BIC YouTube Videos

How do you fix a broken energy system without rebuilding the entire grid? Meet Noble Carbon, a Pittsfield-based startup developing smart circuit breakers packed with real-time energy metering, cloud connectivity, safety features, and machine learning—all designed to help electrify homes more affordably and efficiently. In this talk from the BIC Stage 2 Accelerator Showcase, co-founder and CEO Jared shares the scrappy startup journey—from a glass coffee table prototype to a working product now being tested in homes across the Berkshires. With millions of homes needing electrical upgrades for EV chargers and solar, Noble Carbon offers a modular solution that avoids costly panel replacements. Learn how they’re creating local jobs, securing regional funding, and building a smarter, safer energy future—right here in Western Massachusetts. 🔗 More about BIC Stage 2 Accelerator program: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program #cleantech #energystorage #berkshires #smartgrid #hardwarestartups #BIC #climateinnovation #EVcharging #entrepreneurship

Roger Questel shares his journey from dyslexic woodcarver to patented technologist and founder of Questech, now bringing his creative spirit to Mass MoCA. In this episode of My Story Vault, Dr. Dennis Rebelo sits down with Roger Questel—woodcarver, sculptor, inventor, and founder of Questech—for a vivid and often humorous journey through a life shaped by curiosity, craftsmanship, and creative risk-taking. Born with dyslexia and drawn early to the visual world, Roger found his voice not in words but in wood, carving objects in a Manhattan apartment with a Swiss army knife. What began as playful experimentation turned into high-end commissions, including the grand staircase of Ralph Lauren’s Madison Avenue flagship and intricate period carvings for the Getty family. Faced with the physical and financial limits of handcrafting, Roger invented a new composite material—an innovative blend of metal powders and ceramics suspended in resin—that gave rise to his patented manufacturing process. That technology led to the founding of Questech, which grew from a single studio into a fully automated factory in Vermont, supplying bronze-look tiles, wall plates, and architectural trim to companies like Home Depot and Lowe’s. Roger credits his growth to the power of mentorship, learning-by-doing, and never being afraid to ask questions—hundreds of them. Now living in North Adams and building a new art studio at BIC Works @ Mass MoCA, Roger reflects on the arc of his life: from urban storefronts to rural barns, solo labor to large-scale production, and youthful experimentation to sustained innovation. He shares why his current chapter—surrounded by creatives, collaborating with the Berkshire Innovation Center, and mentoring others—feels like a return to the energy of art school, full of promise and new beginnings. For Roger, the act of making—whether a sculpture, invention or a company—has always been about honoring the joy of process and inspiring others to do the same. Links: Roger Questel Portfolio: https://studioquestel.com Quest Tech: https://questtech.com (or insert if available) Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program Narrative Research Group: https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/ For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios. Contributors: Roger Questel, Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Nate Christy, Shannon Rebelo, PJ Moynihan, Jordan Callahan #RogerQuestel #Questech #Inventor #Woodcarving #Innovation #ArtAndTechnology #TileManufacturing #MassMoCA #HomeDepot #RalphLauren #GettyFamily #Vermont #NorthAdams #MetalCasting #CreativeProcess #Entrepreneurship #Design #StudioLife #Storypathing

In this member-exclusive webinar, BIC welcomes Chris Meador, co-founder of Magnetworks.co and former participant in the BIC Stage 2 Accelerator, to introduce Magnetworks — a new hiring platform now included as a free BIC member benefit. Magnetworks helps businesses tap into their community to find reliable local talent through referral-based job postings. Chris shares how the platform works, the science behind referrals, and real-world success stories like Mezzé in Williamstown, who filled a key role using a creative referral reward. ✅ Referrals = better hires ✅ No extra work — jobs sync to the BIC Job Feed automatically ✅ Reward your community with local perks ✅ Trackable, transparent, and easy to share 🎁 Use code HELLOBIC (all caps) at magnetworks.co to activate your free member account. 💬 Questions? Contact the BIC or reach out to the Magnetworks team directly. #Magnetworks #HireLocal #ReferralHiring #BICMembers #CommunityRecruiting #BerkshireInnovationCenter #BerkshireJobs

Hope Ross Gibaldi, Director for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Williams College, shares how a winding path through language, parenting, and side hustles led to her leadership in cultivating entrepreneurial ecosystems. Hope joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on her journey from a young parent experimenting with crafts and Mary Kay to a recognized leader in entrepreneurship and innovation. Now the Director for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the 68 Center for Career Exploration at Williams College, Hope discusses the importance of experiential learning and programmatic inclusion in liberal arts settings. Her story traces back to a transformative gap year in Argentina, where she became fluent in Spanish and gained a global perspective that continues to shape her work. Hope recounts how she and her husband Chris launched a preschool-style sports program, Learn in Motion, after identifying a gap in programming for young children. A $10,000 community development grant helped them formalize the business and shift from parent-facing services to institutional partnerships. This experience, combined with her participation in and facilitation of entrepreneurship accelerators, deepened her interest in building entrepreneurial ecosystems. Throughout the episode, Hope emphasizes the power of doing, the role of reflection, and the need for multiple entry points into innovation—especially for students who don’t identify as traditional entrepreneurs. From starting a craft business to leading Valley Venture Mentors through the pandemic, Hope’s path exemplifies persistence, curiosity, and a desire to help others uncover their own impact. Links: Hope Ross Gibaldi: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hoperossgibaldi/ Learn in Motion: https://learninmotion.org/ Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program Narrative Research Group: https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/ Contributors: Hope Ross Gibaldi, Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Nate Christy, Shannon Rebelo, PJ Moynihan, Jordan Callahan Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios #HopeRossGibaldi #WilliamsCollege #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #ExperientialLearning #BusinessCoaching #LiberalArts #StudentAdvising #CareerExploration #EcosystemBuilding #LearnInMotion #ValleyVentureMentors #Immersion #SideHustle #EarlyChildhood #Parenthood #SocialImpact #GapYear #SpanishFluency #SmallBusiness #AcceleratorProgram

Jenny Wright, Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership, shares how a disciplined path, consistent curiosity, and design thinking led her to community leadership at the heart of MASS MoCA. In this rich and personal episode of My Story Vault, Jenny Wright—Executive Director of the North Adams Partnership—joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on the unexpected journey that brought her to community leadership in the Northern Berkshires. Raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Jenny describes a childhood marked by solitude, a love of books, and disciplined engagement with classical music and representational drawing. After facing a period of personal struggle in her late teens, Jenny found her way back to herself through structure, daily routines, and a deep reconnection with the public library—a place she credits with rediscovering an engaged life worth living. The library saved her life. Jenny recounts how a single phrase from her piano teacher—“You’re better than this”—helped shift her trajectory and ultimately led to a design education at the Corcoran School in Washington, DC. Her career path, shaped by early roles in brand systems and design architecture, emphasized thoughtful listening and user-centered design. These skills now serve her in her current role, where she helps reconnect and align the city’s anchor institutions—MASS MoCA, MCLA, and the City of North Adam’s downtown community—through programs like the Reconnecting Communities initiative. Throughout the conversation, Jenny reflects on her strengths as a “glue” figure—someone who helps others perform at their best by observing, listening, and arranging people and ideas into meaningful configurations. Whether drawing photorealistic birds, performing Rachmaninoff, or helping North Adams envision its future, Jenny's story reveals the power of incremental discipline, grounded optimism, and genuine curiosity. Links: North Adams Partnership: https://northadamspartnership.org/ Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program Narrative Research Group: https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/ For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org Contributors: Jenny Wright, Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Nate Christy, Shannon Rebelo, PJ Moynihan, Jordan Callahan Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios. #NorthAdamsPartnership, #JennyWright, #MASSMoCA, #MCLA, #ExecutiveDirector, #GraphicDesign, #CommunityDevelopment, #Altoona, #Libraries, #UrbanRenewal, #PublicInfrastructure, #Storypath, #Discipline, #Resilience, #CareerJourney, #Leadership, #CreativeDirector, #Nonprofit

Morgan Everett shares his journey from Utah to the Berkshires, reflecting on how his background in history, law, and nonprofit arts led to his current role building community and real estate initiatives at MASS MoCA. Morgan joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to reflect on a multidimensional journey from law firms in Salt Lake City to the creative economy of North Adams, Massachusetts. Now the Director of Public Initiatives and Real Estate at MASS MoCA, Morgan shares how his early interests in art, architecture, and human connection eventually found expression in the nonprofit and cultural development space. Raised as the youngest in a blended family, Morgan was shaped by inclusive values, fluid social groups, and a deep-seated curiosity about people and place. He candidly recounts the moment he stepped away from a path toward law school—despite years of preparation—to pursue an MPA and ultimately enter the arts sector through the Sundance Institute. Morgan discusses how trusting intuition, observing patterns, and valuing mentorship helped him pivot toward work that truly aligned with his passions. His experiences in Utah laid a foundation for his work at MASS MoCA, where he now helps foster strategic, community-driven development rooted in partnership and placemaking. Throughout the conversation, Morgan emphasizes the importance of listening to internal signals, embracing non-linear career paths, and staying open to rediscovering earlier passions. His reflections on building both physical spaces and human relationships remind us that impact is rarely accidental—it’s constructed, step by step, in tandem with others. Links: Morgan Everett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/morgan-everett-7291183a/ MASS MoCA: https://massmoca.org Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program Narrative Research Group: https://narrativeresearchgroup.org For questions or insights, please email Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org Contributors: Morgan Everett, Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Nate Christy, Shannon Rebelo, PJ Moynihan, Jordan Callahan Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios #MorganEverett, #MASSMoCA, #NorthAdams, #CommunityBuilding, #NonprofitArts, #RealEstateDevelopment, #CreativeEconomy, #HistoryMajor, #PublicInitiatives, #MPA, #LawSchoolPivot, #SundanceInstitute, #PublicPrivatePartnership, #Berkshires, #Placemaking, #RelationshipBuilding, #CulturalDevelopment

B. Stephen Boyd, CEO of Boyd Biomedical, shares his journey from a young entrepreneur with a painting business to leading a company that drives healthcare innovation, revealing his insights on leadership, community, and resilience and how integrating perspectives matters. His journey is a story of innovation, leadership, and community impact. As the CEO of Boyd Biomedical, Stephen’s teams have helped design, build, and launch groundbreaking biomedical solutions. But his path began much earlier, with a childhood defined by curiosity, exploration, and an entrepreneurial spirit. From his first painting business in high school to studying psychology and religion at Middlebury College, Stephen learned the value of persistence, adaptability, and collective wisdom. In this episode, Stephen reflects on his journey, sharing how his diverse experiences shaped his leadership style and his approach to building resilient communities. From his early entrepreneurial ventures, inspired by his family’s business acumen, to his college years where he balanced academics with a passion for skiing and outdoor exploration, Stephen reveals how a spirit of adventure fueled his drive to innovate. Stephen also delves into his professional evolution, from working in finance in New York City to returning to the Berkshires to take on leadership at Boyd Biomedical. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of steering a family business into the biomedical field, emphasizing the importance of building strong, collaborative teams and fostering a culture of continuous learning. His philosophy of "stronger for the experience" serves as a guiding principle, highlighting the power of growth through adversity. A key theme of the episode is Stephen’s belief in the power of collective wisdom. Stephen’s dedication to fostering collaboration across generations and industries makes this episode a thought-provoking exploration of what it takes to build lasting community impact in a world of complexity. Links: Boyd Biomedical: https://www.boydbiomedical.com/ Berkshire Innovation Center: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/ Narrative Research Group: https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/ For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org Contributors: B. Stephen Boyd, Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Nate Christy, Shannon Rebelo, PJ Moynihan, Jordan Callahan Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios #BStephenBoyd #BoydBiomedical #BerkshireInnovationCenter #Leadership #Innovation #LifeSciences #Entrepreneurship #Community #Storytelling #CareerJourney #FamilyBusiness

Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank, IP strategist and attorney, shares how coding, shared family time exploring technology and a deep curiosity shaped her journey into tech law. A conversation on innovation, technology, and career choices and the power of re-examining your own storypath. In this episode of My Story Vault, we sit down with Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank—intellectual property attorney, strategist, technologist, and advocate for women in STEM. From early experiences teaching herself programming on a Commodore 64, Giovanna's path has always been about decoding complex systems—whether it’s a line of code, the U.S. patent system, or the undercurrents of what’s justice in the tech world. She brings a rare blend of technical and legal expertise, holding a Master’s in Computer Science and a J.D. with a focus on patent law. Giovanna empowers inventors, founders, and companies to secure their intellectual property with purpose and foresight. We explore how motherhood decision-points along her journey, the early calling to a clear professional identity, why she believes storytelling is essential to legal advocacy, and what it means to protect your ideas in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Giovanna speaks candidly about the people, experiences, networks and mindsets that helped her not just survive, but thrive. Whether you're an inventor, entrepreneur, or someone reflecting on how to reclaim your voice and value, this conversation offers insight, clarity, and inspiration. LINKS Website: www.giovannafessenden.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/giovanna-fessenden-fairbank-6582744 Partner Organizations & Programs: Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program: berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program Narrative Research Group: narrativeresearchgroup.org Contact for Follow-up: For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon at: Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org CONTRIBUTORS Giovanna Fessenden-Fairbank, Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Nate Christy, Shannon Rebelo, PJ Moynihan, Jordan Callahan Produced by Nate Christy, BIC Studios. #GiovannaFessendenFairbank #IntellectualProperty #IPLaw #PatentLaw #WomenInTech #StorytellingAndLaw #MyStoryVault #DennisRebelo #NateChristy #ComputerScience #LegalAdvocacy #Innovation #WomenInSTEM #StartupLaw #ParentingAndCareer #Inventors #Entrepreneurs

Tom Thalmann, biotech advisor and Porsche enthusiast, shares how a love for engineering and exploration led to his quest for 1 million miles in the same car. More than a vehicle, his 2003 911 Turbo is a vessel of memory, presence, and human connection. Tom Thalmann’s story is one of exceptional devotion—not just to a car, but to an ethos of presence, longevity, and meaningful exploration. A biotech advisor and Porsche enthusiast, Tom joins Dr. Dennis Rebelo to share how a single 911 Turbo has become both a travel companion and a mirror for life’s deeper lessons. From his early fascination with the form and function of Porsche design to his 730,000+ mile journey (and counting), Tom talks about preserving engineering as art and technology, building social capital across Porsche communities, and how driving connects him to both inner peace and interpersonal connection. This episode invites listeners to think beyond utility: what does it mean to hold on? What happens when we turn sense-making into meaning-making, and why does devotion to an object—or practice—make us more human? Whether you're a car lover or a seeker of purpose, this ride is unforgettable. Links Porsche Club of America (PCA): https://www.pca.org/ Berkshire Innovation Center Accelerator Program: https://www.berkshireinnovationcenter.com/accelerator-program Narrative Research Group: https://narrativeresearchgroup.org/ For more information or to share a question or insight, please email Shannon [at] narrativeresearchgroup [dot] org Produced by Nate Christy Contributors Tom Thalmann, Dr. Dennis Rebelo, Nate Christy, Shannon Rebelo, PJ Moynihan, Jordan Callahan #MyStoryVault #TomThalmann #Porsche911Turbo #EngineeringAndEmotion #1MillionMiles #DrivingDevotion #Porsche996 #Porsche911 #Drivers #PCA #FormAndFunction #WhyNot #Narrative #LifeStory #WorkStory #Storypathing #AutomotiveDesign #RoadTripStories #Presence #MindfulDriving