Board of Trustees

Peter Andrews has served for more than 30 years in news media. He worked as an Advertising Sales Director with The Boston Globe and most recently as Director of Business Development and Community Engagement for The New Bedford Light, a free nonprofit digital news outlet dedicated to community coverage of important local issues.

Born in New Bedford and raised in Mattapoisett, Peter has deep ties to the local Cape Verdean community. As a member of the inaugural Board of Trustees, he helped shape the Strategic Plan 2025 to 2030 as a cochair of the marketing and communications domain.

Brad Curtis has been vital in the research and development of many facilities projects, including the furnace renovation, roof repairs, and planning for future infrastructure needs. His career in construction, building planning, and development brings decades of experience to the Board.

As a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Fall River, Brad served as building committee chairman during the Club’s renovation in the early 2000s. While helping raise $3.4 million, he helped secure donated construction and demolition services. His diligence and creativity continue to guide facilities projects across campus.

Dr. Christopher Fortier is the Chief Clinical Officer at Coral, a healthcare incubator and solutions company committed to addressing fragmentation within the United States healthcare system. Previously, he served as President of 503B Outsourcing at Nephron Pharmaceuticals and as Chief Pharmacy Officer at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Dr. Fortier has served in leadership roles for numerous state and national professional organizations and has been published in multiple healthcare journals. He served as Chair of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy Board of Directors from 2021 to 2023 and currently chairs the United Way of Greater New Bedford Board of Directors.

Jim Gonet brings years of accounting and finance expertise as chair of the Finance Committee. He was a Partner in Price Waterhouse Coopers’ Information Systems Risk Management Practice. His experience in ecommerce security, control procedures, and auditing provides important support to Bishop Stang.

Jim serves St. John the Evangelist in Pocasset as volunteer Business Manager and Accountant and as head of the Finance Council. When needed, he also serves as Treasurer of the parish Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference.

Dr. Gerry Kavanaugh brings decades of experience in planning, higher education, and public service to the Bishop Stang Board. He is the founder of CMK Development Partners and cofounder of SouthCoast Connected, a nonprofit supporting New Bedford students.

Following a decade in city planning, Gerry served as Chief of Staff to Senator Edward M. Kennedy and as Senior Vice Chancellor at UMass Dartmouth. His expertise in development, strategic planning, and community leadership continues to benefit Bishop Stang. Gerry is also a member of the Bishop Stang Hall of Fame.

After graduating from UMass Dartmouth with a degree in accounting, Joe Paulo served with the Massachusetts State Police for decades until his retirement as a sergeant in 2021. He now serves as a special police officer with the Dighton and Raynham Police Departments.

Joe is an active community leader and volunteer. He serves as the lead for the Lakeside Family Festival Steering Committee and on the St. John Neumann Parish Council. He also volunteers at Bishop Stang as an assistant football coach and contributed valuable facilities perspectives during the strategic planning workshop retreat.

Lea Swan serves as Business Development Operations Lead for Sports Performance Enhancement and Rehabilitation, also known as SPEAR Physical Therapy. She helps develop, implement, and monitor strategic partnerships and initiatives for one of the nation’s fastest growing physical therapy centers.

After Bishop Stang, Lea studied biology at Providence College and earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2017. She also served on the advancement domain of the strategic planning committee.

Fr. Riley Williams has dedicated his life to Christ and the Catholic Church. He is Pastor of Holy Name Parish and Dean of the Fall River Deanery in the Diocese of Fall River.

Fr. Williams graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and minors in theology and Latin. He continued his studies in Rome, receiving a bachelor’s degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University and a License in Sacred Theology with a concentration in moral theology from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. He returned to his home state to serve his community and now chairs the Marketing and Enrollment Committee.