RE board welcomes new trustees

“We are pleased that Mark and Brett have agreed to join our board during a time of great optimism and excitement at Ransom Everglades,” Hicks said. “And I am thrilled to hand the leadership reins to my very accomplished and capable colleagues, Jonathan and Elana. I look forward to seeing how their fresh perspectives and expertise in various realms will promote continued growth and success at Ransom Everglades.”

 

In his two years as chair, Hicks oversaw the conclusion of Ransom Everglades’ $83 million capital campaign, the opening of the Constance and Miguel Fernandez STEM Center and the refurbishment of the school’s La Brisa property. He also had the pleasure of handing diplomas to his Class of 2021 triplets: Axel, Hanna and Sebastian.

 

Departing the board this summer are Jonathan Awner, an attorney who served for 15 years including as treasurer and chair of the board’s Finance Audit Committee, and Sloan Barnett, an author and journalist focused on sustainability and nutrition.  

 

“Jonathan helped this board navigate many financial challenges over the years, and we are grateful for his guidance and leadership,” Hicks said. “We are sorry to see him and Sloan move on from the board, and we wish them well in their other endeavors.”

 

Paresky, President and CEO of Crimson Peak, LLC, a financial and real estate asset holding company, has previously served as president of an e-commerce company and investment banker at J.P. Morgan. Sundheim worked as an equity research analyst at Morgan Stanley and hedge fund investor at Corbin Capital before pausing her career to become a full-time mother while continuing her participation in service and philanthropy.

 

Fitzpatrick, the president and CEO of Driven Brands – the largest automotive services company in North America – has been on the Ransom Everglades board since 2018. Prior to his time at Driven, he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Brand & Operations Officer at Burger King and President and Chief Operations Officer of Texas Digital Systems.

 

Oberstein-Harris, an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine in rheumatology at the University of Miami Health Care System and the recipient of the 2017 RE Head of School’s Alumni Award, has been highly involved in Ransom Everglades since her graduation, participating as a class agent, on the alumni board and in leadership with the Ransom Everglades Epic Fishing tournament (REEF).

 

Read more about RE’s newest trustees:

Mark Paresky is President and CEO of Crimson Peak, LLC, a financial and real estate asset holding company. He directs the firm’s three portfolios: private company investments (angel, venture and private equity), public market investments, and development and management of the real estate portfolio. Previously he was the president of an e-commerce company. Prior to that, Mark was an investment banker at J.P. Morgan. He serves on several non-profit boards including the Perez Art Museum Miami (where he is a Trustee Emeritus and previously chaired the Finance Committee), The Center for Jewish Life Miami and a private foundation. He has served as a board member of Duke University’s Freeman Center, the Headmaster's Council of Milton Academy and Baptist Health Foundation (YPBH). Mark is an active member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) where he is Chair of the YPO Global Health & Wellness Network and past Chapter Chair of YPO Miami. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and a BA in Economics from Duke University.

Brett Sundheim grew up in New York City and graduated with honors from the Horace Mann school. She attended the University of Pennsylvania where she graduated Summa Cum Laude and received her BA in International Relations. After college, she worked as an equity research analyst at Morgan Stanley. Subsequently, she joined Corbin Capital, a fund of funds affiliated with Highbridge Capital, where she invested in hedge funds. Since having her two children, she has become a full time, hands-on mother. She continues to stay active at the University of Pennsylvania and serves as a board member for the school's Institute of Contemporary Art. Recently, she also served as a board member for the Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York City. She and her husband, Dan, have a philanthropic foundation that supports several additional charities including the Diabetes Research Institute, NYU Langone Medical Center, No Dogs Left Behind, World Central Kitchen, the Museum of Modern Art and the University of Miami. They also made a leadership gift to a new humanities building at Ransom Everglades.