Menu Close

We believe in what we do. So, it’s no surprise that many of our staff and board members have a personal connection to our mission.

Since our founding in 1995, our staff and Board continue to be true believers in our model and some would even testify to its efficacy – since many are themselves, permanent parents to youth. Some of our staff and board are also former foster youth; in essence each member of our board and leadership team has a personal connection to our mission which informs their passion and commitment to the agency.

Executive Director

Jennifer Pinder

Executive Director
Jennifer Pinder assumed the Executive Director role at You Gotta Believe (YGB) in July 2020. Ms. Pinder is responsible for overseeing and successfully executing all aspects of the organization, including fundraising, communications, advocacy, strategy, board management, and strategic partnerships. As an adoptee, Ms. Pinder holds a direct personal connection to YGB’s mission and seeks to work collaboratively with her team that consists entirely of credible messengers. Prior to joining YGB, Ms. Pinder held positions as a director at a social science research firm, and as an affordable housing researcher for a national nonprofit organization, both in Washington, DC. She holds an Executive Master of Public Administration from New York University, a Master of Community Planning from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Hampton University. Ms. Pinder resides in Brooklyn, NY.

Board of Directors and Committees

Juan
Battle

Board President

Presidential Professor, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York

Maria
Llerena

BOARD VICE PRESIDENT
MANAGING DIRECTOR AT NEUBERGER BERMAN

Daniel
Taitz

BOARD TREASURER

Chief Operating Officer, Penthera Partners

Matthew
Ansel

BOARD SECRETARY

Executive Director at Mizuho

Romy
Coquillette

ad-hoc Executive Committee Member

Consultant, Former Managing Director Morgan Stanley

Sabrina
Glaser, Esq.

Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

James A.
Acey-Van Brunt

Vice President, Senior Supervision Officer, Neuberger Berman

Mark
Basile

Managing Director, Veritas Capital

Paul
Carlesimo

HEAD OF EQUITIES AND CENTRAL FUNDING COMPLIANCE, RBC CAPITAL MARKETS

Brian
Foster

Global Head of Wholesale, Coinbase

Nicole
Green

Deputy Chief, Capital Compliance, Contracts and Risk, NJ Transit

Brigitte
McCray

Media Consultant | Adjunct Professor, Creation/ Programming/ Acquisitions/ Leadership & Management

Robin H.
Rosenbluth

CONSULTANT, ADVANCING FUNDRAISING: COACHING AND CONSULTING

John
Weitzer

US Head of Compliance for Global Banking Managing Director, HSBC

Board of Believers (Advisory Board)

Jessica Beatus

Chief Impact Officer, Pledge
Gretchen Beidl

Gretchen Beidl

ADVOCATE, FORMER YGB BOARD PRESIDENT

Bianca
Bennett-Scott

Child Welfare Consultant
Sharon Catherine Brown

Sharon Catherine Brown

Actor

Regina Calcaterra

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLING AUTHOR & FOUNDING PARTNER, CALCATERRA POLLACK LLP

Ta’Nika
Gibson

Actor

Susan Grundberg

Strategic consulting in human services

Ellie Kanner

Director

Anni
Keane

Advocate

Joelle Keane Tramel

Leadership Development, Google
Adoptive Parent

Alice
Leopold

FINANCIAL ADVISOR, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR-INVESTMENTS, OPPENHEIMER
Amy Milstein

Amy
Milstein

Photographer

Pat
O'Brien

FOUNDER AND FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ADOPTIVE PARENT

Jason
Rok

VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE & OPERATIONS, NONTRADITIONAL EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN
Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, You Gotta Believe

Seth Rudetsky
& James Wesley

Karen
Rutledge

founder, the Rutledge Institute for Early Childhood Education

Cody Saintgnue

Actor

Mary T.
Keane

Advocate

Diggi
Thomson

FORMER YGB BOARD PRESIDENT
CHIEF CONNECTOR - THE DOT CONNECTORS

Joe
Toles

Parent & Advocate

Amber
Williams

COO, Latitude

Emilio C. Williamson

People Leader & Advocate

Associate Board

Alina Agusti

Alina
Agusti

Manager of Social Responsibility and Weil Foundation at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Shante Blackwell

Shante
Blackwell

Investment Banker
Katrina Eddie

Katrina
Eddie

Head of Social Impact and Employee Engagement at Yahoo
Erinn F. Hartley

Erinn
F. Hartley

Production Manager, Celtra Creative
Mazzeo Emma

Emma
Mazzeo

Assistant Vice President, Technology and Innovations, Blackstone
Jessica Uem

Jessica
Uem

Supervisory Principal at Neuberger Berman

Governing Board Committees

The Executive Committee comprises elected board leaders and acts as a steering committee for the full board. Its primary purpose is to facilitate decision-making between board meetings or in urgent and crisis circumstances.
The Advocacy Committee partners with YGB’s lobbyists to develop, comment on, and advocate for state, federal, and local public policies that enhance You Gotta Believe’s ability to end the practice of allowing youth to age out of foster care without connection to a permanent family.
The Development Committee leads the board’s participation in resource development and fundraising. In addition, the committee works with the staff to develop the organization’s fund development strategy.
The Finance Committee provides financial analysis, advice, and oversight of the organization’s budget. This committee’s sole responsibility is to ensure the organization operates with the financial resources it needs to provide programs and services to the community.
The Program Committee oversees new program development and monitors and assesses existing programs. In addition, this committee initiates and guides program evaluations and facilitates discussions about program priorities for the agency.
The Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors concerning financial reporting, internal control, and audits and supports the organization’s process for monitoring its compliance with laws and regulations. The audit committee’s primary role is to instill confidence in stakeholders that the organization’s financial and tax status, internal controls, risk management, and compliance procedures allow it to fulfill its mission and achieve long-term viability.
The Board Development Committee is crucial in ensuring that YGB has a strong and effective board of directors capable of fulfilling all responsibilities and achieving YGB’s mission and goals. The committee oversees the organization and processes for board recruitment, onboarding, and retaining board members who will contribute to YGB’s success.
The Governance Committee oversees who serves on the board of directors and plays a central role in the organization’s selection and compensation of executive-level positions.