Board
Ocean MacAdams…Board Chair
Ocean MacAdams is a freelance television producer in Brooklyn, New York. He spent 12 years at MTV Networks, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of MTV News. In that role, he oversaw all news operations on MTV, MTV2, MTVU and MTV.com. He has produced numerous television shows and events throughout his career, including the red-carpet pre-shows for the MTV Video Music Awards & Grammys and President Obama’s Youth Inaugural Ball. He has received numerous awards for his work, including an Emmy for his work on MTV’s presidential election coverage.
Eric Komoroff…Founder of Community of Unity
Since 2001, over 30,000 youth around the world have been touched by COMMUNITY of UNITY programs. In North America, over 200 schools have engaged its professional development workshops, support services, and materials. A recognized leader in the fields of youth development, urban education, school culture, youth spirituality & empowerment, and relationship building, Eric is a collaborator/presenter/trainer to organizations including A Better Chance, BOOST Conference, The Institute for Student Achievement, Northside Center for Child Development, The New York City Department of Education, Union Seminary, Face2Face, Auburn Theological Seminary, The YMCA, The Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development, The Center for Mindfulness:The University of Massachusetts Medical School, Hoops 4 Hope (South Africa & Zimbabwe), The Genesis Society, and Big Brother Big Sister. He hosts a weekly internet radio show YOUTH EMPOWERED, and sits on the Educational Advisory Board of Newsday Newspaper, the Alumni Board Task Force at The Bank Street College of Education, the Advisory Boards of New Design High School & The Urban Assembly Academy of Law & Justice. Additionally, Eric has taught School Culture Development and Advisory Program Development at The Bank Street College of Education, and “Authenitic Parenting” at The A-HA! Learning Center.
David Nudo…Secretary
A publishing professional currently working as a marketing consultant for several publishing and technology companies after leaving his post as Director of Sales and Marketing for Shelfari, a popular consumer social networking site for book lovers recently acquired by Amazon.com. He was formerly the Vice President, Publisher of the book publishing magazine Publishers Weekly. Previously, he was Managing Director, Book Advertising, for the New York Times. Prior to this, he has held various roles in advertising sales working with book publishers in a career which includes Library Journal and The New Republic. Her serves as President of the Publisher Advertising and Marketing Association and holds a seat on the advisory board of the MS Society’s Books For A Better Life Awards.
Kamau Hixon…Treasurer
Kamau is an investment banking professional at Gordian Group, LLC, a restructuring advisory investment bank based in New York City, where he focuses on providing clients in distressed situations financial analysis and advisory services. Previously, he worked at UBS Investment Bank in the Esoteric Asset Backed Securitization Group, focusing on whole business securitization for corporations across all industries, and in the Media and Telecommunications Group within the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse. Kamau earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College with a concentration in Finance. He was a volunteer mentor with Explore Charter School and StreetWise Partners. Additionally, he completed the United Way of New York City’s Linkages Board training program in 2009.
Jason Zullin
After graduating from Hofstra University in 1997 with a degree in International Business, Jason Zullin began his financial career at PaineWebber/UBS as an equity derivatives trader on the floor of the American Stock Exchange. He soon began trading Institutional Equities for UBS, and in the fall of 2001 Jason joined the GFI Group as a Senior Vice President to head the Equity sales and trading desk. Jason is currently initiating the global expansion of GFI equities in Asia, Europe, and South America. Jason’s interests include golf, tennis, skiing and travel. Although Jason is proud of his many accomplishments in the business world, he is most proud to have become Mallory’s dad in February 2009.
Flora Backer
Internationally recognized lingerie design “icon”, Flora came to America 30 years ago to study art. She soon found her creative voice in fashion design. A graduate of The Fashion Institute of Technology with a Masters Degree from the Pratt Institute, Flora started her career in Manhattan’s Garment District designing evening dresses. In 1981, Flora made the leap from evening wear to night wear, opening with her husband the ligerie company that bears her name. The venture was an immediate success and remains one of the most recognizable lines in the world today. Flora has received many honors from her industry including the prestigious LINGERIE AWARD, and one of her designs is acknowledged as the most knocked-off garment in lingerie history.
Holly Rudnick Kurtzberg
A practicing physical therapist for the last 18 years, Holly received her degree in physical therapy from SUNY Syracuse Upstate Medical Center in 1991. She received her advanced specialization in mechanical diagnosis and treatment of spinal disorders in 2000 through the McKenzie Institute in New Zealand. She has practiced in multiple settings throughout the tri-state area including Kessler Institute, St. Barnabas Medical Center and presently at the Hospital for Special Surgery in the Sports Rehabilitation Department. In 2005, Holly edited the spine section and co-authored a chapter in the Post Operative Rehabilitation Guidelines text book by Elsevier Publishing. She has also taught classes in the physical therapy programs at both Hunter College and Columbia University. Holly is also an accomplished musician and mother of two girls.
Lauri Goldkind, PhD
Dr. Goldkind sits on the faculty at the Graduate School of Social Service at Fordham University, where she teaches social work students administration and organizational management. She has a long-time commitment to urban youth, public education and creating access to excellent educational opportunities for all students. Her nonprofit leadership experience includes serving as the Director of New School Development and the Director of Evaluation at The Urban Assembly (UA) a network of small theme based schools located in the Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan. Previously she was the Associate Director and then Director of the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services’ (CASES) School Connection Center, a public school admissions office for youth exiting the justice system. . Before that she held program planning and fundraising positions at agencies serving young people in New York City, including the Posse Foundation, where she was the first director of development. Lauri holds an M.S.W. from SUNY Stony Brook with a concentration in planning, administration, and research and a PhD from the Wurzweiler School of Social Work at Yeshiva University. She has published in periodicals such as the Journal of outh Violence and Juvenile Justice and presented her work at the American Society of Criminology’s annual research conference.
Christopher Oliver
Chris Oliver is the Vice President for Strategy and Business Development at Dimension Data. In that role he oversees all M&A and post merger integration activity across the Americas, as well as driving mid and long-term strategic growth initiatives for the organization. Prior to that, Chris was Director of Operations for Dimension Data Americas business ventures in Latin America and Canada, overseeing the daily business operations of Dimension Data Brazil, Dimension Data Canada, Dimension Data Chile and Dimension Data Mexico, driving strategy for growth within the Americas, and building/executing operational plans against those strategies. Chris sits on the North American Operating Committee for Dimension Data Americas as one of its charter members. He is executive co-chair of the strategy and planning sub-committee. Chris is also a member of Dimension Data’s Global Leadership Forum. Over the course of Chris’s 11 years with Dimension Data Americas, he’s held senior roles in marketing, sales, and operations. Chris holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Policy from Brown University and a Master’s in Business Administration from Yale University.