is top-notch with many emotional highs. As King, Rashun Carter (who would look more like his character if he had a full moustache) and Sydney Elisabeth (as Coretta Scott King) are at their best during a scene that bounces between humor and poignancy. 
 
She questions her husband about his meeting with President John F. Kennedy; he is angry and refuses to discuss it. "There is no 'you' out there, without a 'me,' in here," she says, leading King to agree that because of her self-worth and unwavering devotion to him, she is "Coretta Scott Queen."
 
As Clarence Jones, King's personal counsel, Brett Diggs has assurance and dignity; Harry Smith's portrayal of lawyer Stanley Levison, is nothing short of extraordinary. Destan Owens' performance as gay Bayard Rustin is the play's most outstanding performance as he defends his relations with men: "You don't get to judge me!" he tells King. "I'm just trying to find love."
 
"The American Five" is tightly directed by Gerry McIntyre; the historic period projections and footage/designed by Alex Hill remind people that there are dreams, such as hope and change, that are still being fought.
 
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