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ABOUT PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES EVENTS MEDIA |
Our team is made up of passionate & committed individuals. |
Our Board of Directors
Ian Sandler
Co-Founder and CEO
Ian Sandler
Co-Founder and CEO
Ian Sandler, Riley’s father, co-founded Riley’s Way Foundation with his wife Mackenzie to honor their most magical daughter and to carry Riley’s spirit and love of life forward. Ian joined Insight venture partners in 2016 where he is a Managing Director and Insight’s Chief Operating Officer. Ian was a board member of the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation for seven years with a focus on event planning and fundraising.
Mackenzie and Ian established Riley’s Way Foundation to honor the life of Riley through our new programming with high school students that will create a movement at a time when kindness and empathy are most needed in our world.
Ian Sandler, Riley’s father, co-founded Riley’s Way Foundation with his wife Mackenzie to honor their most magical daughter and to carry Riley’s spirit and love of life forward. Ian joined Insight venture partners in 2016 where he is a Managing Director and Insight’s Chief Operating Officer. Ian was a board member of the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation for seven years with a focus on event planning and fundraising.
Mackenzie and Ian established Riley’s Way Foundation to honor the life of Riley through our new programming with high school students that will create a movement at a time when kindness and empathy are most needed in our world.
Mackenzie Sandler
Co-Founder
Mackenzie Sandler
Co-Founder
Mackenzie co-founded the Riley’s Way Foundation in honor of Riley, her daughter and best friend. As the person who knows Riley best, Mackenzie intends to make sure the Foundation stays true to the essence of who Riley was: a kind, compassionate and truly special friend to all who were lucky enough to know her. She has no doubt that Riley would have been immensely proud of the work that is being done in her name.
Mackenzie previously worked as a bankruptcy attorney.
Mackenzie co-founded the Riley’s Way Foundation in honor of Riley, her daughter and best friend. As the person who knows Riley best, Mackenzie intends to make sure the Foundation stays true to the essence of who Riley was: a kind, compassionate and truly special friend to all who were lucky enough to know her. She has no doubt that Riley would have been immensely proud of the work that is being done in her name.
Mackenzie previously worked as a bankruptcy attorney.
Amy Bersh
Director & Secretary
Amy Bersh
Director & Secretary
Amy Feinsilver Bersh, a close friend of Mackenzie and Ian Sandler, is a former intellectual property attorney. As a mother of two, Amy values the importance of teaching your children to be thoughtful and kind.
Amy is devoted to developing programming that promotes Riley’s qualities by emphasizing the values of kindness and empathy. Amy works on the day-to-day tasks involved in developing and growing the foundation. She assists with events, fundraising and communications with board members and the public.
Amy Feinsilver Bersh, a close friend of Mackenzie and Ian Sandler, is a former intellectual property attorney. As a mother of two, Amy values the importance of teaching your children to be thoughtful and kind.
Amy is devoted to developing programming that promotes Riley’s qualities by emphasizing the values of kindness and empathy. Amy works on the day-to-day tasks involved in developing and growing the foundation. She assists with events, fundraising and communications with board members and the public.
Paul Burke
Director
Paul Burke
Director
Paul Burke is the Head of School at The Nightingale-Bamford School, and is honored to contribute to a very special foundation for an even more special member of the Nightingale community. Riley was the quintessential Nightingale girl, an inquisitive and imaginative student who was a friend to all. Riley’s Foundation lives out the promise that a particularly magical Lower School girl represented for all of us who remain. To that end, every Nightingale girl, with Paul as their representative, is privileged to be a part of a very real and ambitious effort to make the world more reflective of Riley’s heart and mind.
Paul Burke is the Head of School at The Nightingale-Bamford School, and is honored to contribute to a very special foundation for an even more special member of the Nightingale community. Riley was the quintessential Nightingale girl, an inquisitive and imaginative student who was a friend to all. Riley’s Foundation lives out the promise that a particularly magical Lower School girl represented for all of us who remain. To that end, every Nightingale girl, with Paul as their representative, is privileged to be a part of a very real and ambitious effort to make the world more reflective of Riley’s heart and mind.
Eric Frank
Director
Eric Frank
Director
Eric Frank is a childhood friend of Ian Sandler and he and his wife Lisa are close friends with Ian and MacKenzie. He is a father of three boys and lives with his family in Tribeca. Eric is a partner at Intrade Capital Group II.
Eric is primarily focused on helping Ian and MacKenzie grow Riley’s Foundation to help children in need and to recognize children for acts of kindness. He currently assists with Strategic Planning, Event Planning, and Fundraising. His main goal is to help steer this Foundation towards its ultimate goal of making a difference in children’s lives today and tomorrow. He is excited and proud to be a part of the Riley’s Way Foundation.
Eric Frank is a childhood friend of Ian Sandler and he and his wife Lisa are close friends with Ian and MacKenzie. He is a father of three boys and lives with his family in Tribeca. Eric is a partner at Intrade Capital Group II.
Eric is primarily focused on helping Ian and MacKenzie grow Riley’s Foundation to help children in need and to recognize children for acts of kindness. He currently assists with Strategic Planning, Event Planning, and Fundraising. His main goal is to help steer this Foundation towards its ultimate goal of making a difference in children’s lives today and tomorrow. He is excited and proud to be a part of the Riley’s Way Foundation.
Jordan Freundlich
Director
Jordan Freundlich
Director
Jordan Freundlich is a close friend of Mackenzie and Ian Sandler, and one of Ian’s closest friends since second grade. Jordan is currently a lawyer with Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP in Lake Success, practicing estate and commercial litigation. Jordan is also a board member for Literacy Nassau, a not-for-profit organization providing services for hundreds of functionally illiterate adults and children with learning disabilities in Nassau County.
Jordan’s goal is ensure that the Foundation meets its mission to help children and promote the characteristics that made Riley so special, especially her kindness and empathy. Jordan is involved in developing the Foundation’s ideals and organizing fundraising events.
Jordan Freundlich is a close friend of Mackenzie and Ian Sandler, and one of Ian’s closest friends since second grade. Jordan is currently a lawyer with Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP in Lake Success, practicing estate and commercial litigation. Jordan is also a board member for Literacy Nassau, a not-for-profit organization providing services for hundreds of functionally illiterate adults and children with learning disabilities in Nassau County.
Jordan’s goal is ensure that the Foundation meets its mission to help children and promote the characteristics that made Riley so special, especially her kindness and empathy. Jordan is involved in developing the Foundation’s ideals and organizing fundraising events.
Laura Rebell Gross
Director
Laura Rebell Gross
Director
Laura Rebell Gross is the Managing Director of Girls’ Education for Student Leadership Network, which is the umbrella organization for three educational initiatives: College Bound Initiative, Young Women’s Leadership Network, and The Young Women’s Leadership Schools. Through her work with five all girls’ public schools here in New York City and 15 National Affiliate schools, Laura oversees programs that serve more than 8,500 girls . As a leader in the education field for the last fifteen years, Ms. Rebell Gross implements a vision for developing innovative programs that enrich girls’ lives, create experiential leadership opportunities, and build a path to college. To impact the lives of girls beyond New York City, Laura co-founded the Young Women’s Charter Prep School of Rochester, a public school serving girls from the city of Rochester, and takes the lead in identifying and establishing new school affiliates nationwide
Laura’s goals for the foundation are to empower young women in the Youth Council to change their communities and spread Riley’s values of kindness, empathy and friendship and to help ensure that work of RSMF creates a sustainable model of programs to impact schools across New York City.
Laura Rebell Gross is the Managing Director of Girls’ Education for Student Leadership Network, which is the umbrella organization for three educational initiatives: College Bound Initiative, Young Women’s Leadership Network, and The Young Women’s Leadership Schools. Through her work with five all girls’ public schools here in New York City and 15 National Affiliate schools, Laura oversees programs that serve more than 8,500 girls . As a leader in the education field for the last fifteen years, Ms. Rebell Gross implements a vision for developing innovative programs that enrich girls’ lives, create experiential leadership opportunities, and build a path to college. To impact the lives of girls beyond New York City, Laura co-founded the Young Women’s Charter Prep School of Rochester, a public school serving girls from the city of Rochester, and takes the lead in identifying and establishing new school affiliates nationwide
Laura’s goals for the foundation are to empower young women in the Youth Council to change their communities and spread Riley’s values of kindness, empathy and friendship and to help ensure that work of RSMF creates a sustainable model of programs to impact schools across New York City.
Noah Heller
Director
Noah Heller
Director
Noah and his wife Meryl are close friends of Ian and Mackenzie. Noah is Chief Executive Officer of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, a 650 lawyer international law firm.
Noah is actively involved in developing the Foundation’s programming. His goal is for the foundation to honor the memory of Riley and improve the lives of many children. Noah is also a Board of Director for the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
Noah and his wife Meryl are close friends of Ian and Mackenzie. Noah is Chief Executive Officer of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, a 650 lawyer international law firm.
Noah is actively involved in developing the Foundation’s programming. His goal is for the foundation to honor the memory of Riley and improve the lives of many children. Noah is also a Board of Director for the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
Meryl Heller
Director
Meryl Heller
Director
Meryl and her husband Noah are close friends with the Sandler family. Meryl is a devoted mother to her two children.
Meryl strives to foster enthusiasm and a sense of community around the foundation’s mission.
Meryl and her husband Noah are close friends with the Sandler family. Meryl is a devoted mother to her two children.
Meryl strives to foster enthusiasm and a sense of community around the foundation’s mission.
John Horner
Director
John Horner
Director
John and his wife Christina have been friends with Ian and Mackenzie since the fall of 2010. This is when Riley started kindergarten at Nightingale Bamford and became one of their daughter’s best friends.
John’s hope is to help the foundation create programs that over time will inspire teens to make the world better, the way he knows Riley would have.
John is currently a Managing Director at JPMorgan.
John and his wife Christina have been friends with Ian and Mackenzie since the fall of 2010. This is when Riley started kindergarten at Nightingale Bamford and became one of their daughter’s best friends.
John’s hope is to help the foundation create programs that over time will inspire teens to make the world better, the way he knows Riley would have.
John is currently a Managing Director at JPMorgan.
Mindy Jacobs
Director
Mindy Jacobs
Director
As Director of Timber Lake Camp, Mindy was fortunate to see firsthand Riley’s magical qualities and beautiful spirit. Riley’s love of making friends and being kind and compassionate made a lasting impact on everyone at camp. Since the inception of Riley’s Way, Mindy and her husband, Jay, have become close friends with Mackenzie and Ian, working together to honor Riley’s life at camp and beyond.
Having worked in camping for over 30 years, Mindy is devoted to instilling the beautiful qualities that we affectionately term “Riley’s Way” to her campers each summer. Mindy’s camp experience, along with her passion for empowering young girls and building their self-esteem, has made her a great asset in advancing Riley’s Way mission.
As Director of Timber Lake Camp, Mindy was fortunate to see firsthand Riley’s magical qualities and beautiful spirit. Riley’s love of making friends and being kind and compassionate made a lasting impact on everyone at camp. Since the inception of Riley’s Way, Mindy and her husband, Jay, have become close friends with Mackenzie and Ian, working together to honor Riley’s life at camp and beyond.
Having worked in camping for over 30 years, Mindy is devoted to instilling the beautiful qualities that we affectionately term “Riley’s Way” to her campers each summer. Mindy’s camp experience, along with her passion for empowering young girls and building their self-esteem, has made her a great asset in advancing Riley’s Way mission.
David Johnson
Director
David Johnson
Director
A former colleague and close friend of Ian and Mackenzie, is a Partner at Caligan Partners. David is a member of the Investment Committee and brings over 15 years of direct investing experience to the Committee. He hopes the work of the Riley’s Way Foundation honors the memory of Riley and makes a tangible impact in fostering kindness in children.
A former colleague and close friend of Ian and Mackenzie, is a Partner at Caligan Partners. David is a member of the Investment Committee and brings over 15 years of direct investing experience to the Committee. He hopes the work of the Riley’s Way Foundation honors the memory of Riley and makes a tangible impact in fostering kindness in children.
Lauren Hyman Kaplan
Director
Lauren Hyman Kaplan
Director
Lauren Hyman Kaplan, M.A is a school consultant, certified emotional intelligence coach and counselor in the field of social-emotional learning, emotional intelligence and bullying prevention.
Lauren is a former teacher and school counselor with over 20 years of experience training and providing consulting to schools and parenting organizations around the United States and the world. She is an instructor for the Certificate in Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development at the Academy for SEL in Schools at Rutgers University and an adjunct instructor at Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Lauren is a member of the board of trustees at Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, NJ.
Lauren lives in Montclair, NJ with her husband and two children. Lauren is excited about helping Riley’s Way with their mission to empower youth to lead with kindness and empathy.
Lauren Hyman Kaplan, M.A is a school consultant, certified emotional intelligence coach and counselor in the field of social-emotional learning, emotional intelligence and bullying prevention.
Lauren is a former teacher and school counselor with over 20 years of experience training and providing consulting to schools and parenting organizations around the United States and the world. She is an instructor for the Certificate in Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development at the Academy for SEL in Schools at Rutgers University and an adjunct instructor at Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Lauren is a member of the board of trustees at Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, NJ.
Lauren lives in Montclair, NJ with her husband and two children. Lauren is excited about helping Riley’s Way with their mission to empower youth to lead with kindness and empathy.
Terry Kaplan
Director & Chief Creative Offier
Terry Kaplan
Director & Chief Creative Offier
Terry Kaplan is Riley’s grandmother. She serves as a creative consultant and photographer to the Foundation and is the driving force behind Miami events. Terry hopes to see Riley’s Way inspire many children to be kind, confident, nonjudgmental and mindful of the people around them with long lasting results. Terry is currently a mixed media artist and president of Terry Tiles.
Terry Kaplan is Riley’s grandmother. She serves as a creative consultant and photographer to the Foundation and is the driving force behind Miami events. Terry hopes to see Riley’s Way inspire many children to be kind, confident, nonjudgmental and mindful of the people around them with long lasting results. Terry is currently a mixed media artist and president of Terry Tiles.
David Kerstein
Director
David Kerstein
Director
Dave and his wife Erica are close family friends of Ian and Mackenzie. Dave and Erica’s oldest son knew Riley since birth, was one of her oldest friends and attended camp with her, and their youngest son is friends with and attends camp with Brody. Dave is currently an Investment Manager and Legal Counsel at Bentham IMF. Dave is a 1996 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and a 1999 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where he first met Ian nearly 19 years ago during orientation week at an all-you-can-eat Sushi dinner.
Dave’s goal is ensure that the Foundation meets its mission to promote Riley’s legacy and ensure that her spirit helps to instill kindness, empathy and friendship in other children.
Dave and his wife Erica are close family friends of Ian and Mackenzie. Dave and Erica’s oldest son knew Riley since birth, was one of her oldest friends and attended camp with her, and their youngest son is friends with and attends camp with Brody. Dave is currently an Investment Manager and Legal Counsel at Bentham IMF. Dave is a 1996 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and a 1999 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where he first met Ian nearly 19 years ago during orientation week at an all-you-can-eat Sushi dinner.
Dave’s goal is ensure that the Foundation meets its mission to promote Riley’s legacy and ensure that her spirit helps to instill kindness, empathy and friendship in other children.
Brian Potash
Director & Treasurer
Brian Potash
Director & Treasurer
Brian graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1996. He spent his career in financial services, most meaningfully between 2000-2011 as a founding Partner and CFO at Intrade LLC, a proprietary trading firm located in New York City.
Since closing Intrade in 2011, Brian has focused his energies primarily on volunteer work.
Beginning in September 2018, Brian has been enrolled at Iona University, studying for his Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Brian and Ian Sandler have been the closest of personal friends for the past 30+ years. Brian lives in Purchase, NY with his wife Robin and two daughters, Reese and Casey.
Brian graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1996. He spent his career in financial services, most meaningfully between 2000-2011 as a founding Partner and CFO at Intrade LLC, a proprietary trading firm located in New York City.
Since closing Intrade in 2011, Brian has focused his energies primarily on volunteer work.
Beginning in September 2018, Brian has been enrolled at Iona University, studying for his Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Brian and Ian Sandler have been the closest of personal friends for the past 30+ years. Brian lives in Purchase, NY with his wife Robin and two daughters, Reese and Casey.
Todd Solow
Director
Todd Solow
Director
Todd Solow is a Partner at Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), a middle market equity investment firm founded in 1961. NEP partners with business owners to grow, build and nurture their companies to create meaningful long-term, sustainable value.
Todd is a 20-year friend of Ian’s. His goal for the foundation is to create a permanent legacy of Riley’s spirit by creating opportunities for children to better the world we live in.
Todd Solow is a Partner at Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), a middle market equity investment firm founded in 1961. NEP partners with business owners to grow, build and nurture their companies to create meaningful long-term, sustainable value.
Todd is a 20-year friend of Ian’s. His goal for the foundation is to create a permanent legacy of Riley’s spirit by creating opportunities for children to better the world we live in.
Ian Sandler
Co-Founder and CEO
Ian Sandler, Riley’s father, co-founded Riley’s Way Foundation with his wife Mackenzie to honor their most magical daughter and to carry Riley’s spirit and love of life forward. Ian joined Insight venture partners in 2016 where he is a Managing Director and Insight’s Chief Operating Officer. Ian was a board member of the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation for seven years with a focus on event planning and fundraising.
Mackenzie and Ian established Riley’s Way Foundation to honor the life of Riley through our new programming with high school students that will create a movement at a time when kindness and empathy are most needed in our world.
Mackenzie Sandler
Co-Founder
Mackenzie co-founded the Riley’s Way Foundation in honor of Riley, her daughter and best friend. As the person who knows Riley best, Mackenzie intends to make sure the Foundation stays true to the essence of who Riley was: a kind, compassionate and truly special friend to all who were lucky enough to know her. She has no doubt that Riley would have been immensely proud of the work that is being done in her name.
Mackenzie previously worked as a bankruptcy attorney.
Amy Bersh
Director & Secretary
Amy Feinsilver Bersh, a close friend of Mackenzie and Ian Sandler, is a former intellectual property attorney. As a mother of two, Amy values the importance of teaching your children to be thoughtful and kind.
Amy is devoted to developing programming that promotes Riley’s qualities by emphasizing the values of kindness and empathy. Amy works on the day-to-day tasks involved in developing and growing the foundation. She assists with events, fundraising and communications with board members and the public.
Paul Burke
Director
Paul Burke is the Head of School at The Nightingale-Bamford School, and is honored to contribute to a very special foundation for an even more special member of the Nightingale community. Riley was the quintessential Nightingale girl, an inquisitive and imaginative student who was a friend to all. Riley’s Foundation lives out the promise that a particularly magical Lower School girl represented for all of us who remain. To that end, every Nightingale girl, with Paul as their representative, is privileged to be a part of a very real and ambitious effort to make the world more reflective of Riley’s heart and mind.
Eric Frank
Director
Eric Frank is a childhood friend of Ian Sandler and he and his wife Lisa are close friends with Ian and MacKenzie. He is a father of three boys and lives with his family in Tribeca. Eric is a partner at Intrade Capital Group II.
Eric is primarily focused on helping Ian and MacKenzie grow Riley’s Foundation to help children in need and to recognize children for acts of kindness. He currently assists with Strategic Planning, Event Planning, and Fundraising. His main goal is to help steer this Foundation towards its ultimate goal of making a difference in children’s lives today and tomorrow. He is excited and proud to be a part of the Riley’s Way Foundation.
Jordan Freundlich
Director
Jordan Freundlich is a close friend of Mackenzie and Ian Sandler, and one of Ian’s closest friends since second grade. Jordan is currently a lawyer with Vishnick McGovern Milizio LLP in Lake Success, practicing estate and commercial litigation. Jordan is also a board member for Literacy Nassau, a not-for-profit organization providing services for hundreds of functionally illiterate adults and children with learning disabilities in Nassau County.
Jordan’s goal is ensure that the Foundation meets its mission to help children and promote the characteristics that made Riley so special, especially her kindness and empathy. Jordan is involved in developing the Foundation’s ideals and organizing fundraising events.
Laura Rebell Gross
Director
Laura Rebell Gross is the Managing Director of Girls’ Education for Student Leadership Network, which is the umbrella organization for three educational initiatives: College Bound Initiative, Young Women’s Leadership Network, and The Young Women’s Leadership Schools. Through her work with five all girls’ public schools here in New York City and 15 National Affiliate schools, Laura oversees programs that serve more than 8,500 girls . As a leader in the education field for the last fifteen years, Ms. Rebell Gross implements a vision for developing innovative programs that enrich girls’ lives, create experiential leadership opportunities, and build a path to college. To impact the lives of girls beyond New York City, Laura co-founded the Young Women’s Charter Prep School of Rochester, a public school serving girls from the city of Rochester, and takes the lead in identifying and establishing new school affiliates nationwide
Laura’s goals for the foundation are to empower young women in the Youth Council to change their communities and spread Riley’s values of kindness, empathy and friendship and to help ensure that work of RSMF creates a sustainable model of programs to impact schools across New York City.
Noah Heller
Director
Noah and his wife Meryl are close friends of Ian and Mackenzie. Noah is Chief Executive Officer of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, a 650 lawyer international law firm.
Noah is actively involved in developing the Foundation’s programming. His goal is for the foundation to honor the memory of Riley and improve the lives of many children. Noah is also a Board of Director for the Fairfield/Westchester Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America.
Meryl Heller
Director
Meryl and her husband Noah are close friends with the Sandler family. Meryl is a devoted mother to her two children.
Meryl strives to foster enthusiasm and a sense of community around the foundation’s mission.
John Horner
Director
John and his wife Christina have been friends with Ian and Mackenzie since the fall of 2010. This is when Riley started kindergarten at Nightingale Bamford and became one of their daughter’s best friends.
John’s hope is to help the foundation create programs that over time will inspire teens to make the world better, the way he knows Riley would have.
John is currently a Managing Director at JPMorgan.
Mindy Jacobs
Director
As Director of Timber Lake Camp, Mindy was fortunate to see firsthand Riley’s magical qualities and beautiful spirit. Riley’s love of making friends and being kind and compassionate made a lasting impact on everyone at camp. Since the inception of Riley’s Way, Mindy and her husband, Jay, have become close friends with Mackenzie and Ian, working together to honor Riley’s life at camp and beyond.
Having worked in camping for over 30 years, Mindy is devoted to instilling the beautiful qualities that we affectionately term “Riley’s Way” to her campers each summer. Mindy’s camp experience, along with her passion for empowering young girls and building their self-esteem, has made her a great asset in advancing Riley’s Way mission.
David Johnson
Director
A former colleague and close friend of Ian and Mackenzie, is a Partner at Caligan Partners. David is a member of the Investment Committee and brings over 15 years of direct investing experience to the Committee. He hopes the work of the Riley’s Way Foundation honors the memory of Riley and makes a tangible impact in fostering kindness in children.
Lauren Hyman Kaplan
Director
Lauren Hyman Kaplan, M.A is a school consultant, certified emotional intelligence coach and counselor in the field of social-emotional learning, emotional intelligence and bullying prevention.
Lauren is a former teacher and school counselor with over 20 years of experience training and providing consulting to schools and parenting organizations around the United States and the world. She is an instructor for the Certificate in Social-Emotional Learning and Character Development at the Academy for SEL in Schools at Rutgers University and an adjunct instructor at Bank Street College of Education in New York City. Lauren is a member of the board of trustees at Montclair Kimberley Academy in Montclair, NJ.
Lauren lives in Montclair, NJ with her husband and two children. Lauren is excited about helping Riley’s Way with their mission to empower youth to lead with kindness and empathy.
Terry Kaplan
Director & Chief Creative Offier
Terry Kaplan is Riley’s grandmother. She serves as a creative consultant and photographer to the Foundation and is the driving force behind Miami events. Terry hopes to see Riley’s Way inspire many children to be kind, confident, nonjudgmental and mindful of the people around them with long lasting results. Terry is currently a mixed media artist and president of Terry Tiles.
David Kerstein
Director
Dave and his wife Erica are close family friends of Ian and Mackenzie. Dave and Erica’s oldest son knew Riley since birth, was one of her oldest friends and attended camp with her, and their youngest son is friends with and attends camp with Brody. Dave is currently an Investment Manager and Legal Counsel at Bentham IMF. Dave is a 1996 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, and a 1999 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Law, where he first met Ian nearly 19 years ago during orientation week at an all-you-can-eat Sushi dinner.
Dave’s goal is ensure that the Foundation meets its mission to promote Riley’s legacy and ensure that her spirit helps to instill kindness, empathy and friendship in other children.
Brian Potash
Director & Treasurer
Brian graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1996. He spent his career in financial services, most meaningfully between 2000-2011 as a founding Partner and CFO at Intrade LLC, a proprietary trading firm located in New York City.
Since closing Intrade in 2011, Brian has focused his energies primarily on volunteer work.
Beginning in September 2018, Brian has been enrolled at Iona University, studying for his Masters Degree in Mental Health Counseling.
Brian and Ian Sandler have been the closest of personal friends for the past 30+ years. Brian lives in Purchase, NY with his wife Robin and two daughters, Reese and Casey.
Todd Solow
Director
Todd Solow is a Partner at Norwest Equity Partners (NEP), a middle market equity investment firm founded in 1961. NEP partners with business owners to grow, build and nurture their companies to create meaningful long-term, sustainable value.
Todd is a 20-year friend of Ian’s. His goal for the foundation is to create a permanent legacy of Riley’s spirit by creating opportunities for children to better the world we live in.
Our Staff
Laura Kikuchi
Program Director
Laura Kikuchi
Program Director
Laura is thrilled and honored to be a Program Director at Riley’s Way. Previously, Laura worked for the Stalking Resource Center, part of the National Center for Victims of Crime, in Washington, DC. Laura received her BA from Vassar College and her Masters of Social Work from Columbia University.
Laura oversees the Call for Kindness and Youth Conference. Her goal is that children and adults view “Riley’s Way” as a way of life, and embody her values to change the world
Laura is thrilled and honored to be a Program Director at Riley’s Way. Previously, Laura worked for the Stalking Resource Center, part of the National Center for Victims of Crime, in Washington, DC. Laura received her BA from Vassar College and her Masters of Social Work from Columbia University.
Laura oversees the Call for Kindness and Youth Conference. Her goal is that children and adults view “Riley’s Way” as a way of life, and embody her values to change the world
Lauren Shenkman
Program Director
Lauren Shenkman
Program Director
Lauren Shenkman is honored to be one of the Program Directors at Riley’s Way. She oversees strategic partnerships and the Riley’s Way Councils, managing multiple public-private school partnerships that empower New York City students to practice kindness and empathy so they can lead a movement of change to strengthen their communities and create meaningful connections. Previously, Lauren served as the Director of Membership & Community Engagement at Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim, the Director of the Educational Alliance’s historic Downtown Community Center, the Director of Youth Programs at the 14th Street Y, and the Beacon Director at Moshulu Montefiore Community Center. Lauren lives in Brooklyn with her husband Ben and their two sons.
Lauren Shenkman is honored to be one of the Program Directors at Riley’s Way. She oversees strategic partnerships and the Riley’s Way Councils, managing multiple public-private school partnerships that empower New York City students to practice kindness and empathy so they can lead a movement of change to strengthen their communities and create meaningful connections. Previously, Lauren served as the Director of Membership & Community Engagement at Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim, the Director of the Educational Alliance’s historic Downtown Community Center, the Director of Youth Programs at the 14th Street Y, and the Beacon Director at Moshulu Montefiore Community Center. Lauren lives in Brooklyn with her husband Ben and their two sons.
Laura Kikuchi
Program Director
Laura is thrilled and honored to be a Program Director at Riley’s Way. Previously, Laura worked for the Stalking Resource Center, part of the National Center for Victims of Crime, in Washington, DC. Laura received her BA from Vassar College and her Masters of Social Work from Columbia University.
Laura oversees the Call for Kindness and Youth Conference. Her goal is that children and adults view “Riley’s Way” as a way of life, and embody her values to change the world
Lauren Shenkman
Program Director
Lauren Shenkman is honored to be one of the Program Directors at Riley’s Way. She oversees strategic partnerships and the Riley’s Way Councils, managing multiple public-private school partnerships that empower New York City students to practice kindness and empathy so they can lead a movement of change to strengthen their communities and create meaningful connections. Previously, Lauren served as the Director of Membership & Community Engagement at Brooklyn’s Congregation Beth Elohim, the Director of the Educational Alliance’s historic Downtown Community Center, the Director of Youth Programs at the 14th Street Y, and the Beacon Director at Moshulu Montefiore Community Center. Lauren lives in Brooklyn with her husband Ben and their two sons.
