Alumni Focus

GREG NORMAN JR. ’04

NAMED 2021 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS

Greg Norman Jr. ‘04 was named the 2021 Benjamin School Distinguished Alumnus by the Alumni Council during an annual celebration in Benjamin Hall on April 20. A member of the 14-Year Club, Norman was honored for his entrepreneurial spirit in launching Shark Wake Park, which are cable and aqua wake parks in South Carolina and Florida.

Head of School Dave Faus welcomed an audience of seniors and Norman’s family members to the special event. “Seniors, you should know that upon graduation you automatically become part of The Benjamin School Alumni Association, a network of 3,000 plus members spread out across the country and the globe. Many of them have stayed in touch with each other and the school, and we hear their success stories every year,” said Faus. “As educators, there’s nothing more thrilling than seeing former students come back to campus and share their experiences,” said Faus who went on to acknowledge this year’s 20 members of the 14-Year Club. Alumni Council President and current parent Paul Lawler ‘02 spoke to the seniors in attendance, encouraging them to embrace the educational foundation Benjamin has given them, along with the relationships they have made and will make as a result of their connection to the School.

Lawler, who recalled learning to love watersports behind the back of the same boat as Norman, praised his former classmate for giving communities access to a sport that they may not otherwise be able to enjoy through the creation of Shark Wake Park.

Norman took to the podium and told students it was his first time seeing the ever-evolving upper school campus. “I walked around here for the first time today to see this high school. I graduated after 14 years from the old Benjamin School campus,” said Norman. “You are so lucky to be here. This place is incredible . . . you guys are in a very unique group of people. We are all very lucky to say we came from Benjamin.” Norman told seniors the platform that the school provides will allow them to pursue whatever it is they want to accomplish. “Along the path, you will fail a lot. If you go Google a motivational speech by celebrity X, Y, or Z, every one of them will hone in on failure, and that’s a gigantic part of the process,” said Norman who recalled the trial-and-error process of getting Shark Wake Park off the ground. “I had to go through a lot of failure to get to the point where I was able to convince government and politicians to build an action sports park,” said Norman. Norman praised the value of discomfort and uncomfortable positions for their revelatory ability. “When you are in uncomfortable positions, you’re most likely doing something that’s right for yourself . . . I hope you’re nervous. If you’re nervous, it means you’re fired up for it . . . and that’s true with anything in life,” he said. Norman joins the ranks of previous Distinguished Alumnus Award recipients, including Olympian Ryan Berube ‘92 and Congressman Tom Rooney ‘89.

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT:

ROBIN McINTOSH, CEO, CO-FOUNDER, WORKIT HEALTH

WORKIT HEALTH IS AN ONLINE THERAPY PROGRAM FOR DRUG AND ALCOHOL ADDICTION

Q: What was your inspiration behind founding Workit? A: I truly believe the best initiatives and enterprises are born of lived experiences. For me, that looks like years of struggling with manifold substance use disorder issues in my late teens and early 20s. I am very lucky to have a deeply supportive, loving family that routed me to proper care settings quickly. I entered the world of recovery at age 21 and found so much inspiration, agency, and aliveness there that I never looked back.

Unfortunately, my experience is unique. Of the 20 million Americans diagnosed with substance use disorders, 9 out of 10 fail to receive treatment. Those that do receive help, aren’t much better off — two-thirds relapse within their first year.

From an early age, I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and work in social impact (although, of course, I didn’t use that language). I started my own design agency out of college, but always felt that I wasn’t effecting system change at the scale and depth I wanted. In 2015, after the death of a friend, I founded Workit Health as a side project. It quickly gained traction with people desiring alternative pathways to recovery, and we found seed funding about a year later.

Q: What was the process like trying to launch the platform and find investors who believed in your idea? A: Difficult! Our very first investor was Todd Kimmel who runs a fund called Montage Ventures in Palo

Alto, California. He was probably the one—hundredth person we asked for financing, but by that time, we had enough organic demand to justify a seed round. If you are willing to work hard and long enough, and your idea is sound, it’s usually a matter of if, rather than when, the skies part and you stumble upon a supporter.

But it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and 99 percent of people give up before getting over the finish line. I’m fortunate I’m so stubborn. Q: Were there any takeaways from your time at TBS that have been beneficial to you in your career? A: I was at Benjamin from kindergarten to 11th grade, so I can’t overstate how important those years were in framing my career trajectory. Big lessons include learning to lean into challenges, and curiosity and hard work . . . And finally, of course, the deep love of learning that fuels so much of my life, and frames every thought I have and decision I make.

Q: Favorite teacher/mentor at Benjamin? A: I loved so many of my teachers at Benjamin, it’s hard to isolate just one! But I’d have to say

Mrs. Brawley, my first grade teacher. Midway through the year, she saw I was bored in class and prompted me to borrow juicy chapter books from the second grade classroom across the breezeway. It was a learning breakthrough for me when I realized that my brain works a little differently, and those with power could champion my path.

Also, I don’t think she realized that the Sweet Valley Twins books got salacious toward the end of the series, which was delightful and scandalous!

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

Carter F. Smith

(NPBPS ‘72) was promoted to Master Instructor with the Department of Criminal Justice Administration at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Scott Colton ‘81

recently published his first book The Trust, available for purchase on Amazon.

Ellen Laird Regnery ‘83, a current shareholder and president of Haile Shaw & Pfaffenberger, with offices in North Palm Beach, Palm Beach, and Wellington, Florida, is pleased to announce her firm will be merging with Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero, with offices in Palm Beach Gardens and Boca Raton, Florida. This new partnership will build on both firms’ long-standing principles of client service and personalized legal representation. The combined firm of 40 attorneys will operate under the Nason Yeager Gerson Harris & Fumero banner, and Ellen will be located in the Palm Beach Gardens office.

Robert Bozic ‘85

was recently featured on the New York American Chemical Society’s Facebook page. Robert and his collaborators at PetroSkillsSimulation Solutions Inc. are the co-founders of ChemE-Sports, a computer simulation safety and optimization competition that is celebrating its third year with a combined on-site and remote capability. The 2021 ChemE-Sports Competition is planned for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting on November 7, 2021.

Anne Fallon ‘86 was named Assistant Head of Lower School at The Bolles School/Ponte Vedra Beach campus. She is a proud member of the administrative team and continues to teach third grade at the school. Anne’s oldest daughter Emily, 24, graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2020 and lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, working for Embassy Suites in the event planning department. Her youngest daughter Cindy, 20, is going into her third year at the University of Central Florida majoring in psychology. Anne’s son Andrew, 18, will be a senior at The Bolles School.

David Szmukler ‘88

is living and working in Singapore. He is general counsel and chief compliance officer at Modular Asset Management.

Chelsea Reed ‘88

was elected into her office as City Council for Palm Beach Gardens in 2020, and has been nominated for, and placed on, several local and statewide boards and committees. Chelsea was also recently honored to be a finalist for Palm Beach North Chamber’s Woman of the Year Award.

Ryan Smith ‘93 and his wife Megan Smith are proud to announce that their daughter, Emeline Smith (above), signed a modeling contract with the Ford Modeling Agency.

Héloïse Brion ‘94

launched Miss Maggie’s Kitchen, a food, lifestyle, and travel website, four years ago. She previously worked in the fashion industry as a communications and image director in Paris. Her first art de vivre cookbook was published in English in September 2020: Miss Maggie’s Kitchen: Relaxed French Entertaining. Héloïse and her husband Christophe Roué (photographer, film director, and music composer) are working on their second book. The pair have created print and film campaigns for brands that include Veuve Clicquot and Le Creuset. Héloïse also launched a lifestyle brand this summer. The couple lives in Normandy, France, with their two boys and are dreaming of moving to South Florida in the next few months!

Molly Stringer ‘95 recently joined local real estate agency The Sheehan Agency. Molly combines financial asset experience, interior design knowledge, and local market insight to facilitate real estate interests in luxury homes and lifestyles in the Palm Beaches. In addition to spending time with her two children, Molly enjoys Duke University basketball, the arts, and living an active lifestyle in her spare time.

Jeanmarie Burigo

Connor ‘97 is a pediatrician in Jupiter, Florida. She started her practice, Premier Pediatrics of Palm Beach, in 2014, and it brings her so much joy to take care of the children of so many TBS alumni! Jeanmarie’s husband Mike is an oculoplastic surgeon in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and they have four children who attend The Benjamin School. Jeanmarie and Mike are also entrepreneurs and created Scarology, a scar treatment system to help improve the appearance of scars.

Will Rhody ‘00

and his wife Ashley welcomed their first child, William James Rhody III, last September. The couple currently resides in Tequesta, Florida. Will owns several staffing firms and Ashley is the technical director of the cardiac sonography department at a local hospital. When the couple are not at home, they enjoy spending time at their family ranch in Southern Georgia.

Natalie Bedoya McGinn ‘00

has been named a partner at Gelber Schachter & Greenberg, P.A., a boutique litigation law firm in Miami. Natalie’s practice includes a variety of white-collar criminal, civil, and appellate matters. After working in New York for several years, Natalie is happy to call Florida home once again.

Lauren Shaw ‘00 is the Director of International Communications for USAID (United States Agency for International Development).

Dr. Matthew McAlees ‘02

and his family are returning to Jupiter, Florida, from Charlotte, North Carolina. His four daughters are enrolled in Benjamin and couldn’t be more excited!

Todger Strunk ‘03 and Christina (Nicklaus) Strunk ‘11

tied the knot in December 2020. Both are so thankful to have celebrated with family and friends in their hometown of North Palm Beach, Florida.

Morgan (McRoberts) Evers ‘03

recently left her job in the nonprofit world to start her own business: FINACIOUS Visionary Consulting + Solutions.

She only takes on projects that pour good into the world and effect positive change. Her clients are from all sectors, including universities, nonprofits, business, and the state, who have ideas, projects, or goals that influence local communities or statewide systems.

The firm provides solutions, branding, and training, and facilitates workshops, and helps facilitate the movement toward positive outcomes, raised awareness, or positive change.

Jessica Haverstrom

(Paul) ‘03 was married to Dr. Kyle Haverstrom on February 20, 2021, at Jupiter Beach Resort. Haverstrom used fellow alumna, Jenna Wittbold ‘07, as her wedding planner, who “made our day as perfect as we always imagined!”

ALUMNI CLASS NOTES

Sarah Davis 05’

and Nicholas Rojo were married on November 14, 2020, at the First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach. Reverend Chris Southard and Reverend Walter “Lucky” Arnold officiated. Following the ceremony, the couple celebrated with family and friends at an outdoor reception at the residence of the bride’s grandparents — the same location Sarah’s parents wed 38 years ago. Nicholas Rojo is the co-founder and president of Affiliated Development. Affiliated Development has gone on to undertake numerous mixed-use multifamily projects in various Florida markets, and has earned a reputation as one of South Florida’s most dynamic and impactful development firms. Sarah recently resigned after eight years of teaching visual arts at the Upper School at Benjamin to pursue her career as a visual artist full time.

Sara Parker ‘05

welcomed a daughter, Lucie Parker Badham, in November 2019. Sara and her family are relocating from New York City to North Palm Beach, Florida, this summer, and are excited to continue the Benjamin tradition with son Warner joining the WOW program this fall.

Liz Motta ‘06

recently opened her private practice, Motta Counseling, based out of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where she offers individual therapy to young adults, including millennials, college and graduate students, and young professionals. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, along with issues related to body image and young adulthood. Liz is excited to be providing direct mental health counseling services to the community where she grew up!

Brendan McNaboe ‘06

resides in Delray Beach, Florida, with his wife Sasha and their dog Mr. Eko. Brendan works at Chewy.com as an Associate Director of Supply Chain, focusing on their health care segment, while Sasha is a fourth grade English and reading teacher at Addison Mizner Elementary. Sasha and Brendan welcomed their first child, daughter Riley Grace McNaboe, to the world on December 12, 2020.

Colin Hickey ’07 is a proud member of the Benjamin Alumni Council. He has spent more than a decade in the financial services and investment advisory industry in New York and Palm Beach. More recently, Colin has partnered with Kurt Sylvia, JP Morgan Wealth Management, and JP Morgan Wealth Partners in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Kurt Sylvia is also a TBS alumni parent to Nic Sylvia ‘16. Colin and Kurt, alongside their highly experienced and longstanding team at The Sylvia Wealth Management Group, are focused on providing sophisticated wealth management planning and investment solutions needed for high-net-worth individuals, families, and institutions. Additionally, Colin became engaged to Carly Bennett in April. The couple is planning their wedding for next summer in Carly’s hometown of Narragansett, Rhode Island.

Tiffany Chaplin ‘08

is excited to announce the launch of her business, Good on Paper, a brand and web design agency working exclusively with female-focused brands.

Kirby Kempe Nielsen, Ph.D., ‘09

accelerated her doctorate at The Ohio State University’s experimental and behavioral economics program, to accept a two-year, full fellowship in economics at Stanford University (2019-2020).

While at Stanford, she was offered and accepted a professorship in economics at Caltech, commonly ranked the No. 1 research institution in the world. Kirby and her husband Sam Nielsen now live in Glendale, California.

Hillary Mollo ‘10

was married in Orange Park, Florida, on February 12, 2021, to Alex Ullmann. She works as a commercial property accountant for Banyan Street Capital in Jacksonville, Florida. Hillary and Alex are now expecting a honeymoon baby in November.

Hali Rose Holt

(Sammis) ‘10 and Brayden Holt are expecting their first child at the end of October. Future grandmother and Benjamin teacher Ro Sammis says she is “finally going to be a grandma to a real baby — two awesome dogs, two amazing horses, two cats that ruled, and 10 chickens later!”

Abbey Coffman ‘11 will be defending her doctoral thesis, which focuses on changes in bone biomechanics and bone quality associated with longterm, antiresorptive treatment for osteoporosis, and will graduate with a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering from The City College of New York.

Alexander

Dwork ‘13 is currently enrolled in the golf management program at Keiser University. He recently started a coaching business, “Let Go and Level Up,” where he trains athletes in visualization and championship thinking (positive psychology), and provides top-level instruction on all facets of golf from tee to green. He recently won his flight on the US Am Tour (formerly known as the Golf Channel Tour) at ChampionsGate in Orlando, Florida.

Luke Pingleton ‘13

is currently working as a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Natasha Zachariades ’13

became engaged to Ian Miller in December 2020. The couple currently resides in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, after meeting in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2017. Natasha graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a master’s in electrical engineering and works as an engineer for FPL. The couple is planning their wedding for May 2022 in Boston.

Colby Jack Kempe, Esq. ‘13

became a member of the Florida Bar Association and the Palm Beach County Bar Association in 2020 after graduating from both Tufts University with a bachelor’s degree in U.S. History, and from Ave Maria School of Law with honors. Colby then attended the No. 3-ranked postdoctoral tax law program at the University of Florida, where he graduated with honors and received his LL.M. degree in tax law. Colby is presently practicing law at the Kempe law firm with his father Joseph Kempe and brother Conner Kempe ‘08. Cam Hanna ‘17 was part of the Keiser University Women’s Lacrosse team that won the NAIA national championship.

Velvet Sahm ‘17

and her fiancé Alec Rosen welcomed their first child, daughter Ashley, July 23, 2020. Velvet graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in pre-law in May 2021.

Send Us Your Notes!

Do you have news to share with your former classmates? We would love to hear from you. Submit your news and photos to alumniupdates@thebenjaminschool.org.

CLASS OF 2021

MATRICULATION LIST

American University Ascent Gap Year Auburn University Ave Maria University Babson College Barnard College Boston University Carnegie Mellon University Clemson University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Flagler College Florida Atlantic University Florida State University Hofstra University IMG Academy: Post-Graduate Year Indiana University Bloomington Jacksonville University Keiser University Kenyon College Louisiana State University Loyola University New Orleans New York University North Carolina State University Northwestern University Palm Beach Atlantic University Palm Beach State College Pennsylvania State University – University Park Piedmont College Purdue University Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology Savannah College of Art and Design Seton Hall University Tallahassee Community College The George Washington University The University of Alabama The University of Arizona The University of Chicago The University of Tampa Trinity College Tufts University Tulane University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego University of Colorado Boulder University of Denver University of Florida University of Maryland, College Park University of Miami University of Michigan University of Mississippi University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of Richmond University of Southern California University of St. Thomas Yale University

CLASS OF 2021