A 28 year transplant survivor, Jay Feinberg is Gift of Life's founder, Chief Executive Officer and Co-President. Jay was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991 and told that his only hope of a cure was a bone marrow transplant. With the support of his friends and family, Jay embarked on a groundbreaking international search for a matching donor. After organizing 250 drives and testing 60,000 potential donors, Jay's match turned out to be the very last donor tested at the very last drive. He received his transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington in July 1995 thanks to his bone marrow donor, Becky Faibisoff.
Jay formerly served on the Board of Directors of the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) in the capacity of Secretary of North and South America. For years, he volunteered his time as an inspector for the WMDA's Accreditation Committee. Jay is on the Editorial Board of Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide.
Jay received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Jay brings tremendous innovation to marrow donor registries through his leadership at Gift of Life, including the first registry-integrated stem cell collection center housed at Gift of Life’s Boca Raton headquarters, the use of cheek swabs for bloodless testing at donor drives, complete typing at initial recruitment, and a smart phone app to make the registration process faster and more secure.
He has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Charles Bronfman Prize which recognizes dynamic leaders whose innovation and impact serve as inspiration for the future generations. Other notable honors include the National Marrow Donor Program's Allison Atlas Award and Hadassah International's Citizen of the World Award. Jay is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University, received along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In 2010, Jay received the Jewish Community Hero Award from the Jewish Federations of North America, a leadership award honoring those making strides to repair the world, starting in their own communities.
In 2013, Jay was recognized in the Algemeiner Jewish 100 List-the top one hundred individuals who have positively influenced and lifted the quality of Jewish life. Also in 2013, Jay was the recipient of the Maurice N. Eisendrath Bearer of Light Award from the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). This award is the highest honor bestowed by the Reform Movement. Every two years at the URJ's Biennial, the Award is conferred on an individual for service to the world community and Reform Jewry. "It is people like Jay Feinberg who truly make our world a better place," said URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs. "Jay's tireless work has saved countless lives, and his actions follow in the footsteps of Reform social justice pioneers, such as Rabbi Eisendrath. The Talmud teaches that whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved the entire world. Jay's work so truly embodies this teaching, and for that, we are abundantly grateful."
Jay shares this distinction with other notable luminaries including actor and Parkinson's disease advocate Michael J. Fox, Israeli diplomat and politician Abba Eban, former President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres OBM of Israel, former President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, United States Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Goldberg, former White House Press Secretary James Brady, and businessman and philanthropist Charles R. Bronfman.
In 2011, Jay was one of three non-profit leaders in South Florida to be awarded a scholarship to the Harvard Business School's executive education program "Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management," the flagship of the HBS Social Enterprise Program designed for top executives in the non-profit sector.
Jay has been an invited guest at the White House during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama presidential administrations, and travels regularly to speak on social justice and community activism, sharing his personal story and Gift of Life's grass roots efforts. Jay is proud to be an honorary brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi).
Barby A. Pilpel joined Gift of Life in 2000. In 2003, she was promoted to Operations Manager, and from 2006 to 2012, she served as the organization's Associate Executive Director. In that capacity, Barby oversaw the daily operations and administrative functions of the organization. Today, she focuses much of her time on strategic planning and special projects with the CEO.
During her time with the organization, Barby has seen it grow from a registry of 60,000 potential donors for patients in need to over 350,000 and growing.
Having been exposed to every facet of the organization over the past 19 years, Barby has become an expert in many areas critical to its mission. She is a highly accomplished, detail-oriented visionary and decisive leader with a track record of proven success and peerless passion for her job. Barby holds certificates in Management and Accounting, as well as Human Resources from Florida Atlantic University.
Barby is originally from Toronto and currently resides in West Palm Beach with her husband, Shayne, and two dogs.
Marti Freund has been on the Gift of Life team since 2010. She earned a BA from Union College in managerial economics and a JD from the University of Miami School of Law. She is the director of Organizational Advancement, responsible for strengthening and diversifying Gift of Life's brand. Marti's department oversees registry growth, marketing and public relations.
Throughout her career, Marti has been actively involved in non-profits. Prior to joining Gift of Life, she worked at the Miami/Ft. Lauderdale Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. She found a passion in Gift of Life after her brother was diagnosed with leukemia and needed a bone marrow transplant. His donor, Ronnie, was found through the registry.
Marti is originally from New Jersey and now resides in Boca Raton with her husband, George, and three sons, George, Eric and Patrick.
Elizabeth serves as Gift of Life's Chief Quality and Compliance Officer. The Quality Department oversees quality systems and regulatory compliance for the organization and ensures that the products and services provided by Gift of Life are safe, are effective, and meet the needs of our patients.
Elizabeth earned her Bachelor's degree from the University of Pittsburgh and began her in career Laboratory Medicine. Elizabeth has 20+ years of experience working in operations, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance at non-profit blood and tissue banks. Elizabeth is a Licensed Medical Technologist, Certified Tissue Bank Specialist (AATB), and a Certified Quality Auditor (ASQ).
Rafi Freudenberger serves as Gift of Life's Chief Information Officer and has been with the organization for 20 years, first as a volunteer and then as an employee. Under Rafi's leadership, Gift of Life has developed MatchQuest, a powerful and flexible system that manages all facets of the organization's daily operations.
MatchQuest's uniquely tailored technology enables Gift of Life to ensure that transplant centers are serviced as quickly as possible. It allows them to search for a match on behalf of a patient in need while maintaining strict quality standards imposed by FDA regulations.
Rafi's dedication and drive in founding and growing Gift of Life's Information Systems department is made possible by his experience at two startup companies: Cleyal, Inc. and Digital Fuel, Inc. Rafi co-founded and served as Cleyal's VP of Engineering for eight years and later sold Cleyal's technology to Sapiens, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPNSF). Two years before joining Gift of Life, Rafi served as VP of Product Management for Digital Fuel, Inc., the leading provider of IT Financial Management SaaS Solutions. Digital Fuel was subsequently purchased by VMWare, Inc. (Nasdaq: VMW).
Rafi received his Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics & Computer Science from UCLA.
Chris Camacho serves as Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s Donor Recruitment Director. In this role, his responsibility is to increase awareness of the ability to cure blood cancer and more than 70 other diseases through the recruitment of new donors in the registry. Prior to joining Gift of Life, Chris spent 14 years working in higher education in the field of enrollment management at Keiser University, a private not-for-profit university located in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Chris earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and an MBA from Keiser University. He is originally from Kansas City, Missouri, but has spent the last 19 years in South Florida. Chris currently resides in Parkland, Florida with his wife Kristen and three of his children, Laila, Gianna, and Dominic. His oldest son, Cameron, is currently serving in the U.S. Army.
Vanessa Gallegos serves as Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s Marketing Director. She has an extensive 15-year background in branding and marketing.
Her previous positions have included working on global strategies and award-winning execution for digital transformation, events, design and branding for startups and Fortune 500 companies.
She is highly accomplished professional who thrives on creative problem solving and developing innovative tech products and solutions for marketing, with a positive influence in the cross-collaboration efforts that are instrumental to key business initiatives focused on growth and innovation.
Vanessa holds a BFA from Florida Atlantic University and certificates in Project Management, Product Marketing and Sales Enablement.
She is passionate about supporting our life-saving mission and honored to serve the Gift of Life Marrow Registry.
Nelson Gonzalez serves as Gift of Life's Information Technology Director and has been affiliated with the organization for 18 years. He started as a volunteer in 1998, eventually becoming a full time team member in 2004. Prior to working at Gift of Life, Nelson worked as Network Administrator for Seta Corporation in Boca Raton, Florida. In his role here, Nelson is in charge of all computer network infrastructure and systems.
In addition to his duties overseeing Information Technology at Gift of Life, Nelson also serves as the organization's Contingency and Disaster Planning Officer. Nelson is a trained courier and periodically volunteers his time on behalf of transplant centers to transport bone marrow around the world. Nelson also periodically volunteers his time at donor recruitment drives for patients in need. "It's a pleasure to work with the Gift of Life family," he says. "I am honored to play a role in helping to save lives along with my colleagues."
Nelson earned his Associate's in Business Administration from Seminole Community College and is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Certified Novell Administrator, and an A+ Certified PC Technician.
Francesca Gullo serves as Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s Scientific Director. She has a broad background in regenerative medicine, with specific trainings and expertise in the clinical application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) for articular cartilage regeneration. Her research includes the identification of a MSC subset with enhanced chondrogenic ability (F. Gullo et al., 2013) and the development of a computational model that supports the research in the hematopoietic field (F. Gullo et al., 2015). The aim of her PhD project was the identification of biomarker sets for consistent enrichment/purification of functionally distinct MSC subsets from the human synovium.
As a postdoctoral scientist at UCLA, Francesca became very familiar with Osteoarthritis. At the University of Oxford, she was involved in the discovery of small molecules that play a key role in the expansion of umbilical cord blood-derived Hematopoietic Stem Cells (HSCs). At InVitroCellResearch, she worked with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, whereas at TransfusionHealth she investigated the clinical applications of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood.
Prior to joining Gift of Life, she wrote National Institutes of Health grants for clinical trials with MSCs and managed some aspects of the R&D with MSCs.
Throughout her career, she has become very familiar with the regenerative medicine field which is her great passion. She has supervised PhD students, postdocs and scientific staff in biotechs, has managed multiple scientific projects, and trained/hired scientific staff. She is currently completing an advanced project management course.
Francesca earned her Ph.D. in Regenerative Medicine from the University of Aberdeen, and her Master of Science in Molecular Biology and Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Catania.
She has been published in numerous medical and scientific journals.
Shijo Joseph has been with Gift of Life since 2010. Shijo oversees MatchQuest, the powerful and flexible system that manages all facets of the organization’s daily operations. MatchQuest’s uniquely tailored technology enables Gift of Life to ensure that transplant centers searching for a match on behalf of a patient in need are serviced as quickly as possible while maintaining the strict quality standards imposed by FDA regulations.
Shijo earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Computer Application. Shijo has 20+ years of experience working in Information Systems.
Bruce A. Lenes, MD, is the Medical Director overseeing Gift of Life's Donor Services Department, Collection Center and Laboratory. Over the last 35 years, he has served as the Medical Director of ONEBLOOD, Inc. (and its predecessors) and as the Senior Medical Director for Corporate Operations for Blood Systems, Inc., the third and second largest regional blood centers in the United States respectively. Dr. Lenes trained in Internal Medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville and trained in Hematology at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. He then served as a staff fellow in Transfusion Medicine at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. Among numerous awards, he was a first round recipient of the Transfusion Medicine Academic Award, an NHLBI grant to develop educational programs in Transfusion Medicine.
Dr. Lenes has published over 40 scientific articles with special emphasis on medical education and diseases transmitted by transfusion. He has served on numerous national committees and also as Chairman of the National American Red Cross Medical Affairs Committee, from 1991 to 1994. Currently, Dr. Lenes serves as Senior Medical Director for LifeSouth Regional Blood Center in Gainesville, Florida. He was raised in Yorktown Heights, New York and went on to attend Union University in Schenectady, New York and Albany Medical College in Albany, New York.
His current academic titles include:
Jamie Lizondro joined Gift of Life in November 2022, with four years of experience as a Director of Human Resources at the Hunters Run Country Club. At Hunters Run, Jamie was successful at recruiting and retaining a global staff of 350+, by increasing employee engagement and satisfaction. Previously, she gained experience in human resources software and technology working at ADP.
Jamie earned her bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Administration from Missouri State University, and earned her MBA while managing full-time in support services at Baptist Health in Jacksonville, Fla.
She recently studied for her Professional in Human Resources exam at FAU, and was PHR certified in January 2023. She is so happy to have found a great family environment with innovation scientific technology making lives better for people everywhere.
Robyn is responsible for overseeing the Development Department at Gift of Life, including all fundraising activities. A lifelong resident of South Florida, Robyn earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Barry University in psychology and her graduate degree from Nova Southeastern University. After graduating, she began practicing as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor part time and began her work in the nonprofit field.
Robyn previously worked as the Director of Development for Miami Beach’s Hebrew Academy and was the Associate Executive Director of the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center. Robyn has been in fundraising for the past 15 years and is passionate about serving the community. When the opportunity presented itself to join the Gift of Life team, Robyn says it was as if all of her previous experiences brought her to the cause.
To save a life is to save the world. Robyn truly feels it is an honor to be able to serve Gift of Life.
Omardeen “Dee” Woodley, RN, is Apheresis Facility Director of Gift of Life Marrow Registry’s stem cell collection center. Dee has six years of experience as an apheresis nurse in extracorporeal therapies.
She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Keiser University, and is a 14-year veteran of the United States Air Force. She served time in the Royal Air Force (RAF) at Mildenhall Air Force Base in the United Kingdom, then Mountain Air Force Base in Mountain Home, Idaho.
She returned home to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. after four years to attend nursing school.
Dee loves to travel and has one son, Elias.
Mindy Ginsberg is responsible for donor stewardship, grant writing, and is an integral part of the planning and implementation of the Development Department’s initiatives, special campaigns and fundraising events. A native of South Florida, Mindy has had an extensive background in fundraising and marketing for over 30 years. Her previous positions have included: Executive Director for the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, Palm Beach Region, Director of Institutional Advancement for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Yeshiva University, Palm Beach Region, Director of the Palm Beach Island Campaign/Advanced Gifts for Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.
Mindy became aware of Gift of Life back in 2005, when she had the opportunity to witness Jay Feinberg receiving an Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University, along with Hillary Clinton and several other recipients. Fast forward to 2012, when she learned of a job opportunity at Gift of Life and was excited about the prospect of joining their staff. She states, “This is the most rewarding position I have held in my entire career. There is nothing more meaningful to me than knowing that I have had a small part in helping to save lives.” Mindy is passionate about creating awareness and reaching out to others to further Gift of Life’s mission.
Ana Miranda is the Director of Donor Services, overseeing the department that works closely with our blood stem cell and marrow donors from the time they are first found as a match, through post-donation follow up.
Ana has worked with Gift of Life her entire professional career, since 2007, when she started as a 19-year-old assistant in the Cord Blood Program. After that program was ended, she shifted to the ET/CT Department of Donor Services, notifying donors that they could be a match and confirmatory typing was needed to ensure they were the best match for the patient.
In 2011, she began serving in the Follow-up Department, ensuring that after donation, every donor was recovering well, had their questions answered, and eventually had the opportunity to connect with their recipient.
Ana moved to Workup in 2013, becoming the Gift of Life partner for donors throughout the entire donation process, from the time they are confirmed as the best match until they complete donation and move on to Follow-up. She became Workup Manager in 2022, and in 2023 became Director of Donor Services.
“Throughout the years I have learned a lot from my colleagues, and consider Gift of Life to be my second home,” she said.
Ana was born in Mexico and grew up in Delray Beach, where she currently lives with her husband Pedro, daughter Sadie, son Pedro, and one dog.
Richaele Nichiporenko, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, serves as the Chief Innovation Officer and Associate Medical Director for Gift of Life Marrow Registry. She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and licensed in Florida. She has been practicing nursing for over 11 years and has a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and health care industry. Richaele received a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Florida Atlantic University whose philosophy is grounded in caring and community outreach.
Richaele is an active member of the American Society of Apheresis and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
She is passionate about the advances in stem cell therapy and honored to serve the Gift of Life Marrow Registry.
Dawn Russiello relocated from New York to Florida in 2021 to join Gift of Life. She brings 35 years of experience in health care, of which 30 were dedicated to Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant.
She served as a bone marrow transplant donor coordinator at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center for 16 years, followed by her service in the same role at Stony Brook Hospital from 2014 to 2021. Through her work at these institutions, Dawn has worked alongside Gift of Life Marrow Registry from its inception, collecting blood stem cells and bone marrow from their donors.
Dawn was a FACT Accreditation Team member at both NYPH and Stony Brook Hospital. She was recognized as Woman of the Year in 2017 by the Professional Organization of Women of Excellence (P.O.W.E.R.).
“I call my career the circle of love,” she said. “I've seen my patients awaiting their transplants, receive their cells from an unknown donor giving them a second chance at life. My patients were able to walk their daughters down the wedding isle, see the birth of their grandchildren and spend more quality time with loved ones. This was only possible because of their donor heroes. I've had the honor and privilege to work with donor heroes who gave so much, so selflessly, of themselves to give their recipients a second chance at life.”
Chairman, Global Brokerage
CBRE
In his role as CBRE’s Chairman of Global Brokerage, Stephen Siegel advises major corporations and property owners on a broad range of real estate strategies. Widely regarded as one of the industry’s most talented and prolific professionals, he has been called by the media “a powerhouse,” “an icon,” “a game changer” and “the most legendary and revered broker still plying the trade in NY.”
Prior to the merger with CBRE, as Chairman and CEO of Insignia/ESG, Mr. Siegel was largely responsible for masterminding the firm’s expansion nationwide as well as throughout EMEA and the Americas. He also managed a group that completed approximately $2 billion in co-investments in a wide range of U.S. real estate portfolios across property types. Mr. Siegel initially rose to prominence in the industry at Cushman & Wakefield, where he became President and CEO at age 37.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr. Siegel has arranged multimillion-dollar transactions for some of the nation’s most prominent corporate clients. Recently, he represented Hudson’s Bay Company in the consolidation and relocation of its U.S. headquarters to 410,000 sq. ft. at Brookfield Place, a transaction that included an 85,000-sq.-ft. Saks Fifth Avenue anchoring Brookfield Place. In another recent high-profile deal, Mr. Siegel represented L’Oréal on its 407,000 sq. ft. headquarters relocation to the Related Company’s 10 Hudson Yards. He is a member of the agency leasing team for 7, 4, 3 and 2 World Trade Center.
Mr. Siegel negotiated Gucci Group’s lease at Trump Tower—the most valuable retail deal then completed—on behalf of The Trump Organization, a transaction recognized by REBNY as 2006’s Most Creative Retail Deal of the Year. He also advised Hudson Waterfront Associates, a partnership of overseas investors, on the acquisition of 1290 Avenue of the Americas for $1.25 billion, re-selling it one year later to Vornado Realty Trust. In addition, Mr. Siegel arranged the $306 million sale of a parcel at 42nd Street and Eighth Avenue, the last developable site within the 42nd Street Development Project, to SJP Properties, which constructed Eleven Times Square, a one-million-sq.-ft. office property, on the site.
Renowned for his philanthropy, Mr. Siegel has been called by The Wall Street Journal “the most generous person in the industry.” He sits on numerous nonprofit boards—at one point in his career more than 16—and has endowed fellowships at leading institutions including the Cardozo School of Law, and received honorary doctorates from Baruch College and Yeshiva University, among others. Honored by innumerable organizations ranging from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum to Israel Bonds, Mr. Siegel was recently celebrated, along with fellow honorees Queen Latifah and Danny Meyer, for his contributions to the Young Women’s Leadership Network’s CollegeBound Initiative.
Frequently quoted in major newspapers, Mr. Siegel has been profiled in The Wall Street Journal, LEADERS Magazine and the Real Deal, most recently in March 2016. He is regularly among the Commercial Observer’s Power 100 and has been named by Crain’s as one of the 100 Most Influential Business Leaders in New York City. He was featured in the Urban Land Institute’s Leadership Legacies: Lessons Learned from Ten Real Estate Legends as well as in the best-selling Commercial Real Estate Brokers Who Dominate. Mr. Siegel has also been honored with Commercial Property News’ Lifetime Achievement Award, and has received prestigious industry awards from REBNY and New York University’s Real Estate Institute.
A 28 year transplant survivor, Jay Feinberg is Gift of Life's founder, Chief Executive Officer and Co-President. Jay was diagnosed with leukemia in 1991 and told that his only hope of a cure was a bone marrow transplant. With the support of his friends and family, Jay embarked on a groundbreaking international search for a matching donor. After organizing 250 drives and testing 60,000 potential donors, Jay's match turned out to be the very last donor tested at the very last drive. He received his transplant at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington in July 1995 thanks to his bone marrow donor, Becky Faibisoff.
Jay formerly served on the Board of Directors of the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) in the capacity of Secretary of North and South America. For years, he volunteered his time as an inspector for the WMDA's Accreditation Committee. Jay is on the Editorial Board of Bone Marrow Donors Worldwide.
Jay received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Jay brings tremendous innovation to marrow donor registries through his leadership at Gift of Life, including the first registry-integrated stem cell collection center housed at Gift of Life’s Boca Raton headquarters, the use of cheek swabs for bloodless testing at donor drives, complete typing at initial recruitment, and a smart phone app to make the registration process faster and more secure.
He has received numerous awards, including the prestigious Charles Bronfman Prize which recognizes dynamic leaders whose innovation and impact serve as inspiration for the future generations. Other notable honors include the National Marrow Donor Program's Allison Atlas Award and Hadassah International's Citizen of the World Award. Jay is the recipient of an Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University, received along with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In 2010, Jay received the Jewish Community Hero Award from the Jewish Federations of North America, a leadership award honoring those making strides to repair the world, starting in their own communities.
In 2013, Jay was recognized in the Algemeiner Jewish 100 List-the top one hundred individuals who have positively influenced and lifted the quality of Jewish life. Also in 2013, Jay was the recipient of the Maurice N. Eisendrath Bearer of Light Award from the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). This award is the highest honor bestowed by the Reform Movement. Every two years at the URJ's Biennial, the Award is conferred on an individual for service to the world community and Reform Jewry. "It is people like Jay Feinberg who truly make our world a better place," said URJ President Rabbi Rick Jacobs. "Jay's tireless work has saved countless lives, and his actions follow in the footsteps of Reform social justice pioneers, such as Rabbi Eisendrath. The Talmud teaches that whoever saves a life, it is as if he has saved the entire world. Jay's work so truly embodies this teaching, and for that, we are abundantly grateful."
Jay shares this distinction with other notable luminaries including actor and Parkinson's disease advocate Michael J. Fox, Israeli diplomat and politician Abba Eban, former President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres OBM of Israel, former President Anwar Sadat of Egypt, United States Supreme Court Justice Arthur J. Goldberg, former White House Press Secretary James Brady, and businessman and philanthropist Charles R. Bronfman.
In 2011, Jay was one of three non-profit leaders in South Florida to be awarded a scholarship to the Harvard Business School's executive education program "Strategic Perspectives in Non-Profit Management," the flagship of the HBS Social Enterprise Program designed for top executives in the non-profit sector.
Jay has been an invited guest at the White House during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama presidential administrations, and travels regularly to speak on social justice and community activism, sharing his personal story and Gift of Life's grass roots efforts. Jay is proud to be an honorary brother of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi).
Bill first encountered a bone marrow drive when his childhood friend, Allison Atlas, was searching for a compatible donor. He was tested as a match for her in November 1989.
Nearly five years later, in October 1994, he became more aware of the need for marrow donors when he learned that his contemporary, Jay Feinberg, was searching for a lifesaving match. Bill’s uncle, Arnie Draiman, called to tell him about Jay’s desperate need and the expansive worldwide search to find him a compatible donor.
At the age of 25, Bill traveled with Arnie to Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, both feeling it was incumbent upon them to save Jay’s life. For four weeks they searched for a genetic needle in a haystack, seeking someone of related ancestry who could possibly be Jay’s match. While there, they tested over 400 people, which at that time was still done via a blood draw using needles.
After returning from the journey, Bill continued serving Jay and at the time, “Friends of Jay.” Bill spoke frequently about his trip to Minsk, shared the story of Jay’s search and the eventual founding of Gift of Life. He also began to courier lifesaving donations of bone marrow and stems cells to patients around the world.
In 2009 Bill joined Gift of Life's Board of Directors and currently serves as Chairman Emeritus.
His 18-year ownership of a disaster restoration business that cleaned up after fires and floods taught him to always be prepared for the unexpected. Disaster recovery is not always needed, but when it was, he was there to provide valuable and timely experience and expertise. Those same skills serve Gift of Life.
Bill enjoys representing Gift of Life, and is an accomplished speaker about the need to increase the donor registry and diversify the donor base in order to save more lives. He speaks about Gift of Life at many events annually.
Bill enjoys visiting many donors on their day of donation, to personally thank them for giving the Gift of Life to a person in need.
He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife Kira and their three children.
Co-Founder and Co-Chairman Emeritus
Bed, Bath & Beyond, Inc.
Warren Eisenberg co-founded Bed Bath & Beyond and currently serves as Co-Chairman Emeritus.
Warren currently serves on the following boards: "I Have a Dream" Foundation®, "I Have a Dream" Foundation® New York, Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp, and Hand in Hand.
He is married to Mitzi Eisenberg, who serves as a trustee of the New Museum of Contemporary Art. They reside in Short Hills, New Jersey, and have four children and 12 grandchildren.
Partner
Roberts and Holland LLP
For more than 15 years Ellen Seiler Brody has represented clients in the United States and internationally on complex transactions. Working with multinational corporations, high net worth individuals, and foreign governments, she has created tax-efficient structures to hold their investments and operating business activities. She also works with private equity and hedge funds in structuring their operations and investments.
She has advised on the taxation of financial instruments, including the application of straddle and swap rules and management of interest rate risk. She has been involved in numerous tax controversy matters at both the federal and state and local levels, representing large multinational corporations in a wide variety of industries, ranging from manufacturing to financial services. Her experience with New York State and City tax litigation has included Personal Income, Corporate Franchise, General Corporation, UBT, and Real Property Transfer taxes.
She received a B.S. magna cum laude from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and her J.D. cum laude and LL.M. (Taxation) from New York University, where she was Note and Comment Editor of the Law Review. She is also a Certified Public Accountant.
President, CEO and Founder
Blumenfeld Development Group
Edward Blumenfeld is President, Founder, and the creative force behind Blumenfeld Development Group (BDG). Under Mr. Blumenfeld’s direction, BDG has become an industry leading development firm that specializes in converting underutilized real estate into vibrant, innovative, progressive space that meets the economic and social needs of the community.
Mr. Blumenfeld has sought to improve the quality of life within his community by bringing his energy, insight and personal commitment to a broad range of charitable efforts. He is a founding member of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI) and has been returned by his peers for a third term as its president and also serves as a member of its Energy and Environmental Committee. He remains a strong and effective advocate on issues relating to education, the environment, child healthcare, responsible government and sustainable development.
As a founding member of the Schneider Children’s Hospital, Mr. Blumenfeld has worked for more than three decades to sponsor a unique brand of care, based on the special needs of young patients, that has won international recognition. He has been an ardent supporter of the hospital since its inception, and further confirmed his commitment to its continued success by spearheading the expansion of the hospital campus to include the Blumenfeld Center for Pediatric Medicine.
Mr. Blumenfeld has taken a leadership role in honoring the region’s veterans and active duty military personnel through his philanthropic support of the award winning American Airpower Museum at Republic Airport.
Through his many undertakings, Ed Blumenfeld has literally and figuratively built a better Long Island.
Mr. Blumenfeld created BDG in 1978 when he undertook the redevelopment of the North Shore Atrium, a 300,000 square foot building that BDG converted from a Grumman aircraft manufacturing plant to the first mixed-use office facility on Long Island to incorporate a restaurant, conference area, fitness center, and retail shops on premises. Mr. Blumenfeld has carried the same innovative and pioneering vision to every BDG project since.
A dramatic example of this approach toward redevelopment involved the expansion and conversion of Bulova Watch Corporation’s 250,000 square foot manufacturing plant into a 480,000 square foot Class A office facility, anchored by British Airways’ corporate headquarters. Renamed Bulova Corporate Center, this project won numerous design awards and with its art deco details rescued and restored by Mr. Blumenfeld, it is considered BDG’s flagship project.
In the early 1990′s, BDG expanded into the retail sector, largely in historically disadvantaged communities such as east Harlem that had long been ignored by his development peers. These projects have been satisfying financially and sociologically, as the increased choice and lowered costs that these operations generate have raised standards of living in neighboring communities. Gotham Plaza and East River Plaza are two examples of BDG projects that helped energize and revitalize communities. Mr. Blumenfeld feels a moral obligation to improve BDG’s communities, and does so by supporting local charities, donating playing fields, and producing artistic, cultural, and educational events. Mr. Blumenfeld continues to bring his expertise and creativity to new neighborhoods through an array of Sustainable Projects such as The Arches in Deer Park, that remain sensitive to the communities they serve while strengthening local economies.
Mr. Blumenfeld attended Hofstra University, Uniondale, New York.
Affiliations
Co-Founder and Partner
Advancit Capital
Jason Ostheimer is a Co-Founder and Partner of Advancit Capital, an early stage investment firm focused on media, entertainment and technology companies. Previously, Jason spent approximately seven years at the Blackstone Group, where he served as a Vice President focused on middle market private equity and mezzanine investments across a diverse range of industries. Jason graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania where he received a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School with a concentration in Finance. Jason is involved with several charitable organizations and currently serves as a Board Member of the Gift of Life Marrow Registry.
Chairman, Department of Plastic Surgery
Hackensack Medical Center
Dr. Stephen R. Colen has been performing plastic surgery for more than 35 years.
He is currently Associate Professor of Surgery and Plastic Surgery at New York University Medical Center’s prestigious Institute of Plastic Surgery and Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. He is also Professor of Plastic Surgery and founding chair of Seton Hall Medical School.
At New York University he started the Immediate Breast Reconstruction program for women who had mastectomy for breast cancer. In 2005 he was the guest of the Australian Plastic Surgery Society where he presented his innovative techniques for cosmetic breast surgery. Dr. Colen who also holds a degree in Dental Surgery from NYU School of Dentistry has always had a strong interest in Facial Plastic Surgery. He has developed new techniques for facial rejuvenation which combines his knowledge of dentistry with his Plastic Surgery skills. Every year, Dr. Colen has been listed by New York Magazine and by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. as one of the top plastic surgeons in New York. He has been featured in numerous publications such as Glamour, W, Town and Country, Vogue and Self just to mention a few.
Dr. Colen is Board certified by the American Board of Surgery, The American Board of Dental Surgery, The American Board of Plastic Surgery and has published research articles in more than 50 medical books and journals.
Dr. Colen graduated from St. Lawrence University receiving a B.S. degree in 1967, N.Y.U. College of Dentistry receiving a D.D.S. degree in 1971, and Hahnemann Medical College receiving an M.D. degree in 1974.
Besides being Associate Professor at NYU and Chairman of the Plastic Surgery department at Hackensack University, Dr. Colen also holds additional hospital appointments at Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. Dr. Stephen Colen is known as one of the best doctors for breast surgery since developing the Immediate Breast Reconstruction Program at NYU Medical Center, which uses surgical techniques to reconstruct the breast immediately after removal of breast cancer. He was recently acknowledged by New York Best Doctors as one of New York’s finest plastic surgeons.
Founder
Peter Cohen LLC
Peter A. Cohen is the founder of Peter Cohen LLC – an investment platform with holdings in technology and biotechnology companies, and an arbitrage fund. He is also the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Andover National Corporation, an investment company which is building a portfolio of environmental service businesses.
Until June 2018, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cowen Inc., a 100-year-old investment bank that specializes in serving healthcare and technology companies. Cowen had been acquired in 2009 by Ramius Capital, a $13 billion alternative asset manager that was founded by Mr. Cohen in 1994. In the nine years after that transaction, Mr. Cohen oversaw the reinvigoration of Cowen’s business through seven acquisitions and a diversification of the bank’s revenue base. Entering 2018, he decided to turn over Cowen to his successor and devote all of his time to his investments.
From 1990-1994, Mr. Cohen worked with Republic New York Corporation, a bank holding company; launched an investment management firm; and represented companies in merger activities. He formed Republic New York Securities for Republic New York Corporation and served as Vice Chairman and board member of the holding company.
Mr. Cohen spent the prior two decades rising through the ranks of the firm that would eventually become Shearson Lehman Brothers. He joined Shearson in 1971 as an equity analyst, but soon transitioned to become assistant to then-Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sandy Weill. Over the following years the firm made a series of acquisitions, culminating in its merger with American Express in 1981. By that time, Mr. Cohen had risen to President and Chief Operating Officer. He was named Chairman and Chief Executive Officer in 1983, and Shearson continued to make acquisitions throughout the decade, becoming Shearson Lehman Brothers. When Mr. Cohen departed in 1990, the firm had grown to 23,000 employees in 700 offices around the world.
Mr. Cohen has been fortunate to serve on the boards of numerous public companies and industry bodies based in the United States and overseas. He has been a board member of the New York Stock Exchange, the Depository Trust Company, and the New York Federal Reserve’s Capital Markets Advisory Committee. He has served on the boards of three defense contractors – GRC International, Titan International Corporation, and L-3 Communications – as well as on the boards of other prominent US companies including American Express, Shearson Lehman Brothers, and Kroll Inc. He also spent 30 years on the board of the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, was a member of the New York City Opera, and continues to be a director of The Children’s Hearing Institute.
Outside the United States, he was a board member of Société Générale de Belgique, the Belgium holding company; Cerus, a French investment company; Olivetti, an Italian office products company; Telecom Italia, the Italian national phone company; and CIR International, an Italian holding company.
Today, he continues to be the Lead Director of Scientific Games Corporation, the largest US lottery operator and gaming-machine manufacturer and is on the board of a technology company and two bio-tech companies.
Mr. Cohen grew up on Long Island and graduated from Ohio State University in 1968. He received his MBA degree from Columbia University in 1969. He has three grown children and four grandchildren, and currently resides in New York City – where he has lived for the past 50 years – together with his wife, his two dogs, and a rabbit.
Medical Director, Intensivist Program
Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
Dr. Ruth Spector is triple-boarded in Internal Medicine, Critical Care and Anesthesiology, has served as the Medical Director of Critical Care Services and Critical Care Physician at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, New York since 2011, and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She previously served at Winthrop University Hospital, New York Hospital Medical Center-Cornell University, and has been Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery at SUNY Stony Brook.
She received her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and served in the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia. She is a Cum Laude graduate of Wharton Business School, and is currently pursuing her MBA at the School of Business at Adelphi University.
Following a year-long struggle with acute myelogenous leukemia, Ruth survived her illness thanks to a peripheral blood stem cell transplant from her donor, Josh. Ruth is the proud mother of three exceptional children.
She is honored to serve on Gift of Life’s Board of Directors.
Mindy Schneider, though retired for many years, was a hospital administrator at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. She now spends her time with her family foundation as well as various other philanthropic activities. Mindy serves on the boards of Brandeis University, Dancing Dreams, Children’s Health Alliance for Israel, and the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative.
Mindy received her Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University and Master of Public Health degree from New York University. She has two grown children and currently resides in New York City with her husband Dr. Michael Lesser.
Wendy and Stephen B. Siegel have been involved with Gift of Life for 10 years as supporters, volunteers and incredible advocates for the mission. In January 2012, Wendy was diagnosed with acute Myeloid Leukemia and while undergoing treatment, began to look for ways to help others battling blood cancer. She and her husband Stephen began organizing and supporting the all-important swabbing drives to bring new patients into the registry and save more patients’ lives.
Wendy spent her professional life in the field of mechanical and electrical engineering. She has dedicated many years to the world of philanthropy. She is President Emerita of the Big Apple Circus, a New York nonprofit that raises money to support pediatric hospitals nationwide. She is a founder of the NYU Medical Center KIDS Pediatric Foundation. She current serves on the boards of directors at Gift of Life and the 92nd Street Y. She previously served as a board member of the Horace Mann School.
Together, Wendy and Stephen established the Stephen B. and Wendy Siegel Fund for Pediatric Asthma and Allergy Research at National Jewish Health (NJH) in Denver. Currently, they co-chair the Council of National Trustees of NJH, where Wendy has served as a board member since 2006. In November 2017, the Rabin Medical Center in Israel established the Wendy and Stephen Siegel Acute Myeloid Leukemia Outpatient Clinic.
In May 2021, Gift of Life held a surprise Zoom party to mark the milestone of 1,000 matches for patients found through the “In Honor of Wendy Siegel” donor circle. Dozens of Wendy’s friends, her donor circle supporters, and Gift of Life staff members were there to celebrate.
Together, Wendy and Stephen continue their efforts in fundraising and cultivating new donors to join Gift of Life in its lifesaving mission.
Co-Founder and General Partner
Indicator Ventures
Jonathan Struhl is Co-Founder and General Partner at Indicator Ventures, an early-stage Venture Capital Fund that invests in entrepreneurs leveraging technology to drive massive efficiencies for businesses and consumers. Jonathan focuses on investments in businesses using technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Immersive Computing, and Automation. He is an active Mentor, Board Member and Advisor to a number of companies and accelerator programs, and has spent the past 10 years deeply ingrained in the startup ecosystem. Jonathan's experience is deeply rooted in digital marketing and social media having previously founded a Digital Marketing Agency that worked with global brands, athletes, and celebrities to help navigate the early days of social media. Jonathan is a Board Member and Observer at IrisVR, Mezzobit (acquired by OpenX), Pienso, Wade & Wendy, and EntrypointVR.
Jonathan grew up in Boca Raton, Florida and is a proud graduate of Yeshiva University, Sy Syms School of Business. He was fortunate enough to be a Gift of Life Marrow Registry blood stem cell donor to a now healthy mother of four, whom he met at Gift of Life's Gala in 2015. Since becoming a stem cell donor, Jonathan has been an active advocate for the Gift of Life and is extremely passionate about spreading and tailoring its message to young professionals.
Managing Partner
Integral Investment Capital
