BH Board of Trustees Welcomes New Trustees

Baystate Health has been caring for Western Massachusetts communities for more than 141 years.  In partnership with its 13,000 caregivers, the Board of Trustees and subsequent committees are entrusted to lead the organization through the lens of its Mission – to improve the health of the people in our communities, with quality and compassion.  The 19 elected Trustees are hyper-focused on the community impact of the organizations’ actions and decisions and bring diversity of skill, expertise, knowledge and community representation to our collective voice.

“The time, talent and treasure invested by our Board of Trustees in Baystate Health is so important in our journey to become a clinically driven and physician-led health system,” said Peter D. Banko, President & CEO.  “They represent the unique perspectives and voices of our community, and their perspectives are critical to ensuring we are the economic and health pillar in New England, preferred destination to work and practice, and establish long-term financial resilience for our organization.” 

Baystate Health is announcing the following transitions of its Board of Trustees in 2025:

Harriet DeVerry, retired Senior Vice President and Group Financial Officer at Webster, just concluded her two-year term as Chair of the Board on December 31, 2024 and will continue to serve as Trustee on Baystate Health’s Board.  Bob Bacon, President of Elm Electrical, Inc., who served on the Board for the past 10 years, since 2015, and as Chair of the Board from 2021-22, will be stepping down as a Trustee.  DeVerry and Bacon were members of the Board of Trustees at Noble Hospital when that hospital became part of Baystate Health in 2015 and they joined the Baystate Health Board of Trustees at that time. 

“I extend my deepest gratitude to Harriet, as former Chair of the Board, for her leadership and support, especially the last seven months of 2024 as Baystate Health welcomed me to Western Massachusetts in June,” said Banko.  “I also am extremely grateful for Bob’s 10-year commitment to serve as Trustee, including his two years as Chair.  Their dedication to the organization, our Mission, our community and to healthcare in Western Massachusetts goes above and beyond.” 

Colleen Holmes has transitioned to the role of Board of Trustee Chair from her role of Vice Chair. Holmes is the President and CEO of Springfield-based Viability, Inc., an organization which partners with employers to meet their business needs by including the workforce of individuals with disabilities. In this role, she builds on her 30-year career in human services, holding leadership roles in human resources, sales, and marketing. Holmes joined the Baystate Health Board of Trustees after serving on the Quality Committee and currently serves on the Executive, Human Resources, and Governance Committees. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and a master of business administration degree from American International College.

Dr. Akinyele Lovelace, a partner at Family Medicine Associates in Westfield, has been named Vice Chair. Dr. Lovelace is affiliated with Baystate Noble Hospital, Baystate Medical Center, and Holyoke Medical Center, and has served as a Baystate Health Board of Trustee for five years. He most recently served as the Honorary Baystate Noble Ball Chair with his wife, Christina Lovelace, at the 58th Annual Baystate Noble Ball in November 2024. Dr. Lovelace spent several years in Texas, practicing internal medicine at Hereford Health Clinic. During his time there, he was Hereford Brand Reader’s Winner for Best Physician in 2012 and 2014. In addition to this medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Dr. Lovelace holds a master of business administration degree from Texas Tech University and a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University of Louisiana.

The Baystate Health Board of Trustees welcomes its newest member, Keith J. Nesbitt, Senior Vice President and Business Banking Team Leader at Berkshire Bank. Nesbitt has nearly 20 years of experience in commercial lending, portfolio management and credit administration in regional and community banking institutions. Presently he manages a team of commercial relationship managers for the Pioneer Valley (metro Springfield) and Connecticut (metro Hartford & New Haven) for Berkshire Bank. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia, master of science from Georgia State University and master of business administration from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Nesbitt will fill the Board of Trustee seat vacated by Bacon.

“I am thrilled to welcome Keith to the Board of Trustees and to support Colleen and Dr. Lovelace in their new leadership roles,” said Banko.  “As we build a clinically driven and physician-led system and focus on our transformation, their respective backgrounds and diverse skillsets will provide strong voices and deeper community perspectives.”