BFAIR CEO Rich Weisenflue Announces Retirement in March 2025
NORTH ADAMS — BFAIR announced that Rich Weisenflue, its long-serving CEO, will retire effective March 27, 2025. His departure marks the end of a career spanning more than three decades of leadership in human services, including 25 years with BFAIR.
Weisenflue’s tenure at BFAIR has been transformative. Under his leadership, the organization expanded its offerings to include a wide range of residential, day, employment, community-based, family, and individual support services, as well as a bottle and can redemption center that offers employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Today, BFAIR serves more than 400 clients and employs more than 300 staff members, making it a vital part of the region’s human-services landscape.
Originally from Pennsylvania, Weisenflue began his career in the human-services field as a live-in house manager with Keystone City Residence and later developed innovative recreation and community inclusion programs for people with disabilities through the Deutsch Institute. After relocating to Berkshire County, he dedicated 35 years to nonprofit human services, joining BFAIR in 2000 as associate executive director. He was promoted to executive director in 2001 and to CEO in 2018.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in human resource administration from the University of Scranton, complemented by nonprofit management coursework at the Harvard Business School Executive Education. In 2019, he was honored for executive leadership by the Nonprofit Center of the Berkshires and most recently presented with a lifetime-achievement award by UCP of Western Massachusetts.
An active member of the community, Weisenflue serves on the board of directors of the Provider’s Council, a statewide association of community-based organizations, and previously served with Northern Berkshire United Way. His past board roles include the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE), the Human Service Forum, the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club of North Adams, among others.
“It has been an extraordinary privilege to lead BFAIR and work alongside such talented and compassionate colleagues,” Weisenflue said. “Committed and caring professionals throughout are to be commended for their work contributing to BFAIR’s success in offering quality services for the past 30 years. I am confident the organization’s mission and positive culture will continue to thrive under new leadership.”
Pete Mirante, board chair, added that “the board of directors extends its deepest gratitude to Rich for his dedication and leadership. It was a pleasure working together with him along with the senior leadership team, focused on service excellence and options, staff recognition and professional development, and building community partnerships.”
The search for BFAIR’s next CEO is being managed by EANE. This transition aims to ensure that the organization continues to provide exceptional support and services to individuals with developmental disabilities, autism, and acquired brain injuries throughout Berkshire County and the Pioneer Valley.