[Past Event] The Year of Impact: How Philanthropy and ESG Are Changing

Ron Bruder is the Founder and Chair of Education For Employment (EFE), a network of nonprofits committed to creating employment opportunities for youth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).  A social franchise of independent, locally-run affiliates, EFE identifies critical skill gaps in the local economy, then develops and delivers demand-driven targeted training programs for youth with limited opportunity.  Graduates are linked to jobs through partnerships with employers, civic and educational organizations.  After graduating its first class in 2006 EFE expanded rapidly, with independent affiliates in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen, Morocco, Tunisia and Saudi Arabia.  Capacity-building hubs in the USA, Europe and UAE support the process.  EFE’s distinctive core model provides skills training to unemployed youth and leads to a full-time job.  EFE has provided job training for more than 110,000 youth and has worked with over 3,000 employers.  69% of EFE alumni have been placed in jobs within six months of their EFE graduation.  More than 57% of EFE graduates are young women.  As complementary channels of economic access, EFE offers additional programs to prepare youth to secure employment or become entrepreneurs.  EFE’s shorter term programs guide students on the path to finding a job by providing them with internship opportunities and employability skills.  EFE’s entrepreneurship program prepares young people for self-employment. 

Honored by TIME Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People for his non-profit work with EFE, Bruder began as a serial entrepreneur.  In 1977, Mr. Bruder founded The Brookhill Group, which owns and manages properties throughout the US with a focus on creating investment partnerships to develop or redevelop shopping centers, office buildings and multi-family homes.

Mr. Bruder was an attendee at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.  At the World Economic Forum in Tianjin in 2012, he was named a Schwab Foundation Global Social Entrepreneur for his work in founding EFE.  He has served as a delegate of the Council on Foreign Relations to the Jeddah Economic Forum, and a contributor to the US-Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar.  He is frequently invited to share EFE’s best practices at major international conferences and fora, and has addressed audiences at the Clinton Global Initiative, World Economic Forum and the United Nations, among others.

Mr. Bruder earned his Bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University, an MBA from New York University, and a Post Master’s degree in Accounting & Taxation from Iona College. 

Vadim Avdeychik is of counsel in the Investment Management practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s New York office. Mr. Avdeychik counsels mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), business development companies (BDCs), hedge funds, and their investment advisers. He routinely advises on the formation and operation of registered investment companies (including those implementing alternative investment strategies), alternative fund structures (including registered and unregistered master/feeder and fund-of-funds structures and BDCs), fund governance, regulatory issues involving public and private funds, and investment company status issues. Mr. Avdeychik has extensive experience assisting pre-IPO and public operating companies, specialty finance companies, investment banks, financial product sponsors, and other entities in determining their investment company status or the status of the products they sponsor, including the ability to qualify for exemptions from the Investment Company Act, in connection with securities offerings, financial product launches and other transactions. He also has transactional experience concerning funds and their advisers, including merger and acquisition transactions.

Mr. Avdeychik also has significant ERISA experience, with particular focus on fiduciary issues and prohibited transaction exemption questions under Title I of ERISA. he has authored several articles dealing with the intersection of ERISA and the investment management industry.

Prior to joining Paul Hastings, Mr. Avdeychik was the Vice President and Counsel at PIMCO and Assistant Secretary to the PIMCO-Managed Closed-End Funds. Formerly, he was an associate at an international law firm and prior to that, ERISA Enforcement Advisor, Employee Benefits Security Administration.

A leader in private wealth management for successful families, women and business owners.

Kathy joined UBS in 2007 and subsequently formed Entwistle Partners, creating a team of professionals dedicated to providing multigenerational wealth advice to affluent families, C-suite executives and founders.

With her nearly 30-year career defined by many leadership roles, Kathy has been recognized with multiple awards and designations for her achievements—from Forbes as a Top 200 female financial advisor in the country to three consecutive Barron’s nominations to their “Top Women Financial Advisors” list. Kathy attributes her success to her dedicated team who help her deliver on strong personal relationships, thoughtful advice and a high level of service.

Experience

Officer in Corporate Trust Department, Manufacturers Hanover Trust

Vice President and Wealth Advisor, Morgan Stanley

Credentials

Certified Financial Planner, (CFP®)

Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA®)

Forbes “Top Women Wealth Advisor,” 2018, 2019

Forbes “Best-in-State Wealth Advisor,” New Jersey, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

Forbes “Top 200 Women Advisors,” 2017, 2018

M.B.A., Fordham University

Life

Kathy serves on the Board of Directors for: The Ridgewood Public Library Foundation, The Family Support Organization of Bergen County, St, Joseph’s School for the Blind, Christian Health Care Center Foundation, and Ridgewood A.M. Rotary.

She is an active member of the Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey and Women United in Philanthropy.

In her free time, she enjoys golfing, spending time with family and relaxing at the beach.

Jim McCann is a successful entrepreneur, business leader, author, media personality and philanthropist whose passion is helping people deliver smiles. Jim’s belief in the universal need for social connections and interaction led to his founding of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc., which he has grown into one of the world’s leading floral and gourmet gifting companies.

Jim’s willingness to embrace new technologies that enhance customer engagement, such as 800 phone numbers and e-commerce, often long before other retailers, has consistently kept 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. ahead of the curve and positioned it as a leading innovator in the marketplace. These innovations have played a vital role in strengthening customer engagement, something that has always been a key element of Jim’s business philosophy.

Jim’s strategy for growth has included an effective combination of birthing and acquiring new businesses and brands that resonate with customers for their gifting and celebratory occasions. The company’s gift offerings include iconic brands such as Harry & David®, Wolferman’s®, Cheryl’s® Cookies and The Popcorn Factory®, as well as Simply Chocolate®, Personalization Universe® and 1-800-Baskets.com®, among others.

Jim is also deeply involved in philanthropy and is especially devoted to helping individuals with developmental disabilities. This includes his continued work as Founder and Chairman of Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization established in 2015. Smile Farms provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities, allowing them to master new skills, experience teamwork, contribute to their community and, importantly, take home a paycheck. As a result, Jim was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Long Island Business News 2019 Corporate Citizenship Awards.

In 2018, Jim established Clarim Holdings, a private holding company that expands market opportunities for clients by providing capital along with an extensive network of high-tier support partners. Jim also serves as a director for The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Amyris and International Game Technology PLC, as well as a variety of private and not-for-profit boards.

Juliet currently serves as CEO for media brand Worth, responsible for leading its transformation from a print magazine to a content platform that focuses on ‘Worth beyond Wealth’ and inspires and informs an affluent, influential and successful community of individuals to be their best selves.

Juliet began her career as a management consultant, learning to code at IBM Business Consulting Services, before focusing on business strategy and organizational change, working with clients to solve complex business problems across a variety of sectors through the use of technology.

Her experience in this area took her to a role at Boxwood (now KPMG) where she worked as a senior consultant in strategy and business change, with a focus on the media and technology sector. After working as a consultant with Guardian News & Media on its print to digital strategy, in 2012 she was confirmed in a permanent role to lead strategy and operations for the Guardian Media Group’s commercial division based in London.

Juliet joined the Guardian’s executive committee in 2015 and, as chief delivery officer; was responsible for the strategic implementation of the global three year turnaround plan and subsequent transformation and growth for the Guardian’s US operation, relocating to New York in 2016.

She lives in Westchester with her husband and son, is a keen runner, yogi, and skier.