New York

BUILD NYC

3,300

Students Served

298

Mentors

326

Youth Businesses

36

Teachers Trained

PROBLEM:

A student’s opportunity is too often limited by their zip code, race and class.

the build story
IN NYC

BUILD launched its transformative program in New York City in 2016. Since then, we have expanded to serve over 700 students at nine middle and high schools in all five boroughs. In 2024, our first class of BUILD alumni will graduate from college. We can’t wait to see what these remarkable young men and women will achieve.

Hamid

Hamid launched and ran one of BUILD NYC’s most successful businesses. Today, he is a junior at Columbia University.
watch his story

Eddie

Through BUILD, Eddie was introduced to a new world of opportunities. Now he brings the lessons he learned to all aspects of life.

watch his story

Bianca

She has developed a product called “Stress Relief Bands.” Bianca refers to herself as the “little CEO” of her BUILD NYC Student Team.

watch her story

Frejoel

At first, Frejoel was a quiet student, afraid to speak English. Since BUILD, he’s grown into a confident entrepreneur.

 

watch his story

Thank You to Our Partners

  • All
  • Angel $10K+
  • Bay Area
  • Boston
  • Catalyst $100K+
  • D.C. Metro Area
  • Incubator $50K+
  • New York City
  • Visionary $20K+

updates & events

BUILD.org Hosts Youth Entrepreneurship Competitions Nationwide to Celebrate 25 Years of Empowering Youth and Educators

As BUILD.org embarks on its 25th year, it proudly showcases the next generation of entrepreneurial changemakers through its innovative BUILDFest events in Bay Area, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, Washington, DC, Boston, and New York City over the next month. BUILD, a national nonprofit organization, is on a mission to use entrepreneurship to ignite the potential of youth from under-resourced communities, enabling them to build career success, entrepreneurial mindsets, and opportunity. BUILDFest events serve as vibrant celebrations of the transformational power of youth entrepreneurship, redefining education and creating opportunities for middle and high school students in under-resourced communities.
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Join us at BUILDFest NYC on June 5th for our year-end celebration!

A night celebrating a legacy of BUILDing entrepreneurial leaders and transforming communities.  BUILDFest, our culminating event of the year, celebrates the accomplishments of student entrepreneurs from across New York City. […]
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 In the Pink Produce take home first place at JobFirstNYC’s My City, My Community Pitch Competition

BUILDFest champions In the Pink Produce takes home first place at JobFirstNYC’s My City, MyCommunity Pitch Competition BUILD NYC entrepreneurs shined at JobsFirstNYC’s My City, My Community Pitch Competition, a […]
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Our BUILDFest NYC Champions! An Evening to Remember!

From the Student Marketplace to Pitch Competition, our students were the brightest stars in the room at BUILDFest NYC this past Wednesday evening! Thank you to everyone who joined us […]
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BUILD Showcases Youth Entrepreneurship Competitions Across The Nation For Cash Prizes and Start-Up Funds

Official Press Release Redwood City, CA – April 19, 2023 – BUILD.org showcases the next generation of entrepreneurial student leaders and changemakers through its innovative BUILDFest events around the Nation […]
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Sybil Mimy Wells joins BUILD as NYC Regional Director

New York, NY (January 26, 2022) – BUILD is thrilled to announce and welcome Sybil Mimy Wells as the new NYC Regional Executive Director. Sybil brings many years of experience […]
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the BUILD Nyc team

Regional Teams
Associate Board
Advisory Board
Sybil Mimy Wells
Regional Executive Director
NYC and Metro DC

Sybil Mimy Wells

Position: Regional Executive Director, NYC and Metro DC
Email: swells@build.org
Kenya George
Program Director

Kenya George

Position: Program Director
Email: kgeorge@build.org
Kenya is a dynamic community organizer and youth developer committed to the transformation and upliftment of youth, young adults and their families.  She currently serves as Program Director with BUILD NYC. Prior to build, Kenya spent over a decade with University Settlement,  a nonprofit that provides services throughout University Settlement. As Community School Director, Kenya led a team of professionals in planning and implementing enrichment programs for youth, young adults and families, building relationships with stakeholders in the community, and raising funding to sustain and propel youth development forward. Kenya holds a B.A. in psychology from Barnard College, a Masters of Social Work from Hunter College.
Pamela Minetti
DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY

Pamela Minetti

Position: DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY
Email: pMinetti@build.org
Pam has spent the majority of her career in the financial services sector where she worked at a range of boutique and bulge bracket firms including Lehman Brothers, Merrill Lynch and Mogavero, Lee. Her diverse experience encompasses investment banking, institutional sales and marketing. She has always been passionate about educational equity and child and family welfare and has served as a mentor and nonprofit board member for over twenty years. In 2017, Pam joined the BUILD NYC team where she is responsible for all fundraising activities. Pam graduated from the University of Virginia with Highest Distinction and received her MBA from Columbia Business School.
Decota Letman
Director of Strategic Partnerships

Decota Letman

Position: Director of Strategic Partnerships
Email: dletman@build.org
A graduate of Howard University with a background in Communications. Decota was born and raised in the Bronx by way of Jamaica. Hailing from a single parent home and growing up in one of the most disenfranchised communities in New York City, Decota has experienced the affects of living and surviving in an under served community. Working with students that look like her and live in the same area she grew up in brings joy to Decota's heart knowing she can share her experience with others. It is for this very reason she BUILDS. Combining nine years of experience in communications in the entertainment, arts, and lifestyle space and five years in community engagement. Decota joined the BUILD NYC team as its Community Engagement Manager, and is now the Director of Strategic Partnerships, NYC .  In her spare time she enjoys listening to music, grounding, traveling and experiencing all the world has to offer. She would ultimately like to create safe spaces for students in under-resourced communities to fully exercise their potential and be given the same opportunities as their counterparts.
Timothy Ruffin
Senior Program Manager

Timothy Ruffin

Position: Senior Program Manager
Email: truffin@build.org
Timothy Ruffin joins the BUILD NYC team after years of classroom and curriculum writing experience at the high school, college and non-profit levels. As an entrepreneur and educator himself, Timothy believes that success in the 21st century will be achieved by those students who have learned the essential skills to develop their own businesses, while constantly pursuing academic achievement because they will be able to adapt to life's challenges regardless of any societal issues. As a person who was able to overcome the many pitfalls of growing up in an underserved community, Timothy is committed to ensuring that every BUILD student has the opportunity to grow, prosper and make systemic changes in their communities. Timothy holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University in African American history and two master's degrees, one in the social sciences and the other in education.
Jazmin Moreno
Entrepreneurship Program Manager

Jazmin Moreno

Position: Entrepreneurship Program Manager
Justin Lokossou
STUDENT EXPERIENCE PROGRAM MANAGER (E2)

Justin Lokossou

Position: STUDENT EXPERIENCE PROGRAM MANAGER (E2)
Residing in Harlem, New York by way of Benin, West Africa. Justin Lokossou has spent the majority of his life in the service to students. As a curriculum designer, educator, academic advisor, and fencing instructor, Justin has worked with students from grades K through 12, and has since focused his passion towards working with high school students. He enjoys long walks on the beach, riding his bicycle, judo, lying about enjoying walks on the beach (he and sand do not get along, the sand knows what it did), and writing amusing biographies about himself. This is amusing bio #8. Justin hopes to bring his love of writing, poetry, fantasy fiction, music and comic culture into designing an engaging curriculum for BUILD that will help students not only see themselves in their lesson, but fulfill and exceed their own expectations of how great they can become. 
Naya Samuel
Community Engagement Manager
NYC

Naya Samuel

Position: Community Engagement Manager, NYC
Email: nsamuel@build.org
Naya Samuel is a native New Yorker, experienced community organizer and writer. She joins the Build NYC team with over a decade of experience working across performing arts and digital media industries, including positions at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The Intercept, Field of Vision, TOPIC Studios, and more. She's regularly contributed to Sports Illustrated via Empower Onyx, covering the stories of Black women in sports; and manages the community music collective CORPUS Family, focusing on free community programming, youth initiatives, local artist support, and overall fundraising, through the lens of music education in NYC. She works with a vested interest in the intersections of Black culture and liberation locally and globally; hyper-local community organizing and amplifying the next generation of New Yorkers; and emergent strategies that mobilize and empower marginalized groups, especially Black femmes, and trans and queer youth. She's excited to join BUILD to provide tangible access and resources, help young people re-imagine and refine their own skill sets; and to create truly intersectional, intentional spaces for young folks to foster their own communities. She also loves traveling, reading, cooking Trinidadian food, and spending time with her dog Roti.
Maria Raftelis
Grant Writer
New York City and California

Maria Raftelis

Position: Grant Writer, New York City and California
Email: mraftelis@build.org
Maria Raftelis has more than a decade of fundraising experience in education. Before joining BUILD, Maria served as Associate Director of Foundation Relations at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. In this role, she oversaw fundraising for the Center of Radiological Research (CRR) and worked with medical faculty across the College to raise funds for research. Prior to Columbia University, Maria served as Grant Writer at the City College Fund, the fundraising organization of the City College of New York (CCNY). During my nine year tenure at the City College Fund, Maria expanded the College’s portfolio of institutional donors to double institutional giving.  Maria resides in the Bronx with her husband and son. A graduate of the New York City public school system, Maria believed every student should have access to an excellent education that inspires them to dream and achieve their full potential. Maria holds a Bachelor’s degree in Individualized Studies from New York University and a Master’s degree in Social Science from the University of Chicago.
Katie Ambrose *Co-Chair*
Business Marketing
Reddit

Katie Ambrose

Position: Business Marketing, Reddit
Ian Mabie *Co-Chair*
Senior Product Manager
Current

Ian Mabie

Position: Senior Product Manager, Current
Kelly Augustine
Entrepreneur
KellyAugustine.com

Kelly Augustine

Position: Entrepreneur, KellyAugustine.com
Brock Ballard
Investment Executive
CVC Capital Partners

Brock Ballard

Position: Investment Executive, CVC Capital Partners
Haley Baron
Vice President
JP Morgan Asset Management

Haley Baron

Position: Vice President, JP Morgan Asset Management
Matthew Barton
Associate Creative Director
Mullen Lowe

Matthew Barton

Position: Associate Creative Director, Mullen Lowe
Nicholine Bach
Manager
Hubspot

Nicholine Bach

Position: Manager, Hubspot
Gifty Boakye
Entrepreneur
Afrofuture

Gifty Boakye

Position: Entrepreneur, Afrofuture
Rashan Brown
Founder + Product Manager
poetry me
please + Disney/ESPN

Rashan Brown

Position: Founder + Product Manager, poetry me, please + Disney/ESPN
Michael Cianciotta
Director of Strategy and Transactions
EY-Parthenon

Michael Cianciotta

Position: Director of Strategy and Transactions, EY-Parthenon
Michael Cianciotta is a Senior Associate at EY where he consults financial institutions on growth, integration, and business planning through mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. He previously worked as a consultant at Capco focusing on the Capital Markets space. Michael is passionate about entrepreneurship and utilizing his experience to enhance the education of young entrepreneurs. Michael studied Finance and Economics at the Boston University Questrom School of Business.
Rosie Johnson Conneely
Vice President
Marketing
Blackstone

Rosie Johnson Conneely

Position: Vice President, Marketing, Blackstone
Alex Eacker
Learning Designer
Multiverse

Alex Eacker

Position: Learning Designer, Multiverse
Akene Farmer-Michos
Specialist
Adobe

Akene Farmer-Michos

Position: Specialist, Adobe
Rena Ferrara
Research Coordinator
NYU Langone Health

Rena Ferrara

Position: Research Coordinator, NYU Langone Health
Jessie Goldman
Partnerships
Cofertility

Jessie Goldman

Position: Partnerships, Cofertility
Yash Jain
Co-founder
ForagerOne

Yash Jain

Position: Co-founder, ForagerOne
Camille Gray
Market Development & Insights Professional
IBM

Camille Gray

Position: Market Development & Insights Professional, IBM
Sebastian Hooker
Senior Customer Engineer
Google Cloud at Google

Sebastian Hooker

Position: Senior Customer Engineer, Google Cloud at Google
Daniel Iglesias
Technology Investor
APAX

Daniel Iglesias

Position: Technology Investor, APAX
Andrew Jasen
Finance and Operations Manager
FinLync

Andrew Jasen

Position: Finance and Operations Manager, FinLync
Ethan Kessinger
Director of Product
Real World

Ethan Kessinger

Position: Director of Product, Real World
Arushi Kewalramani
Analyst
Apax Digital

Arushi Kewalramani

Position: Analyst, Apax Digital
Cristen Koufakis
Global Marketing
Executive Office
Goldman Sachs

Cristen Koufakis

Position: Global Marketing, Executive Office, Goldman Sachs
Priya Krishnan
Manager
Something New

Priya Krishnan

Position: Manager, Something New
Ajay Menon
Analyst
Apax Digital

Ajay Menon

Position: Analyst, Apax Digital
Greg Minetti
Director of Corporate Development
Togetherwork LLC

Greg Minetti

Position: Director of Corporate Development, Togetherwork LLC
Greg Minetti is an Associate on Togetherwork’s Corporate Development team where he works on the Company’s Mergers & Acquisitions strategy. Specifically, Greg is involved with deal sourcing, modeling and financial analysis, market research and deal diligence. Prior to joining Togetherwork, Greg worked in Advertising Sales at AMC Networks. Greg is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and History. In his spare time, Greg enjoys going to the movies, running, reading and watching sports.
Ike Oji
Strategic Analysis
Oncology at Regeneron

Ike Oji

Position: Strategic Analysis, Oncology at Regeneron
Rameen Rama
Investor
Samsung Next

Rameen Rama

Position: Investor, Samsung Next
Deshawn Ross
Software Engineer
Etsy

Deshawn Ross

Position: Software Engineer, Etsy
Raquel Scott
Investment Consultant
The Social Entrepreneurs’ Fund

Raquel Scott

Position: Investment Consultant, The Social Entrepreneurs’ Fund
Sami Soma
Strategic Partnerships
Google

Sami Soma

Position: Strategic Partnerships, Google
Sami Soma is a Partner Lead at Google, working on Advertising and Marketing strategies for large clients within the Consumer Packaged Goods industry. Prior to her role at Google, Sami worked at L’Oreal on digital media efforts across the Luxury product division. She has also held roles in Finance and Marketing across L’Oreal Paris, Active Cosmetics Division and Lancome. Sami graduated from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business with an emphasis in Finance and Marketing where her passion for supporting under-resourced schools began. Since graduating she has volunteered with various organizations such as The Posse Foundation, The Exodus Foundation and iMentor.
Claire Storment
GM
Nogin

Claire Storment

Position: GM, Nogin
Wickel Titalom
Head of Partnerships
Grailed

Wickel Titalom

Position: Head of Partnerships, Grailed
Jai Toor
Product Manager
Datafold

Jai Toor

Position: Product Manager, Datafold
Pete Van Oot
Director
Dasher Retention Marketing
DoorDash

Pete Van Oot

Position: Director, Dasher Retention Marketing, DoorDash
Jake Wieseneck
Principal at Maniv Mobility

Jake Wieseneck

Position: Principal at Maniv Mobility
Cornell Yarbrough
DJ
iHeartRadio

Cornell Yarbrough

Position: DJ, iHeartRadio
Jason Yen
Vice President
Mergers & Acquisitions
Citi

Jason Yen

Position: Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions, Citi
Mike Portegello *Chair*
Partner
Northeast Region Growth Markets Leader
Ernst & Young LLP

Mike Portegello

Position: Partner, Northeast Region Growth Markets Leader, Ernst & Young LLP
Mike Portegello is an Assurance Partner at Ernst & Young LLP, where he brings more than 30 years of international and domestic experience in public accounting serving publicly traded companies with operations in both the US and abroad. Currently, he serves as the Northeast Region Strategic Growth Markets (SGM) Leader to provide services that help companies navigate the various aspects of a growth-oriented enterprise. SGM is a global network of EY professionals advising the full spectrum of dynamic, fast-moving and groundbreaking companies around the world, including VC-backed/private equity companies and their investors, large private and family enterprises, IPO-bound companies, and public companies in the Russell 3000 and 2000 indexes.​ ​ Throughout his career, Mike has worked with clients in New York and California, as well as internationally. He has served US registrants and foreign private issuers on SEC matters including initial public offerings (IPOs), public and private debt offerings, quarterly and annual filings, acquisitions, divestitures, and stock registrations. ​ ​ Previously, he provided overall management and led high performing teams to deliver audit services to New York State and Connecticut area clients. He continues to work closely with multinational organizations as well as high growth phase companies in the software/technology, media and entertainment, and leasing industries.​ ​ Prior to this role, Mike served as Strategic Growth Markets Leader for New York, leading a multidisciplinary team of dedicated professionals in providing perspective to and advising our emerging, IPO-bound, entrepreneurial clients on accelerating their growth. In addition, he has served as a Co-Director of the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year New York program. ​ Mike graduated Suma Cum Laude from St. John’s University and received his MBA from the Leonard N. Stern School of Business at NYU.
Antonio Aponte
Chief Accounting Officer
Attentive

Antonio Aponte

Position: Chief Accounting Officer, Attentive
Roger Barton
Managing Partner
Barton LLP

Roger Barton

Position: Managing Partner, Barton LLP
Roger is the founder and Managing Partner of Barton LLP, a law firm of over 30 attorneys practicing across most areas of business law. Roger is widely published and speaks nationally and internationally on law firm innovation, the practice of law as a business, and forming partnering relationships with clients. Barton LLP was recently featured by Law360 in an article entitled Giving Big Law a Run for Its Money as one of “10 boutiques that have established brands on par with the biggest of firms” who are “capable of competing with – and beating – the best big firms at the highest level” and by Acquisition International as among “Ones to Watch: The Best Boutique Law Firms.” ​ Roger’s practice is mostly high-stakes commercial litigation, but he also enjoys his role as outside General Counsel and adviser to many of the entrepreneurial clients of his firm. He is rated by The American Lawyer, Corporate Counsel Magazine and the National Law Journal as one of the Top Commercial Litigators in the United States. He is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, the invitation-only trial lawyer honorary society limited to less than one-half of one percent of lawyers in America and has been selected as a Super Lawyer in Thompson Reuters’ annual survey of the top 5% of lawyers in the New York Metro Area every year since 2013. He holds an “AV Preeminent” rating, the highest rating in the legal profession for professional excellence and ethical standards, as determined by the peer review of judges and lawyers conducted by Martindale.​ Prior to founding Barton LLP, Roger was with Sidley Austin in New York. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, AB Honors College, and has a JD from Fordham University School of Law.
Courtney Bernabei
Director
Integrated Marketing Strategy-Partnerships
Silicon Valley Bank

Courtney Bernabei

Position: Director, Integrated Marketing Strategy-Partnerships, Silicon Valley Bank
Courtney is a marketing leader with over 18 years of experience. She's led accounts at various advertising agencies managing internal and external client marketing needs – from strategy evolution through to creative development and execution across all mediums. Some of her key clients include; Northrop Grumman, Amazon, Walmart, LEGO, ConAgra, Samsung, and NBA. In 2017 Courtney co-founded PAL, a childcare tech platform, which was acquired in 2019. In 2021 she joined the Techstars NY Accelerator as the Marketing Expert in Residence where she advised early-stage startups on branding and marketing. Courtney holds an MBA from Columbia University and a BA from Denison University and is currently at Silicon Valley Bank as the Integrated Marketing Strategy Director for Partnerships.   Courtney has a career that spans contributing as a Marketing Expert in Residency at Techstars, founding a company that was acquired in 2019 and leading digital marketing engagements with clients while working on the agency-side.  Courtney graduated from Columbia Business School - attending business school part-time while juggling a full-time job and starting a company. She is currently at Silicon Valley Bank as the Integrated Marketing Strategy Director for Partnerships.
Carlton J. Charles
Senior Vice President
Treasury & Risk Management
Hearst

Carlton J. Charles

Position: Senior Vice President, Treasury & Risk Management, Hearst
Carlton Charles, Vice President, and Treasurer, Hearst, serves as global treasurer, oversees Risk Management and Insurance, leads the company’s Risk Working Group and is on the Board of Advisors of Hearst Labs, Hearst’s platform for nurturing and grooming early-stage, women-led companies. Carlton has demonstrated financial acumen through a 30-year career in treasury and risk management. Carlton was an early architect of the Enterprise Risk Management program for Moody’s Corporation, a SEC regulated company and one of the largest rating agencies in the world. Carlton regularly reported to the Moody’s board on treasury and enterprise risk topics.​ Carlton also developed the operational risk management program for Hearst and is chair of the company’s Risk Working Group. Among the focus areas for the group are cybersecurity and data privacy. Carlton has created an annual risk summit which is an annual convening of CFOs and CTOs from across Hearst’s businesses. Prior to Moody’s, Carlton held increasingly responsible positions in treasury and risk management for International Paper, Joseph E. Seagram and Sons, Viacom and Philip Morris. ​ Carlton currently serves on the Board of Advisors of Hearst Lab, has been working with a group of professionals to establish a business accelerator in Upper Manhattan and The Bronx, was recently on the Board of Trustees of St. Thomas Aquinas College and previously served on The Board of the Bronx Preparatory Charter School.​ ​Carlton holds an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago and a Masters in Public Policy and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from SUNY at Stony Brook.
Megan DeCesaris
Audit Partner
Ernst & Young LLP

Megan DeCesaris

Position: Audit Partner, Ernst & Young LLP
Matt Doherty
Co-Founder
ResoluteAI

Matt Doherty

Position: Co-Founder, ResoluteAI
Matt brings to BUILD NYC a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship and technology leadership. Matt is the founder of ResoluteAI, a venture-backed SaaS startup building enterprise search solutions for R&D organizations. Prior to Resolute, Matt founded ZergNet, an ad-tech startup currently serving over a billion ads daily. Earlier in his career, he was the VP of Engineering for Fina Technologies, where he built trading systems using machine learning. He has also lectured at NYU on machine learning and other computer science topics. Matt is passionate about advocating for children and underserved communities. He is a former board member of the Child Care Resource Center, a nonprofit helping families find and afford quality child care. Matt has also often served as a volunteer tutor for high school and middle school children in New York City through organizations such as New York Cares. Matt received his S.B. and M.Eng. degrees in computer science from MIT.  
John H. Lee
COO
Divvy Homes

John H. Lee

Position: COO, Divvy Homes
Alyssa Lim-Sweet
CAO
Global Business Manager
Wholesale Operations
Nomura

Alyssa Lim-Sweet

Position: CAO, Global Business Manager, Wholesale Operations, Nomura
Nicolas Lirette
Advisor

Nicolas Lirette

Position: Advisor
NICOLAS LIRETTEVice President, American Express Nic most recently served as President at American Express, serving as Chief of Staff for the head of the Consumer business. He was responsible for a range of business planning and strategic activities and partners with leaders across the organization, from country managers globally to c-suite partners. Prior to this role, Nic worked in the Merchant business where he played a central role in the launch of EMV chip cards and contactless payments and helped improve customer satisfaction globally. Prior to American Express, Nic worked in investment banking at UBS and investment management at Wellington Management. ​ Nic holds an MBA degree from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University. Originally from Canada, Nic speaks French fluently. Nic lives in New York with his wife, son, and daughter.​ ​
Camille Peaks
Vice President
Integrated Sales and Marketing
Olympics and Paralympics
NBC

Camille Peaks

Position: Vice President, Integrated Sales and Marketing, Olympics and Paralympics, NBC
   
Zach Riedy
Partner
TCV

Zach Riedy

Position: Partner, TCV
Sean Robertson
Vice President
Direct to Scale
NBC

Sean Robertson

Position: Vice President, Direct to Scale, NBC
Scorpio Rogers
Vice President
Assistant Dean
Mercy College

Scorpio Rogers

Position: Vice President, Assistant Dean, Mercy College
Scorpio Rogers is an Assistant Dean and Assistant Professor at Mercy College in the School of Business on the Bronx Campus. He is the Director of Entrepreneurship for the School of Business across all campuses where amongst other things he manages the annual Student-Preneur Conference and Business Plan Competition. He is also the Executive Director of the Mercy Business Incubation Center (MIC) tasked with aiding in the growth of start-up and bourgeoning entrepreneurial businesses. Additionally, he is the advisor to the Mercy chapter of CEO, Collegiate Entrepreneurs' Organization, a student-run organization that fosters entrepreneurship amongst college students.

Isai Serrano
Digital Media and Communications CTE teacher and BUILD Coordinator
Ralph McKee High School

Isai Serrano

Position: Digital Media and Communications CTE teacher and BUILD Coordinator, Ralph McKee High School
Isai started his career in the print industry going from an estimator to production/ outsourcing manager and later a production artist and Account specialist. After working with the top cosmetics, publishing, and entertainment companies, Isai shifted gears and became a CTE teacher in 2009. He has taught graphic arts, financial management and now entrepreneurship and digital marketing through BUILD. His goal is to impact students and help them achieve the potential they have yet to see in themselves. His claim to fame are his students' achievements many of which are now leaders in their respective industries. Currently Isai is a certified work-based learning coordinator providing all the students at Ralph McKee High School opportunities to engage in their career interest though field experiences. 

Naveen Shahani
Principal
Apollo Global Management

Naveen Shahani

Position: Principal, Apollo Global Management
Naveen Shahani is a Principal at Apollo Global Management, where he focuses on the firm’s private equity investments. Prior to Apollo, Naveen worked in the Financial Sponsors Group in the Investment Banking Division of Credit Suisse. He graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Naveen currently serves on the Board of Directors of CEC Entertainment, parent company to Chuck E. Cheese.
Katerina Sokolova
Head of Growth Initiatives
BNY Mellon

Katerina Sokolova

Position: Head of Growth Initiatives, BNY Mellon
Ram Vijayanathan
Head of Internal Audit
Pinterest

Ram Vijayanathan

Position: Head of Internal Audit, Pinterest
Ram Vijayanathan is the Head of Internal Audit at Pinterest, a visual discovery engine with the mission to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love. His responsibilities include helping the organization manage strategic, operational, and financial risk by providing oversight to the internal audit team, developing and executing on the annual audit plan, and supporting the company's Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance efforts. Ram and his team evaluate Pinterest's systems of internal controls and operational efficiency and effectiveness. Before joining Pinterest, Ram was an Internal Audit Director at Facebook, Inc., where he was a part of the corporate audit function and led teams that supported the company's SOX efforts along with managing an operational audit plan. Prior to Facebook, Ram held various positions of increasing scope and responsibility in audit for QVC and American Standard. He has a background in public accounting from Deloitte. Ram has previously served as the President and a board member of the Philadelphia Institute of Internal Auditors and graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.S. in Business Logistics. In his free time, he enjoys watching all Philadelphia sports teams, riding his Peloton, and traveling.  
Sybil Mimy Wells
Regional Executive Director
NYC and Metro DC
BUILD

Sybil Mimy Wells

Position: Regional Executive Director, NYC and Metro DC, BUILD
Email: swells@build.org
Carlos Hernandez
Vice President
Technical Operations
NBCUniversalMedia

Carlos Hernandez

Position: Vice President, Technical Operations, NBCUniversalMedia
Bruce Sandys
Entrepeneur

Bruce Sandys

Position: Entrepeneur
Bruce has been an entrepreneur in New York City for more than 30 years. After graduating from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, he was the co-founder and president of Crescent Communications, which he helped grow into the largest privately-owned pay telephone company in New York City. After selling his payphone route, he attended Stanford Law School. During his time there, he assisted Suzanne McKechnie Klahr during BUILD’s formative stages and had the honor of being one of BUILD’s first mentors. Returning to New York after graduation, Bruce founded BAS Communications, through which he built and then sold one of the largest owner operated ATM portfolios in New York City. His most recent venture was as a co-founder and CFO of a litigation finance provider.
Natalia Villarmán
Founder and CEO
Seen@Work
Director of DEI
Danone NA

Natalia Villarmán

Position: Founder and CEO, Seen@Work, Director of DEI, Danone NA
Natalia is the Founder and CEO of Seen@Work.As Founder and CEO of Seen@Work (seenatwork.com), a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting firm, Natalia Eileen leverages the team she manages to support her clients with all their DEI needs. She develops and facilitates workshops, coaches senior leaders, and builds DEI initiatives related to employee resource groups, executive scorecards, inclusion councils, task forces, diversity reporting, metrics planning, and more. Prior to founding Seen@Work, Natalia worked as a diversity and inclusion strategist and human capital consultant for over seven years through organizations including Deloitte, Facebook, and Teach For America. Natalia graduated from University of Pennsylvania The Wharton School with an MBA in Organizational Effectiveness with an emphasis in Inclusion in the Workplace and from New York University with a BA in History, which included courses in critical race theory and oppressive political structures.

Renaldo Webb
Founder
PetPlate

Renaldo Webb

Position: Founder, PetPlate
Renaldo Webb is Founder and Chief Product Officer at PetPlate. Inspired by his dog Winston, Renaldo founded PetPlate after deciding that he did not want to feed his dog anything less than real food. After making hundreds of batches of home-cooked dog food for Winston and his pup pals, Renaldo decided to launch a pet food brand that he could proudly call his own.  Renaldo graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in Physics, and prior to starting PetPlate worked at LCatterton and McKinsey & Company. He launched PetPlate as a nationwide subscription service in early 2017, following an appearance on the hit TV show Shark Tank.
Andrea Atwell Emeritus
NYC Regional Board Chair
VP eCommerce
L’Oreal USA

Andrea Atwell

Position: NYC Regional Board Chair, VP eCommerce, L’Oreal USA
Andrea Atwell is the Vice President eCommerce for L’Oreal USA. Prior to this position, she was VP of US Market Supply Chain at L’Oreal’s Luxe Division. Her responsibilities included business, demand and supply planning, and customer care, with the vision of leveraging improved supply chain results to drive strategic relationships with L’Oreal’s US customers. Andrea has helped to lead significant planning process initiatives for L’Oreal which has transformed forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory results, including managing the supply chain and human transitions of 3 major acquisitions for L’Oreal USA. Andrea’s efforts helped to shape the partnership between the supply chain and brands in L’Oreal, shifting the culture to drive operational awareness, improved results and competitive advantage. Prior to her 10 years at L’Oreal, Andrea has worked in the medical device and food & beverage industries.​ Andrea has 15 years of supply chain experience and a true passion for leading and developing teams and recognizing and growing talent. She was recognized as a 2015 Visionary Leader by Consumer Goods Technology for her approach in prioritizing people and leadership to drive supply chain results. Andrea’s leadership has demonstrated that by focusing on people and creating a culture of change leaders, no business challenge is insurmountable. Andrea is also a frequent speaker on supply chain planning and talent development.​ ​ Andrea has a BA in Marketing from Michigan State University.
Dan Vallimarescu Emeritus
Founder
Sawtooth Mountain Partners
LLC

Dan Vallimarescu

Position: Founder, Sawtooth Mountain Partners, LLC
Dan is the CEO of an e-learning startup called Nardagani and is involved in a number of other investment and philanthropic activities.​ Prior to that, Dan ran the Americas Debt Capital Markets Group for Santander Investment Securities for 11 years and the Latin America Debt Capital Markets Group, among other businesses, at Merrill Lynch for 13 years. Early in his career, he worked at The World Bank and the Bank of Boston. ​ Dan received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University and his MBA from Insead.

nyc

headquarters

1460 Broadway, New York,
NY 10036, United States

Mailing

1460 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

Contact

NYCVolunteers@build.org
Phone +1 (646) 542-1847

Storytelling

STORYTELLING.

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VIDEO PREPARATION GUIDELINES

HOW TO RECORD

1. iPhone, iPad, Zoom and Loom are all choices of recording tools for their video presentation 
2. Record with both students and their presentation in view
3. Record horizontally for the best view of the students and their presentation
4. Follow Presentation Diagram to the Right

PRESENTATION TIPS.

- Make eye contact with the camera
- Notecards may be used as cue cards
•Pro Tip: Notecards should avoid having a full script
- Even when you are not speaking, don’t forget the camera is still recording!
•Be aware of your body language while you and your business partners are speaking
- Everyone has an opportunity to speak
- Professional dress is encouraged
- Practice makes perfect
•Practice how you will transition from each speaker
•Project your voice when you speak​

Follow positioning format Above

Download a Sample of Our Curriculum

Fill out this form to receive a free sample of our curriculum and to receive occasional email updates on how to bring BUILD to your community.