Burke tapped to lead Community Foundation of WMass

SPRINGFIELD — The Trustees of the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts have appointed Megan Burke as president and CEO.

Burke has been a community impact officer at the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving for more than seven years, most recently serving as its director of community impact grantmaking.

Burke, who lives in West Springfield, has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, strategic planning and philanthropy. She will begin her tenure at the Foundation on Jan. 18, succeeding Katie Allan Zobel, who left last fall.

Burke began her career working on international peace and security issues at the Ford Foundation and through the United Nations. She also lived in Nicaragua for several years, where her work supported the emerging LGBTQ+ movement and the development of a nationwide campaign to advance human rights. Prior to her most recent position at the Hartford Foundation, Burke led the Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines, an international network of nonprofits engaged in advancing a ban on antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions worldwide.

Burke holds a bachelor’s degree from Wellesley College and a master’s degree from Yale University.

Founded in 1991, the Foundation serves Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin counties as a resource, catalyst, and coordinator for charitable activities.

State gets new secretary of labor, workforce development

BOSTON — Lauren Jones is to be appointed as secretary of the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development by the Healey administration.

Jones, of Boston, is currently the executive vice president of the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, and previously held roles with the city of Boston under Mayor Marty Walsh and in the Labor and Workforce Development Office under Gov. Deval Patrick.

“Massachusetts is facing a serious workforce shortage, and it’s negatively impacting our workers, employers and economic competitiveness,” Healey said in a statement. “Lauren Jones has a proven track record of collaborating with businesses and labor to expand workforce development opportunities, attract new businesses to our state, and give both workers and employers the support they need.

Jones has more than 17 years of experience working in local and state government, nonprofits, and the private sector, with a particular focus on workforce development. In her role at the Massachusetts Business Roundtable, Jones leads the organization’s workforce development policy and strategy. She was previously led the Massachusetts market for the nonprofit Apprenti, where she worked with companies to cultivate and diversify tech talent through registered apprenticeships.

Jones holds a Master in Public Administration from Northeastern University, and has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Providence College.

Earthbound Trading Company opens in Holyoke Mall

HOLYOKE — Earthbound Trading Company, a Bohemian lifestyle store that sells a range of home décor items, crystals and meditation essentials, textiles, stones, jewelry, accessories and clothing, has opened at the Holyoke Mall.

The bohemian lifestyle brand opened its 3,465-square-foot space on the upper level near Macy’s late last year.

From humble beginnings in 1994 as a rock and mineral shop, Earthbound Trading now has 146 locations throughout the United States. It was founded by Steve and Suzana Gordon.

House of Pizza owner opens Cisco’s Cafe

NORTH AMHERST — Francisco Perez, owner of Amherst House of Pizza (AHOP) at Riverside Park, has opened Cisco’s Café, his second eatery in North Amherst.

The new restaurant, located in The Trolley Barn at 68 Cowls Road, features diverse Latino and American breakfast and lunch offerings, alongside Esselon and Pierce Brothers coffees.

“We have the classics, like breakfast burritos and sandwiches, plus vegan and vegetarian options. We’re offering a bit of everything, picking up where Jake’s left off, and putting our own spin on it,” said Perez, a native of El Salvador.

The eatery is in the Cowls Road space that formerly housed Jake’s at The Mill. Pulling restaurant operations back to their Northampton venue during the pandemic, Jake’s had just completed permitting to open as a special events venue and catering kitchen for 2022 and 2023.

That’s when Perez expressed interest in opening a full-service restaurant, and upon the request of Mill District managers, Jake’s owners Alex Washut and Chris Ware agreed to allow a more standard sit-down style restaurant to take their place.

Atkinson Family Practice celebrates 10 years in current building

AMHERST — Atkinson Family Practice recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the construction of its state-of-the art environmentally-friendly building in Amherst. Sustainability features include recycled newspaper, double-walled insulation, recycled fly ash exterior trim, and solar power energy and energy-recovery HVAC systems.

Atkinson Family Practice is a certified Medical Home with offices in Amherst and Northampton serving patients of all ages and includes collaborative programs with behavioral health, massage, chiropractic, nutrition and novel therapies for depression. The practice has served the Valley since 2005.

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