Our Staff

amie miarecki

Amie joined JAWM as President in November of 2023. Prior to this position, she was an executive director for an assisted living facility and director of community relations and marketing for several non-profit organizations. She brings over 22 years of experience working in health and human services concentrating on underserved populations with her strengths in marketing, resource development, and advocacy.

Before returning to where she grew up in Western Massachusetts in 2013, she worked and volunteered in the Greater Boston Area for over twelve years. She holds a Master of Science degree in Corporate and Organizational Communication with a Specialization in Leadership from The College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a Minor in Sociology from University of Massachusetts Amherst.

She believes in giving back to the community by fostering inclusivity and a strong economy. Currently, she serves on the Board of Directors, Chairs the Education Committee, and is on the Governance and Nomination Committees for the East of the River Chamber of Commerce. She is also Vice Chair for of the Legislative Steering Committee and a member of the Workplace and Workforce Subcommittee for the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is also a member of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County Youth Council, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Philanthropic Services Committee, Business Segment Committee for Living Local 413, Springfield City Library’s Civic and Community Engagement Committee, and the Financial Education Network Committee. She is the former president of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield’s (YPS) Board of Directors, and a former board member of the Professional Women’s Chamber, the Greater Federation of Women’s Clubs’ Agawam Junior Women’s Club, and MotherWoman.

She has a certification from the Comprehensive Outreach Education Certificate Program from the Community Health Education Center of The Boston Public Health Commission. Amie also received The Boston Public Health Commission John Auerbach Team Award for Innovations in Public Health and a BusinessWest 40 Under Forty Award.

Nicole Baltazar

Nicole Baltazar joined Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts as the Education Pathways Director in January of 2025, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the field of early education and care. Her journey began at an early age working in before- and after-school programs and helping in preschool classrooms. It was there that she discovered her passion for working with young people and decided to pursue her dream of becoming an educator. She climbed the ladder over the years, working with local non-profit organizations and obtaining various levels of leadership within her field.

Nicole is Director 1 & 2 Qualified through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care. Recently, she was the center director for the Valley Opportunity Council (VOC) in partnership with the Holyoke Public Schools, Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative. During her time at VOC, she also held the position of assistant director for Energy Programs for almost four years, oversaw all aspects of the local Chicopee Farmers Market, and was a proud member of the VOC Diversity and Inclusion group.

Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst’s University Without Walls Program, with a concentration in early education and administration. Born and raised in Western Massachusetts, she is a strong advocate for youth and enjoys mentoring and coaching. Nicole believes in investing in our youth because she feels strongly that they hold the key to our future. One of her favorite quotes is: “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future” (Franklin D. Roosevelt).