Board Of Directors
Jeffrey Margolis: Chair
Jeffrey Margolis earned his MBA in Finance and Accounting from Cornell University. Jeff has 25 years of experience as a former investment management executive along with nine years as a current investment management consultant in his own business. By lending his expertise, he helps to grow the organization strategically. He serves as a board member for Bound For College where he has volunteered to tutor students in financial literacy.
Margi Greenfield: Secretary
Margi is a native of Florida and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Sciences from the University of Florida. She worked 12 years for JM Family Enterprises in the positions of programming, systems analysis and teaching computer languages to JM associates for data analysis and reporting. Margi was a member of the Pine Crest School Parent’s Association, a Girl Scout Leader and a tutor/mentor for students attending Saint Andrew’s School and Village Academy. She co-chaired the Connected Warriors 4th Annual Gala Event and is currently a member of their Board Event Committee.
Michael Hlatki: Treasurer
Mike joined the Board in 2018. He moved to Florida in 2003 and has been a dedicated youth sports coach since 2014, with a primary focus on high school football. Prior to coaching, Mike was a partner with The Greenfield Group, a healthcare company specializing in real estate development. Before moving to Florida in 2003, he worked at Bear Stearns, Inc. as an equity research analyst and at Coopers & Lybrand LLLP in its audit and acquisition advisory groups. He is a graduate of Williams College and holds an M.B.A. from NYU University’s Stern School of Business. Mike lives in Boca Raton, Florida with his wife Lesley and three children
Craig Menin
After graduating from Georgetown University with a degree in finance, Craig I. Menin began his career as a commercial real estate broker before founding Menin Development in New York City in 1985. Within two years, Menin had purchased six shopping centers in Virginia, Tennessee and Florida. Menin moved the company’s operations to Virginia shortly thereafter, where he continued to acquire and develop a number of commercial properties throughout the region. In 1995, Menin established a Florida division and relocated the company to Palm Beach County. Since its inception, Menin Development has acquired, built and improved over $1.5 billion in commercial real estate nationwide. Today, Menin Development owns and is in development of more than $500 million of commercial real estate; Menin is committed to continuing to explore new acquisition and development opportunities in South Florida and select markets nationwide.
Chip Dickson
Before co-founding DISCERN, Henry “”Chip”” Dickson was Chief Equity Strategist and Associate Director of Research at Lehman Brothers. Married with three children, and in addition to his work with Bound For College, Chip serves as an Advisory Board Member of both the Cutler Investment Center of Babson College and the Board of Governors of Union County College. He is a Visiting Scholar at The Ohio State University and some of his past activities include: Board member of local Red Cross Chapter – Colonial Crossroads, Director of Imago Scientific Instruments Corporation, Chair Summit Republican City Committee, President and Treasurer of Beacon Hill Club, and Advisory Board member of the International Institute of New Jersey.
Gordon Gerwig
Gordon is retired from a career in banking and now splits his time between Louisville and New York City. He earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and later transitioned from the technology sector into banking, earning an MBA in finance and accounting as well as a master’s degree in financial analysis. Gordon has also served as treasurer for both a Sacramento Rotary Club and a Unitarian Church. He is the brother-in-law of Bound For College’s late founder, Mark Sauer. Gordon and his wife, Chris, regularly visit Delray Beach and, through these visits, have become proud supporters of Bound for College. Before joining our Board of Directors, Gordon served on our Advisory Committee for a number of years.
Kelley Baum
Kelley joined the Board in 2019. Since 2015, she has been a mentor to college students through the Viner Scholars Foundation, and also has been active with the Junior League of Boca Raton. She serves as Head of Liquid Credit at AVM, LP / III Capital Management, and previously worked at Citigroup Global Markets in New York. She is a graduate of Princeton University.
Jerilyn Walter
A Southern California native, Jerilyn has called south Florida home for more than 20 years. During those 20 years, she has enjoyed a successful career in Real Estate, including property management, investment properties and new builder representation. In 2012, she successfully opened, and currently operates, Posh Properties, with 3 locations and 40 active agents within her brokerage. She serves on the Board of Directors for the College Bound Foundation, Chairman’s Club Delray Beach Chamber, a major sponsor of the Chris Evert Charities, Ambassador to the Caring Hearts Foundation, platinum sponsor of The Child Rescue Coalition, and many other local area charities and organizations.
Leo Ressa: Past Chair
Leo joined the Board in 2014. He lives in Delray Beach and Hampton Bays, New York. Since 2005 he has had a leadership and mentoring role in New York’s Student Sponsor Partners organization. He served as Managing Director-Institutional Sales and Trading at Merrill Lynch from 1986-2004 and Senior Vice President-U.S. Institutional Trading at Alliance Bernstein from 2005-2011. Leo is a graduate of Hobart College
Advisory Committee
Danny Pacheco Jr.
Danny is originally from Peru where he was raised by his mother who was a businesswoman that traveled frequently. Danny and his family were always meeting new people and experiencing different cultures. In 1993, Danny traveled to the United States with limited resources and did not speak English, but he was determined to succeed in the land of opportunity. He quickly recognized the important role that education would play in his dream to succeed.
In 1995, he attended college where he majored in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. In 1999, he was afforded the opportunity to attend the prestigious Sorbonne Universite in France.
In 2000, he began his law enforcement career with the Delray Beach Police Department and was promoted to Sergeant in 2016. In 2021, the Delray Kicks Youth Soccer Program for underprivileged kids was founded. Danny was honored to accept the Carl DeSantis award as an Impact Leader in the community because of the success of this youth program.
Danny is also a Broker Associate with Siegel Real Estate where he assists those in the community find their first or forever home. In 2022, he obtained a Master of Science degree in International Real Estate from Florida International University. He lives in Delray with his wife and son.
Jonathan Elias
A Palm Beach county native, Jonathan is a psychotherapist in private practice. He has mentored students from Village Academy through Bound For College through an after-school fellowship program, and is a long-time supporter of the mission of Bound For College.
Kirsten Stevens
Kirsten Stevens was born and raised in Latin America and The Bahamas. She has an MBA from FIU and runs The Kannico Agency, a boutique firm that provides consulting services to businesses and nonprofit entities. A certified executive coach, Kirsten has a passion for philanthropy and regularly teaches workshops, trainings and webinars for local associations and universities. As the former Executive Director of Bound For College, she has formed deep and lasting friendships with the students and alums of the program and enjoys her role as a Viner Scholars mentor.
Michael Athans
Raul Valero
Raul is an attorney with Nelson Mullins, focusing his practice on real estate transactions, commercial financing and lending. Raul has represented owners and investors in complex real estate transactions involving acquisitions, financings, and sales of all types of commercial real estate properties. He also has experience in complex commercial litigation, handling cases in both federal and state courts throughout the country. Raul obtained his JD from Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law where he graduated summa cum laude. He obtained his BBA in Business Management and Marketing (with a minor in history) from Florida Atlantic University where he also was a member of the FAU Football team.
Santiago Arias
Santiago became involved with Bound For College in 2015 as a Summer Program Intern. After graduating from Cornell University and earning his MBA from FAU, he served as the Program Director from 2017 to 2019. Since 2020, Santiago has been contributing to the Go-to-Market teams for Ed-Tech startups, ranging from early-stage pre-seed to late-stage companies valued at $1 billion (Newsla). As a first-generation immigrant & college graduate, Santiago hopes to help more students follow a path similar to his own.
Shar Solis
Shar was born in Belize, where she lived for fourteen years before moving to New York with her family. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Design from Buffalo State College and a Master’s in Library and Information Science from the University at Buffalo before eventually relocating to Florida.
With more than 25 years in education, Shar has had the privilege of working with and learning from countless inspiring students and colleagues. She has been a dedicated member of the Village Academy community in Delray Beach for over fifteen years, where she currently teaches middle school Science.
Outside the classroom, Shar is a proud mom to her wonderful daughter. In her free time, she enjoys creating art and going for runs — passions that reflect the same creativity and energy she brings to her students every day.
