PITTSFIELD -- Berkshire County Arc elected its board of directors and presented its Employee of the Year award, selected from more than 800 employees during its annual meeting last month at the Country Club of Pittsfield.

Board Chair Michael Ferry and President and CEO Maryann Hyatt presided over the Sept. 18 meeting. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, delivered the keynote speech.

Shiwen "Wendy" Kanel was awarded Employee of the Year. Kanel has worked the same shift for 14 years at a house supporting a group of ladies each with a brain injury, where she arranges all their medical appointments, transports them, advocates for them, tracks their progress, and follows-up for each of them.

Blue Q received Employer of the Year. Blue Q has been working with BCArc for more than 30 years, currently employing 10 individuals through BCArc.

The Notch Insurance was awarded Innovative Business Partner of the Year.

Awards were also presented to individuals with disabilities supported by BCArc. Gus Gundlach and Bruce Stiles received work achievement awards; Jill Reed and Cesar Martinez, personal achievement awards; and Katherine Butler and Rosemarie Tessier, community achievement awards.

Staff awards were presented to Nicole Negri, the Carol Craighead Mission Award, and Sharon Johnson, the Debra Jarck Advocacy Award.

BCArc provides a range of services to 1,000-plus individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and brain injuries throughout Berkshire County and the Pioneer Valley.