The Changing Face of The Brooklyn Hospital Center’s Board of Trustees

Amid the unprecedented happenings of the last few years, The Brooklyn Hospital Center recruited 10 new members to its Board of Trustees. The Board guides the administration and staff in achieving its mission to make a difference in the health and wellness of the diverse communities it serves through teaching, outreach and compassionate care.

“I have been delighted to welcome these trustees,” says Lizanne Fontaine, Board Chair. “It has been a priority for me to bring in new members who reflect diversity, youth and different leadership experiences to best represent our communities. With this Board, we are poised for both challenge and opportunities.”

Olamide Ajibesin is the Managing Director and head of Anchin’s Transaction Advisory Services practice. She has spent the last 15 years mastering various aspects of the deal continuum with a strong entrepreneurial mindset. Ms. Ajibesin is also passionate about health and wellness, and diversity in financial services.

Wanyong Lai Austin is General Counsel for Lutheran Social Services of New York. She provides legal guidance on laws and regulations governing service provisions, fosters sound corporate governance practices, and manages and provides legal representation to the non-profit agency.

Adrina Banks-Martin was a Project Manager with Global Firmwide Finance Business Architecture at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. Since retiring she has been working with the National Assoc of Black Accountants (NABA) and pursuing interests in learning new languages, event planning, and mediation.

Martha Bakos Dietz was a litigation associate at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and taught at Brooklyn Law School. Since retiring, she has volunteered for non-profit boards of the Brooklyn Kindergarten Society, Grace Church School, Lutheran Medical Center, and chaired the board of the Brooklyn Heights Association.

Cathy Sommer Iselin served as Director of Development for Bard College/Bard Early Colleges. Before and since retiring, she has volunteered for the non-profit boards of the North Prospect Heights Association and Packer Collegiate Institute, among others. Ms. Iselin is also a member of Community Board 8.

Jessie McClintock Kelly served as Director, Global Initiatives for the Office of Alumni and Development of Columbia University. Before and since retiring, she has volunteered for the non-profit boards of BRIC, Jeremiah Program of New York, Packer Collegiate Institute and Brooklyn Historical Society, among others.

Keith Leonard Kinch serves as General Manager and co-founder of BlocPower, which provides clean, affordable electric heat. Among other projects, he led an alliance between community partners, local residents and business to outfit homes with solar panels in low- to moderate-income communities.

Deirdre Quinn is the CEO and co-founder of Lafayette 148 New York, a woman’s fashion brand. Among many philanthropic activities, she is on the board of School of Dreams, an elementary school funded by Lafayette 148 New York that provides a subsidized private education to the children of Shantou, China.

David Schwartz is co-founder and principal of Slate Property Group and has over 17 years of experience buying, developing and operating real estate across the United States. He currently serve on the boards of the Furman Center at New York University and the Citizens Housing Planning Council, among others.

Kate Sturgess is Vice President, US Financial Controller for National Grid USA. She is an experienced finance executive who has worked internationally. She has strong business and financial acumen with advanced management and leadership skills and is viewed as a driver of change in her organization.