Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Sebastian Arango

Director, King Street Capital Management

Sebastian Arango is a Director at King Street Capital Management. Previously he was a Vice President in the Restructuring & Reorganization Advisory group at the Blackstone Group. Since joining Blackstone in 2006, Mr. Arango has advised various companies and creditors on a variety of restructuring transactions. Before joining Blackstone, Mr. Arango was an Investment Banking analyst in the Global Power Group and a Fixed Income analyst in the Global Structured Bonds Group at Salomon Smith Barney from 2000 through 2003. Mr. Arango received a B.A. in History and Political Science at Vanderbilt University, where he graduated magna cum laude as a Chancellor’s and Dean’s Select Scholar. Mr. Arango also received a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Mr. Arango is a member of the New York State Bar. Mr. Arango is also a member of the American Council on Germany and was selected to be an American Council on Germany Young Leader in 2007.

Courtney Black

Marketing Finance Manager, Mars, Inc.

Courtney Black is an Associate Brand Manager at Mars, Inc. Prior to this role, he received his MBA from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business where he was a Consortium Fellow, an organization that is committed to increasing the representation of underrepresented minorities in MBA programs and business leadership. Prior to business school, Courtney had a career centered around digital advertising. First, he worked in the sales division of Google working with small businesses as they began advertising on Google’s AdWords platform. Then he worked in search engine marketing for Merkle where he managed the search engine marketing campaigns for clients like Nespresso and Kimpton Hotels. Courtney received his BA in Economics & Italian Studies at Emory University. Courtney was born in Grand Rapids, MI but raised in Clayton County, GA and likes to escape the cold by visiting his family in the South.

Amanda Cahn

Managing Director, Center for Public Research and Leadership at Columbia University

Amanda Cahn is the Managing Director at the Center for Public Research and Leadership (CPRL) at Columbia University. She was formerly an independent consultant working with school districts, state departments of education, and nonprofits; the founding Chief Operating Officer for Public Square Partnership, an education non-profit in Connecticut; and Deputy Chief Portfolio Officer at the New York City Department of Education, responsible for leading the department's work on charter co-locations and school phase-outs and replacements.

Amanda began her career as a high school English teacher. She holds a BA from Rice University in English, Economics, and Managerial Studies, an MA Ed from the University of Phoenix in Secondary Education, and an MBA from Columbia University in Social Enterprise. She is an alumna of Teach For America, TFA's School Systems Leaders Fellowship, and Education Pioneers. She has been a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters for six years.

Mallory Calhoun

Senior Vice President, Macquarie Capital

Mallory Calhoun is Senior Vice President and Business Manager of Macquarie Group’s Americas investment banking division. Since joining Macquarie in 2010, she has been responsible for financial management and strategy of the group and has implemented various projects create operational efficiency. Prior to joining Macquarie, Mallory started her career in the Financial Institutions investment banking group at Wells Fargo. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Washington and Lee University, where she graduated magna cum laude. Mallory is an active member of New York Junior League.

Jonathan Diaz

Management Consulting Associate, KPMG LLC

Jonathan Diaz is currently involved with the Finance Commitee of the Friends of WHEELS board. Jonathan brings a unique set of experiences to the board and is member of WHEELS' second graduating class. After graduating from WHEELS, Jonathan went on to study Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management at the University of Virginia. He now works as a management consultant at KPMG LLP where he focuses his efforts on organizational design initiatives. What attracted Jonathan to the board is his unique position as a WHEELS alumnus and his understanding of the school's needs and of the surrounding neighborhood of Washington Heights.

Ashish Gupta

Senior Software Engineer, Google

Ashish is a Senior Software Engineer at Google NYC. At Google, he currently works on the Virtual and Augmented Reality team, and previously worked on Google Ads. Prior to joining Google, he worked as an equity derivatives trader in Chicago. Ashish received a B.S.E. in Computer Science from Princeton University. There, he was very involved as a tutor, working as a calculus tutor for the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning as well as TA'ing an applied mathematics course for the Princeton Freshman Scholars Institute.

Re: Alma Matter: I went to Princeton for undergrad. There are probably a few contacts that might have potential for partnership development with FOW, but one that comes to mind immediately is FSI (Freshman Scholars Institute). This is an invitation-only summer program for select entering college freshman to take a 2 courses to adjust to the rigor or college courses. Back when I TA'd one of their courses, the students largely came from minority / low-income backgrounds. I don't personally know any of the people involved in the program currently, but I think this would be the most relevant person: https://fsi.princeton.edu/people/khristina-gonzalez

Brett Kimmel

Chief Program Officer College Access and Success, America Achieves

Brett Kimmel is Chief Program Officer, College Access and Success, at America Achieves. In this role, he helps lead CollegePoint, a national initiative designed to significantly move the needle on the number of high performing low and moderate income students attending the best colleges in the country. From 2006-2015 Brett was principal of Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (WHEELS), a high performing public school that he founded in the fall of 2006 in New York City. In 2014 President Barack Obama highlighted the success of WHEELS in two speeches, including the State of the Union Address. From 2002-2006, Brett was Assistant Principal at Intermediate School 143 in the Washington Heights section of Manhattan. Prior to becoming Assistant Principal in 2002, he was the Project Director for Extended Learning Opportunities at New York University’s Metropolitan Center for Urban Education. Brett is a Teach for America alumnus and taught 5th grade in Houston, Texas. He holds a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from New York University. Brett was a 2010 Cahn Fellow for Distinguished New York City Principals at Teachers College, Columbia University and since 2012 he has served on the Board of Directors of Blue Engine, Inc. Brett was featured in Wendy Kopp’s book A Chance to Make History and he and WHEELS have been profiled on NBC’s Today Show and in The New York Times.

Joseph Martinez

Senior Admissions Officer, Barnard College

Joseph Martinez is an Assistant Director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Columbia University in the City of New York. In his role he helps lead the transfer student application process, and works with first year applicants from Western Europe, parts of his home state of Texas, and lower Manhattan. Previously, he was a Senior Admissions Office at Barnard College where he oversaw the College’s international recruitment. However, his journey in higher education began at his alma Mater, Fordham University (FCLC ’11), where he acted as an Assistant Director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions working with students from the central-southern US and northern New Jersey. Through all of his years in higher education Joseph has been committed to access and empowerment through various initiatives in the offices in which he has worked. Before joining the world of college admissions, Joseph spent a year in Mexico City as a Fulbright Scholar working as an Impact Analyst with Education for Sharing, a non-profit that is committed to forming better citizens from childhood through the power of games.

James McGuire

Director of Financial Management, Capital One

Born and Raised in NJ
Went to college at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA
Earned a double major in Finance and Economics
Joined Capital One directly out of college in a Finance Rotation Program
Within the program, had three different roles and worked in the McLean and Richmond offices
After the program, joined the Commercial Finance team and moved up to NYC to support the Commercial Bank
Have supported the Commercial Bank for 9 years in a variety of different finance roles

Married to my wife Kristen, and we’re expecting our first child in February 2019
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, golfing, and trying new restaurants

Carolyn McLean

Director and Deputy Analytical Manager, S&P Global Ratings (Board Chair)

Carolyn is the Analytical Manager of the Local Government East Region. She manages the analytical team that is responsible for credit ratings for cities, counties, school districts, and other municipal ratings in New England and the Mid Atlantic States. Prior to this role, Carolyn was Analytical Manager of the Central Region, as well as a Director and Deputy Analytical Manager in the USPF Education Group at S&P Global. She had analytical responsibility for private and public university, independent school, charter school, and not-for-profit corporation credits throughout the United States. Carolyn served as primary analyst on various high-profile credits, including Cornell University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, The Whitney Museum, and New York University.

Before joining S&P full-time in 2010, Carolyn was a Summer Associate in Public Finance Ratings in 2009 between the first and second years of her graduate studies. Before graduate school, Carolyn worked in fundraising for The New York Public Library, specifically in Corporate Relations and Foundation and Government Grants.

Carolyn holds a Masters in Business Administration with concentrations in Finance and Non Profit Management from the Yale School of Management and a Bachelor’s of Art degree from Hamilton College with concentrations in Art History and Math. Carolyn is the Chair of the Board of Friends of WHEELS, an educational support organization in Washington Heights, is a Young Partner at The Public Theater, and volunteers for New York Cares, the Yale School of Management, and Hamilton College. Carolyn was the 2017 recipient of the Rising Star Award for the Women’s Bond Club of New York also is a member of the Municipal Analyst Group of New York and North East Women in Public Finance.

Joel Perelmuth

Principal, Perelmuth & Associates

Joel Perelmuth, Principal of Perelmuth & Associates, brings over 30 years of experience to assisting clients. A graduate of The City College in New York City (1968), and NYU Graduate School of Public Service (1972), Joel’s public sector experience includes working in the administration of Mayor John Lindsay of New York. Following governmental experience, he was with Citibank as a business manager in their retail consumer businesses, and then with the New York Stock Exchange in charge of Relationship Management with Member Firms. Prior to establishing his own firm, management and marketing consulting firm Perelmuth & Associates, Joel was with the international marketing research and consulting firm of Willard & Shullman. As a public speaker, Joel has led seminars and presented to the International Travel Insurance Association, National Association of Service Managers, American Bankers Association, American Marketing Association, and American Society for Quality. Joel is on the board of Directors of NYC Outward Bound Schools and a volunteer tour leader with the Big Apple Greeters.

Alex Roberto

District Manager, Capital One

Alex Roberto is the District Manager for Capital One's South Queens District. The territory is comprised of 17 branch locations and 180 associates. Prior to joining Capital One in September 2012, Alex spent 11 years at Bank of America working in a variety of roles including Investment Representative, Business Specialist, Branch Manager and Consumer Market Manager. During this time, he worked in many different markets including all five New York City boroughs, Long Island and New Jersey. In addition to serving communities through leadership efforts at the bank, Alex feels strongly about associate development and personal branding. In 2007, he co-created a personal brand workshop which has seen hundreds of graduates and countless success stories across two organizations. Alex is also passionate about community efforts that support Capital One's vision of improving education, financial literacy, affordable housing and small business development. To support these efforts, he has done work with a number of local organizations including the Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, Fortune Society, Junior Achievement and Harlem Educational Activities Fund. Alex obtained a BBA in Business Management from Hofstra University in Long Island, NY. A native New Yorker, he lives in Jericho, NY with his wife and two children. When he is not at work, he spends time with his family and enjoys running and staying active.

Tom Rochowicz

Principal, Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School (ex-officio)

Thomas Rochowicz is the Principal of Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School, a high-performing public school serving Pre-K through Grade 1 and Grades 6-12 in New York City. He taught in California and Brooklyn before joining WHEELS, where he has served in several teacher-leader positions, including the founding twelfth grade team leader, founding Social Studies Department Chair, and Principal Apprentice as part of the NYCDOE Leaders in Education Apprenticeship Program. He achieved National Board Certification in 2012 and received the 2014 Teach For America Alumni Award for Excellence. He earned his BA in History and Philosophy from Boston College and his MA from Fordham University, where he studied social movements in an interdisciplinary program.

Jennifer Stredler

Vice President, Workforce Development, Salesforce.org

Jennifer Stredler is the Senior Director of Philanthropy and Engagement for Salesforce.org. In this role, she oversees strategic community initiatives, philanthropic giving, and employee engagement in Salesforce’s east coast offices. Prior to joining Salesforce.org, Jennifer worked in Community Relations for Capital One for nearly six years, where she managed the company’s non-profit partnerships in the Metro NY market and collaborated with internal Capital One stakeholders to engage them in community initiatives. Her role also entailed the integration of Capital One’s community initiatives with the company’s business strategies. Prior to Capital One, Jennifer served in a joint role with the General Electric (GE) Foundation and the New York City Department of Education, managing a multi-year GE Foundation investment in a cohort of 18 schools in Upper Manhattan. Jennifer began her career in corporate philanthropy by working for Eagles Youth Partnership, the non-profit arm of the Philadelphia Eagles Football Team. There, she spent five years managing the organization's education and health direct service programs, as well as the team’s large annual day of service. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Yale University.

Aileen Tejada

Director of the Teacher Residency Program, Philadelphia & Camden, Relay Graduate School of Education

Aileen Tejeda was born and raised in the South Bronx and discovered her passion for education during her three years as a teacher and softball coach at her alma mater, Aquinas High School. She received a BA from Georgetown University in English with a minor in Theology and Theater and an Ed.M in the Education Policy and Management Program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is proud of being a first generation college graduate and was most inspired by the strong women in her family, fantastic city schools, and education organizations where she has worked. Aileen was the HS Assessment Coaching Manager at KIPP Foundation and Dean of Students at UNO Charter School Network in Chicago. Currently, Aileen is the Director of the Teacher Residency Program at Relay GSE Philadelphia & Camden.

Aileen is driven by social justice, learning from and empowering young people, and the intersection of of technology and education in service of urban communities.