Daily News

Robert Gilbert Jr. Named Chair of HCC Board of Trustees

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Insurance Agencies today announced that its chairman of the board, Robert Gilbert Jr., has been appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker as the new chair of the Holyoke Community College (HCC) Board of Trustees.

Gilbert has served on the HCC Board of Trustees in various capacities since April 2011. Most recently, he served as chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Finance Committee. Gilbert has long been active in other community and civic groups, including the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, on whose board he has served as past chairman.
“With his background in the insurance industry, Bob will prove to be an asset to the Holyoke Community College Board of Trustees,” said President and CEO of The Dowd Agencies, John E. Dowd, Jr. “We congratulate him on his well-deserved appointment.”

Said HCC president Bill Messner, “Bob has been an integral member and an important voice on the HCC board for the past four years. His many years’ experience in the insurance industry, particularly his expertise in the area of risk management, have served HCC very well, and we look forward to his stewardship as chair.”

Gilbert succeeds Helen Caulton-Harris as chair of the board. Caulton-Harris, commissioner of the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, had been a member of the board since 2006 and the chair since 2012.