Art Ames

General Manager
Art grew up in Dorchester, MA. He spent a year in the Middle East in the 70's, and now that his children are grown, has been able to travel more to Central America and Chiapas, Mexico, along with extensive travel in the Southwest. His work with co-ops nationally has given him the opportunity to see many other parts of this country.

Originally having planned to be a teacher, a lawyer or Mayor of Boston, Art was surprised to find himself in the conventional grocery store world, predominately in Produce. At different times, he drove a cab, delivered the mail, spent a year on a Kibbutz picking grapefruit and working in the banana fields, and many moons ago ran a full-fledged security guard, investigation, and dog-patrol company.

Hobbies: Art saw his first Red Sox game when he was 5, and has been hooked ever since. He still watches or listens to as many games as possible. He also relaxes by playing “very bad” golf, and "borrowing" other people's dogs for walks or hikes into the woods. Theatre, as a one-time school performer and now as a spectator, remains a passion as well.

Favorite Product at the Co-op: Our Salad and Hot Food bars.

Seth Marcantonio

Store Manager
Seth was raised in Westchester County, NY and briefly attended Johnson State College in Vermont before attending the University of Utah where he earned a degree in Minority Studies. In addition to his retail experience with national retailers Wild Oats Markets and the Discovery Channel Store, Seth has worked in country club management, as a substitute teacher, a natural foods sales representative, and a radio news anchor. Seth currently lives in Litchfield County, CT and when he is not spending time with his wife and two young children, he enjoys spending time in the woods and listening to music.

Favorite product: North Plain Farm eggs

Nancy Olsen

Finance Manager
Nancy grew up in Detroit, MI, and moved to a commune in Virginia in 1970 where she did the bookkeeping for the commune and a hammock business they ran. She eventually ended up in the Berkshires, and has been at the Co-op since March of 1999. Now our full-time Finance Manager, Nancy started as a part-time bookkeeper here while continuing to work as a weaver and doing the books for a few small businesses.

Favorite Product at the Co-op: Thompson Finch strawberries (too short a season!!)

Jennifer Foley

Marketing & Membership Manager
A native of Litchfield County, CT and the Berkshires, Jennifer attended the University of Connecticut and has lived in the Phoenix area as well as San Francisco. After moving back to the Berkshires, Jennifer joined the Co-op as a member in 2000, and had her beautiful, brilliant, talented daughter Emma in 2001.

Along with interesting stints as production assistant for a film company and as an author’s assistant, Jennifer has worked in publishing as an editor, writer and layout designer, and as a marketing manager for a non-profit organization. Jennifer joined the Co-op as Marketing and Communications Associate in September of 2006, redesigning the Newsletter, keeping up the website, and assisting with events planning and marketing initiatives.

In May of 2008, Jennifer became the Marketing & Member Services Manager. She is very excited to be embarking on this new journey.

In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, swimming, loves theatre and dance, and is an avid film buff.

Favorite Product at the Co-op: G.T.’s Kombucha (“Divine Grape”).

Daniel Esko

Grocery Manager
With a lifelong background in whole & natural foods, Daniel grew up in the Berkshires in a large family with a holistic and macrobiotic lifestyle. After attending UMASS-Amherst, he went to work full time in the retail and mail order store at the Kushi Institute for several years. In 2002, he moved back to Boston where he was born, and worked for Whole Foods Market for two years after which he returned to the Berkshires and started working for the Co-op in 2004.

Daniel recently married and celebrated the birth of his first child, Charlotte Adalia Esko. A bass player for 12 years now, Daniel plays in a local band. A self-proclaimed "foodie" he thoroughly enjoys cooking and is also a self-taught videographer now focusing mostly on family video projects.

Favorite Product at the Co-op: Real Pickles’ Asian Cabbage (Kim-Chee)

Andrei Smerechniak

Produce Manager
Andrei grew up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, attending Brooklyn Tech High School and two years of film school at NYU. After school he became an entrepreneur and started a very successful New York City based courier service (known today as Flash Gordon Courier). Andrei then moved to Seattle and worked for the Washington State Lottery Commission as a route salesman.

Andrei then started a new career—as a professional poker player! He played in all of the largest poker tournaments in the world, including the World Series of Poker, where he did VERY well. Then, by the luck of the draw, he met his future life partner, Tina Pagliasotti (who also works at the Co-op!). Andrei and Tina decided to move to the Berkshires with their two kids Jake, 11 and Jesse, 8, to be closer to Andrei’s family. Andrei started at the Co-op in 2001 and became the Produce Manager in 2002.

Andrei enjoys his job, life, and family to the fullest everyday. He enjoys serving the community and living “the simple life” in the Berkshires.

Favorite Product at the Co-op: G.T.’s Kombucha (“Multi Green”).

Michele DiSimone

Front-End Manager
Michele grew up outside of Philadelphia, but has lived in or around Great Barrington since 1996, and joined the Co-op team as a cashier in 2003. She became the Front-End Manager in 2004. She has 3 children, Lucas (6 months), Juniper (7) and Elias (9.5) -Juniper and Elias attend the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School.

Michele attended one year of college at Massachusetts College of Art before she moved here and started a family, but she still loves photography, crafts and of course, tattoos.

Her favorite snack at the Co-op is the Cherry Good smoothie from our Café.

Mira Hilbert

Prepared Foods Manager
Mira Hilbert was born and raised in Coral Gables, Florida (a suburb of Miami). She holds a BFA degree in Theatre from the University of Florida, and a MFA degree in Directing from Ohio University. She moved to the Berkshires in 2001 and worked as the Director of Education for Barrington Stage Company. She has also directed, stage-managed, and done technical theatre work throughout Berkshire county, as well as artistically assisting Linda Josephs with the Workshop Playhouse in Great Barrington.

While Mira has worn numerous hats in her professional theatrical ventures, she wears just as many at the Co-op. Beginning in June of 2006, Mira began as a working member then moved into part-time work in Member Services and the Café. She became a full-time staff member in January 2007, and assisted in all departments, focusing on our Prepared Foods Department. In August of 2007, Mira became the new Prepared Foods Manager. While she never attended a culinary program, she considers herself a “foodie,” having been privileged to dine at some of the finest restaurants in the world (her favorite being Galatoire's in New Orleans).

Favorite Product at the Co-op: Iced Mocha Lattés from our Café.

Jean Cipriano

Wellness Manager
After a career in Interior Design, both teaching and owning an Interior Design firm, as well as owning a fitness franchise, Jean has returned to her original passion—health and wellness. Her passion for health and wellness has taken Jean down many paths including independent study of naturopathic medicine and yoga. Jean’s hobbies include hiking, bird watching, spinning and, of course, yoga. Jean is pleased to be a part of the Berkshire Co-op Team.

Favorite product: the brown-rice-sweetened Malted Milk Balls.

Justin Kanter

Evening Manager
Justin was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He has extensive experience in retail, having worked in pharmacy, grocery and larger retail establishments in New York City. Justin moved to the Berkshires in the summer of 2006 to be closer to his family, and to join a community where the quality of life is more pleasurable than city living. He has been with the Co-op since May of 2007, and recently stepped into the Evening Manager position. He enjoys the friendly interaction with the customers on a daily basis. Justin other interests are: sports, recreation, movies, computers, family, and relaxing by the lake.

Favorite product: all of the wheat-free items and the various rice milks, especially the chocolate.

Berkshire Co-op Market
42 Bridge Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
(413) 528-9697 tel (413) 528-6565 fax

Email Us