5/21/19
NORTH ADAMS, MASS. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) announces that Gov.
Charlie Baker has appointed Karen M. Kowalczyk, president of Karen M. Kowalczyk, PC
accounting firm in Pittsfield, Mass., to the Board of MCLA.
MCLA President James F. Birge and Board of Trustees Chair Denise Marshall ‘81 are pleased to welcome Kowalczyk to the Board. Kowalczyk’s appointment is effective May 1, 2019 and replaces Lisa Chamberlain, managing partner of the Chamberlain Group.
“I’m excited to welcome Karen as our newest MCLA trustee,” said Birge. “Her involvement in her community and deep accounting expertise will be an asset to the College and to the Board of Trustees."
“Karen is an accomplished professional and business owner, and I look forward to working with her on MCLA’s Board of Trustees,” said Marshall. “I am glad that the College’s board represents a wide range of talent and expertise—it’s a pleasure to serve MCLA in this way and among this group of talented individuals.”
Kowalczyk has been a CPA in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since 1993. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree, Summa cum laude, in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Western New England University. Previously, Kowalczyk earned an associate degree in business administration with high honors from Berkshire Community College.
A native of Berkshire County, Kowalczyk’s primary areas of concentration include income tax planning and preparation for individuals, trusts, estates, and business entities, financial statement preparation and analysis, management advisory and business consulting services, part-time CFO services, and general accounting services. She has a wide range of experience with professional service and business service entities, real estate development companies, construction companies, and retail establishments.
Kowalczyk is a member of the Board of Directors of the Pittsfield Cooperative Bank and is chair of the audit committee. She is a member of the Berkshire County Estate Planning Council, Inc., and also serves on its board. Karen graduated in the Fall of 2016 from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program through Babson College. She is an active member of 1Berkshire and the Berkshire Business and Professional Women’s organization. Karen is a 2002 graduate of the Berkshire Leadership Program and an alumnus of its steering committee for 2003.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) is the Commonwealth's public liberal arts college and a campus of the Massachusetts state university system. MCLA promotes excellence in learning and teaching, innovative scholarship, intellectual creativity, public service, applied knowledge, and active and responsible citizenship. MCLA graduates are prepared to be practical problem solvers and engaged, resilient global citizens.
For more information, go to www.mcla.edu.
