Board of Directors

Gail Fortes, Board Chair

Gail M. Silva-Fortes is a lifelong resident of New Bedford. Gail has a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Bridgewater State University. For the last 13 years, Gail has led the YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts as the Executive Director, with a passion for social justice and women’s empowerment that she also brings to Y.O.U. Gail’s unique experience provides valuable insight into nonprofit management, governance, business development, and community engagement.

Nicole Jackman, Treasurer

For 22 years Nicole was a full-time Investment Research Analyst and Portfolio Manager, working for a variety of asset managers in Boston and London. During her career she has analyzed and invested in a variety of sectors, including municipalities, industrials, technology, banks and insurance companies.  In 1999, she relocated to London.  Nicole was instrumental in growing the European Credit business at both State Street Global Advisors and Wellington Management and worked in many ways to support client service and relationship management. In 2011, she relocated back to the area to care for her aging parents. Living in New Bedford allowed her to work with a few local not-for-profits until she returned to work as a Credit Analyst at Loomis Sayles in Boston in 2017.

Dr. Bruce W. Tench, II, Clerk

Dr. Bruce W. Tench II is a New Bedford native who has served several years within and around the New Bedford school system. He received his Bachelor’s degree in English: Literature and Criticism and received his Master’s in Teaching, both from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. He received his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University, and currently holds a position as the 6th Grade Interim Assistant Principal at Keith Middle School in New Bedford, Massachusetts.

Nancy Cabral, Director

Nancy Cabral, VP Small Business Relationship Manager has been working for Bristol County Savings Bank for the past seven years.  Nancy has served the South Coast community holding various positions in the banking industry.  She is a dedicated professional with over 30 years of experience, leading teams that offer exceptional client relations while maintaining a positive work environment. Nancy’s current role as a business relationship manager is to provide consultative services while focusing on building relationships with business professionals. Nancy is a graduate of Leadership SouthCoast class of 2018 and has worked with numerous non-profit organizations over years.  She currently serves on the Academy of Finance advisory board at the New Bedford High School and served on the New Bedford Art Museum and Downtown New Bedford, Inc.

William Gardner, Director

Will Gardner is an educational consultant and entrepreneur. He is the founder and former Executive Director of Alma del Mar Charter Schools in New Bedford. Alma’s mission is to put every one of its scholars on the path to college and to challenge them to be service-minded leaders. During Will’s time at Alma, the organization grew from having one school serving 120 scholars to having two schools serving over 1,000 scholars. Alma has been recognized for strong academic achievement, proactive family engagement and exemplary work with English language learners. Prior to founding Alma del Mar, Will ran after school programming for middle schoolers in New Bedford. He began his career as a teacher with 'Teach for America' in the Mississippi Delta. He has a BA from Wesleyan University and M.Ed. from Harvard. He lives in Fairhaven with a badass librarian, two quirky kids and a pit mix.

Jeffrey Pelletier, Director

Jeffrey Pelletier is the President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Southern Massachusetts, a nonprofit focused on career readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy for students. Under his leadership, the organization has served over 15,000 students, expanded its reach, and received Junior Achievement USA’s Peak Performance award. Previously, Pelletier was Program Director for Executives Without Borders, where he led jobs and recycling programs in Haiti and private sector projects in Honduras. He holds a degree in Business Administration from Methodist University and is a graduate of Leadership SouthCoast. Pelletier actively volunteers and serves on several boards, including the Immigrants' Assistance Center, MassHire, and Bishop Stang High School.

T. Blair Taylor, Director

Blair Taylor, the daughter of retired foreign service officers, embodies the profound impact of exposure, resource access, and representation on one's commitment to fostering a more equitable and inclusive community culture. Her passion for the arts blossomed during her upbringing abroad, where she had unique opportunities to witness the universal power of the arts. Throughout her academic journey, she actively engaged in various choral and vocal programs, eventually majoring in voice at a performing arts middle school. Recognizing her deep-seated passion for arts education and equity, Blair assumed the role of Director of Education and Community at the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center after attending a DC-based public charter boarding school. In her new position, she is dedicated to ensuring the Zeiterion truly reflects New Bedford's diverse culture. Blair also holds a B.S. in Sports Management from Guilford College and is the eldest child of Ambassador Teddy Taylor (ret.) and Antoinette Corbin-Taylor. She is also a lifelong member of Alfred Street Baptist Church.