Richard L. Bayles, Board President
Rockefeller & Co., Inc.
Richard currently works as a Senior Portfolio Manager for Rockefeller & Co., Inc.
Prior to joining Rockefeller& Co., Inc., Richard first joined U.S Trust in May of 1984 but spent three years at John W Bristol, an investment management company from 1987 to 1990. He rejoined U.S. Trust in August of 1990 and worked there until the winter of 2009.
Prior to 1984 he worked at several investment firms from 1971 to 1984. He first became involved in education when he served in the Peace Corps in Kenya from January 1968 to February 1971.
Richard served as the treasurer for the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center from 1992 to 1994. From 1984 to 2006 he served as Vestryman, Treasurer, and Warden of St. Bartholomew’s Church and is currently Co-Chair of St. Bartholomew’s Capital Campaign.
Richard received his B.A. in English in 1966 from Dartmouth College.
Randolph A. Ford, Board Vice-President
New York City Department of Education
Randolph Ford currently works as principal of P.S. 131 in Jamaica, Queens. He has continuously worked for the NYC DOE for more than 28 years.
Randolph A. Ford was born to Edith and William Ford on June 21, 1954 in Washington, D.C. At the age of two, his family relocated to Springfield Gardens, N.Y. Randolph began his schooling at P.S. 132, Queens. Upon graduating, he went on to junior high school in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands and returned to the United States to complete his high school experience at Springfield Gardens High School. After receiving his high school diploma in 1972, he went on to attend City College and completed his studies by receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in the area of Biology in 1977.
In September of 1978, Randolph began his teaching career at Junior High School 231, Queens. Over the next 12 years, he taught Art, Technology and Science and spearheaded many initiatives that encouraged academic excellence and student involvement. During this time in 1983, he completed his Master Degree in the area of Administration and Supervision from Baruch College and in September 1986 he advanced his professional career by receiving an assignment as Assistant Principal at Junior High School 231. In 1990, Randolph accepted a new assignment, which would bring him full circle in another capacity in the years to come – Assistant Principal at P.S. 131, Queens.
Over the next ten years, Randolph accepted other professional challenges, which gave him the opportunity to experience other Interim-Acting Administrative positions and also be Assistant to the Superintendent of District 29 in 1992. In September 2003 he returned to P.S. 131 as the appointed Principal and he holds the recognition of leading the number one performing school in District 29 in the area of Literacy and Mathematics.
Randolph is a member of the Council of School Supervisors and Administrators and recently completed the FBI Citizen’s Academy. He is a member of the Progressive Baptist Church. Randolph’s integrity and commitment to excellence continues to be an inspiration not only to his students, but to his family as well.
Christopher Doyle, Board Secretary
Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP
Christopher J. Doyle has a broad corporate and securities law practice, with particular focus on mergers and acquisitions as well as public and private securities offerings and financings. Mr. Doyle advises public companies and boards of directors on corporate governance and securities law compliance matters. He also represents issuers, underwriters and agents in a variety of debt and equity offerings, including IPOs, PIPES, registered direct offerings and Regulation S/144A transactions. Mr. Doyle has an extensive knowledge of structured securities, both equity- and credit-linked, the environmental credits market and foreign securities laws.
Rev. Kevin D. Bean
All Saints Church
The Rev. Kevin D. Bean has been the Rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester, MA since March, 2008, and presently serves on the Boards of Worcester Community Housing Resources, Inc., Worcester Interfaith, and the Founding Group of the Spirit of Knowledge Academy Charter School ( http://www.sokacs.org/). Prior to that, he was the Vicar of St. Bartholomew's Church in mid-town Manhattan. In that capacity, he was a co-founder of both Manhattan Together (a borough-wide, congregation-based community organizing project affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation), and VOICE Charter School of New York. Kevin remains on the VOICE Board of Directors. Prior to that, Kevin had a 26-year background as a parish priest and professional community organizer.
Lorraine Cecere
New Leaders for New Schools
Lorraine currently serves as a Leadership Coach Specialist with New Leaders for New Schools. She coaches New Leaders residents and post residents in creating and leading effective schools in NYC that are focused on high academic achievement for all students Lorraine was also Principal of PS 166 in Queens for 15 years. This was a large multiethnic elementary school. When she retired in 2003 her school was rated one of the top 200 schools in NYC. Lorraine holds multiple degrees from Saint John’s University and Queens College.
Lorraine’s other positions include District Reading and Math Coordinator, Teacher Grades 1-4, Instructor, Baruch University, Instructor, Saint John’s University, and Instructor and Selector for the New York City Teaching Fellows.
Gordon H. Clem
Math Workshop at Dana Hall
Gordon Clem is currently retired. He holds a B.A. from Trinity College, 1953. And completed graduate work at Clark University, Syracuse University, and Teachers College. For 41 years, (1955-1995), Gordon served on the faculty of St. Thomas Choir School in New York City. He first worked as a coach and teacher of math. For the last 29 years of his tenure, he taught math and was the headmaster of the school. The unifying and very positive influence of singing on the education of the children was quite obvious.
Gordon also served on the board of the Children’s Storefront School in Harlem. The school served a needy and deserving population. There was a strong emphasis on the arts in the school. The arts contributed much to the learning environment in the school. Gordon was one of the founding board members of the Student Opportunity Project, which placed inner city students in independent schools in New York City and in boarding schools, principally in New England.
Gordon has served as a consultant or instructor for the following: The National Science Foundation,The National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, Friends Council on Education, Wesleyan University, Syracuse University, The University of Massachusetts, The National Assessment of Educational Progress, Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools, Northwest Regional Laboratories, International Schools of Europe Colorado Association of Independent Schools, and C.G.A. Associates.
Gordon has also served on the boards of the following organizations: Berkshire Country Day School (MA) (1996-2004), The Bement School (MA) (1980-1983), St. Luke’s School (NY) (1985-1995), The Day School (NY) (1997-1979), Bethlehem Day Nursery (NY) (1975-1995), The National Association of Independent Schools (1980-1990), The New York State Association of Independent Schools (1985-1995), The Educational Records Bureau (1990-1995), The Journal of Children’s Mathematical Behavior (1979-present), The Association of Teachers in Independent Schools (1970-1980), The Commission on Educational Issues (1982-1987), and Greater Boston Teachers Center (1986-1989).
Marc Cohen
New York Mercantile Exchange
Marc Cohen graduated from Washington University in 1986 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He has been trading commodity options for the past 20 years. Marc is a member of the New York Mercantile Exchange and the Intercontinential Exchange and has served on numerous committees within these exchanges. He has always been interested in school reform and joined the VOICE Board in October of 2009. Marc currently serves on the Audit committee.
Robert de Luna
United Hospital Fund
As director of public information, Bob is responsible for media relations and a range of internal and external communications needs at United Hospital Fund, a health services research and philanthropic organization whose mission is to shape positive change in health care for the people of New York. He joined the Fund in 2005.
Immediately before, Bob served as director of marketing and communications at The Mount Sinai Medical Center, where he coordinated and oversaw a comprehensive program for the hospital and medical school. Bob also served as communications director for the merged Mount Sinai NYU Health and, before that, for NYU Hospitals Center.
Bob began his health care communications experience in 1994 at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (since renamed), serving initially as director of publications, but ultimately leading all components of the hospital’s public relations office. He coordinated a range of communications efforts related to the merger that created NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Bob currently serves as president of the Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society of Greater New York.
Bob’s previous work experience includes running his own tutoring and test preparation company and a very early five-year career as a foreign currency exchange broker and trader.
The valedictorian of his Columbia University undergraduate class, Bob went on to do graduate work at Stanford University and NYU.
Raymond A. McGarrigle, Chairman of the Finance Committee
Park Avenue Christian Church
Raymond A. McGarrigle is the General Manager of the Park Avenue Christian Church. Ray is responsible for working with staff and lay leaders to support the mission of the congregation.
Ray moved from Western Massachusetts to New York City thirteen years ago to become the General Manager of St. Bartholomew’s Church at Park Avenue and 51st Street. During that time he was responsible for the growth of the church programs and enterprises. While he was at St. Bart’s attendance grew to an average of over 1,000 weekly and revenue grew from $1,500,000 to $8,500,000.
Prior to that, he served as the Managing Partner of a regional CPA firm that specialized in dealing with entrepreneurs. He served on the Vestry and was Junior Warden and Senior Warden of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Holyoke. He was a member of the Stewardship Advisory Service and chaired the Clergy and Laity Compensation Commission for the Diocese of Western Massachusetts.
He has served on the board and as treasurer for a variety of community organizations among them Holyoke Hospital, Springfield Symphony, Save the Mountain Park Merry-Go-Round and the Hartford Seminary. He presently serves on the boards of the Center for Religious Inquiry, the VOICE Charter School and the Kenya Water Project.
Gretchen Pusch
Professional Flutist
Flutist Gretchen Pusch was winner of the Artist International Competition. She has appeared in recital and as concerto soloist throughout North America, Europe and Asia. She is a member of the Dorian Wind Quintet, an active freelance musician in New York City and has been heard on radio, television and recordings. Formerly on the faculty of Rutgers University, Ms. Pusch currently serves on the flute faculty of the Juilliard School's Music Advancement Program and the International Festival Institute at Round Top and is a teaching artist for The Academy (a joint program of Carnegie Hall, Juilliard School and Weill Music Institute).
Currently, a professional freelance flutist and flute teacher in New York City, 1980-present. She has performed with the American Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera Guild, New Jersey Symphony, New York Symphonic Ensemble, Philharmonia Virtuosi, Riverside Symphony, Aspen Music Festival, Spoleto Music Festival, and Broadway Shows. In Chamber Music, she has performed with the Dorian Quintet, Flute Force, and the Musicians Accord.
Gretchen has a BM (flute) from Boston University and has studied with Julius Baker, James Pappoutsakis, Keith Underwood. Her prizes include Artist International Competition, Boston University Trustee Scholarship, and Pi Kappa Lambda.
She has taught at the Juilliard School, Music Advancement Program, International Festival Institute at Round Top, and Rutgers University. Gretchen has recordings published by CRI, VAI, Innova, Newport Classic, Panasonic Japan, Windham Hill.
Arthur Stainmam
First Manhattan Bank
Arthur Stainman currently serves as a Senior Managing Director of First Manhattan Co., a New York City-based investment firm founded in 1964. His responsibilities include management of investments for high net worth individuals and for institutions.
Additionally, he manages a fund, which specializes in the securities of financial institutions. Since 2001, Mr. Stainman has been a director of United Neighborhood Houses, which is a membership organization for New York City settlement houses and community centers. UNH’s membership comprises one of the largest human service systems in the city, serving more than half a million New Yorkers.
Mr. Stainman, since 2005, has been a member of the board of directors of Ark Restaurant Corp., a publicly traded company, which operates restaurants in New York City and around the country.
He is also the trustee of Rider University in Lawrenceville, N.J., from which he graduated in 1965.