NEWPORT

Board of Directors

Brooke "Buzz" Aker

Board Chair

Brooke Aker is a retired AI executive. He spent 35 years from the dawn of Data Science through to building and applying AI in a variety of industries. He is a patented inventor, team builder and noted author on the subject of analytics and intelligence.

Brooke has prior board experience with Loaves and Fishes and a member of Called to Care ministries. As an experienced sailor he has owned, operated and maintained several sailing vessels as well as raced the New England coast and to Bermuda.

Tracy Newell

Board Treasurer

Tracy has been an avid sailor since learning on a Sunfish at age ten, developing a lifelong appreciation for the water and hands-on experience with small-boat sailing. Recently retired from a successful career in information technology, Tracy now devotes more of his time to sailing and to volunteer service. He actively supports several mission-driven organizations, including Foster Parrots, a parrot sanctuary; Yellow Horse, a therapeutic equine program; and Save the Bay, which works to protect and restore Narragansett Bay.

Throughout his professional career, Tracy worked across the healthcare, retail, and manufacturing sectors, serving in a range of IT leadership and technical roles, including owning and operating his own company. He has also served on the boards of both professional associations and non-profit organizations, bringing experience in governance, strategic planning, and operational oversight.

Tracy lives in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, with his wife and their two adopted cats.

Lynn Fitzpatrick

Board Secretary

Lynn Fitzpatrick’s fondest memories of sailing in Newport Harbor date back to her college years when she would sail IC dinghies out of Fort Adams and later from a gravel parking lot on Thames Street – a time when the fleet would adjourn to The Candy Store where a big pot of chili was simmering and Five-O was waiting to serve up rum drinks and beer. She also remembers the last Cup races in Newport. Since then, she has sailed dinghies and big boats competitively on Narragansett Bay and all over the world. Lynn wrote about one-design sailing, long distance racing, Olympic and Paralympic sailing, and the America’s Cup. She has championed inclusion in the sport through her efforts with adaptive sailing, including America’s Cup aspirant teams featuring Para sailors.

Lynn’s return to New England, by sailboat, coincided with the launch of Sail Beyond Cancer Newport. A cancer survivor, Lynn, is eager to share the joy of sailing with other cancer navigators and their community.