About Bound For College
At Bound For College we recognize that college readiness is critically important for students as they apply to post-secondary institutions, and offer programming that not only cultivates the higher-order thinking skills required to endure the rigors of college, but also removes real and perceived barriers to college enrollment and success.
School Partners
Atlantic Community High School
Atlantic Community High School’s mission is to enable all students to become positive and productive citizens and members of a global society. To achieve this, they aim to develop the student intellectually, socially, ethically and physically.
Village Academy
Village Academy staff partners with the parents and community to create a culture in which all children will learn such that all student will graduate and be prepared for postsecondary education.
Boynton Beach Community High School
Boynton Beach Community High School is committed to providing a world-class education by fostering an environment where all students are challenged through rigorous coursework, prepared for college and/or a career, and empowered to reach his or her highest potential.
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.
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.
Cary Glickstein
Chip Dickson
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.
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.
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.
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.
Advisory Board
Jonathan Elias
A Palm Beach county native, Jonathan is training as a mental health counselor and is the founder of a private tutoring company which assists college students recovering from addiction. For the past year he has mentored Bound For College, formerly DSF, students at Village Academy through an after-school fellowship program. Jonathan earned a B.A. in comparative literature from the University of Chicago and an M.S. in counseling from Palm Beach Atlantic University.
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.
Mark Sauer – Founder & Chair Emeritus
Mr. Sauer is the Founder of Bound For College, formerly known as Delray Students First Inc. Since 2007 Mr. Sauer has taught, coached and volunteered at Village Academy. In 2012 he retired as a teacher from the School District of Palm Beach County in order to create and manage Bound For College, formerly Delray Students First Inc. From 1989 to 2006 Mr. Sauer held senior management positions with three professional sports franchises: the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. He served as President and C.E.O. of the Pirates and Blues. He holds an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
Nick Sadowsky
Nick is a Managing Director in UBS’s Private Wealth Management division where he focuses on investment management in the context of tax, trust and estate planning strategies. Prior to joining UBS, he previously worked at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. Nick graduated with honors from University of Miami with a B.S. in finance and economics. Nick is a CERTIFIED PORFOLIO MANAGER™ (CPM®) which was awarded to him by The Academy of Certified Portfolio Managers at Columbia University, which designates an expertise in technical and quantitative analysis.Nick has been recognized as an industry-leading advisor listed on the Financial Times Top 40 Advisors Under 40 in America, Barron’s Top 1200 Financial Advisors in America, and Forbes Top Advisors by State, Florida.
Shar Solis
Our Team
Dr. Shannon Solis – Executive Director Dr. Solis was born in Belize and immigrated to Bronx, New York in the early 1980’s. She currently holds a Ed.D. in Reading Education from Nova Southeastern University, a Masters in Educational Leadership from American College of Education, and a Masters in English from SUNY. She has been a National Board-Certified Teacher in Palm Beach County for 21 years, and her leadership experiences in the School District of Palm Beach County have included roles as a Reading Coach, Instructional Specialist, Department Chairperson, Program Coordinator, and Program Director. Dr. Solis also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Palm Beach State College, teaching in the College Readiness Department, and holds the position of President of Palm Beach TESOL, where she fosters professional development and leadership opportunities for English as a Second Language (ESL) professionals. She has been a mentor with Take Stock in Children since 2013, where she coaches, advises, and supports underserved youth, and has served as an Educator Support Program Mentor, where she advised and supported beginning educators to meet the challenges of teaching in a 21st century classroom. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States and has taught English in Yokohama, Japan, Senegal, West Africa and studied in Adelaide, South Australia. Dr. Solis is passionate about teaching and the positive impact that she has on the lives of students.
Donna Sauer – Controller Donna is a native Floridian and has worked in South Florida in finance and accounting for 39 years. She served as Controller at Larry L. Wilson, Inc and CFO/Executive Vice-President at Albanese-Popkin Development Group and currently serves as Controller at Hutton Miller, an advertising agency in Boca Raton. Donna has volunteered with several charities over the past 15 years in Palm Beach County including Excalibur Children’s Charity for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Duke Children’s Hospital; Delray Students First (now known as Bound for College) and 4FNOW, a gun control and scholarship non-profit in Parkland, Florida. Donna actively mentors BFC high school students. She is also the wife of founder Mark Sauer.
Corrie Slazyk – Director of Organizational Development Corrie is a born and raised South Floridian and proud FAU Alumni with a passion for helping others. This passion led her to the nonprofit world where she has worked and/or volunteered for the last decade with organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association, National MS Society, Susan G. Komen – Race For The Cure, and Brain Bowl Events. Corrie believes that through education, we can help students enhance their knowledge, develop confidence, and identify their unique skills. She is honored to be part of such an amazing team and to help drive the Mission of Bound For College.
Tutors / Teachers
Angelina Tetu – Tutor
Darryl Clark – Tutor
Dennis Mosley – Tutor
Elzie Phanord – Tutor
James Ring – Tutor
Jermane Ivery – Tutor
Leola Horton – School Coordinator
Mary Fiaschetti – Tutor
Nicki Loulis – Tutor
Omar Farook – Tutor
Dr. Retha Prescod – Tutor
Ronniece White – Tutor
Sara Jean-Baptiste – Tutor
Sh’Nelle Stewart – Tutor
Shar Solis – School Coordinator
Shereen Collins – Tutor
Tammy Mose-Cooper – School Coordinator