Board of Directors

Dayra Morales

Dayra Morales is a Senior Trial Lawyer for Travelers Insurance Companies. Dayra has been a part of The Victory Center since its inception 20 years ago. Dayra graduated from Florida State University with degrees in International Relations and Psychology in 1979. She received her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Florida College of Law in 1986. Dayra has 2 grown children, Frankie Negron (a former student at The Victory Center for 19 years) and Angelica Negron, a 2020 graduate of New York University. Dayra was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She currently lives in Plantation.

Martin Dvorkin

Recently retired senior executive with over forty years’ successful business experience within the Fortune 100. Mr. Dvorkin possesses a unique combination of experiences in Finance, Sales, Operations and Corporate Business Strategy. In his most recent position as Senior Vice President of Finance for Xerox Corporation he was responsible for providing financial management, strategic planning, operational and financial oversight to Xerox’s North American commercial marketplace.

He has managed both domestic and globally dispersed organizations of 250 people or more with corresponding profit center responsibility in excess of $450 million. Over the course of his career, Mr. Dvorkin has delivered superior results and has successfully navigated through difficult business downturns and corporate restructuring.

Mr. Dvorkin received an MBA in Finance and Marketing in 1976 from the Smith School at the University of Maryland. He has just begun his second term as a Director on Eagle County School’s Financial Review Board.

Mr. Dvorkin and his wife Terri, a retired Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, are formerly from the New York/Connecticut area and are currently residing in Edwards, Colorado. They have two grown children, the oldest working in the Denver area for Grey Meta, a cloud computing and digital storage company while the youngest is a Physician Assistant at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado.

Howard Lucas

Howard has over 40 years of experience in serving high net worth individuals, trusts, corporations, and partnerships in meeting their tax, accounting and estate planning needs. Howard received his designation from the American Institute of CPAs as accredited in Business Valuations in 1997.

Howard is an experienced advisor to privately owned businesses and their owners and families, bringing advice and strategies to enhance profitability, tax savings, and meeting their financial and estate planning goals.

Howard is deeply involved in the community and has held leadership positions for a multitude of local organizations. He was named 2010 Business Leader of the Year by the South Florida Business Journal and is a recipient of the President’s Award for Service by the National Kidney Foundation of Florida.

Caryn Canner Schwartz

Caryn served as a Miami-Dade County Court Judge and Acting Circuit Court Judge in the Civil, Criminal, Domestic Violence and Family Divisions of the 11th Judicial Circuit and also served as a Florida Bar Referee for attorney disciplinary proceedings during her 26 years on the bench until she retired in December, 2018. Caryn is now certified by the Florida Supreme Court to preside as a Senior Judge over all County and Circuit Court cases throughout Florida. Prior to her election to the bench, Caryn practiced law as a tax attorney with large firms in Sacramento, California and in Miami with Steel Hector & Davis (now int’l firm of Squire Patton Boggs), and Nelson & Nelson, P.A. (during which time Barry Nelson’s law firm merged with Buchanan Ingersol, now int’l firm of Buchanan Ingersol & Rooney, P.A.). Caryn graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.A. in Pychology, then attended Florida International University for 2 years for her certification to teach science and math at the high school level and was a high school biology and algebra teacher for 10 years. Caryn received her J.D. with Honors from University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law. Caryn is licensed to practice law in Florida, California & Colorado, and before the US Supreme Court, US Tax Court and US District Court, Eastern District of California.

Caryn has been active in numerous legal organizations during her 26 years on the bench, including as a Supervising Judge: in the Advanced Academic Internship Program with the Miami-Dade County Public School System and in conjunction with high schools which offer the internship as the student’s last period course [Honors and Executive Internship Program offered by Miami-Dade Public Schools (HEIP)]; for many law school students and several high school students who have worked as interns for Caryn; and for students in the University of Miami Judicial Internship Program. Caryn continues to serve as a Committee member of the Shelley Kravitz Scholarship Committee, the purpose of which is to provide educational opportunities for women law students by selecting recipients for scholarships annually who demonstrate financial need, community involvement, and scholastic merit.

Some of the community, educational and charitable organizations in which Caryn has been involved include: Chaperone, Leo Martin International Teen March of the Living (LMMOL), 2014, an annual 2 week educational program in Poland and Israel,which brings thousands of students, worldwide, to study the history of the Holocaust, visit death and work camps in Poland, interact with Holocaust survivors, examine the roots of intolerance and hate; and to learn about the history, people, traditions, and cultures of Israel, and has served on the Interview Committee for LMMOL each year since 2015. Caryn was a member of the Israel Ride 2013 – in which participants cycled on a five day journey in Israel for the Arava Institute For Environmental Studies and Hazon, to promote peace and sustainable communities for future generations in the Middle East and around the world. Caryn was a Member of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) Team in Training Tahoe Cycling Team 2010 and Intracoastal Cycling Team 2010 in which she trained for and completed a 100 mile bike ride for LLS for each ride. Caryn is a Committee Member and Participant in the THE ELYSE MARCUS LEGACY FOUNDATION, INC. dba LIVE. LOVE. GIVE., which raises money at biannual events and throughout the year to provide for those in need, including school supplies for children, Thanksgiving and other holiday meals to the elderly and to families and to provide other items of necessity to families and individuals.

Michael Costa

Michael Costa serves as Vice President for Popular Bank’s Private Client division in Miami Florida. As a Private Banker Michael works with high net worth individuals and families on their wealth management needs. Michael started his career in wealth management in 2012. Michael graduated from Miami Dade College and holds his Series 7, Series 66 and 215 licenses. He currently lives in Pembroke Pines Florida with his wife and 2 children.

Nancy Zaretsky

Nancy Zaretsky has completed her second term as Chair of the Constituency Board of the University Miami-Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) Board, which represents more than 11,000 individuals with autism in Dade, Broward and Monroe counties. Under Ms. Zaretsky’s leadership the Constituency Board has grown to reflect the multi lingual and ethnic diversity of the people served with the addition of Board members who speak Haitian Creole and Hebrew. Ms. Zaretsky has also enhanced CARD’s work in the Florida Keys by creating a Keys Constituency Committee. Additionally, the Constituency Board includes individuals on the spectrum. She has served as a strong, positive voice for people with disabilities advocating for funding in Tallahassee and initiating partnerships with art and cultural institutions.

Over the past 25 years Mrs. Zaretsky has also been an active member of the Jewish community. She is the founding chair of the Task Force to Combat Human Trafficking for the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s (GMJF) Jewish Community Relations Council. This task force has partnered with Homeland Security to educate groups as diverse as the Consul Generals of Miami and youth organizations on domestic, minor sex trafficking here in Florida. Past events include: an annual freedom from slavery Passover Seder; the distribution of soaps wrapped with help numbers to motels along the Biscayne corridor; and training seminars on the signs of trafficking for hotel employees.

Ms Zaretsky is presently completing her second year as Chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council, which serves as the education and advocacy arm of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation. In this role she has advocated in Tallahassee on issues as diverse as meal sites for the elderly and MOU’s on tech investments between Israel and Florida. She has brought several international organizations dedicated to conflict resolution to Miami to enhance the tool kit of community leaders. Ms. Zaretsky has also partnered with the NAACP and Shalom Salam to strengthen relationships across communities in Miami on voting rights and ballot education.

Over the years she has worked with the Latin American and Caribbean Center of Florida International University; Fine, Jacobson, et al in Miami; Stroock & Stroock & Lavan in New York City; and the New York State Assembly. Mrs. Zaretsky has published on preferential trade agreements, contributed to the upcoming book, BeKindr: The Transformative Power of Kindness, by Dr. Eva Ritvo and consults on writer’s retreats in Spain and France. She was a founding member of grant review committees at the David Lawrence Jr. K-8 and Design and Architecture Senior High School (DASH), initiated the shadow program for children with disabilities at the Michael Ann Russell JCC and has served on many community boards. Concurrently she ran a behavioral home program under the guidance of Jeanie Bachrach and Jennie Meyers for 6 years.

Marta Goldberg

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.

Dr. Yanerys Leon, PhD, BCBA-D

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. Anibal Gutierrez

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.

Dr. Kyle Bennett

Dr. Kyle Bennett has worked with students with autism and other developmental disabilities for over 16 years. He is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and he has worked as a teacher, behavior analyst and program administrator. Dr. Bennett’s primary professional interests are transition and secondary programming and teaching safety skills to students with disabilities. Dr. Bennett has presented his work at national and international conferences and he has published his work in peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Peter Gerhardt

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.

Paul Fass

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 Yavner

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

Moshe Banin

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 Saruski

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.

Judith Nelson

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

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 S. Eskalyo

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 A. Nelson, Esq

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

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 B. Ain

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

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

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

David Barnett

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.

Board of Directors

Board Members

Barry A. Nelson, Esq.

Judith Nelson

Barry A. Nelson, Esq.

Martin Dvorkin, MBA

Judge Caryn Canner Schwartz

Howard Lucas, CPA

Mirlene Dubreuze

Marta Goldberg

Robert I. Werner

Moshe Banin

Gilbert Drozdow

Rhonda Hill

Carielka (Nina) Gonzalez

Carolina Padilla, MS, BCBA

Maria Soto, MS, BCBA

Madile De Seguins

Professional Advisors

Dr. Peter Gerhardt

Dr. Kyle Bennett

Dr. Anibal Gutierrez, PhD, BCBA-D

Dr. Yanerys Leon, PhD, BCBA-D

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