April 2023 – Virtual Pickleball Tournament for The Victory Center

Marta has over 30 years of investment and wealth management experience, including 14 years at BNY Mellon and now as Managing Director | Fiduciary Wealth Advisor at Grove Bank & Trust. As a former director with Neuberger Berman, a New York Investment Management firm, Marta was in charge of implementing investment management strategies and advising clients on all aspects of their financial plans.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida with Honors and a law degree from South Texas College of Law in Houston, Texas. Marta is a member of several charitable boards as well as professional associations.

PhD, Behavior Analysis, Florida Institute of Technology, 2012

M.A., Applied Behavior Analysis, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2010

B.S., Psychology, University of Florida, 2007

Dr. Leon is an Assistant Professor in the School of Behavior Analysis at the Florida Institute of Technology. She is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst with experience in the assessment and treatment of severe behavior disorders and in the development of adaptive skills for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Leon received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Florida. She then went on to work at the Neurobehavioral Unit of the Kennedy Krieger Institute while working toward her Master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Dr. Leon earned her Ph.D. in Behavior Analysis from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). Dr. Leon’s research interests include functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior, reinforcer assessment, and conditioned and token reinforcement. Her work has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavioral Interventions, and the Journal of Behavioral Education. Currently, Dr. Leon is the Site Director for FIT’s Hybrid Master’s Program in Applied Behavior Analysis in Miami, Florida.

Dr. Gutierrez received his Ph.D., in Psychology from the University of Florida (2004) in Behavior Analysis with a focus on individuals with disabilities and autism. Currently, Dr. Gutierrez is an Associate Research Professor and an Associate Director of UM-NSU CARD. Dr. Gutierrez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D) with experience in the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior and in the development of adaptive skills for individuals with autism. Dr. Gutierrez’s current research interests focus on early intervention and variables related to treatment effectiveness for individuals with autism. Dr. Gutierrez is previously served as the site Co-PI for two federally-funded, multi-site study evaluating a school-based joint attention intervention for children with autism as well as the comparative efficacy of public preschool intervention models for students with autism spectrum disorders.

Peter Gerhardt, Ed.D., is the Executive Director of the EPIC School in Paramus, NJ. Dr. Gerhardt has more than 35 years’ experience utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis in support of adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders in educational, employment, residential and community-based settings. He has authored and co-authored articles and book chapters on the needs of adolescents and adults with ASD and has presented nationally and internationally on this topic. Dr. Gerhardt is the Founding Chairman of the Scientific Council for the Organization for Autism Research and currently Co-Chairs the Council with Dr. Joanne Gerenser. He is on numerous professional advisory boards including the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. Dr. Gerhardt received his doctorate from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey’s Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Paul Fass, M.D., a founding member of The Victory Center, is an American Board of Otolaryngology Certified ENT Otolaryngologist in Miami, Florida. As a native of New York, Dr. Fass’ professional career spans over 52 years, specializing in asthma and allergy. As a retired member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Board of Directors, recipient of the AAOA Presidential Award, and longtime supporter of The Victory Center, Dr. Paul Fass rejoins the Board of Directors once more.

Michael S. Yavner is the owner and President of The Yavner Group.

Moshe Banin’s financial services career began in 1993 when he joined Bernstein Global Wealth Management, where he spent 19 years before joining UBS. Early in his career, he supported the development and distribution of services for high net worth investors. Over time, he rose to Director of International Strategy and helped launch Bernstein’s London-based private client practice. He then became a financial advisor focusing on high net worth clients, family offices and foundations. Moshe’s clients seek his advice on advanced asset allocation, retirement planning, wealth transfer and sales of businesses.

Moshe graduated from Yeshiva University with a degree in economics and later earned his M.B.A. at New York University. He is on the Board of Directors for both the Jewish Federation of Broward and the Palm Beach Habilitation Center – chairing the investment committee for both of these organizations. In addition, Moshe is the Co-Founder of Luria Academy, a Jewish Day School in Brooklyn, NY. He also holds Series 7, 31, 63 and 66 securities licenses. Moshe lives in Miami, Florida with his wife and three children.

Ana Morel Saruski has been practicing law for 25 years. She  received her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, JD in 1991.  She is also a member of the United States District Court Southern District of Florida (2013), Middle District of Florida (2014) and  a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator (2002).

Born in San Juan, P.R. Ana is currently residing in Miami Beach, FL with her husband of 26 years and her three children. She is also very active in raising awareness of Autism and CHARGE Syndrome, advocating for families of children with special needs.  Ana is the mother of two adult sons on the autistic spectrum and is looking for volunteer opportunities to assist this population.

Judi served as Judge of Compensation claims from December 1986 to March 2001. She retired from the bench to devote more time to the operations and fundraising of The Victory School which she co-founded with her husband Barry in June 2000. She continues her legal practice as a private mediator. Before her appointment to the judiciary, Judi was an Assistant City Attorney for the City of Miami. Judi graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor of Arts Degree and she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Miami.

Robert Werner is a retiree of Werner Co. where he served as Senior Vice President and Director. Today he is involved with numerous charities. He is Treasurer, Past Chair, Director and Executive Committee Member of Alexander Muss Institute for Israel Education, Inc. (of which Alexander Muss High School in is a component), former Treasurer of Citizens Interested in the Arts, Inc.Past President and Director of Israel Children’s Centers and Director and Executive Committee Member of Israel Tennis Centers. He serves on the Board of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, is the Pledge Redemption Chair, a member of its Foundation’s Executive Committee and is a member of the GMJF Audit, Financial Management and Administrative Committees. He is a member of the Florida Executive Committee of American Friends of Bar Ilan University. He is also Past Florida Chair of American Friends of Beit Issie Shapiro. He served on the 3000 Island Boulevard Condominium Association, Inc. Board. He is a Past President of the Willie and Celia Trump synagogue. Formerly he was a Director of Exco Technologies, Ltd. and the Security Plastics Inc. Advisory Board.

Heath Eskalyo serves as both a Principal Partner and the Chief Financial Officer for the law firm Kelley Kronenberg. A Civil Trial Litigator, Heath works in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office and focuses his practice on Workers’ Compensation, OSHA, Defense Base Act claims, Insurance Fraud, Civil Liability, Construction Law and Occupational Accident and Truckers Occupational Insurance claims. Heath is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized as a 2014 – 2016 Top Lawyer by the South Florida Legal Guide. Heath also plays a major role in the firm’s growth, business development and philanthropic efforts.

Barry Nelson, a co-founder of The Victory School, is a Florida Bar Board Certified Tax and Wills Trusts and Estates attorney in North Miami Beach, Florida . He is also an adjunct professor for the L.L.M. program in taxation at the University Of Miami School Of Law . Barry is active with the Florida Bar and for the past three years has chaired its Asset Preservation Sub-Committee. Barry previously served in leadership positions with the Weizmann Institute of Science and the Foundation of Jewish Philanthropies of the Greater Miami Jewish Foundation. He served as Mayor of the Town of Golden Beach, Florida for two years. Currently, he is a Trustee of Temple Sinai in North Miami Beach.

Kenneth Young is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Bentley`s Luggage and Gifts. Mr. Young currently sits on several philanthropic boards, as well as being a consultant and a board member of several local business enterprises.

Clifford Ain is a Certified Public Accountant in Aventura specializing in small to medium-sized businesses with special tax situations. Mr. Ain received his Bachelor`s in Accounting from the University of Florida in 1976 and a Masters in Taxation from Florida International University.

Louise Daniels has lived in Miami for more than 50 years and has always loved children’s causes. She attended both high school and college locally and has worked as a paralegal for several law firms. She has been a Guardian Ad Litem over 7 years for children in the foster care system. She currently volunteers for Voices for Children’s toy drive and has been a board member of The Victory School for ten years.

Richard Shan is Manager of Grayline Construction, a custom home builder

Mr. Barnett is the founding and managing partner of Barnett, Lerner, Karsen & Frankel, P.A., which has offices in South Florida and Washington, D.C. The firm handles maritime injury claims nationwide. In his legal career of 25 years, David has significant experience litigating claims under The Longshore Act, The Defense Base Act and other maritime laws, assisting injured workers worldwide. He is a nationally-recognized standard bearer in the Defense Base Act community and has successfully litigated some of the seminal cases that are relied upon. He founded a national DOL/Joint Bar Association and was formerly on the Board of Directors for Florida Workers Advocates and a member of the Florida Admiralty Lawyer’s Association, Broward County Bar Association and American Bar Association.

Active in an array of charitable organizations throughout South Florida, he previously served on the Board of Directors for Easter Seals of South Florida. David is excited to bring together his legal expertise and passion for making a difference with the great work done by The Victory Center.