Board of Directors

Before joining the Trust, Len planned community programs for more than a decade for chronically ill senior citizens and people with AIDS.  He also served on the September 11th Fund in creating and funding health insurance programs for victims of the terrorist attacks.

Len’s background is in science having earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in biology from Northeastern University.  He later found a passion in public health and pursued a master’s in public health at Columbia University.

Sue currently volunteers and serves on the Board at Island City Stage.

Ken is currently the Chief Administrative Officer for American Facilities, Inc., the parent company of The Crew Club, a men’s health club and sauna in Washington, which he owns with his husband, D.C. Allen.

Prior to 1999, Ken was a transportation planner in the Washington area for twenty five years, working for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments and the Maryland Department of Transportation. As such, he was responsible for overall program management of major systems planning programs, plus project management for numerous transportation planning and economic studies and technical research analyses.

Ken and his husband are major supporters of a number of LGBTQ organizations in South Florida and Washington, as well as organizations that are nationwide in scope. In 2018, they were presented the Al LaMorges Distinguished Community Service Award by the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, given to Community Leaders that best embody the spirit of selfless service and support of LGBT Arts Organizations.

Rae has been managing the programs and finances of the Broward County Matrimonial Lawyers and has volunteered her time representing financially disadvantaged clients in family law matters.  Rae’s community service includes training trial skills to future lawyers as an Adjunct Professor of Law in the Civil Law Clinic at Nova Southeastern University’s Shepard Broad College of Law.

Jimmy was born in Iowa and raised in Northern New Jersey. He graduated from the University of North Carolina, earning a Bachelors Business Management and Marketing. His past experience includes 12 years at Dun & Bradstreet in the northeast, and owner/operator of “In Chef We Trust Catering & Event Services” in Broward County for 10 years.

After retiring, Susanne developed an interest in art quilting. She is recognized in Florida quilting circles as an artist, a teacher and a judge. She now donates her work for fundraisers. Her volunteer work includes registering voters, fundraising for Gilda’s Club and Equality Florida, and alumni development for her alma mater. She has served on the boards of both Gilda’s Club and Hanover College. As co-owner of Ellman Properties, she also works with her husband in managing their investments in residential and commercial properties across the US.

In 2008, she was Volunteer Coordinator for the LGBT Get Out the Vote (GOTV) office for Obama in Wilton Manors. This assignment led to increased involvement with the local LGBT community. She and her husband joined Equality Florida as allies that same year; together they strongly support the fight for basic human rights for everyone. As an ally, she sees LGBT rights as basic human rights.

She and her husband, Marty, live downtown in the Las Olas Grand with their dog, Buddy. They love theater, movies, books, dining out, and travel.

During this time, she oversaw the fundraising efforts for eight Colleges and museums – and responsible for over $30 million annually during the university’s $750 million campaign.

Prior, she served as the College of Medicine’s Assistant Vice President of Development and Assistant Dean of Medical Advancement at FIU, where she led a development team, and implemented a comprehensive fundraising program for this new College.

This university advancement veteran has held fundraising positions at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Princeton University, and Washington State University raising over $100 million in her career. The Fulbright Scholar was a communications instructor at WSU, and adjunct faculty member at UM. She has expertise in medical development fundraising, building teams, and strategic development.

She holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration specializing in Institutional Advancement, a M.A. in Communication from Washington State University and B.S. in Journalism from Florida A&M University.

Ziad began his career at Barnett Bank, Inc. As a financial credit analyst, then joined PaineWebber / UBS as a vice president of investments, and most recently served as senior vice president and portfolio manager at Citigroup Smith Barney. Ziad and his team of five members compromise “The Habayeb Group”.

Additionally, with every recommendation and strategy, Ziad focuses on limiting risk while helping to educate clients about how his investment choices work to support their long-term goals. From retirement planning and insurance strategies to banking and lending resources, Ziad is dedicated to reinforcing clients’ complete financial lives.

Named to Barron’s Top 1000 Financial Advisors in 2009.

Ziad enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures and history. His passion for the culinary arts and cooking stems from his Mediterranean upbringing. Additionally, Ziad is an avid humanitarian, with involvement in numerous charitable organizations in the local community and abroad.

He specializes in complex commercial litigation and employment and trade secret disputes. He is also a Fellow in the Chartered Institute of Arbitration.

He is active in the community at both  the local and national level, serving as the Chair of the Miami Foundation LGBT Grants Committee, a member of the Lambda Legal National Leadership Council for over a decade, a Guardian Society member of SAVE, and serving on the Board of Directors of Catalyst Miami Foundation in addition to his board membership with Our Fund.  He has also handled several high profile pro bono cases for Lambda Legal and others relating to LGBT rights.

He lives in Miami Shores, Florida with his partner, Brian Thompson.

During law school, he was an active member of the Latin American Law Students Association, Lambda Law, and the Holocaust/Human Rights Project. He also represented the school at the National Environmental Moot Court Competition.

As a practicing attorney in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands, he established Jiménez Law Offices to focus on the complex legal needs of his community. He assists clients in many legal areas, including estate planning, trust formation and administration, business management, and state/federal litigation. A large percentage of his client base is international.

Andrew’s dedication to the community is demonstrated by his civic involvement. He has served on the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Community Services Board, and he is currently Treasurer of the Gay & Lesbian Lawyers Network of the Florida Bar. He also serves as a board member for Our Fund, a foundation that unites donors with organizations supporting the local LGBT community. He enjoys active participation with other national and local LGBT organizations, especially the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida. Andrew was named one of Florida State University’s Thirty Under 30 for his significant contributions to his profession and community.

Prior to joining Frost Science, Mandelman served as vice president for strategy and engagement at The Miami Foundation, where she directed development efforts and led public affairs and communications initiatives. By building strong relationships and multi-sector partnerships, Mandelman led her team to achieve record financial growth, diversify the organization’s donor base, and launch a robust policy agenda focused on solutions around sea-level rise, public spaces and transportation.

Mandelman also served as deputy executive director of the Americas Business Council Foundation, a private philanthropy focused on Latin American social entrepreneurship, and led corporate and event fundraising as the senior director of development at the New World Symphony during the construction and grand opening of its Frank Gehry-designed Miami Beach facility. Earlier in her career, Mandelman specialized in marketing and fundraising for the City of Miami Beach’s Cultural Affairs Division, the City of Miami Mayor’s Office, Gen Art and PODER magazine. A lifelong basketball fan, Mandelman worked in international public relations for the National Basketball Association after college.

Mandelman graduated cum laude from Georgetown University and received her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

He qualified as a Contador Público in Uruguay, a Contador Auditor in Chile, and a Certified Public Accountant in the USA. He retired as a partner from Deloitte after 45 years’ service with the global network of auditing, tax and consulting firms

His life partner Tallen Bell lives in Texas, so they both frequently travel back and forth between Gun Barrel City and Ft. Lauderdale. For work and pleasure George has travelled extensively around the world, having visited some 80 different countries.

Since retirement, he has participated as a volunteer in local charities and in LGBT educational events around the country and in Canada. He strongly believes in the power of philanthropy and supports several LGBT non­-profit agencies through a DAF in Our Fund.

Although born in Homestead, Mark calls Tampa home. After obtaining his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Yale University, he moved to New York to begin his career in non profit management and leadership. After eight years in the non profit sector, Mark went back to Yale University to get an MBA with a focus on Non profit Management. Over the course of his almost 20-year career, he has assumed frontline and leadership roles with an emphasis on development, administration and program management with the goal of having a well-rounded portfolio of experience.

While tennis dominates Mark’s free time now, dance is also one of Mark’s loves. As an undergrad, Mark was a dancer in Yale’s Hip Hop and Contemporary Dance Group, Rhythmic Blue. Mark continued to dance in NYC as a backup dancer, member of the group AIF with Avon Chandler and member of Richard Rivera’s Physual Dance Company from 2003-2004. In grad school, Mark trained in capoeira, a Brazilian art form that incorporates dance, martial arts, and music.

Paul retired from the Internal Revenue Service after 37 years. Career highlights include management, administration and oversight of all IRS foreign offices and various tax programs the US has in place with foreign governments.  Prior to a regional position in Florida, he was IRS Division Director, Overseas Operations in Washington, DC where he spent most of his career.

Paul is also a member of the Human Rights Campaign, Our Fund iGive Society, Pride Center Founders Circle, SunServe Guardian Circle, Stonewall Society, Patron Gay Men’s Chorus, National LBBTQ Task Force Leadership Council, Equality Florida, LBGTQ Democratic Caucus and others.

Paul is a resident homeowner since 2006 and lives with Bennett Quade, his partner of 22 years, and Priscilla, their mini doxie.

In addition, Barbara serves as a reviewer for The Point Foundation’s Graduate Scholarships/Fellowship Program. Barbara is also one of the founding members of The Galt Mile LGBT Community that promotes social events at neighborhood LGBT friendly venues, with a membership of over 500 neighbors.

Barbara has been a Member of The Fort Lauderdale Education Advisory Board, Mentor in The Take Stock in Children Broward High School Student Program, Reading Pal for Broward County Schools and Mathematics Tutor for Students Beyond High School Age to Earn their GED in Project Boost – Hands on Broward.

The most rewarding aspect of Barbara’s involvement in the causes she cares about is that in addition to making a contribution, she has met many wonderful people she now counts as friends.

Gene earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Finance in 1986 from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991.

Gene has been well-established in the Greater Miami community for years. Gene currently serves on the University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Advisory Committee and Equality Florida’s Miami Steering Committee. Gene currently sits on the board of GableStage, the community board for the University of Miami AIDS Research Institute, the University of Miami’s Estate and Gift Planning Council, and is active with the University of Miami Citizens Board.

In 2007, Gene received the Twelve Good Men honor, awarded to outstanding community leaders in Miami-Dade County by Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida. The University of Miami awarded him the Joyce Galya Excellence Award in 2021 for his service to the University and he was also bestowed with the honor of Iron Arrow.

Gene used to compete in triathlons and long-distance road races.  He qualified and competed twice for the national championships in sprint triathlon. He was also an avid tennis player having formerly been ranked in Florida.

Fred earned his MBA in Finance and International Business from NYU’s Stern School of Business and his Bachelor’s Degree from Colgate University. Besides being a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER TM, he holds the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor and the Chartered SRI Counselor SM designations.

Born in New Rochelle, NY, Fred spent his childhood between Westchester County – New York, Taiwan and Venezuela, before returning to the Unites States to complete his high school, college and graduate education.

Fred and his husband, Mark Hyde are happily married and live in Hollywood, Florida with their two miniature poodles, Samson and Jiggy.

G serves on the Board for Our Fund Foundation and the Old Dillard Foundation. She also writes for Island Origins magazine and the Sun-Sentinel South Florida 100.

She has been recognized for her advocacy by the South Florida Gay News OUT50 list and with the Florida Diversity Council’s LGBT Leader Award. She works as a Professor of Practice at Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad College of Law in the Academic Success and Professionalism Department. Prior to joining NSU Law, G worked as a Senior Attorney with The Florida Bar; she also worked with the Broward County Law Office of the Public Defender, Legal Aid Service of Broward County and in private practice.

G is admitted to practice in Florida, New York and Connecticut. She is a past President of The T.J. Reddick Bar Association and served on The Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Board of Governors. She also recently served a three-year term on the American Bar Association Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and is a member of the Gay & Lesbian Lawyer Network in Broward County.

G received her B.A. in Black Studies and Psychology from Amherst College and her J.D. from Pace University School of Law. She has two amazing sons who grew up way too quickly.