Patricia Bransford
Founder and Executive Director
The National Urban Technology Center

Ms. Bransford is the founder and Executive Director of the National Urban Technology Center. She is a senior marketing executive with over 17 years of experience at IBM where she directed IBM's New York City public sector marketing office. She was the developer of IBM's first "1-800" direct marketing and distribution channel for personal computers, achieving a substantial increase in its market share. She has also served as the chair of Mayor David Dinkins and New York State Comptroller Carl McCall's highly successful finance committees. She is an NYU Business School graduate.

Thomas L. Bransford
Founder and Executive Director
The National Urban Technology Center

Tom Bransford is a senior manager with 30 years experience in information technology, largely with IBM.  His last assignment with IBM was the State Education Advisor to the New York City school system where he oversaw the implementation of technology to assist in the education of over 1 million children.  Mr. Bransford joined UTC in the fall of 1995.  He holds a BA from Dartmouth College.

David Perlin
Partner
Keel Capital

David Perlin is a founding partner at Keel Capital LLC, a Connecticut-based technology hedge fund.  Recently, David was a Managing Director, Equity Department and Manager of International Sales Trading at Goldman Sachs & Co.  He was previously a US Sales Trader at CS First Boston.  Mr. Perlin received his BS and his MBA from New York University's Stern School of Business.  Mr. Perlin is a Student Scholarship Sponsor, a supporter of various arts organizations, and a Member of GlenArbor Golf Club.



Kathy Zukerman
Senior Vice President
Bass Trading

Kathy B. Zukerman, a Senior Vice President and equity sales trader, joined Bass Trading, LLC in New York City in February 2005.  Ms. Zukerman manages institutional clients, principally US and UK based hedge funds.  Before joining Bass Trading, Ms. Zukerman was a Vice President at Goldman Sachs in the Equities Division, most recently managing international hedge fund relationships.  For nine years at Goldman Sachs, she was based in New York City and for two years she was based in London as a global institutional sales trader.  Ms. Zukerman graduated from Stanford University with a major in Sociology and has an MBA from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA.

Gena Davis Watkins
Vice President and Chief Development Officer
Institute for Student Achievement (ISA)

Gena Davis Watkins has been the ISA’s Vice President and Chief Development Officer since March 2004. Ms. Davis Watkins oversees all ISA fundraising activities with a focus on significantly increasing and diversifying its financial resources to achieve maximum growth. Ms. Davis Watkins came to ISA from the National Urban League where, as Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, she oversaw all fundraising, including a $50 million endowment campaign, raising $23 million in the first 18 months of her tenure.

Ms. Davis Watkins began her career as a Research Associate for the United Way of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Other credits include Planning & Development Coordinator for the City of New Haven Office of Downtown & Harbor Development; mayoral appointee and Director of the City of New Haven Office of Housing & Neighborhood Development; Administrator/ Development advisor for the $3.5 million historic renovation and expansion of the Hannah Gray Home, a 140 year-old home for elderly African-American women. In this role, Ms. Davis Watkins had a wide involvement in community service organizations and contributed to a number of publications on strategic planning and implementation of community development projects and programs.

Ms. Davis Watkins holds a Master’s in Education and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as certification from the Indiana University Center on Philanthropy.

John Starks
Founder/President
John Starks Foundation

Founded in 1994 by former NBA star and Tulsa native John Starks, The John Starks Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to high school seniors in the form of academic scholarships. In addition, the Foundation provides community programs focused on furthering the educational, recreational and career development of children and their families.

At a very young age, John Starks knew he wanted to become a professional basketball player. With the support of his family, specifically his mother Irene and grandmother Callie, and through sheer determination, he achieved his goal on October 1, 1990 when he signed with the New York Knicks. In 2003, he retired as one of the most beloved players in New York Knicks history. To this day, he remains a fan favorite in the New York area. After his tenure with the Knicks, Starks played for the Golden State Warriors (1998 through 2000), the Chicago Bulls (1999-2000) and the Utah Jazz (2000 -2002). In each NBA city, John was dedicated to the team’s community outreach efforts and volunteered his time and support when needed.

In 2003, Starks was named Alumni and Fan Development Advisor for the New York Knicks. Starks is involved in the day-to- day efforts to expand the Knicks Alumni Relations, Community Relations and Fan Development Programs. In addition, he serves as a pre-and-post-game analyst on MSG Network’s home Knicks game coverage.

John and his family reside in Stamford, CT. When not rooting for the Knicks, John spends time with his family, playing golf and working on his Foundation’s agendas. His autobiography, John Starks: My Life was released in the fall of 2004.