Granite United Way Welcomes Two New Board Members

 

Robert Coates, Jr., President, New Hampshire Electric Operations for Eversource and Herschel Nachlis, Associate Director and Senior Policy Fellow of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College, and Research Assistant Professor in Dartmouth’s Department of Government both joined the nonprofit Board this fall.

 

Granite United Way is the single largest United Way in New Hampshire, serving more than 85% of the State and Windsor County, Vermont. The organization covers the Southern Region, Merrimack County, Central Region, Greater Seacoast Region, Upper Valley, North Country and the Northern Region of the state. Granite United Way is rated a Platinum Level Participant from GuideStar and a Four-Star Charity by Charity Navigator, the highest ratings from these two nonprofit watchdog organizations.

 

“Granite United Way is pleased to welcome both Robert and Herschel to our Board. Each of them brings a strong dedication to improving conditions across our community,” said Joseph Bator, Chair of Granite United Way’s Board of Directors. “We are fortunate to have Board of Directors with incredible leadership and representation from each of our regions.”

 

The organization raised over $13 million in support in the past year. More than 600 nonprofit agencies received support from Granite United Way’s fundraising efforts, helping over 450,000 individuals across New Hampshire and Windsor County, Vermont.

 

“Both Robert and Herschel bring expertise and leadership in their respective industries with unique perspectives that align with our efforts to address complex community issues,” said Nichole Martin Reimer, President and CEO of Granite United Way. “We are honored by their volunteer spirit and leadership.”

 

 

ROBERT ‘BOB’ COATES, JR.

President, New Hampshire Electric Operations for Eversource

 

As Eversource’s President of New Hampshire Electric Operations, Coates is responsible for ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of electricity to about 539,000 customers in 215 New Hampshire communities, and also serves as Incident Commander for emergency restoration efforts.

 

Prior to this role, Coates served as Eversource’s Vice President, Transmission Project Management and Construction, leading the execution of the entire transmission line and station capital portfolio across the electric system of Eversource. Before that, he served as Vice President, Connecticut Stations, Field Engineering and Communication, responsible for the safe and reliable operations, maintenance, construction, testing and commissioning for all substations in Connecticut, and as Vice President, Safety, leading the safety and health program across Eversource’s three states. He also has extensive leadership experience in storm and emergency response. 

 

Coates has over 35 years of increasing responsibilities at Eversource and predecessor companies. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Occupational Safety and Health Administration from the University of New Haven in Connecticut in 1987 and an MBA from American International College in Massachusetts in 2011.

 

He has been involved in a variety of community and industry activities including the Edison Electric Institute, Electric T&D OSHA Partnership, volunteer fire service and charitable boards. In addition to serving on Granite United Way’s Board of Directors, he also serves on the board of the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire. He is also executive sponsor of Eversource’s Veterans Business Resource Group and is a founding member of the Eversource Veterans Association board of directors. 

 

“Granite United Way accomplishes such incredible work addressing the needs of the people in the region, so being selected to join the Board is a tremendous honor and consistent with my and Eversource’s continued desire to volunteer our time and talents for our communities.” said Robert S. Coates, Jr. 

 

 

HERSCHEL NACHLIS

Associate Director and Senior Policy Fellow of the Nelson A. Rockefeller Center for Public Policy and the Social Sciences at Dartmouth College, and Research Assistant Professor in Dartmouth’s Department of Government

 

Nachlis studies and teaches public policy, American politics, and law, focusing on health policy, regulation, and political institutions. His work is published in journals including JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, Studies in American Political Development, the Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, and Social Science & Medicine and public outlets including STAT, The Washington Post, and Health Affairs Forefront, and his media commentary on public health has appeared in outlets including Nature, Vox, and Newsweek.

 

In 2024, Nachlis was the Faculty Class Day Speaker for Dartmouth’s Class of 2024.  He has been an Academic Visitor at Nuffield College of the University of Oxford, his research has received the Robert C. Wood Paper Prize from the New England Political Science Association, and his teaching has received the George Kateb Prize from Princeton’s Department of Politics.  Before Dartmouth, he was an Assistant Professor of Government at Franklin & Marshall College and received his PhD and MA in Politics and Social Policy from Princeton University and BA in Political Science from Macalester College.

 

In the community he has served on the Hanover Finance Committee and on the Boards of Chavurat Ki-tov, the New England Political Science Association, and the Health Politics and Policy Section of the American Political Science Association. He lives in Hanover, NH with his wife, Julie Rose, daughter, Sarah, and dog, Fern.

 

“Granite United Way and its staff, partners, and volunteers support our state in so many extraordinary and essential ways.  It's an honor and privilege for me and for Dartmouth to be a part of such important efforts in our communities." said Herschel Nachlis.