Christina discovered rowing as a freshman walk-on to the Brown women’s crew team in 1988. She maintains a close connection to Brown rowing and has been on the board of the Friends of Brown Women’s Crew for almost a decade. After a long hiatus from rowing, she began sculling at CRI 2 years ago and now competes in quads and doubles. She also has a daughter on the competitive youth team and has loved chaperoning and supporting the youth teams.

Professionally, Christina is a clinical health psychologist who specializes in eating and weight disorders and anxiety. She works primarily with adolescents, young adults and parents. Christina is active in outreach work in the Boston community, working closely with multiple local organizations, and she is excited to get more involved in CRI’s outreach programs. She brings to the board the dual perspective of someone involved in both adult and youth programs, and she has experience with team sweep rowing as well as sculling. She also brings a strong foundation in health psychology, values and commitment strategies and, mostly, unbridled enthusiasm for the people and mission of CRI and the sport of rowing. 

Fran Tracy brings over 40 years of finance experience to the CRI Board, having been President and CFO of an investment management firm, Batterymarch Financial Management, for 25 years, a senior tax manager at Ernst & Young (EY) prior to that, and a CPA throughout. He currently serves on the board of two mutual fund complexes serving as an independent trustee and chairman of the audit committee. Fran also has experience in the non-profit sector. He served as Treasurer and Board member for Make A Wish of Massachusetts for 8 years.

Fran grew up in Boston and had always admired rowers on the Charles but never had an opportunity to experience the sport. Fran took a learn to row class shortly after the new boathouse was opened and has been rowing at CRI for several years where he also volunteers with the CRI para team.

Daniel is a former SEC trial attorney, co-leads the Securities & Futures Enforcement practice at Ropes & Gray. He has worked with public companies and investment advisers, as well as senior individuals at these firms, involved in civil and criminal government enforcement matters before the SEC, DOJ, and other state and foreign regulators. He has significant experience in conducting in depth analyses of financial records, planning and accounting matters.

He has particular expertise in assisting boards of directors in running internal investigations, addressing sensitive governance issues, and establishing and evaluating regulatory compliance programs. Dan has advised numerous boards of public, private, and not-for-profit companies deal with crisis situations, as well as evaluate and set long-term strategic plans.

Before law school, Daniel served in the US Navy as a watch officer and assistant engineer aboard the nuclear powered, ballistic missile submarine, the USS George Bancroft.

Bridget Bettigole currently rows at CRI in the early morning General Sweeps class. She is the parent of two daughters on the competitive girls team. She has been an active volunteer at regattas, helping with tent set up and break down, food preparation and clean up. 

Bridget is a Senior Funds Attorney at Rope and Gray, LLP. She represents institutional investors (including university endowments, pension funds, sovereign wealth funds, and private foundations) in connection with their investments in private equity and hedge funds, as well as direct co-investments. She helps to structure and negotiate investments ranging from $10 million to $1.5 billion+. 

Bridget has previous board experience with the Wellesley Free Library Foundation. She is currently serving on the executive committee as Vice President and previously served as Clerk. The Foundation solicits and stewards private philanthropy that bridges the gap between town funding and Wellesley’s aspirations for its library. Bridget has been involved in a $1 million capital campaign to support proposed renovation of library’s main branch and to increase Foundation endowments. Campaign includes working with outside consultants to create case statement and formulate fundraising strategies that will most effectively resonate with potential donors. The board has also worked on a comprehensive re-branding project to shape and distill the Foundation’s communications across media platforms. She has also been a board member (Co-President, 2018-2019; Co-Vice President, 2017-2018; Parliamentarian, 2015-2017) of the National Charity League, Wellesley Chapter, a philanthropic organization of mothers and daughters who, together, volunteer 4000+ hours annually at over 20 local and regional organizations. Key initiatives during tenure as Co-President included (a) restructuring the nomination process for both board members and committee heads and (b) strategic revamping of jobs assignments to better align with Chapter goals and inter-class connections. Parliamentarian responsibilities included updating and maintaining all Chapter constituent documents and policies.

Malcolm is currently in his eighth season as the inaugural head coach for the Boston University Women’s Lightweight Rowing program, having previously coached at Columbia University, Princeton University, Penn Athletic Club, and Thompson Boat Center. He’s been the Head Coach for the U23 Lightweight National Team Selection Camp for the past three years, directing 9 crews in competition at the World Rowing Under-23 Championships, with 5 Grand final appearances and 3 medal finishes. Additionally, Malcolm has also served multiple roles as a coach for the USRowing Women’s Junior National Team, including coaching sculling and sweep development, and coxswain selection and training. 

CRI’s motto of “Rowing for All” has resonated with Malcolm since his arrival to Boston. He feels that no matter the age, race, gender, physical disability, or sexual orientation, anyone can learn to love the sport of rowing, and that the sport is a perfect catalyst for people to find common ground. Malcolm wants to give back to the sport that gave so much to him, and sees CRI as a fantastic vessel for growing the sport in a variety of ways. Malcolm is most interested in CRI’s Inclusion & Advocacy work, its strategic planning initiatives and capacity for sustainability efforts, as well as Programming and CRI’s most valuable resource: its coaches. 

The Brooklyn, NY native, began coxing at West Potomac High School in Alexandria Virginia and for the inaugural Thompson Boat Center Junior’s program. He graduated from Marietta College in 1999 with a duel B.A. in Psychology and Education, and a minor in Leadership. Following graduation, Doldron became a special education teacher at Fairfax High in Fairfax, VA. 

Malcolm is currently a Town Meeting Member in Brookline’s 6th Precinct, and a Commissioner in Brookline’s Committee for Diversity Inclusion & Community Relations. 

Bio Coming Soon

Beth Lafortune Gies is the Vice President for Strategy and Network Development for the Partners Community Physicians Organization (PCPO), a member of Partners HealthCare. In this role, she develops and executes strategy for the organization’s community physician network and works closely with the PCPO Board of Trustees to strengthen its governance structures and support a more integrated and aligned network.

Prior to joining PCPO, Beth led the implementation of Partners’ affiliation strategy, including the successful acquisition and integration of a health plan and two community hospitals. She has substantial experience in community engagement, government affairs, and public policy development and implementation, having worked on the development, passage, and implementation of Massachusetts’ health reform legislation. 

She became involved with CRI through her daughters’ participation on the competitive youth team. This experience gave Beth a strong belief in CRI’s mission of providing supportive and meaningful rowing experiences for all. 

Rich started rowing at CRI in 2008 with coached log-book sculling. He has been involved in training and racing with the Quad Squad since 2013 and for several years with the men’s team starting in 2015, serving as co-captain from 2016-2018. 

Rich is currently Chief Operating Officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the largest private health plan in Massachusetts and one of the largest independent, not-for-profit Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in the country. 

Rich joined Blue Cross in 2018 and has more than 30 years of health plan leadership experience. He previously served as the Executive Vice President and Northeast region market president for Beacon Health Options. Before that, he was Chairman and CEO of Celtic Insurance Co. in Chicago and CeltiCare Health Plan of Massachusetts. Rich has also held senior executive positions at WellPoint (now Anthem) and at Tufts Health Plan, He began his career in health care as an intensive care nurse at Children’s Hospital in Boston. 

He sits on several corporate boards, including Arcadia and VillageMD New Hampshire and has extensive not-for-profit board experience including past work with Whittier Street Health Center and Eastern Adaptive Sports. Rich has worked on strategic planning, program development, finance and audit committees with each of these organizations. In addition to board work, Rich has been active in coaching with Eastern Adaptive Sports during summers on Squam Lake in New Hampshire where he worked with kids and adults with cognitive and physical challenges. He is currently Chair of the Advisory Board of the Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences at UMass Lowell and sits on the Chancellor’s Advisory Board of UMass Lowell. 

He received his MBA in health care management from Boston University and his Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Lowell. Rich lives in Boston with his wife Susan. 

Bob Mann is an independent scholar of American history whose research and writing focuses on the Reconstruction Era South. He was a Guest Lecturer and Teaching Fellow at Harvard College during 2016-2020, receiving the Harvard University Distinction in Teaching award in each of the four years. In 2015, he was the Suzanne and Caleb Loring Fellow on the Civil War at the Massachusetts Historical Society. In a previous career, Bob worked as an investment banker, advising on corporate mergers and restructurings, first as a Managing Director at Credit Suisse First Boston, and then at Deutsche Bank.

Bob has worked with several nonprofits that provide educational and enrichment opportunities to underserved communities, including service on the boards of the Parents as Teachers National Center, the Community Charter School of Cambridge, and the Aloha Foundation. He is currently the Treasurer of the Charles River Alliance of Boaters (CRAB).

Having watched his daughter learn to row at CRI, Bob took his first adult sculling class in 2019 and developed a passion for both the sport as well as CRI’s mission to help people from all backgrounds find personal growth and community through rowing.

Neeharika Mehta is Market President for RI/MA at VillageMD, responsible for identifying strategic growth opportunities, partnering with payer, provider and service partners to enhance primary care delivery. Prior to joining VillageMD, Neeharika was Executive Director of Emerson Physician Hospital Organization with oversight of strategy, finance, and operations. Neeharika has an extensive background in population health programs focused on improving ambulatory quality, high risk care management, care transitions, telemedicine, behavioral health integration into primary care, and engaging providers in population health. Neeharika has worked in the healthcare industry for 17 years and brings network and industry knowledge to her current role. Neeharika received her Bachelor’s from University of South Florida in Tampa FL and her Master in Business Administration from Babson College.

Eleven years ago, Neeharika enrolled in Learn to Row at CRI and has never looked back. Since then, she has participated in various sweeps and sculling programs, passed both the captain’s test and bow test, volunteered at various CRI activities, and participated in many regattas. Neeharika loves the sport of rowing, but it is the community at CRI that has inspired and motivated her to serve as a member of the CRI Board. From the beginning, Neeharika has felt welcomed and accepted as part of this remarkable community. Neeharika strives to inspire others to experience such sense of belonging, personal challenge, and growth she has enjoyed at CRI, and share how her experiences have led to a sense of personal accomplishment. Being a part of CRI has enabled her to receive and provide support and encouragement through team effort and collaboration. These values are a central theme in Neeharika’s professional and personal life and would be demonstrated as a member of CRI’s Board.

Stephanie Monteiro-Merritt is the Chief Organization Officer of The BASE, Inc., a national organization that is shifting mindsets and re-imagining pathways to success for urban youth through sports and educational opportunities. Prior to joining The BASE, Stephanie was the Director of Community Partnerships for Cathedral High School in Boston, where she is also an alum. She is a passionate leader committed to community change and ensuring that access and opportunity for urban youth is a right, not a privilege. Over the past 23 years, she has worked in the youth development, non-profit, and for-profit sectors.

In 2018, she received the Chica Project Community Partnership Award; City of Boston City Council Citation for service and commitment to young women; and United States Senate Citation for her dedication and leadership to Boston’s youth. She is also a proud 2020 alum of the Institute for Nonprofit Practice.

Mark Proctor has a long history of involvement in rowing, as well as involvement with CRI.  He was a college rower at Dartmouth in the 1980s, and remains actively engaged with Friends of Dartmouth Rowing.  His son, Kenny, was a competitive youth rower at CRI, and continues to row at Wesleyan University.  Kenny also serves as a coach at CRI over the summers.

Mark is a pediatric neurosurgeon who specializes in congenital abnormalities of the skull and spine, as well as brain and spinal cord injury.  He is the Neurosurgeon-in-Chief at Boston Children's Hospital, and Executive Director of the Boston Children’s Hospital Brain Injury Center.  He is also the Chairman of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the national organization that governs pediatric neurosurgery.  He has served on multiple non-profit boards and is a current member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation Board of Directors, and past Chair of the board of the Thinkfirst National Injury Prevention Foundation. He has also served on the Board of Trustees and as President of the Physicians’ Organization at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Mark brings passion to the sport of rowing and all it is brought to his life, and understands what the sport brings to the community.  He continues to get together annually with the members of his freshman boat, and a book, Working in Sync, was written about their uniquely successful freshman year experience, and how youth and college rowing can influence your career. He looks forward to bringing this passion to CRI.

Augusta Rohrbach is the Director for Strategic Initiatives in the Office of the Vice Provost for Research at Tufts University. Prioir to coming to Tufts, she was tenured at Washington State University where she was Editor-in-Chief of ESQ: A Journal of the American Renaissance. As an academic, she used the lens of business history to retell literary history and show that the slave narratives were a major tap root for American literature. As an administrator, she focuses on broadening opportunities for knowledge sharing and collaboration across the university through strategic planning. She came to CRI last year with a desire to learn to row and see the sunset on the Charles on a regular basis. But the real bonus was the soul satifaction of being part of a group of adults committed to working together regardless of background or skillset. At CRI, she has found a community of people united by their committment to collaboration in real time that brings together the deeply held beliefs at the heart of her life and work. 

Kiz Syed is a senior manager at Salesforce where he helps customers understand the financial and business impact of Salesforce's solutions. While he has a deep background in the investments and asset management industry, he spent the first half of his career in public service working on covert action, counterterrorism, and counterintelligence issues. His focus has always been on project leadership, people leadership, and storytelling.

Kiz also serves as a project manager for Community Consulting Teams, an organization that amplifies the impact of Boston-area nonprofits through pro bono management consulting projects led by experienced MBAs from top business schools. In this capacity he has worked on inclusion-based market growth opportunities in the continuing education and clinical trials spaces. He also serves as a business career fellow at Wesleyan College where he advises undergraduates, particularly underrepresented groups, on career outcomes.

While Kiz was rowing before he got to CRI, he was drawn to CRI because of its enduring mission of “Rowing for All.” As a first-generation, low-income immigrant, who grew up down the street from CRI, Kiz hopes to leverage this mission in support of CRI’s commitment to welcome all members of the community.

Fiona is an independent consultant who designs and evaluates strategies, programs, and partnerships that advance global health. She provides a diverse range of services, including nonprofit strategic planning, management support, applied research and analysis, and technical assistance on health systems planning and policy. Previously, Fiona was the Executive Managing Director for Last Mile Health, where she helped guide LMH’s shift from a period of rapid to strategic growth. Before joining LMH, Fiona worked with the Clinton Health Access Initiative’s Applied Analytics Team as a Senior Technical Advisor, supporting ministries of health and CHAI’s teams across a dozen countries with technical expertise to identify and address bottlenecks in health service delivery and prepare evidence-based recommendations to inform national policy decisions.

Fiona rowed at Columbia University, and first rowed at CRI the summer after her sophomore year. In 2020, she returned to CRI to learn to scull and is looking forward to getting more involved with CRI’s community.