Heather Murray, Chair
Heather Murray is the Managing Attorney of the Local Journalism Project at Cornell Law School’s First Amendment Clinic. In addition to co-teaching the clinic, she represents local media organizations and individual journalists in litigation involving freedom of information, access to court proceedings, libel and other newsgathering and First Amendment matters. She previously was a litigation associate in the New York offices of two international law firms. While there, she co-founded a housing clinic aiming to keep low-income women from being evicted and represented pro bono clients seeking asylum. Prior to her legal career, she worked as a local journalist for newspapers in Westchester and New York City. She is a graduate of Cornell Law School and of Duke University. She joined the Forestdale Board in 2017 to make a long-term commitment to helping improve the prospects of disadvantaged children in New York City.
Chip Smith, Vice Chair
Chip Smith joined the Forestdale Board because he learned about the outstanding work Forestdale does right in his Forest Hills community backyard and wanted to be a part of it. He brings to the Board work experience in general business and entrepreneurship from his experience founding and running Restoration Medical for 15 years before its 2019 sale to Adapt Health. He studied pre-law and business and has a BA from Fordham and an MBA from the Stern School of Business (NYU). His Board and volunteer experience have included Executive Committee and Board service at The West Side Tennis Club, Forest Hills Men’s Club, and volunteering with City Harvest. He was born and raised in Wilkes-Barre, PA, before attending Fordham University, where he met his wife, Ivona. He has lived in Forest Hills for the past 20+ years and has two sons, Ian and Christian.
Jared Averbuch, Treasurer
Jared Averbuch joined the Forestdale Board in 2017. Jared is passionate about Forestdale’s commitment to the well-being of children and supporting families when they need it the most. Jared is a Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Securities, the global investment banking arm of Guggenheim Partners, representing companies across the energy value chain. He graduated from the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School. Jared currently resides in New York City with his wife and two daughters.
Elsa Gigante, Secretary
Elsa Gigante joined the Forestdale board in 2020. Elsa is passionate about Forestdale’s mission of keeping families together, providing resources to heal intergenerational trauma, and breaking the cycle of urban poverty. Elsa brings experience and expertise to the board from a 10-year career in finance at Citi, specializing in credit risk analysis and the structuring of various fixed-income products. Prior to the Pandemic, Elsa volunteered in programs to develop the financial literacy of underprivileged students in the Bronx.
Sheryl Kurtis, Executive Committee Member at Large
Sheryl Kurtis is an entrepreneur and founder of Kurtis Consulting LLC, which helps professionals accelerate their leadership journey through executive coaching. Before starting her firm, Sheryl spent 30+ years in executive-level roles at UBS, Barclays, and Wells Fargo, where she led the implementation of strategic initiatives in technology, front-office risk and control, and regulatory remediation. Sheryl brings to the Board work experience in change management, business management, operations, and strategy development. Sheryl received her B.A. in Economics and MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. Sheryl’s desire to help children have a brighter future brought her to Forestdale Inc.’s Board. She is inspired by Foresdale’s focus on assisting families to have the fundamental assets to thrive and live independently. Sheryl lives in New York City with her husband and three children.
Danna Wei, Executive Committee Member at Large
Danna Wei is the Director of Corporate Finance for Privia Health, a national physician practice management and population health technology company. Prior to joining Privia, she was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, covering healthcare clients in the investment banking division. Danna received her MBA from Harvard Business School and Bachelor of Science from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Greg Babeendran
Greg Babeendran is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s Banking and Capital Markets practice. He has over 20 years of consulting experience with Deloitte and has assisted Fortune 500 companies in addressing strategy, operations, and technology challenges. Greg has an MBA from Columbia University and a BS from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is passionate about supporting children through education; in addition to his board member role at Forestdale, he has started a youth mentoring program called Game Changers – aimed at helping high school and college students identify and develop ways to differentiate themselves.
Jessica Baquet
Jessica Baquet is an attorney and a partner at Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C. For nearly fifteen years, she has devoted her practice to representing clients in contested proceedings concerning trusts and estates, complex commercial disputes, and labor and employment matters. She is a graduate of New York University and St. John’s University School of Law and received academic scholarships at both institutions. Jessica joined the Forestdale board in 2023 to further her commitment to helping children and families in need.
Melissa Basu Gordon
Melissa Basu Gordon joined the Forestdale Board to work with local children and families with a specific interest in childhood development and special education. She has worked in various marketing, operations, and management roles in financial services, most recently as VP/GM Prepaid at American Express. She holds a B.S. from New York University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Melissa lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
Jenee Benjamin
Jenee Benjamin joined the Forestdale Board in 2022 to help with the mission of serving children and families in New York. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, and enjoys spending her time mentoring young adults who are interested in STEM. Jenee graduated from Columbia University with a B.S. in Computer Science and Boston University with her M.S. in Software Development. She is currently a Senior Software Developer at Amazon Web Services, where she spends her time building scalable solutions for customers interested in data analytics.
Joseph Blatt
Joseph is a partner at Forvis LLP and serves clients in multiple industries, including nonprofit, government, and health care. Joseph is the firm’s New York Nonprofit industry leader and heads the firm’s private school practice. He has over 30 years of experience working on audits and consulting projects for nonprofit clients, including private schools, social service organizations, foundations, nursing facilities, clinics, and other nonprofit organizations. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA), and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). He previously served on the New York State Association for Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Providers’ finance committee and is currently a member of the NYSSCPA’s not-for-profit committee and the NJCPA’s not-for-profit interest group. He is a graduate of Queens College, New York.
Alan Cherian
Alan Cherian is a Director at Chappuis Halder, a global Management Consulting firm. He has over 11 years of experience in Financial Services and Management Consulting. He has helped some of the largest Financial Institutions in the world in driving their strategic initiatives, re-designing their business models, and transforming their products/processes. Alan has an MBA from Columbia University and a BS in Industrial Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Alan was born and raised in Queens, NY, and values Forestdale's impact on the community he grew up in. He resides with his wife and daughter in East Williston, NY.
Janice Desir
Janice Desir is a community nephrologist who has been practicing in the Bronx for over ten years. She holds a B.S. from Cornell University, an MPH from Boston University School of Public Health, and an M.D. from Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine. She is involved in clinical practice, community work, and medical education. Dr. Desir joined the Forestdale board because of a desire to support our mission of advocating to keep children and families together.
Hilary C. Feshbach
Hilary Feshbach has been a Board member since 2015 and has been the co-chair for the annual Gala for the past years. A graduate of Tulane University and with an MSW from Columbia, she is currently a managing partner for Algin Management Co. Llc. In addition to supporting Forestdale’s Scholars program, Hilary is on the board of the Public Theater.
Kim Gibson
Kim Gibson joined the Board of Forestdale in 2019. She is the Global Head of Risk Management and Independence for Grant Thornton International Ltd. and a partner with Grant Thornton LLP in the US. Kim is responsible for providing policy, guidance, and training relating to independence matters and risk issues impacting the GTIL network. She also participates on the GTIL Board of Governors’ Enterprise Risk Management Committee and the GTIL Risk Management Committee. She is also a member of the global crisis management team. Kim is a member of the International Ethics Standards for Accountants Board (IESBA) and is a Certified Public Accountant. Kim lives in NYC with her children.
Mohit Gupta
Mohit has a career that combines building and managing large PNLs, transforming businesses, venture building, advising, and investing. He has built two studios and several products spanning food, agriculture, HR, mobility, water, gig economy, and mobility spaces. Mohit spent 15 years at Cargill as a commodities trader and a manufacturing operator and developed an understanding of global supply chains and sustainability issues. Today, with One Step consulting, he is helping companies with their sustainability and growth journey.
Throughout his career, Mohit has worked with people in low-income areas worldwide and is deeply passionate about contributing to a better future. He believes in helping children today for a better world tomorrow.
Alexander Harvey
Alexander is a Senior Manager at FORVIS, LLP, who serves public company clients in the technology, telecommunications, media, and life sciences industries. He also has experience performing audits of governmental and nonprofit entities, including social service organizations, hospitals, independent schools, and religious organizations. Alexander is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. A Manhattan native, Alexander received his MBA and Bachelor of Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He joined the Forestdale Board in 2023 to further its mission of improving the lives of children and families, having witnessed firsthand the positive impact Forestdale has on the community.
LaToya Jordan
LaToya Jordan joined the Forestdale Board in 2021. She is a writer at the New York City Housing Authority, where she helps tell the stories of the residents, employees, programs, and policies of North America's largest public housing authority. LaToya has 15+ years of experience in internal and external communications in the non-profit, higher education, and government sectors. She is also a published poet, fiction writer, and essayist. She holds a BS in public relations and journalism from Utica College and an MFA in creative writing from Antioch University Los Angeles. LaToya is passionate about volunteering with organizations serving young New Yorkers, previously mentoring teen girls at Unlocking Futures and Girls Write Now. She is a foster parent and lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two children.
Puja Khare
Puja Khare joined the Forestdale Board because she values its mission of helping families in crisis. She brings to the Board work experience in healthcare from her years as a healthcare attorney and advocate for government and private organizations. She has also spent her free time tutoring and mentoring children and young adults. She has a BS in Statistics from Penn State and a law degree from the Dickinson School of Law. Her Board and volunteer experience have included various mentoring programs, a non-profit organization in Pennsylvania that assisted clients and families with intellectual disabilities, and Forestdale. She also participates in several programs around the city.
Jennifer Kumar
Jennifer "Jen" Kumar is a Senior Client and Market Growth Manager at Deloitte, based out of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Manhattan. In her current role, Jen focuses on expanding Deloitte's footprint in the marketplace with new and existing clients, focusing on deal strategy and risk evaluation/reduction. Jen also serves as a leader in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion space at Deloitte, focusing on the hiring and retention of diverse talent.
Originally from New Rochelle, NY, Jen attended the University of South Carolina-Columbia, where she completed her undergraduate studies in Finance and Economics. Immediately after completing her bachelor's, Jen attended the University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law, where she completed her JD.
Susana Lee
Susana Lee is a Vice President of Artificial Intelligence Strategy at JPMorgan Chase, where she has held several roles focused on business transformation. Before, she was a Manager in Grant Thornton’s Business Advisory practice, specializing in strategy and operations consulting for the nonprofit industry. She started her career as a program manager at a nonprofit organization. She joined the Forestdale board to support the organization’s mission of building strong, stable families in New York City. Susana holds an MBA from the Yale School of Management and a BA in Politics from New York University. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her husband and son.
Siobhain Minarovich
Siobhain Minarovich joined the Forestdale Board in 2021 to support children and families in Queens and Brooklyn, where she grew up. Siobhain is an attorney with the law firm White and Williams LLP, where she concentrates her practice on insurance coverage litigation and related counseling. She received her JD from Fordham Law School, a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Court Administration, and a BS in Government, both from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Siobhain also sits on the Board of a non-profit based out of Long Island (her current residence), which provides residential programs, day programs, and other services to individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
Tara O’Neil
Tara O'Neil serves as Senior Director, Investor Relations at Breakthrough Properties. Ms. O'Neil directs and manages investor relations and communications with the firm's partners. Before joining Breakthrough, Ms. O'Neil was a Vice President within BlackRock Real Assets, responsible for product strategy and investor relations for BlackRock's US real estate private equity business. Ms. O'Neil previously worked in Investor Relations at The Carlyle Group and was a BlackRock's Global Consultant Relations group member. Ms. O'Neil began her career at Société Générale Group. Ms. O'Neil earned a BS in Commerce with Special Attainments in Business Administration from Washington and Lee University and holds an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Charles Owo
Charles Owo is a passionate advocate for ensuring the well-being and development of all children. With a diverse background and extensive experience in leadership roles, he joined the Forestdale board to contribute actively to its mission. Charles has spent the past 13 years with Groupe SEB, a multinational consortium, where he has held various positions in the United States and Europe, including VP Business Controlling/ CFO for the USA market and CFO for the professional business unit in Belgium. He has also co-founded multiple entrepreneurial ventures in tech and retail start-ups, including his namesake brand CHARLES OWO®. Charles is a Forbes Finance Council member and sits on the Advisory Council of the Harvard Business Review. He holds an MBA from the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, a Certificate in Organizational Behavior from the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, and a BSc in Banking and Finance from Lincoln University, Pennsylvania, United States.
Jonathan Taylor
Jonathan Taylor is a Director and Attorney with Blackrock, covering the firm’s business lines in Latin America from a Legal and Compliance perspective. He has substantial experience managing international financial transactions and international development projects. He attended Harvard College, received his JD from Columbia, and a Master of Arts in International Relations and International Economics from Johns Hopkins. He joined the Forestdale Board in 2019.
Nicole Troelstrup
Nicole Troelstrup is a Vice President of Services at NeuraFlash, a Salesforce AI & Platinum consulting partner. Before joining NeuraFlash, Nicole worked at Salesforce directly as an Account Director, primarily focused on building exceptional digital experiences for retail & financial services customers. She has ten years of experience in marketing and program management in the technology industry.
Nicole joined Forestdale because of her commitment to community service. Before her board membership, she volunteered by teaching English abroad and providing Spanish translation for those seeking U.S. citizenship. She is a current Queens resident and alumna of Boston University.
Aiola Tufa
Aiola Tufa is a Director at Deutsche Bank, responsible for Core Banking Technology in the US. She has over 16 years of experience in Financial Services across Corporate and Investment Banking and leverages technology to deliver customer value, meet tight regulatory demands, and improve operational process efficiency. She enjoys building high-performing teams to deliver mission-critical programs and is passionate about supporting and developing young talent.
Aiola is originally from Albania and currently resides in New York. She graduated from Baruch College, CUNY, with a degree in Finance & Investments (summa cum laude).
David Weber
David Weber joined the Forestdale Board in 2019 to contribute to an organization he values for providing critically needed services to the community and beyond. As Vice President for Finance at Deutsche Bank, he focuses on international tax matters and state compliance issues for the CFO. He brings over 30 years of Wall Street experience to the Board, including 25 years at Goldman Sachs in various management roles regarding securities regulations and global operations risk management. He serves as a Chair for the US Financial Industry in specialized topics and volunteers by providing financial literacy education to high school students. David has a BS in Finance from the SUNY Albany School of Business and an MBA in Accounting from St. Johns School of Business.
Robert Whiteford
Robert "Bob" Whiteford is a veteran of nearly 40 years in the financial services industry. Bob is also a Trustee and former head of the Audit and Investment Committees and a member of the Executive Committee at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. He is a former chairman of the Brooklyn Chapter of the American Red Cross.
