Meet SAA´s Board Members
President
Ricardo Garcia ´97
Background
Ricardo Garcia founded the Westchester-based technology solutions company, Etectonics, after graduating from New York University with a degree in Politics and comprehensive knowledge of and experience with numerous forms of technology. His company manages IT support for hundreds of businesses in the Tri-State area. Etectonics also develops projects for clients such as Best Buy Inc., The New York Public Library, IBM, and various diplomatic agencies (Consulates, Missions and Embassies) to both the United States and United Nations. His leadership led Etectonics to be the recipient of the 2007 New York Enterprise Report Award under the category of “Best Technology Practice” among hundreds of companies as well as to an article in the New York Times highlighting his company as one of the most successful small businesses in seamless back-office integrations and the company showcasing the future of American small and medium size businesses in their quest to remain competitive. Currently, Ricardo Garcia is pursuing his MBA at New York University Stern School of Business.
An Active Member of the Community
Ricardo is President of the Scarsdale Alumni Association, Board member of the New York University Alumni Association, Executive Vice President of LISTA (Latinos in Information Sciences and Technology Association) New York Chapter, Co-Chair of the Princeton Club Young Alumni Committee, Board member at the Strategic Business Alliance in Yonkers and member of the New York Cares Association. In addition, his company participates in the Latin Economic Forum and the United Nations Information & Technology Task Force forums. Ricardo volunteers as a partner of the Bronx Borough President’s “Bronx Small Business Initiative” focusing on helping 10 selected qualified businesses to grow.
Working for the Community with The New York Public Library
After Ricardo approached the New York Public Library in 1999, his company won a contract to conduct the Spanish translation for 33 branches of the NYPL website. In 2000, his company became the technology partner of New York Public Library in the effort to bridge the digital divide in New York City. One year later, Ricardo introduced a plan to the Director of Information Technology at NYPL to provide mobile classrooms at the 79 NYPL branches lacking technology centers. His company then conducted a successful pilot project leading to the scheduling of mobile technology classes throughout the coming years. Etectonics was selected to run the NYPL training program that was to be personally evaluated by Melinda Gates, President of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The program was very successful and resulted in a sizeable grant for the NYPL. To this day, Etectonics enjoys a fruitful relationship with the NYPL as a technology partner.
In the Media
Ricardo Garcia and his company were profiled in a full featured article in the New York Times (November 2007) showcasing successful small businesses. In March 2008 Ricardo was honored with the Three Orchids Award by the Long Island for Colombia Association. Ricardo was the keynote speaker at Verizon Inc. Hispanic Support Organization celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month on 2006. Ricardo has also been a guest on regional radio and television shows as a technology consultant. He is also the recipient of Forty Under Forty Award by the Westchester Business Council 2005 for his company’s success in Westchester County. Ricardo has been awarded Business Person of the Year by the Hispanic Business and Professional Association. The Westchester Business Journal dedicated a front page article to his accomplishments and his company. Ricardo Garcia has also been identified as a young Hispanic leader by Hispanic Trends publication. In 2007 Ricardo is one of 25 Latino professional men nationwide recognized as the future Latino business leaders by the 2008 Management Leadership for Tomorrow MBAP program.
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Executive Director
Eric Rothschild '54
While the caption placed under Eric Rothschild’s name in the 1954 Bandersnatch yearbook no doubt ably captured his high school accomplishments, the Bandy editors could not possibly have known how perfectly their moniker for him, Wonder Boy, would serve to capture the breadth and range of his many achievements in the years to come.
After completing undergraduate work at Harvard and earning a graduate degree from Boston University, Eric began his teaching career at nearby Woodlands High School before coming to Scarsdale High School in 1964. Eric taught in the Social Studies Department and served as its chair from 1973 until 1998.
Throughout his career as a high school teacher and a renowned teacher of teachers, Eric perfected the art of having students “do history,” making history come alive as he bounced around the room, questioning, encouraging, even occasionally singing (off-key), and along the way inspiring generations of nascent historians and teachers. Eric championed the use of simulations as a teaching tool, developing games ranging from the Constitutional Convention, the Women’s Hall of Fame, Lincoln’s Campaign Manager, and the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson to the murder mystery “Who Killed Teddy Roosevelt” and much, much more. Students in Eric’s classes were true historians, becoming expert at the use of microfiche and microfilm as they pored over countless primary documents to unlock the secrets of the past.
Eric’s great gift to the teaching profession has been to share this expertise broadly, as he’s traveled across the country and internationally to lead workshops on the teaching of history. He has published numerous articles and presented many papers on innovative teaching practices for organizations and journals ranging from the American Historical Association, the College Board and the Organization of American Historians to The New York Times and The History Channel. He has co-authored several texts supporting enhanced history instruction, including The Chicago Handbook for Teachers and Teaching Advanced Placement U. S. History. His education accomplishments have been recognized by numerous organizations including the College Board, the Organization of American Historians, Harvard and Cornell Universities and New York State Council of Social Studies.
Beyond these many professional accomplishments, Eric has somehow found the time to play an active role in Scarsdale community organizations, serving on numerous boards and committees. His exceptional contribution to the life of the community was recognized in 2007 with his selection as the recipient of the prestigious Scarsdale Bowl Award.
Treasurer
Bhavit Patel '00
Bhavit Patel is an Associate on the Short-Term Fixed Income sales team at JPMorgan Asset Management. At JPMorgan, Bhavit's responsibilitiesinclude increasing domestic and international product knowledge andgrowing the investment business both directly with financialinstitutions, and throughfinancial intermediary platforms. havit's team of seven at JPMorganiscurrently responsible for over $70 billion in assets under management.
Prior to Bhavit's employment at JPMorgan, he attended Emory Universitywhere he majored in Finance and minored in Economics. Bhavit alsoserved as President of his a cappella group for three years, for which he organized and performed at events for President's Clinton andCarter, as well as at various professional sporting events throughout Georgia. He also was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
Bhavit currently resides in Manhattan, although his family maintainstheir residence in Scarsdale. Outside of JPMorgan, Bhavit is involvedwith the New York Cares volunteerism program and actively races withthe New York Road Runners organization.
Directors
Sanskruti Mehta '00
Sanskruti Mehta is the founder and owner of Copperpebble LLC, an on-line luxury goods retailer based in New York. Sanskruti comes from a long lineage of diamond-traders and business professionals.
She started out her career in the fashion and luxury goods industry working at Donna Karan International in the Strategy and Planning division. Ms. Mehta later moved to Dolce & Gabbana’s Finance division. She completed a short-stint at Diane von Furstenberg, and later moved to work within the Swiss Watch Luxury sector for a private luxury goods investment company. Sanskruti has also consulted for and partnered with diamond jewelry wholesalers for various business needs in the past.
Mehta earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Babson College in Massachusetts, and her Graduate Gemologist and Accredited Jewelry Professional Degrees from the Gemological Institute of America in New York.
Sanskruti is an active member in the community. She is currently a member of the Scarsdale Alumni Association Executive Board and is currently spear-heading the international alumni association section. Sanskruti is also a member of the Young Alumni Association at the Princeton Club, the Babson Alumni Club of New York, and the Gemological Institute of America Alumni Association.
Sanskruti Mehta currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland, and travels between: New York, United States and Mumbai, India.
Andres Garcia '00
Andres Garcia is an Associate at the Equity Sales Group at Morgan Stanley. He currently trades equity products on behalf of thirty institutional clients with a combined approximate holding of $35 billion in assets under management.
Currently Andres is a member of the 2011 MBA class at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and focuses in Investment Management. Andres attended Villanova University and received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a Major in Finance. While at Villanova Andres was a co-founder of the Student Managed Fund and served as Treasurer of the Equity Society. In Scarsdale High School, Andres was a member of the Varsity Soccer team and he continues his passion for the sport of “Futbol” as a fan.
Currently, Andres is a Big Brother in the Big Brother Big Sister of NYC Program and also the co-chair of the Junior Society of Ballet Hispanico. Andres resides in Manhattan and is a CFA Level II candidate.
Christopher Lim ’97
Christopher Lim is an Associate in the Fixed Income/Municipal Bond Division at Morgan Stanley. Prior to working at Morgan Stanley, Christopher was a Senior Software Engineer at FactSet Research Systems.
Christopher attended the University of Michigan and in addition to his academic studies, was the Vice President of The Computer Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi, and worked as a Junior Engineer in the Mechanical Engineering Research Department. In 2001, he received a B.S.E. in Computer Engineering.
Upon graduation, Christopher moved to New York City to pursue his engineering career and passion for dance. An avid dancer, specializing in popping, Christopher has performed and won numerous contests both nationally and internationally and is currently a member of the Animated Beat Mechanics dance crew.
Christopher currently lives in Manhattan with his wife, Catherine, a Toronto native. They were recently married and celebrated with family and friends in both New York and Toronto.
Jane Wals '91
Alison Pinsley ´77
Directors Emeritus
Page Davis Bramley '38, Founder
Robert Bidwell '37, Founder
Warren Heilbron '37, Founder
James McW. Kellers '38, Founder
Halliday Clark Sr. '37, Founding President 1987-1995
Ennis Aigeltinger '45, Director 1997-2002
Mary Pilliod Enard '42, Director 1997-2002
Charles "Pete" Hazelwood '40, Director 1997-2002
SAA Communication Volunteers
Susan Darer ’56 Communications Volunteer
Alice Katcher Kisch '54, Managing Editor
Joyce Sternberger Schwarts '64, Website Assist.
Scarsdale High School Advisory Council
Aaron Kransdorf ´09
Danielle Dodo ´08