Board of Directors
Vicki Craver, Chair
Eric Cochran, Vice-Chair
Erick Hong, Vice-Chair
Melissa K. Hughes, Secretary
Mark A. Steffensen, Treasurer
Barbara Clancy
Rick Frazier
Rebecca Velez Frey
Lindsay Galin
Gita Iyer
Doug Michelman
Rebecca Owen
Swati Patel
Jon Michael Reese
Melinda Rolfs
Roland Smart
Lorna Smith
Nicholas S. Thacher
Daniel Yih
William D. Young, III
Vicki Craver, Chair
Vicki Craver serves as a President of the Board of Trustees of the Greenwich Country Day School. Vicki has worked extensively with non-profits, serving most recently as Co-President and Co-Founder of Impact Fairfield County, and Chair of the boards of the UNC College of Arts and Sciences Foundation and Fairfield County’s Community Foundation. Previously, she was a Vice-President on the corporate bond trading desk at Goldman Sachs in New York City. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Vicki lives in Riverside, Connecticut with her husband David and their three daughters.
Eric Cochran, Vice-Chair
Eric Cochran is a partner at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher and Flom, LLP in the Mergers & Acquisitions department. He is an enthusiastic supporter of schools and several charitable organizations, including A Better Chance. He has served as a board member and treasurer of Little Red Elisabeth Irwin, the progressive K-12 independent school in Greenwich Village; as a member of the finance committee of Friends Seminary, the oldest continuously co-educational school in New York City; and as a trustee of Williams College. Mr. Cochran is currently a trustee of the Clark Art Institute.
Erick Hong, Vice-Chair
Erick Hong is Head of Investor Relations and Business Development at The Voleon Group, a leader in the application of cutting-edge machine-learning research to financial markets. Previously, Erick spent nearly a decade at the investment firm Bridgewater Associates, was a member of the Private Equity practice at Bain & Company, and a management consultant at Oliver Wyman. Mr. Hong has also worked with a wide range of nonprofit organizations including Kiva.org and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Hong earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Melissa K. Hughes, Secretary
Melissa Hughes is a strategic global senior brand director and digital enthusiast with a background in creating strong go-to market executions for consumer-packaged goods organizations, and quick-service restaurants. Melissa is an unconventional thinker and bold decision-maker with in-depth integrated marketing and sales planning expertise. She has successfully driven business turnarounds for generation z and millennial brands with digitally-led omnichannel strategies. She is passionate about crafting brands with purpose to improve consumers' lives. Melissa currently works as the Resort Marketing Director at Vail Resorts and has previously held roles with Founders Table Restaurant Group, L’Oréal, Henkel, and Unilever, helping to modernize brands and creating partnerships for greater impact. Melissa earned a marketing degree from Howard University School of Business Executive Leadership Honors Program. She is also a Harvard Summer Venture Management Program and Unilever Future Leaders Program alumnus. In 2019, Brand Innovators New York Region honored her with a “40 Under 40” achievement award. Her true passion for diversity and inclusion lies in helping organizations to better understand not only their consumers but also their own employees. Melissa believes that we each have a role to play and is looking forward to seeing what strides we make together in the future!
Mark A. Steffensen, Treasurer
Mark is the Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel at HSBC North America Holdings, where he manages a team of over 150 attorneys and para-professionals supporting HSBC’s four global business lines in the US, as well as managing the corporate secretary and governmental relations functions in the US. He also acts as the principal legal advisor to the US public company board of directors, and provides long-range planning and strategic guidance to the US CEO and senior leadership team. Mark has a long history of involvement with HSBC, and has held several senior roles within both the Investment and Commercial Banking divisions. Prior to HSBC, he held leadership positions at Morgan Stanley and the US Securities and Exchange Commission, and was previously associated with the law firms Vedder Price in Chicago and Davis Polk in New York. Mark received his JD from the University of Iowa (UI) College of Law, and his MBA from the UI College of Business Administration. He also serves as a Director on the board of each of the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and The Clearing House Association, two trade organizations of the financial services industry.
Barbara Clancy
Barbara Clancy is Head of Latin America & the Caribbean at PIMCO, a global investment management firm, where she is responsible for setting the strategic direction for PIMCO’s client servicing and business development efforts across all of Latin America & the Caribbean. She has worked with PIMCO for over ten years in a range of roles where she has developed and led key strategic initiatives to transform the firm’s U.S. wealth management business and partnered closely with clients to bring them high-quality thought leadership and investment solutions. Before joining PIMCO, Barbara held positions with Platinum Grove Asset Management, L.P. and Morgan Stanley. She graduated magna cum laude from Brown University with a degree in International Relations and Economics, and earned her M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. She is also a CFA Charterholder.
Rick Frazier
Rick Frazier, COO/President at Heartland Coca-Cola Bottling Company and Executive Vice Chairman at Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Limited, is an agile, high-impact leader with deep experience in operational excellence and organizational transformation. He currently oversees bottling and distribution of 600 beverage products, with revenue of $650M. A member of multiple non-profit organizations and a frequent speaker and panelist, Mr. Frazier’s prior business background includes 17 years at the Coca-Cola Company and five years at the Quaker Oats Beverage Company. He earned his BS degree in Business Administration and Management at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Rebecca Velez Frey
Rebecca Velez Frey is a Director with Oxeon, an executive search and investments firm focused on transformative healthcare companies. Prior to that, Rebecca worked in executive search in the legal sector placing attorneys at financial institutions and multinational consulting firms. Rebecca received her Bachelors of Science degree from Cornell University's School of Industrial & Labor Relations. She lives in Nashville, TN with her husband.
Lindsay Galin
Lindsay Galin, Executive Vice President and Co-Head of Talent at global entertainment public relations firm Rogers & Cowan, was acquired by the agency in 2011 after launching her own talent publicity firm, Lantern PR, in 2009. In addition to her work with iconic actors, including Liam Neeson and Richard Gere, she spearheaded recent campaign wins for Academy Award-winning "Best Actress" Brie Larson and Emmy Award-winning "Lead Actor" Riz Ahmed. Best known for her strategic and creative publicity campaigns, her work has helped advance the careers of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” star John Boyega; Academy Award-nominee Felicity Jones; "Get Out" star Allison Williams, and more. She began her career in the publicity department at Hearst Magazines, working on brands including Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire. Within that role, she helped launch national charity organization DonateMyDress under the Hearst Teen umbrella.
Gita Iyer
Gita Iyer is an executive and leadership coach who works with senior and mid-level corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and non-profit leaders to help them be more effective and fulfilled in their professional and personal lives. Prior to this, she worked in technology consulting with Accenture for over 25 years. Gita was the founding Board Chair of Horizons at Dedham Country Day School and served in that role for 12 years. She is Board President of the newly formed Horizons Greater Boston, and continues to serve Horizons at Dedham Country Day School as Board Secretary. A former trustee for the Noble and Greenough School and Dedham Country Day School, she received her MBA from Indian Institute of Management, a premier management institute in India, and an MS from Boston University. Gita has 3 children (her youngest volunteered for several years at Horizons at DCD) and lives in Westwood, MA with her husband Vijay.
Doug Michelman
Doug Michelman is the former Chief Communications Officer of Visa Inc and Sprint. He also launched and served as President of the 1Million Project, a non-profit that provided free internet connectivity to high school students across the country who did not have reliable internet at home. The 1Million Project served more than 500,000 students in 35 states. Doug also serves on the board of Ploughshares Fund, an organization committed to non-proliferation of nuclear arms. Doug graduated from Duke University and lives in Norwalk, CT.
Rebecca Owen
Rebecca Owen is President of CEI Realty, Inc., and serves as Chief Legal Officer of its parent company, Clark Enterprises, Inc., focused on real estate and private equity investments and charitable giving. Before Clark, she was a real estate and corporate attorney in Washington, DC and Burlington, VT. In addition to corporate board experience, Rebecca has served on several non-profit boards, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and the Suburban Hospital Foundation. She graduated from Hamilton College, summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with honors in economics, and from the University of Chicago Law School. She resides in Palm Beach, FL, and has two grown children.
Swati Patel
Swati Patel is the founder and founding Board co-Chair of Horizons at Carolina Day School in Asheville, NC. She and her husband, Himanshu Karvir, have been co-Chairs of the Horizons Board since 2018. A 1992 graduate of Carolina Day School, Swati earned her B.A. degree from Davidson College, and her M.P.H. from Emory University. She worked for two years at Lucent Technologies in Chicago, after which she and her husband Himanshu decided to move back to Asheville in 2003 and join the family business of hospitality. Swati is Secretary of the Carolina Day School Board of Trustees and is in her 7th year of service on the CDS Board. Swati is Chair of the Committee on Trustees, member of the Risk Management Committee and serves on the Executive Committee. Swati and Himanshu have a son Aakash ’26, and a daughter Janaki ’28, both of whom have attended Carolina Day School since Pre-K.
Jon Michael Reese
Jon Michael Reese is a Vice President at General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, where he focuses on investments in the firm's healthcare sector. Prior to joining General Atlantic, Jon Michael held roles with GTCR, where he also concentrated on healthcare investments, and with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, in their Leveraged Finance Group. Jon Michael served as the Chairman of the Chicago Foundation for Education Associate Board and as a member of the NorthShore Health System Associate Board, both in Chicago. Jon Michael earned his MBA with honors from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University. Jon Michael lives in New York with his wife, Katie.
Melinda Rolfs
As Director, Data Science at Mastercard, Melinda Rolfs manages a team focused on applying artificial intelligence to data to improve operational efficiencies and enhance revenue growth. Previously, as Senior Director at the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, she launched a product concept that leverages data and analytics to better understand individual charitable giving trends, and managed new partnerships with top academic institutions, leading think tanks, and non-profit organizations to build and support the use of data and analytics for social good. Prior to joining Mastercard, Melinda was a senior equity research analyst with CastleRock Management. A Certified Public Accountant, she holds a BS in Marketing from Juniata College, and has been a guest speaker at Urban Institute, Gates Foundation, Stanford University, and various finance classes at Manhattanville College. She has two daughters and enjoys running, spinning, skiing, and reading in her spare time.
Roland Smart
Roland Smart has led the marketing function at three startups and served as a change agent within Oracle corporate marketing. With a product-oriented mindset and a track record of establishing high-performance cross-functional teams, he has led successful efforts in branding, demand generation, business development, content/inbound marketing, AR/PR, and community programs. Passionate about martech and innovation methods, he is an early evangelist in the Agile marketing movement. The author of The Agile Marketer: Turning Customer Experience Into Your Competitive Advantage (Wiley 2016), Mr. Smart earned his B.A. degree in Art History at Tufts University and his B.F.A. in Design/Studio at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. He lives in northern California with his wife and son.
Lorna Smith
Lorna joined Horizons National in 2004 and became CEO in 2007. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from 13 sites to more than 70 in 20 states. By developing a strong organizational identity, financial stability, and systems that foster program quality and innovation, she has helped Horizons National become a vital resource for the Horizons Network of affiliates. Her professional experience combines market research expertise with extensive client service in several industries, and she has co-owned two businesses, both of which experienced substantial growth and earned excellent reputations under her management. Lorna holds a B.A. from Wellesley College, an M.B.A. from Cornell University, and completed a fellowship at Stanford University’s Executive Program for Nonprofit Leaders. She was a founding board member for the National Network of Schools in Partnership, and is currently a member of NationSwell Council, IMPACT Fairfield County, and Social Venture Partners of CT.
Nicholas S. Thacher
Nick Thacher recently retired after 12 years as Head of Dedham Country Day School, which launched an affiliate Horizons program during his tenure there. For 21 years he led New Canaan Country School, where he was an active Board member of the first Horizons Student Enrichment Program. A former Board President of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, the Elementary School Heads Association, and the Dublin (NH) School, he also served for many years on the Executive Council of the National Association of Principals of Schools for Girls as well as on the Blue Ribbon Schools National Review Panel of the U.S. Department of Education.
Daniel Yih
Daniel "Dan" Yih is recently retired but spent his career in operations, asset management, and investment. Dan spent the past 17 years with Starwood Capital Group, a global private investment firm with a primary focus in real estate, serving in various roles including Global Chief Operating Officer, Chief Investment Officer-Europe, and most recently as President, Starwood Outdoors. Prior to Starwood, Dan worked with GTCR LLC, a leading private equity firm. Dan was also CEO of BR Guest Restaurants and the CFO of Welbilt Corporation and Midway Airlines. He currently serves on the Board of Rush Street Interactive. Dan was previously Chair of The Thacher School Board and a member of the boards of Starwood Hotels and Resorts and Anne Inc. Dan received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Stanford University; JD degree from the University of Chicago Law School; and MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Dan and his wife Nancy live in Jackson, Wyoming.
William D. Young, III
Currently Vice President of Research & Development, Engineering, & Quality at Pylon Manufacturing in Florida, Will Young has over twenty years experience in corporate automotive engineering with a core focus in Product Design, Product Development, Program Management, Quality Management & manufacturing process improvement. Will is listed as Inventor/co-inventor on 10 + US Patents and 2 International Patents relating to automotive products released in the automotive retail & original equipment markets. He has served as Board President of the Winans Academy of Performing Arts, a Public Charter School Academy in Detroit, MI, and volunteered in the Detroit Public Schools for many years, teaching engineering labs for students in grades 3-5. Will is also active in community outreach and youth ministry in his local church in Florida.