New leadership at Community Foundation of WMass

SPRINGFIELD — Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts has appointed Karin George as its new chair of trustees, succeeding Paul Murphy who has served as chair for the last four years.

Alongside this leadership change, the organization welcomes two new board members, Lisa LaPolice and Francia Wisnewski, and eight new committee members.

George, born in Switzerland and raised in upstate New York, has been a resident of Hampshire County for over 25 years. George earned her bachelor’s degree in art history before beginning her career in annual giving at St. Lawrence University. Over the years she advanced her role first at Vassar College in 1995 as vice president for development and again at her alma mater Smith College in 1998 as vice president for advancement, where she played a pivotal role during Smith College’s $250 million This is About Smith campaign.

In 2005, George joined Washburn & McGoldrick, LLC, where she currently serves as a principal consultant.

Her relationship with the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts began in 2009 as a scholarship reviewer. Since then, she has served as a trustee since 2013 and became vice chair in 2020. Prior to that she served as a member and chair of the Education Committee from 2017 to 2019 and has served as a scholarship reviewer since 2009.

LaPolice of West Springfield, is a certified public accountant at Burkhart, Pizzanelli, P.C., who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s degree in business administration from Elms College. Currently, she is an adjunct faculty in the MBA Accounting program at alma mater. LaPolice has been serving the Community Foundation as a Philanthropic Services Committee member since spring of 2023.

Wisnewski, of Montague, has a background in nonprofit, education and community organizing. She is the director of membership and community engagement at the National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC). Born and raised in Cali, Colombia, Wisnewski began her career as a science teacher in South America. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the Universidad Del Valley and a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Additionally, the Foundation has welcomed new volunteers to its committees. The following individuals have joined the Community Foundation’s Distribution Committee: Cecil Papafio, David Rudder, Debbie DiStefano, and existing trustees Magdalena Gomez and John Davis; and the following individuals have joined the Philanthropic Services Committee: Kylie Brown, Ryan Ferriter and Tara Brewster.

Emily Dickinson hires senior director of development

AMHERST — Emily Dickinson Museum welcomes Erin Martin as its new senior director of development. Martin comes to the museum with a track record in higher education and brings a deep passion for Emily Dickinson and the museum’s mission.

Martin served most recently as associate vice president for individual giving at Vassar College, where she managed a team of 28 responsible for principal gifts, gift planning, leadership gifts, annual giving, parent and family giving, prospect development and research, and stewardship, special events, and programs.

As a member of the museum’s leadership team, Martin will work to increase support from individuals and institutional donors to establish the museum as the premier center for the study, celebration, and generative expression of Emily Dickinson’s revolutionary poetic voice.

The museum’s urgent priorities include poetry programming; expanded educational opportunities, regionally and nationally, for K-16 students and teachers; innovative interpretive methods for visitors experiencing the two Dickinson homes; complete restoration of the Dickinson Homestead and sensitive preservation of the delicate Evergreens interiors; and adequate facilities for collections storage, visitor services, and program presentation.

Wells Fargo Advisors relocates to office in Holyoke

HOLYOKE — Wells Fargo Advisors has relocated from 1350 Main St., Springfield to a new office at PeoplesBank Executive Office Park, 330 Whitney Avenue, in Holyoke.

Located next to Interstate 91, the new location will provide convenient access for clients in the region. The 2,300-square-foot space features a modern open office design, as well as access to building amenities such as an on-site café and free parking.

Karen Donnelly is the branch manager. Wells Fargo Advisors Holyoke team of five financial advisors and three client associates provides a range of financial products and services, including advisory investments, estate planning strategies, retirement planning and insurance.

Greenfield Savings Bank opens new ATM at CDH

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital welcomed a new addition to its main lobby hallway recently: a Greenfield Savings Bank ATM.

The new ATM is located down the hall from the Gift Shop. Now through March, the bank will waive all withdrawal fees at the Cooley Dickinson Hospital location; other bank fees may apply.

Greenfield Savings Bank is a supporter of Cooley Dickinson and have supported initiatives including the Emergency Department campaign, the Golf Fore Health tournament, and the campaign for the Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital.