RE Log - Fall 2020

FALL 2020 Ransom Everglades LOG 43 Ransom Everglades welcomed to the 2020-21 Board of Trustees two loyal alumni with deep Miami roots and two community-minded executives who built their careers outside the region. Alums Melissa Krinzman ’86 and Jon Madorsky ’91 attended their first board meeting June 11 along with fellow newcomers Reuven Bigio and Stephanie Dua. That foursome officially stepped in on July 1, as the board bade farewell to trustees Miriam Esteve, Richard Leeds and Jeffrey Miller ’79 . Esteve had been on the board for six years, Leeds for six, and Miller – previously a board chair – for 15. Miller also served as co-chair for the REinventing Excellence campaign along with Constance Fernandez. “We are excited about the combination of fresh talent and RE loyalty that Reuven, Stephanie, Melissa and Jon bring to our board,” Andrew L. Ansin ’81 said as his two-year term as board chair drew to a close. “We know Melissa and Jon share a deep passion for Ransom Everglades and have skills and experience that will elevate their alma mater. Reuven and Stephanie, both RE parents, have demonstrated leadership and compassion in their long and successful careers, and we know they will be brilliant additions. “We will greatly miss Miriam, Richard and Jeffrey, each of whom has made a significant impact on Ransom Everglades. I especially thank Jeffrey, who was generous in sharing his expertise with me as a former board chair. I wish all of them well in their future endeavors, and thank them for their years of dedication and service.” Ansin, a member of the board for 10 years, stepped down as chair and passed the mantle to Jeff Hicks ’84 , a former communications committee chair who served as vice chair for the previous two years. Elana Oberstein-Harris ’93 , formerly co-chair of the advancement committee, stepped in as vice chair. Head of School Penny Townsend extolled Ansin’s contributions to his alma mater. She noted that he has been a helpful and enthusiastic partner for the past two years, rolling up his sleeves to oversee the construction of the Constance & Miguel Fernandez STEM Center, the renovation of La Brisa and associated projects on the Ransom Campus. He and his family also saw to it that the Ransom Raider statue was brought back to campus. RE board adds four new members for 2020-21 “I can’t thank Andy enough for his wise counsel, spirit of service, herculean work – and the incomparable Raider statue,” Townsend said. “I look forward to working with Jeff Hicks, who brings commitment, a deep love for RE and a desire to protect our school generations into the future, and we all will benefit from Elana’s unflappable devotion to her alma mater. “I also expect great things from our new board members: Melissa, Jon, Reuven and Stephanie.” Bigio is Chairman of GB Group, a diversified business conglomerate based in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Bigio also serves as the Honorary Counsel General of the State of Israel in Haiti and helped establish the Israeli Defense Forces Field Hospital in Port-au-Prince after the 2010 earthquake. Dua is an entrepreneur and Co-Founder/ President of BEGiN, the parent company of HOMER. HOMER is the essential early learning program that builds skills for school and life and is one of the fastest-growing early learning companies worldwide. She recently served as CEO for the New York City Education Department’s Fund for Public Schools, raising more than $165 million to support literacy and teacher-training. Krinzman is Co-founder and Managing Partner of Krillion Ventures, a Miami-based venture capital fund that invests in seed-stage technology companies. She serves on the boards of Miami Angels, Cane Angels and Beacon College Prep in Opa-Locka. Madorsky is a Managing Partner of RCP Advisors, a private equity investment firm that provides access to North American lower middle market private equity fund managers, private credit solutions and advisory and research services. Madorsky shares his passion for social scholarship through work at Ransom Everglades, Latin School in Chicago and Notre Dame High School in Los Angeles.