Berkshire Health Systems Elects Ashley Benson, Matthew Lauro to Board of Trustees

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) announced the election of Ashley Benson of Optimal Healing, LLC, and Matthew Lauro of MountainOne Bank to the BHS board of trustees.

“We are excited to welcome Ashley and Matthew to the BHS board of trustees,” President and CEO Darlene Rodowicz said. “They are recognized leaders in our community, and BHS will be lucky to benefit from their perspectives as we continue working to advance health and wellness for everyone in the region.”

Benson is the founder and owner of Optimal Healing, LLC, and is a psychotherapist, consultant, and clinical supervisor. A dedicated mental-health professional with over two decades of experience in social work and clinical practice, she founded her practice in 2019 to provide holistic health resources to the community and formally established Optimal Healing in 2022. She specializes in trauma-focused care and the treatment of children, adolescents and families.

Benson earned her undergraduate degree from Berkshire Community College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, followed by a master’s degree in social work from Smith College. Committed to continuous learning and leadership in the field, she holds two post-graduate certifications: advanced clinical social work supervision from the Smith College School for Social Work and advanced practice with children & adolescents from Springfield College.

Lauro is senior vice president and Western Massachusetts commercial team leader for MountainOne Bank. He is responsible for managing existing portfolio risk, loan growth, and a team of commercial bankers.

Lauro is active in the community as a board member for Berkshire Education and Correction in Pittsfield, former national council member of the Avon Old Farms School for Boys in Avon, Conn., and former trustee of the Pittsfield Affordable Housing Trust. He received his bachelor’s degree in business management from the Lally School of Business Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y.

Departing the BHS board of trustees are Timothy Burke, Barton Raser, and Dr. John Loiodice, who provided leadership and service to Berkshire Health Systems for many years.

“On behalf of BHS, I offer my deepest appreciation to Tim, Bart, and John for their commitment to furthering our mission and their invaluable contributions in support of our community,” Rodowicz said.