October 1, 2025 Press Releases

CFWM Welcomes New Directors

Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is proud to announce the appointment of four local professionals to its Board of Directors, following their approval at a Board of Directors meeting held on September 17. Sylvia Callan of Hatfield, Jessica Holloway of Feeding Hills, Traci Talbert of Springfield, and Judge Danielle Williams of Wilbraham bring their valuable expertise and shared commitment to advancing the Foundation’s mission of expanding equity and opportunity and improving the quality of life for people in Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties.

“Strong partnerships are essential to building stronger communities,” said Trustee Chair Karin George. “We are honored to welcome this incredible group of individuals to our Board of Directors. Their knowledge and dedication will help guide the Foundation as we continue advancing our good work.”

New Directors:

Sylvia Callan (Hampshire County)
Callan is a Senior Portfolio Manager at Gage-Wiley & Co. with over two decades of experience in investment management, spanning hedge funds, institutional investment, and wealth management. Throughout her career, Callan has developed a profound understanding of financial markets, starting with formative internships at the Wharton School and the UCLA Anderson School of Business. She excels at fostering collaborative relationships with advisors and internal teams, always upholding her fiduciary duty to clients.

Beyond her firm responsibilities, Callan serves as a Member of the Ned Davis Research Advisory Board. Since 2024, she has also dedicated her time as a volunteer for the Investment Committee at the Community Foundation, showcasing her commitment to community impact.

Jessica Holloway (Hampden County)
Holloway joined The Jamrog Group in 2014 after working as an investment consultant at MassMutual’s corporate headquarters. As a Certified Financial Planner™, she specializes in helping high-net-worth families navigate complex financial decisions, offering tailored strategies in executive compensation, retirement income planning, and multi-generational planning.

Holloway was named a BusinessWest “40 Under 40” honoree in 2023 and received the MassMutual Foundation Community Service Award in 2025 in recognition of her long-standing contributions to Girls on the Run Western Massachusetts, where she now serves as board chair. She has also served on the Philanthropic Services Committee for the Community Foundation since 2023.

Traci Talbert (Hampden County)
Talbert is an adjunct professor at Bay Path University and Cambridge College, where she teaches courses in Diversity in the Workplace, Operations Management, Business Leadership, and Business Ethics. She currently serves as the Racial Justice Community Engagement Director at the Franklin County Community Development Corporation, where she partners with community leaders and businesses to advance racial equity by examining and reshaping policies and practices.

Talbert is the founder of the African American Female Professor Awards Association (AAFPAA), now celebrating its 9th year. She is also a passionate volunteer tennis coach with the Urban Tennis Program, offering free year-round lessons to youth in urban communities, promoting access, discipline, and confidence through sport.

The Honorable Danielle L. Williams (Hampden County)
Judge Williams is the presiding justice of the Holyoke District Court.  She is the second woman and the first Black woman to hold this position in Holyoke. She first took office as a district court judge in 2020. 

Judge Williams earned her Juris Doctorate from Western New England University School of Law. She began her legal career in the office of the Hampden County District Attorney as a victim-witness advocate and later served as assistant clerk-magistrate in the Springfield District Court. She has also served as an assistant attorney general in Attorney General Maura T. Healey’s Government Bureau; as an associate with the Northampton law firm of Fierst, Bloomberg, Ohm LLP; and as an assistant district attorney in Hampden County.

Judge Williams is a founding board member of the Springfield Prep Charter School, former president of the Greater Springfield chapter of The Links Incorporated, member of the Baypath University Board of Trustees, and member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Additionally, she has served on the Board of Community Legal Aid and the Women’s Fund of Western Mass, and completed the Scott Hawkins Leadership Academy, offered through The Links Incorporated. In recognition of her volunteerism and service, Judge Williams was a recipient of the BusinessWest 40 Under 40 Award and the Dedicated Service Award from The Springfield Prep Charter School.