Revitalize CDC Welcomes Two Board Members, Announces New Board Leadership
SPRINGFIELD — Revitalize Community Development Corporation (CDC) announced the election of two new members to its board of directors: Frank Robinson, retired vice president and Public Health officer at Baystate Health, and Nikki Gleason, vice president and branch manager at Florence Bank in West Springfield.
Robinson has made decades of contributions to public health, education, and community development across Western Mass. and beyond. Early in his career, he advanced health equity through leadership roles in the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and the Northeast Ohio Developmental Center. He went on to serve as the founding executive director of Partners for a Healthier Community and director of Community Health Planning at Baystate Health, where he championed upstream approaches to community well-being.
From 2015 to 2024, as vice president and Public Health officer at Baystate Health, Robinson played a pivotal role in establishing the Baystate Academy Charter Public School and the Baystate Springfield Educational Partnership, both designed to empower Springfield students through academic excellence and college readiness. He also led regional initiatives such as the Anchor Collaborative and the Alliance for Digital Equity, and in 2023, he secured a $5.1 million grant from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute to expand digital literacy and public connectivity.
Gleason brings more than 25 years of experience in commercial and community banking to the board. As vice president and branch manager at Florence Bank, she is known for her dedication to helping businesses and individuals achieve financial stability through personalized, relationship-driven service. She has also demonstrated her long-standing commitment to community revitalization by volunteering for more than a decade as a Revitalize CDC #GreenNFit Neighborhood Rebuild house captain, helping transform homes and neighborhoods across Springfield.
The organization also announced new board leadership with Moyah Smith, owner of B-Side Entertainment & Memories Matter, elected as board chair, and Robin Youmans of the Center for Human Development elected as board clerk. Smith, who has served on Revitalize CDC’s board for 10 years, succeeds John Robinson, who led the board for the past five years and will continue to serve as a member after more than two decades of volunteer leadership.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Robinson and Ms. Gleason to our board, and to have Moyah and Robin step into new leadership roles,” said Colleen Shanley-Loveless, president and CEO of Revitalize CDC. “Their experience, dedication, and shared commitment to equity and community empowerment will strengthen our ability to make homes and lives healthier, safer, and more energy-efficient across Western Massachusetts.”