CEO & CO-FOUNDER

Barry has worked in child welfare for over 31 years, directly supervising the reunification of over 900 children with their families as well as finalizing adoptions of over 900 children from the New York foster care system. Barry is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer. He was named Adoption Activist of the Year in 2005 by the North American Council on Adoptable Children. Barry also served as an Adjunct Lecturer at Columbia School of Social Work in New York City and has guest-lectured in family counseling at St. Joseph’s College in Patchogue, NY. Barry strongly believes that every child deserves a safe and permanent family, and has dedicated his life to finding new and creative ways to achieve this. Barry has two wonderful children of his own with whom he loves to spend time.

CHIEF PROGRAM OFFICER

Gabrielle received her MSW from NYU Silver School of Social Work, and her BA from Boston University. Gabrielle is also an alumna of the 2015 Children’s Corps class, where she worked with adolescents and families affected by the child welfare system. She is committed to creating a more equal and just society. Additionally, Gabrielle is an adventure and food enthusiast and enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

DIRECTOR OF CHILDREN’S CORPS

Erika received her MSW from Columbia and her BA from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont. She worked in public schools for many years supporting children with a diverse range of needs as well as trauma-based behavioral needs. Erika is an alumna of the 2019 Children’s Corps class, where she worked in the Bronx providing bilingual family therapy to families with the goal of increasing skill building and fostering more harmonious relationships. When she’s not spending free time with her wife and daughter, Erika enjoys baking and tending to her large plant collection.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Ben is currently an MSW student at Fordham University and received his BA from Binghamton University. He started as an intern for the 2023 Children’s Corps class where he fell in love with the mission and support system cultivated by this organization. He is committed to human service and believes every child deserves a safe home. Ben is a self-described nerd and spends his free time writing and playing music, cooking with his fiancé and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Sophie received her MSW from NYU Silver School of Social Work and her BA in Psychology from Vassar College. Sophie is an alumna of the Children's Corps Class of 2017, where she worked for 4 years as a family foster care case planner in New York City. Sophie continues her work in child welfare as a social worker for Child and Family Services Agency in Washington D.C., where she serves children and families involved in the foster care system. Sophie has seen firsthand the power of the mission of Children's Corps—that families achieve better outcomes more efficiently when their workers are trained well and given support. Sophie is an avid Philadelphia sports fan.

David joined FCFC’s Board in 2020. He is a Managing Director with New Mountain Capital, a private equity investment firm based in New York. David has a 30 year career in finance and investment management.

He has served on the Board of Directors of Goodwill Industries of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey since 2003. He earned his BA from DePauw University, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. David is married and has three teenage children and resides in Bronxville, NY.

Greg Jay, CPA is a Partner at KPMG who specializes in Risk Management – Tax. Originally from Hawaii, Greg lives with his wife in Brooklyn. He has served on FCFC’s Board of Directors since 2014.

Adam joined the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) in 2016 (via Refinitiv and Thomson Reuters) and currently manages inbound partnerships with some of its most strategic data providers and exchanges. He has previously held roles within the company in sales operations, business development, corporate finance and product strategy. Adam holds an HBA degree from Western University Ivey Business School and an MBA from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management. With two young kids, Adam aspires to once again travel, ski and cycle more frequently! Adam currently serves as Treasurer of the nonprofit Fostering Change for Children’s Board and as a member of FISD’s Executive Committee.

Ron is our Board Chairperson. Ron is Senior Counsel over Collective Bargaining for the National Basketball Players Association, the certified labor union for all players in the National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association. Ron has championed the rights of the players against management through five separate rounds of collective bargaining, including through the six-month owner-imposed lockout in 1998, and has represented NBA and WNBA players in every discipline and contract case brought since he joined the union staff in 1993. Ron graduated from Binghamton University in 1984 and Hofstra Law School in 1987, and previously served as a law clerk to the Second Circuit United States Court of Appeals, and a litigation associate at the firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Through his work with Fostering Change for Children, Ron hopes to help create a supportive environment for children in need similar to what he was lucky enough to receive when many friends, neighbors and family members stepped up to help raise him after the passing of his mother. Ron is married with two children.

Beth Mutnik is a retired, award-winning elementary school teacher with experience in New York and Florida schools. She earned a B.A. in Child Development from Binghamton University and an M.S. in Elementary Education from Queens College.

Beth is passionate about children's issues, recognizing that a child's psychological and emotional well-being are critical to success in their educational journey. Allowing a child to be seen and appreciating individuality, be it gender, ethnicity or race, has been the hallmark of her professional career.

Although retired, Beth continues to champion children's issues through United Way philanthropy and volunteering at a local food bank. She spends every free moment she can in the company of her family, especially her two delightful granddaughters, believing that all children should be as loved as they are.

Melissa is a forerunner in creating meaningful social change through her expertise in spearheading social impact strategies and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. She has a proven track record with national non-profit organizations, as well as some of the world’s largest and most influential brands. Throughout her prestigious career, Melissa has established herself as a respected, nationally known thought leader developing innovative ideas and creative solutions.

Her current role as Vice President, Strategy and Impact at Paramount enables Melissa to supervise each brand’s commitment to the long-term social impact of cultural shifts in society. With expertise including the issues of Race, Identity, Culture, Equity, and Social Justice, she is known for masterfully managing moments of crisis with her unflappable style.

Zac joined FCFC’s board in 2021. He is a Principal at Ares Management, an alternative asset management firm, where he focuses on Middle Market Direct Lending. Zac graduated from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan in 2011. Through his work with Fostering Change for Children, Zac hopes to bring about meaningful change in the foster care system, helping to provide children of all ages with supportive environments for them to thrive.