Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees
Matt Brown
Matt Brown
Chair of the Executive Committee
Member of the Finance & Investment Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Nominating Committee
Matt Brown is the Founder, CEO, and Chairman of CAIS and has spent more than 30 years at the intersection of wealth management, alternative investments, and technology. In 2009, he founded the technology platform CAIS, the industry pioneer in democratizing alternative investments. Matt’s vision and leadership earned recognition in 2023, when he was named one of “The World’s Most Influential Decision Makers” by The Wall Street Journal.
Matt is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the City of New York, the nation’s first and largest city-dedicated museum. Founded in 1923, the Museum reflects the essence of New York City, where people from all walks of life come together to create, innovate, and pursue their aspirations. The Museum holds a 750,000-object collection representing the history and cultural patrimony of New York City. Today, through immersive experiences, exhibitions, and programming, the Museum celebrates, documents and interprets the past, present and future of New York City.
Matt believes in the "American Dream" and ensuring that anyone with a dream, and the drive to achieve it, has an equal opportunity to make it happen. Matt joined Endeavor in 2001, the leading non-profit organization establishing entrepreneurial ecosystems in over 40 countries. Matt served on Endeavor’s Global Board of Directors and supported entrepreneurs in Latin America, Africa, Middle East, and United States.
Matt earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary's College of California in 1991 and started his career at Shearson Lehman Brothers as a financial advisor. Matt is married to his wife of 22 years and the proud father of four.
Stephanie Hill Wilchfort
Stephanie Hill Wilchfort
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Finance & Investment Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Nominating Committee
Member of the Collections Committee
Member of the Development Committee
Member of the Marketing and Communications Committee
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Member of the Real Estate & Building Committee
Stephanie Hill Wilchfort was appointed Ronay Menschel Director and President of the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) in August 2023. Founded in 1923 as the nation’s first city museum, MCNY serves more than 200,000 people annually through exhibitions and programs that explore the people, places, and ideas that shape New York City. Under Stephanie’s leadership, the Museum has opened eight new exhibitions and launched new free-admission initiatives, driving a 25% increase in visitation.
Stephanie also serves as Chair of the Cultural Institutions Group of the City of New York (CIG), a coalition of 39 organizations across the five boroughs that have formal commitments with the City to provide free and low-cost cultural access, activate city-owned real estate, and support municipal labor and other union jobs. CIG institutions range from major cultural anchors such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Lincoln Center to community-based organizations including Queens Theatre and Staten Island Museum, as well as all of the city’s botanical gardens and zoos.
Previously, Stephanie served as President & CEO of Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM). During her tenure, BCM achieved a 30% increase in visitation, raised $45 million in capital support, and completed four major capital projects. Following the pandemic-related closure, she led the Museum’s reopening in September 2020, welcoming thousands of visitors back for in-person experiences and opening the Museum’s second floor as a vaccination site in partnership with the NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, serving more than 40,000 children and adults.
Stephanie has also held senior leadership roles at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum; Sesame Workshop; New York Public Radio/WNYC; and New York Public Media/WNET. She holds a BA from Binghamton University (SUNY), an MPA in Economic Policy from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
William C. Vrattos
William C. Vrattos
Vice Chair, Immediate Past Chair of the Executive Committee
Bill is a partner at York Capital Management and is its Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner. He previously worked at Georgica Advisors LLC as a Portfolio Manager and at Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc. as an investment banker. He is also a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School. He currently serves as the lead independent director of NextDecade Corporation (Ticker: NEXT), as well as on the board of Saddle Butte Partners III. He serves on the advisory boards of Catalio Structured Opportunities Fund, India 2020 Fund II Limited, and Collaborative Capital Advisors.
In addition to the Museum of the City of New York, he is a trustee of Groton School. He is an honorary trustee and former board president of the Buckley School and a former member of the investment committee of the Dartmouth College Endowment. Bill received a B.A. in English, cum laude, from Dartmouth College, and an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
Robert Jeffe
Robert Jeffe
Vice Chair of the Executive Committee
Member of the Finance & Investment Committee
Member of the Nominating Committee
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Bob is a Senior Operating Partner at BlackWatch, which provides strategic and financial advisory services to growth-stage companies focused on financial services, cleantech, and new technology. He also serves as a Director of the Associated Bank; as Trustee for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; as Chairman of the Global Institute for Gigaton Removal (GIGR), a Stanford University affiliated group dedicated to carbon sequestration; and as Chairman of the Central American Healthcare Initiative (CAHI), a senior fellowship program for leading healthcare professionals in Central America.
Bob has 35 years of investment banking experience, principally at Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, where he served as Global Head of Natural Resources and Energy at both firms, and Co-Head of Global Corporate Finance at Morgan Stanley. Formerly, he was Senior Vice President of Corporate Business Development of General Electric and Co-Chairman and Co-Founder of Hawkwood Energy.
A graduate of Dartmouth College, A.B. in Economics, and Stanford University, M.B.A., Bob and his wife, Elizabeth, have two adult children and four grandchildren.
Ronay Menschel
Ronay Menschel
Vice Chair of the Executive Committee
Co-Chair of the Collections Committee
Member of the Finance & Investment Committee
Member of the Nominating Committee
Member of the Development Committee
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Stephen J. Ketchum
Stephen J. Ketchum
Vice Chair of the Executive Committee
Member of the Audit Committee
Stephen Ketchum is the Founder, CEO, and CIO of Sound Point Capital Management, LP, overseeing the firm’s investments across all fund offerings. A veteran with over 35 years' experience in the credit markets, Stephen founded Sound Point in 2008. Previously, he was Global Head of Media & Telecom Investment and Corporate Banking for Bank of America Securities (BofA), where he was a member of the Global Investment Banking Leadership Team. Prior to joining BofA, he was a Managing Director at UBS in the TMT Investment Banking Group. From 1990 to 2000, he was employed in the Investment Banking Department of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, most recently as a Managing Director. Stephen is on the Board of Trustees of the New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund, CitySquash, and St. George’s School. Stephen earned his B.A. from New England College, magna cum laude, and his M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School.
Antonio Farnos
Antonio Farnos
Treasurer of the Executive Committee
Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee
Member of the Development Committee
Antonio Farnos is the President and Chief Investment Officer of MA Strategies, an investment advisory firm based in New York City. He brings extensive financial knowledge and investment experience to the board. Originally from Valencia, Spain, Antonio began his career in NYC as a financial analyst and eventually as a portfolio manager at Banco Exterior Argentaria and later moved to institutional equity sales and research at Credit Suisse First Boston. He holds a BA in Economics and Business Administration from Universidad de Valencia in Spain, a Master of Science in Finance degree from Loyola College, and a Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Leah C. Johnson
Leah C. Johnson
Secretary of the Executive Committee
Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee
Leah C. Johnson is an experienced communications strategist and entrepreneur who has worked successfully across industries to influence outcomes and lead change. Currently the Executive Vice President, Chief Communications, Marketing & Advocacy Officer at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Chair of the Trust for Cultural Resources of the City of New York, she has led teams and advised Fortune 250 CEOs, nonprofits, and high-level political campaigns on how to define and promote brand value while navigating complex, challenging environments.
At Lincoln Center, she leads efforts to advance public access and support for the arts by integrating the story of Lincoln Center both on and off its campus. Since 2019, she has played a crucial role in expanding audiences and helping Lincoln Center become a more inviting institution for all New Yorkers, including implementing a Choose-What-You-Pay ticketing model, centering deep community engagement practices, and spearheading the participatory planning and design process to reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue side of Lincoln Center’s campus into a more welcoming space that better serves close neighbors and all New Yorkers. Johnson holds a B.A. in psychology from Harvard College. A Brooklyn native, Leah makes her home in East Harlem with her husband and daughter.
Elizabeth K. Belfer
Elizabeth K. Belfer
Chair of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Collections Committee
Nicholas Bienstock
Nicholas Bienstock
Chair of the Real Estate & Building Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Nick Bienstock is a Co-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Savanna, a real estate private equity firm. Prior to founding Savanna in 1998, Nick worked at Capital Trust, Inc. and for Chemical Bank’s Real Estate Investment Banking Group. He serves as an Assistant Adjunct Professor at Columbia University where he teaches case studies in Real Estate Finance to graduate students in the Columbia Architecture School’s Real Estate Master’s Degree Program (MSRED) and at the Columbia Business School. He also serves on the Advisory Board of The Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate at The Columbia Business School and on the Advisory Board of the MSRED program at the Architecture School. Nick received his MBA from the Columbia Business School, his MS in Real Estate Development from the Columbia School of Architecture, and his BA from Harvard College. Nick serves on the Board of Trustees of the Dutchess Land Conservancy, a land preservation organization, and on the Board of Trustees of StreetSquash, a Harlem based youth enrichment program.
Chris Brown
Chris Brown
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Christopher Brown was the founder of Global Emerging Markets North America, Inc. Today, through GEM Global Yield LLC, he oversees the New York, Paris, and Bahamas offices managing private placements on a global basis. He was on the Board of Directors of Bahrain-based VC Bank and co-sponsor of the GEM MENA Fund (2006-2009). In addition, he was Chairman of the CITIC-GEM Fund (2006-2013) and a co-founder of Kinderhook Industries, where he was a non-voting General Partner and is currently a Limited Partner. He served on the Board of Directors and was the Co-Chairman of L’Officiel USA. He is currently Chairman of The Catholic Herald and Chairman of Willard Marine. He is on the Board of Trustees at the Aspen Art Museum. He began his career with Drexel Burnham Lambert in Sales & Trading in 1985. He later joined Smith Barney as an Investment Advisor from 1986 to 1988 and Shearson Lehman Brothers from 1988 to 1993. Mr. Brown attended UCLA.
Ed Burns
Ed Burns
Edward Burns has made 15 feature films, created two television series, and has starred in many films, most notably Saving Private Ryan. His latest film as a writer-director-actor, The Family McMullen, is a sequel to Burns’ first film The Brothers McMullen, which premiered in competition at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, winning the Grand Jury prize. The Family McMullen premiered on HBO Max this past December. His previous film, Millers in Marriage, had its World Premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival before being released by Paramount Pictures.
Edward Burns published his first novel, A Kid from Marlboro Road, in 2024. His second novel, The Marlboro Road Gang (Seven Stories Press), the second installment in the Marlboro Road trilogy, will be published in 2026. Ed Burns was born in Woodside, Queens, and raised on Long Island. He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.
Sharon Chang
Sharon Chang
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Sharon Chang is a Partner and Talent Agent in William Morris Endeavor’s (WME) Non-scripted TV department and Broadcast group. She represents, manages, and develops a top-tier and diverse roster of news, sports, and lifestyle on-air talent, including anchors, correspondents, contributors, and host personalities in broadcast, cable, streaming, and digital. She also represents high-level production companies and has packaged shows across various platforms. Chang’s career was launched at CBS Sports, where she served as head of Talent and Production Planning, before joining IMG’s broadcasting group as a Talent Agent. She transitioned to WME’s non-scripted department after the agency acquired IMG in 2015. Sharon is also actively involved in several Endeavor/WME corporate initiatives, including WME’s Development Committee Leadership, WME Empower Leadership, and a special WME Non-Scripted TV Toastmasters Corporate Club. Sharon is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and is a Trustee of her alma mater, Vassar College. She currently resides in New Jersey with her family.
Cynthia Foster Curry
Cynthia Foster Curry
Chair of the Development Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Cynthia is a leader in the commercial real estate industry. In both 2015 and 2008, Cynthia was named one of Real Estate Forum's "Most Influential Women in Real Estate."
Cynthia was the Chief Revenue Officer of the start-up Lex, the first marketplace for trading alternatives (until 2022). Cynthia was President of U.S. Office brokerage at Colliers International (2015-2020). At Cushman & Wakefield, Cynthia was on the Global Leadership Team and a transaction leader with over $12 billion in sales and 20 million square feet of leasing. After receiving an MBA at Harvard University, she joined Lazard in their real estate investment banking group.
Cynthia is an Independent Director at Inpoint, a mortgage REIT founded by Sound Point, Avison Young, a global real estate company, and SITE Centers (SITC), a publicly traded REIT. Cynthia has served as a ULI Trustee.
Cynthia is on the Board of Trustees of the Hospital for Special Surgery and the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY). In 2022, she received MCNY’s Chairman’s Leadership Award. She has been honored by Northside Center NYC (2017), NewYork-Presbyterian Hudson Valley Hospital (2014), and the Westchester Children’s Museum (2012).
Walter Deane
Walter Deane
Member of the Collections Committee
Walter Deane is the president of Longstreet Associates, a commercial real estate firm specializing in leasing retail and office space and consulting on development sites. He has previously served on the boards of the Parks Council, The Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club, The National Hypertension Association, Trees New York, and the Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts. Walter was active for many years on the Museum of the City of New York’s Director's Council, was a founding member of what became the Apollo Circle at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and was an early member of what is now known as the Young Patron's Council at the Museum of Modern Art. He currently serves on The New York Landmarks Conservancy Advisory Council, is a Trustee of Saint Andrews’s Dune Church in Southampton, and is the Treasurer of the Southampton Association. He is an eighth-generation New Yorker and attended the Lenox and Trinity Schools, then received his BA at Duke University, followed by an MPA at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Todd DeGarmo
Todd DeGarmo
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Member of the Real Estate & Building Committee
Todd DeGarmo joined the Washington, DC, office of STUDIOS Architecture in 1989, founded the firm's New York office in 1995, and in 2005, became the firm's CEO. Todd is a member of the Partnership for New York City and is on the Board of the New York Restoration Project. Todd earned his degree in architecture from the University of Cincinnati where he served as a Foundation Trustee. In 2023, Todd was awarded the university's highest honor, the William Howard Taft Medal for Notable Achievement. He is both a Fellow in The American Institute of Architects and a member of the Interior Design Hall of Fame. Notable projects include the Headquarters for Bloomberg, Coach, Sony, Dow Jones/ Wall Street Journal, Skadden and JPMorgan.
Alexander Farman-Farmaian
Alexander Farman-Farmaian
Chair of the Nominating Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Development Committee
Member of the Real Estate & Building Committee
Alex Farman-Farmaian is a Partner and a member of the Investment Committee at Edgewood Management. He produces Economents, an economic and financial markets update. Prior to Edgewood, Alex was a senior member of the Portfolio Management team at W.P. Stewart & Co. for 19 years and chaired the Investment Oversight Committee. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, the World Presidents’ Organization, and Chief Executives Organization. Alex serves on the Board of CollegeSpring and on the Wikimedia Endowment Board. He is a member of the Economics Club of New York and is on the board of Kalinat S.A. Alex speaks fluent French, Spanish, and conversational Farsi and Italian and graduated with a BA from Princeton University.
Brian Feurtado
Brian Feurtado
Co-Chair of the Development Committee
Brian Feurtado is a Partner in Client and Product Solutions at Apollo and is responsible for leading Apollo’s Family Office, Foundations, and Endowment practices. Before joining Apollo in 2022, Brian was a member of the BlackRock Institutional Executive Committee and BlackRock’s Global Client Council, where he led BlackRock’s Family Office, Foundation, Endowment, and Healthcare practices.
Prior to BlackRock, Brian was a Portfolio Manager at Offit Hall Capital, a Product Manager at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, and an Advisor in the Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Group. He began his career at J.P. Morgan Investment Management, where he covered institutional client relationships in Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Brian holds a BBS from the University of Technology Sydney and a Master of Commerce from the University of New South Wales.
Elba Galvan
Elba Galvan
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Robert Goldstein
Robert Goldstein
Member of the Finance & Investment Committee
Stephanie Hessler
Stephanie Hessler
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Stephanie Hessler is an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute. She writes on constitutional law, national security law, counter terrorism law, and judicial nominations. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including The Weekly Standard, The Washington Times, the Washington Examiner, City Journal, National Review Online, and Townhall.com. She has also testified before the United States Congress on counterterrorism policy.
Prior to joining the Manhattan Institute, Hessler served as a constitutional lawyer for the Senate Judiciary Committee. She drafted and negotiated legislation and advised on a wide range of topics including terrorist surveillance, domestic wiretapping, Guantanamo detainees, habeas corpus, presidential signing statements, abortion, voting rights, and eminent domain. She also served on the legal team that counseled on the nomination of Justice Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court.
Before joining the staff of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hessler practiced international arbitration at a private law firm in New York City. After graduating from law school, Hessler clerked for Chief Judge Boyce F. Martin, Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Hessler received her B.A. in English literature from Kenyon College and her J.D. from New York University School of Law. She lives in New York City.
James C. Horton
James C. Horton
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
James C. Horton is the President & CEO of the Harlem School of the Arts. He has over two decades of experience teaching communities all over the country to use the arts as a tool for engagement and empowerment. James joined HSA after serving as the Vice President of Education and Engagement at the Museum of the City of New York. He has also held leadership positions at Carnegie Hall, the National Guild for Community Arts Education, and the Harlem Children’s Zone. James studied Theater and Communications at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He participated in the Shannon Leadership Institute at St. Paul University in Minnesota and is a graduate of Columbia Business School’s Institute for Not-for-Profit Management. He is the recipient of several national awards and has been an invited keynote speaker and presenter at both global and national conferences focused on education, arts, culture, and community engagement. James is a longtime Harlem resident, where he makes his home with his partner and four children.
Suzanne Karr
Suzanne Karr
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Collections Committee
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Suzanne Karr is the co-founder of The Hollyhock Foundation. Prior to Hollyhock, she worked at the Harvard Art Museums and for Sotheby’s New York and Tokyo. Suzanne is a former trustee of several charter and independent schools. She graduated from Tufts University, Williams College, and Harvard Business School. Suzanne lives in New York City with her husband, Bob Karr; they have two grown sons.
Stanford G. Ladner
Stanford G. Ladner
Member of the Audit Committee
Member of the Collections Committee
Naml Lewis
Naml Lewis
Chair of the Audit Committee
Co-Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Development Committee
Naml Lewis is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley and serves as the Global Head of Client Planning and Analytics within the Institutional Equity Division, where he focuses on client strategy and firmwide engagement with the global institutional client base. In this role, he partners closely with senior stakeholders across the franchise to drive strategic planning, analytics, and client-centric decision-making. Previously, Naml led Morgan Stanley’s Americas Pension, Endowment, Foundations, and MultiAsset business and held senior roles across equity distribution. He joined Morgan Stanley in 2010 after beginning his career at UBS in 2000 within the Institutional Equity Division. Naml graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Museum of the City of New York and St. Benedict’s Preparatory School in Newark, New Jersey.
Jennifer Marrus
Jennifer Marrus
Member of the Collections Committee
Member of the Marketing and Communications Committee
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Jennifer K. Marrus leads and advises growing non-profit organizations on board building, board diversification, organizational development, and fundraising strategies. Jennifer is a former Vice President of Marketing at American Express, was Operations Manager for a manufacturing company, and worked in Economic Development for the City of New York. Jennifer has been a long-time champion for investing in education in underserved communities, believing that it creates opportunities for all. She was a founding member of the Jumpstart’s Tri-State Local Advisory Board over 30 years ago, serving as its chair for a decade, and has served on its national board for the past 20 years. Jennifer co-founded a mentorship program for Dartmouth graduates to help them build their networks as they launch social impact careers. She holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. in Psychology from Dartmouth. A native New Yorker, Jen was a regular visitor to MCNY growing up. As a child, she visited with her grandmother to see the Museum’s dioramas and the Stettheimer Dollhouse. Jen lives with her husband and two sons in New York City and enjoys collecting street photography, especially images featuring New York City and her Tribeca neighborhood.
Jane B. O'Connell
Jane B. O'Connell
Member of the Finance & Investment Committee
Jane is Honorary Chair of the Altman Foundation. She was elected to the Board of the Altman Foundation in 1978. In addition to serving as Board Chair, Jane was President from 1995 to 2018. Previously, she was Director of Development and Administrative Services at an independent girls’ school from 1976 to 1998. She began her professional career teaching English in a New York City public high school. Jane has consulted for non-profit organizations in the areas of fundraising, strategic planning, and board development. From 2000 to 2012, she was a senior consultant with Washburn Carmichael in addition to maintaining a client base of her own. She is a trustee of the Lavelle Fund for the Blind, the Partnership for Inner-City Education, and the Commonweal Foundation. She has served on the Boards of Philanthropy New York and Morgan Stanley GIFT, NYCON and Governance Matters. A graduate of Manhattanville College, Jane received her M.A. in Education from New York University School of Education (now NYU Steinhardt).
Tracey Pontarelli
Tracey Pontarelli
Co-Chair of the Marketing and Communications Committee
Tracey Pontarelli is a holistic wellness and mindset coach, writer, and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of health, human potential, and building purposeful businesses. Tracey's work spans an established coaching and wellness practice—with specialized training in wellness coaching, functional and immune health, group and personal fitness, and energy healing—and an accomplished career in marketing and public relations, where she has helped health and wellness brands build meaningful connections with their audiences. She has also coached and mentored entrepreneurs in developing magnetic personal brands and authentic social media marketing programs. A longtime and passionate New Yorker, Tracey believes deeply in the power of culture and the arts to expand how we see ourselves and the world around us. She lives on the Upper East Side with her husband and three children.
Jennifer Prosek
Jennifer Prosek
Co-Chair of the Nominating Committee
Member of the Marketing and Communications Committee
Jennifer is the Founder and Managing Partner of Prosek Partners, a leading integrated marketing and communications firm with offices across the United States, and London, Abu Dhabi, and Cape Town. The firm was named the best financial communications and marketing firm by PRovoke Media in 2023. Jennifer was also listed personally on The Wall Street Journal’s “Most Influential Decision Makers” list in 2023, 2024, and 2025. She is the author of two books and a frequent public speaker. Jennifer is on the board of the Mount Sinai Health System. She is the Co-President of the Columbia Business School Women’s Circle and sits on the advisory board of Columbia Business School’s Private Equity Program, Signal AI, and iConnections. She is a venture investor in a number of communications technology platforms, including Qwoted. Jennifer received her MBA from Columbia University and a B.A. in English Literature from Miami University.
Lisa Roberts
Lisa Roberts
Member of the Finance & Investment Committee
Lisa is Head of Wealth Management for Wilmington Trust, where she leads a team of experienced professionals who provide comprehensive wealth management advice across the areas of wealth planning, investment management, trust and estate services, private banking, and family office solutions. Lisa joined Wilmington Trust as Head of U.S. Markets in 2023. Prior to joining Wilmington Trust, Lisa worked for Union Bank where she served as Head of Community Banking and Head of Private Wealth Management. Overall, Lisa has over 30 years of financial service experience, including leadership positions with Citi Private Bank, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo Private Bank. During her time in California, Lisa was named one of the Area’s “Most Influential Women in Business” by the San Francisco Business Times in 2015, 2018, and 2019. Lisa holds an MBA from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Indiana University Bloomington.
Valerie Rowe
Valerie Rowe
Member of the Exhibitions & Programs Committee
Valerie Rowe, a reading specialist, began her career teaching learning disabled and dyslexic students in elementary and middle school. From 1999–2009 she directed the Master of Science in Teaching Childhood program at Fordham University School of Education teaching Graduate Students embarking on careers as elementary school teachers.
Valerie currently serves on the Boards of Directors of: Dancing Dreams, a program that provides dance classes to children with physical disabilities; Overcoming Obstacles, which provides teachers with a life skills curriculum for students grades K-12; and Student Sponsor Partners (SSP), which provides scholarships and mentoring to academically and financially at-risk students through their high school years.
David Santoriello
David Santoriello
Member of the Development Committee
Member of the Real Estate & Building Committee
David is a Managing Director, Deputy Head of Private Wealth Americas within the Investor Partners Group at Golub Capital. He is responsible for supporting Golub Capital’s distribution, marketing, and client service activities in the private wealth channel in North and South America. Prior to joining Golub Capital, David was a Director in the Product Development and Management group at Guggenheim Partners. Prior to this position, he worked at OpenArc Asset Management as a Senior Analyst and in Guggenheim Partners’ Strategic Initiatives group, focusing on strategic projects, business development, and fundraising. David earned his BBA, with distinction, from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan. He received an MBA, with distinction, from the NYU Stern School of Business. He is a CFA® Charterholder and has earned the right to use the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation.
Michael Schmidtberger
Michael Schmidtberger
Mike Schmidtberger is the Chairman of Norm Law, Partner, and Head of Investment Funds and Regulatory. Prior to joining Norm Law, Mike was Chair of the Executive Committee at Sidley Austin LLP. He served on the Executive Committee from 2002–April 2025, chairing the committee starting in 2018. He also served on the firm’s Management Committee from 2008–April 2025. Mike’s principal areas of practice are securities and futures-related funds and corporate transactions, including related regulatory matters.
Mike has been ranked by Chambers Global in Hedge Funds as a Band 1 lawyer from 2013–2018 and as an Eminent Practitioner from 2019–2025. He was recognized by Chambers USA as a Band 1 lawyer in the same category from 2010–2017 and as an Eminent Practitioner 2018–2025.
Mike is a graduate of Columbia Law School and holds a BA from Columbia College. He serves as the Chair of the Columbia College Board of Visitors, a Representative to the Partnership for New York City, a Trustee of the Citizen’s Budget Commission, and a Trustee of Phillips Exeter Academy. He previously served as a Co-Chair and Member of the Board of Directors of United Way of New York City.
Judah Schulman
Judah Schulman
Member of the Development Committee
Judah Schulman is a Managing Director on the Alternatives Investment group at CAIS. Prior to joining CAIS, Judah worked in New York City for Morgan Stanley and UBS in their Wealth Management Divisions. As a Director and Product Specialist, Judah co-heads the Fund Sales team at CAIS and oversees the ongoing management and new businesses development across the firm’s wealth management clients. Judah holds a BS from Yeshiva University.
Daryl B. Uber
Daryl B. Uber
Chair of the Collections Committee
Member of the Executive Committee
Member of the Real Estate & Building Committee
Daryl B. Uber is a philanthropist and former educator, with a focus on education, the arts, domestic violence prevention, and community development. As President and Chairman of the William E. Weiss Foundation, she leads a grantmaking program that supports a wide range of nonprofits, including a number of major US museums. As a former educator, Daryl has held leadership teaching roles at the Churchill School and Center for Learning Disabilities in New York City, and in the Boston School System, as well as Trusteeships at a number of educational institutions, including Miss Porter's School, the Rumsey Hall School, and the Beaverbrook Center for disabled adults in Boston. Daryl holds a BA from Boston University School of Education with state certifications. She was born and raised in New York City and resides in Manhattan with her husband.
Nicole Washington
Nicole Washington
Member of the Nominating Committee
Nicole Washington is a senior partner in the Investment Funds Group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Nicole advises private equity firms on the formation and operation of investment funds, as well as on the organization, structure, and operation of their management companies. Her experience spans the entire range of investment fund activity, including product and strategy expansion, fund restructurings, continuation fund transactions, co-investment programs, investment warehousing, seed capital and anchor investor arrangements, cross-fund transactions, SPV formation and operation, investor defaults, strategic GP-level transactions, succession planning and personnel management, investor relations and PR/crisis-management issues, regulatory compliance, conflicts issues, and general corporate counseling.
Nicole is a member of several committees at Kirkland & Ellis, notably serving as the Vice Chair of the Billing and Collections Committee and as a Co-Chair of the Transactional Associate Review Committee. Nicole serves on the board of directors of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (where she is a Vice Chair), the Museum of the City of New York, New Alternatives for Children, and Just the Beginning.
Ex Officio Members
The Honorable Zohran K. Mamdani, Mayor, City of New York
The Honorable Mark Levine, Comptroller, City of New York
The Honorable Jumaane D. Williams, Public Advocate, City of New York
The Honorable Julie Menin, Speaker of the New York City Council
The Honorable Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Manhattan Borough President
The Honorable Dr. Nantasha Williams, Deputy Speaker of the New York City Council
The Honorable Antonio Reynoso, Brooklyn Borough President
The Honorable Donovan Richards, Jr., Queens Borough President
The Honorable Vito J. Fossella, Staten Island Borough President
The Honorable Diya Vij, Commissioner of the Department of Cultural Affairs
The Honorable Kamar H. Samuels, Chancellor of New York City Public Schools
The Honorable Tricia Shimamura, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Board Emeriti
Mrs. William T. Comfort
James G. Dinan
Barbara Fife
Leslie Godridge
Lorna B. Goodman
Susan Henshaw Jones
Newton P.S. Merrill
Bruno A. Quinson
Elizabeth Farran Tozer
In Memoriam
Jeremy Biggs
David Clapp
Marvin Davidson
