PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC) announced the recent appointment of program managers for two divisions of Public Health work at the agency, Public Health Planning and Public Health Services. Previously, all functions of these two divisions fell under one program area, led by the recently retired Laura Kittross.

 

Lydia Shulman, newly appointed Public Health Services Program Manager, has been an a part of the BRPC team for more than four years. She began as the Public Health Alliance's Shared Services Coordinator, helping organize and strategically strengthen services for local Boards of Health. Over time, her role expanded to Assistant Manager of the Public Health Program as she took on oversight of additional initiatives and programs, including the Berkshire-Hampden Regional Training Hub and the FDA food safety program.

 

Before joining BRPC's Public Health Program, Shulman built a strong foundation in operations management, human resources, and organizational development. With degrees in Finance and Organizational Psychology, she blends financial insight with an understanding of individual and team development. During Shulman's tenure, the Public Health Services team has grown significantly, broadening its reach and deepening its support for communities across the region.

 

Shulman's leadership is rooted in both heart and strategy. Her goal is to standardize sustainable practices while ensuring that every Berkshire community has access to the support, training, mentorship, and public health services they need to thrive. She brings a combination of operational excellence and people-centered leadership — fostering collaboration, building capacity, and inspiring confidence. Lydia is especially passionate about cultivating environments where people feel supported, motivated, and empowered to do their best work — recognizing that strong systems and sound fiscal practices are essential to sustaining that vision.

 

Jaymie R. Zapata, MSW, MPH, has been appointed Manager of Public Health Planning. Zapata has been with BRPC for four years, initially as a Planner in Public Health. Before entering the public health sphere, Zapata worked in health education and direct-service roles throughout the Boston health care system, including at the New England Baptist Hospital and Fenway Community Health Center.

 

At BRPC, Zapata has been involved in efforts to increase the quality and access to green space in Pittsfield and North Adams through a community-directed initiative called Gray to Green. Recently, she has also been part of an initiative to decrease the presence of microplastics in the food service industry in the Berkshires in partnership with the Toxics Use Reduction Institute. She has supported the Berkshire Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), a set of 3 to 5-year health goals on a county-wide scale, for the past three years and in her new role will oversee the convening of partners involved in this work and securing future funding for its continuation.

 

Zapata has experience in HIV research, medical case management, LGBTQ+ health, substance use and addiction services, and health care operations. Her professional and personal experiences have strengthened her dedication to pursuing a world where quality of care and access to care are available to all people, regardless of background, identity, or circumstance. She brings this passion to the Berkshires, examining gaps in care and working with public health and health care partners throughout the county to address them.