Board of Directors
Jeffrey D. Friedlander
President
Jeff Friedlander was the longest serving First Assistant Corporation Counsel in the history of the City of New York, second-in-command of the New York City Law Department, an office of over 700 attorneys representing the City. During his tenure at the Law Department, Mr. Friedlander played a significant role in many cases and laws including the handling of South Africa anti-apartheid legislation and divestment; establishment of the Campaign Finance law and the Civilian Complaint Review Board, and the drafting of the City’s pioneering Gay Rights Law. Following the events of September 11, Mr. Friedlander supervised the drafting of the executive orders and legislation necessary to keep the City functioning, and now serves as an appointee of the Mayor on the World Trade Center Captive Insurance Company. In 2017, he was appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council as a member of the New York City Conflicts of Interest Board, which is empowered to administer, interpret and enforce the City’s public ethics and financial disclosure laws. He is active in the City Bar and has been the recipient of a number of awards for his legal service to the City.
Rachel Ziemba
Secretary
Rachel Ziemba is a political economist and founder of Ziemba Insights, an advisory firm that helps investors assess geoeconomic and national balance sheet risks. She is Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) and teaches at New York University’s Center for Global Affairs. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Chicago with honors, and a Master of Philosophy degree in international relations with a specialization in international political economy from St. Antony’s College, Oxford University. In addition to Heart & Soul, Rachel serves on the board of the Harriman Foreign Service Fellowships and on the Finance Committee of the Unitarian Church of All Souls NYC.
Marilynn Scott Murphy
Marilynn Scott Murphy is co-founder and owner of Professional Artists Talent Agency which has been operating for almost 30 years. Prior to becoming an agent, she worked as a professional actress in over 50 stage productions across the country. She has also worked as a restaurant manager and as a teacher/coach at Adelphi University, The New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts (formerly the School for Film and Television), and for the Summer Musical Theatre Program at the Manhattan School of Music. Marilynn graduated from Adelphi University with a B.A. in Speech and English. Many years later, she continued her graduate studies at NYU. in the Gallatin Division.
Peter N. Reikes
Vice President
Peter N. Reikes is a Senior Advisor in the Office of the Commissioner at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which he joined in late 2021. Previously, he spent over 36 years as an investment banker focusing on companies in the healthcare field. He is also a former Director of a number of public and private healthcare companies and organizations. He and his wife, Randi, live in Connecticut and have been regular volunteers at Monday Night Hospitality for years, as have their two children, Lauren and Jeremy. He received his B.A. in Economics from the University of California at Los Angeles and his M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jeong-A Kim
Head of Grants Committee
Jeong-A Kim is an art history researcher and writer specializing in modern and contemporary art. Previously, she worked as an analyst and a lawyer for over fifteen years. Jeong-A has a keen interest in supporting her community’s children, women and financially disadvantaged members of society through her volunteer work. She has been trustee for a women’s service against domestic violence in London and worked pro bono on domestic violence related casework in New York City. She was treasurer and co-chair for parent associations in community-based organizations such as Manhattan Korean School and the Unitarian Church of All Souls’ religious education. She is a regular volunteer at Monday Night Hospitality. Jeong-A received her Master’s degree from Christie’s Education, New York and received her Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the London School of Economics, London.
Robin Bossert
Robin Bossert founded Bossert and Company in 1988, a video production/distribution company specializing in educational and corporate communications. He founded The Navigators USA in 2003, incorporated it as an NYS non-profit and directed all publishing, fundraising, and chapter activities. He is also President of Miramar Ski Club and Hike Leader for NY/NJ Chapters of the Appalachian Mountain Club.
Thomas Blum
Treasurer
Thomas Blum has spent over 30 years as an investment banker and an investor in private equity and venture capital opportunities. He is currently a partner of GC Andersen Partners LLC, a boutique merchant bank, where he primarily focuses on clean-tech investments. He is an active member and Board Director of the New York Angels, a leading angel investment group on the East Coast. He serves on the Board of Directors of Helios Coatings Inc., Landauer Metropolitan Inc., Interactive Frontiers, Inc., M2M Imaging, Inc. and SkyFuel, Inc. He is a 1984 graduate of Harvard Business School and has a BS degree in Engineering from Princeton University in 1980.
Tara McNamara
Tara McNamara is a physical therapist who runs her solo practice in New York City providing physical therapy, exercise and wellness training. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Therapy from Russell Sage College and a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of New York at Stony Brook. She is a certified Pilates Instructor from Polestar, a Certified Exercise Expert for the Aging Adult from the American Physical Therapy Association and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist from the National Strength and Conditioning Association as well as a Certified Life Coach from the Fearless Living Institute. She is a current member of the American Physical Therapy Association and after 9/11 spent a few months providing massages to those working at Ground Zero and coordinating other physical therapists and massage therapists to volunteer too. Tara can be found most Mondays as one of the Red Apron Leaders for Monday Night Hospitality. She previously co-led the All Souls Reproductive Justice Task Force which she helped form in 2011.
Paula Stelzner
Paula Stelzner