About Us
Formed in 2014, the Downtown Adams Group is an advocacy group of retailers, restaurateurs, artists, owners and developers with an aim to increase downtown economic development and create a downtown growth and revitalization plan. Consisting of 18 active members the group is focusing in 2021 on a variety of initiatives for downtown revitalization.
|
In the News
2021-03-11 - iBerkshires Downtown Adams Receives Local Rapid Recovery Planning Grant 2021-03-12 - Spectrum TV News - Downtown Adams Business Owners Receive Rapid Recovery Grant 2016-07-18 - iBerkshires North County Economic Forum Looks at Opportunities 2015-12-30 - iBerkshires Adams Civic Groups Bring Life to Park Street 2014-09-03 - iBerkshires Adams Group Begins Conversation on Town Revitalization |
WHAT HAVE WE DONE SO FAR?
+ Two Pop-up Holiday Marketplaces opened in December 2017 and 2018.
+ Seven Local Businesses assisted at start-up phase.
+ Six Real Estate Developments assisted in making $800,000 in construction cost savings.
+ Providing assistance to bring $4 million in economic development to Adams.
+ Pop Up Windows 2016 and 2017.
+ Holiday Marketplaces 2017 and 2018.
The Downtown Group, with help of the Building Owners and a group of volunteers opened two storefronts at 47 Park Street and 86 Summer Street for the month of December. These pop-up holiday stores featured a range of local products.
+ Two Pop-up Holiday Marketplaces opened in December 2017 and 2018.
+ Seven Local Businesses assisted at start-up phase.
+ Six Real Estate Developments assisted in making $800,000 in construction cost savings.
+ Providing assistance to bring $4 million in economic development to Adams.
+ Pop Up Windows 2016 and 2017.
+ Holiday Marketplaces 2017 and 2018.
The Downtown Group, with help of the Building Owners and a group of volunteers opened two storefronts at 47 Park Street and 86 Summer Street for the month of December. These pop-up holiday stores featured a range of local products.
+ Pop-up Windows in 2016 and 2017
The Adams Arts Advisory Board (with a little help from the Downtown group) installed pop-up windows throughout the town. All have been well received - iBerkshires News Article - Adams Civic Groups Bring Life to Park Street
The Adams Arts Advisory Board (with a little help from the Downtown group) installed pop-up windows throughout the town. All have been well received - iBerkshires News Article - Adams Civic Groups Bring Life to Park Street
+ Marketing and Outreach
You'll likely see us at the major fairs in Adams such as The Berkshire Mountain Faerie Festival held in June and Hi Jinx held in July. Look out for us at the Adams Agricultural Fair this August.
|
WHO WE ARE
Heather Cachat Blake
has grown up and currently resides in Berkshire County. She has settled down with her husband and three children in a beautifully grand Victorian in Adams, MA. Heather has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and has run her own photography business since 2002 when she was still in high school. Currently she specializes in business brand/personal brand photography as well as glamour and boudoir photography. Heather has also studied graphic design technologies. She continues to educate herself to hone her talents as often as she can through courses and online trainings.
Heather has always been heavily involved in community. She has volunteered for many different causes and helped out on many different projects in the Berkshires. She is currently a member of the Cachats for the Troops, which raises thousands of dollars annually for the Home Base Program in Boston.
Heather was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2015. It was at that point that she started to research food as it related to nutrition and our overall health. This research had lead her to believe that food and food education is integral to our society over all and to the health of her own community.
Pat Fietta
Is a graphic design graduate from Parsons School of Design and painter from UC Berkeley, CA. Art Director at Doubleday, NYC; McGraw-Hill, Chicago and San Francisco, Manager/Curator of Lyon C. Courthouse Gallery and Director of Programming at Dini Theater in Nevada. Owner of Fietta Creative Design and currently developing 13½ Grove St.
William F. Kolis Jr.:
An Adams native and owner of the Firehouse, he holds a senior status position with Wickens, Herzer, Panza, Cook & Batista (Avon, Ohio) and has practiced for 35 years in the areas of media law, intellectual property, environmental law, and all forms of commercial litigation.
George LeMaitre:
Currently developing 13½ Grove St.; Licensed General Contractor in California and Massachusetts; and was Project Manager for the renovation of a grade school to a theater; Member of the City of Yerington Planning Department; Board Member Nevada State Tourism representing Rural Nevada.
Michael Mach:
is a member of Adams’ Zoning Board of Appeals, Capital Improvement Planning Commission and currently a Town Meeting Member. A lifelong resident of Adams dedicated to the developing the Town's economic and social structure.
Francie Anne Riley:
Has worked in the New York theater industry for over 25 years, back stage, on stage, and front of house. Her work in voice overs led to a national add, an audio book, numerous recorded books for the blind, medical and technical narrations. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Owner of a new studio and gallery at 71 Park Street.
Bill Riley:
An Adams native and UMass Amherst BFA graduate. Has 30 years experience working in the television, film and theater industries in New York City. Responsible for painting and back drops at the Showman Fabricators, culminating at the Metropolitan Opera. Owner of a new studio and gallery at 71 Park Street.
Gail Kolis Sellers:
Heather Cachat Blake
has grown up and currently resides in Berkshire County. She has settled down with her husband and three children in a beautifully grand Victorian in Adams, MA. Heather has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and has run her own photography business since 2002 when she was still in high school. Currently she specializes in business brand/personal brand photography as well as glamour and boudoir photography. Heather has also studied graphic design technologies. She continues to educate herself to hone her talents as often as she can through courses and online trainings.
Heather has always been heavily involved in community. She has volunteered for many different causes and helped out on many different projects in the Berkshires. She is currently a member of the Cachats for the Troops, which raises thousands of dollars annually for the Home Base Program in Boston.
Heather was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2015. It was at that point that she started to research food as it related to nutrition and our overall health. This research had lead her to believe that food and food education is integral to our society over all and to the health of her own community.
Pat Fietta
Is a graphic design graduate from Parsons School of Design and painter from UC Berkeley, CA. Art Director at Doubleday, NYC; McGraw-Hill, Chicago and San Francisco, Manager/Curator of Lyon C. Courthouse Gallery and Director of Programming at Dini Theater in Nevada. Owner of Fietta Creative Design and currently developing 13½ Grove St.
William F. Kolis Jr.:
An Adams native and owner of the Firehouse, he holds a senior status position with Wickens, Herzer, Panza, Cook & Batista (Avon, Ohio) and has practiced for 35 years in the areas of media law, intellectual property, environmental law, and all forms of commercial litigation.
George LeMaitre:
Currently developing 13½ Grove St.; Licensed General Contractor in California and Massachusetts; and was Project Manager for the renovation of a grade school to a theater; Member of the City of Yerington Planning Department; Board Member Nevada State Tourism representing Rural Nevada.
Michael Mach:
is a member of Adams’ Zoning Board of Appeals, Capital Improvement Planning Commission and currently a Town Meeting Member. A lifelong resident of Adams dedicated to the developing the Town's economic and social structure.
Francie Anne Riley:
Has worked in the New York theater industry for over 25 years, back stage, on stage, and front of house. Her work in voice overs led to a national add, an audio book, numerous recorded books for the blind, medical and technical narrations. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers. Owner of a new studio and gallery at 71 Park Street.
Bill Riley:
An Adams native and UMass Amherst BFA graduate. Has 30 years experience working in the television, film and theater industries in New York City. Responsible for painting and back drops at the Showman Fabricators, culminating at the Metropolitan Opera. Owner of a new studio and gallery at 71 Park Street.
Gail Kolis Sellers:
Holly Stenson:
Is the developer of the Mausert Block in Adams and has developed numerous buildings in North Berkshires since 2006. She has 10 years architectural experience on retail, hospitality, science labs, office high rise projects in Boston. Previously she worked for 15 years in the service and management areas of the hospitality industry. She is also a LEED Certified Professional and licensed moderate risk de-leader.
Stephen Stenson:
Is the developer of the Mausert Block in Adams and has developed numerous buildings in North Berkshires since 2006. He was an Architect for 25 years overseeing the design and construction of projects in NYC, Boston, London and Abu Dhabi. He is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and BBC Alumni. He has degrees in architecture, marketing and a MBA.
Is the developer of the Mausert Block in Adams and has developed numerous buildings in North Berkshires since 2006. She has 10 years architectural experience on retail, hospitality, science labs, office high rise projects in Boston. Previously she worked for 15 years in the service and management areas of the hospitality industry. She is also a LEED Certified Professional and licensed moderate risk de-leader.
Stephen Stenson:
Is the developer of the Mausert Block in Adams and has developed numerous buildings in North Berkshires since 2006. He was an Architect for 25 years overseeing the design and construction of projects in NYC, Boston, London and Abu Dhabi. He is a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects and BBC Alumni. He has degrees in architecture, marketing and a MBA.
Richard Tavelli:
38 years’ total experience - Ten years’ experience in international mergers and acquisitions; twelve years’ experience managing the turnaround of distressed early stage entrepreneurial ventures; four years professional counseling of MBA graduates in entrepreneurial startups; twelve years managing corporate energy and environmental projects. |
Posthumous Members
Phil Sellers:
Kansas City Art Institute graduate in Painting and printmaking and co-owner of River Hill Pottery for the past 35 years. Founder and Director of North Adam's Art About Town, serves on the Mass Moca Commission, Chairman of North Adams Open studios and President of the Eclipse Mill Condo Board. |
Why Adams?
The downtown has over 100 retail destinations including 17 Restaurants, 10 cultural venues, 3 Boutique Hotels, 9 Buildings on the Historic Register, 10 drinking establishments, 24 retail, and 23 business service storefronts. There is even 1,750 parking spaces. With 44 vacancies and rents approximately half the cost of North Adams and even lower than Williamstown and Pittsfield the Downtown is by far the best place to start your business. |
Contact us
|