Our Board of Directors

Christopher Harrison, Chair

Entertainment and fitness visionary Christopher Harrison is a director and award-winning choreographer. As a pioneer in the field of aerial and acrobatic arts in America, Christopher’s innovations have inspired the current acrobatic and aerial cultural explosion across the globe. 1991 NYC, Christopher created AntiGravity as a hybrid of artistic sports & performing arts, embodying a philosophy that nurtures creativity and emphasizes the joy of extreme movement. Freeing aerial arts from the circus and acrobatics from uncool, AntiGravity became America’s first Contemporary Acrobatic Theatrical Company.

Under Christopher’s direction and choreographic helm, AntiGravity’s acclaimed work has flourished on the world’s largest stages including: President Barack Obama’s 2009 Inauguration, the Olympic Games, Disney films, Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the Metropolitan Opera House, Broadway, the Grammy and Academy Awards; with the most popular artists and tastemakers of the era including: Stephen Spielberg, P. Diddy, Richard Branson, Kanye West, 50 Cent, George Lucas, Steven Forbes, Nelly, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani & No Doubt, Heidi Klum, Usher, Rihanna, Marc Jacobs, Karl Lagerfeld, Bill Gates, George Soros, Stephen Sondheim and Alexander Wang. In the fitness world Harrison is known as having fathered the Aerial Yoga genre.

AntiGravity Fitness (founded 2008) is headquartered in Midtown Manhattan. They license their programs in 50 countries. His business models for both aerial performance and aerial fitness have been reproduced in most major metropolises globally. Before Harrison started his company he was a former world-class athlete and Broadway dancer who also had his hand in popular culture as the Original “Donatello” Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and the Original “MoonMan” for MTV Films. He is proud to be an Original Founding Member and current Chair of the Board for the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation.

Carol Kim, Vice Chair

Carol Kim was appointed in August 2022 to the role of Vice President for Global Recruitment, Admission and Financial Aid in the area of Global Enrollment Management and Student Success at NYU. Previously, Carol served as the senior vice provost for Enrollment Management & Strategic Partnerships at The New School, and prior to that, as senior vice president for Global Partnerships, and as vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management. In her current role, Carol is charged with leading both the strategic direction of the University’s global growth and the enrollment efforts of the university as well as establishing and fostering partnerships. She brings to her work more than 25 years of progressive achievement in growing enrollments and in creating external partnerships for international organizations and higher education. Six out of her last seven positions have been inaugural positions affording Carol a unique opportunity to create, restructure, and re-envision the respective organization, including her current role. She has led decentralized, matrixed areas of distinguished organizations to achieve success in multiple ways, including thriving even in the most demanding environments–whether creating an innovative, one-of-a-kind global program to salvage international students in a world locked down by Covid-19 or re-imagining and resurrecting a dormant yet potentially transformational project in one of the most difficult and formidable countries, China.

Carol has held senior executive leadership positions at Tenlegs, a technology company, where she served as the vice president for Global Partnerships, empowering higher education institutions to build online communities; at YueCheng Education in Beijing, China, where, as the inaugural vice president of Planning & Communications, she led the team that built the very first LEED-certified Gold educational building in Beijing; at CalArts (California Institute of the Arts), first as the inaugural dean of Enrollment Management and then as the inaugural vice president of International Relations; and at New York University, as the director of Recruitment at the Tisch School of the Arts.

While earning her BS and then her MA from NYU, Carol danced professionally, and, before embarking on her path as an educator, she trained at the U.S. Olympic Training Center multiple times as a nationally top-ranked rhythmic gymnast. Carol is also Vice-Chair of the board of directors for the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, and she is also Chair of the College Committee, Executive Parent Board at Stuyvesant High School. She lives in NYC with her husband and her two teenage children, Ever and Zumi. Ever is a swimmer and Zumi is a rhythmic gymnast at WHGF.

Marion Phillips III, Treasurer

Marion Phillips III

Marion Phillips III is Senior Vice President of Community Development & Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at U.S. News & World Report. A former senior vice president of community relations for Empire State Development (ESD), Phillips is tasked with aligning the corporate DEI vision and supporting initiatives for U.S News business strategies in the community.

For more than 20 years at Empire State Development, Phillips built coalitions in support of large-scale projects and presented projects to community stakeholders, elected officials and local municipalities. Phillips previously served as the deputy chief of staff to the deputy mayor for planning & community relations and director of community relations for the New York City Office of the Mayor, where he developed a community relations strategy for New York City and served as a liaison to city agencies that reported to the deputy mayor.

In addition to his leadership in community development, Phillips led the RFP process of a DEI consultant for ESD and oversaw the resulting implementation plan to diversify the organization.

Val Calistro, Esq., Secretary

Valerie B. Calistro (“Val”) is an attorney and serves as the Managing Partner of the law firm known as Ventura Law, which has offices in Connecticut and New York City. She has represented thousands of clients in civil cases throughout Connecticut and New York, in both State and Federal Courts, as well as in arbitrations throughout the United States in International Trade matters.

Val leads her firm’s community outreach efforts, working on committees organizing charitable events benefiting the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury, the Hispanic Center of Danbury, Ct, the Dorothy Day Foundation, the Community Action Center of Danbury, the Community Outreach Committee, and Literacy Volunteers of America. She also serves on the Women’s Business Council (“WBC”) Steering Committee for the Greater Danbury Chamber of Commerce. The WBC was established in 2010 as a resource for the personal and professional growth of women in the Greater Danbury community and, to further inspire and celebrate women through a collective network of guidance, education, support and leadership.

Val was a competitive gymnast throughout her life and loves the sport of gymnastics. She is honored to be a member of the board of the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation.

Herbert Berger, Member

Herbert Berger, Dipl. ABT

Acupuncture | Acuscope-Myopulse Microcurrent Therapy | Manual Therapy

Herbie Berger was one of the first people to become an Acuscope Therapist in 1979. Herbie has a fascinating history with the Acuscope, leading up to having a highly successful practice for many years in New York City.

The NYC Office is now closed. Personal appointments will begin off-site beginning September, 2020, and in adherence with state health guidelines.

History:

1979 – 1981 – Assistant in Veterinary Electro-Acupuncture Treatment Center

1981 – Denver Avalanche, Major Indoor Soccer League. Installed Acuscope and treated players during season

1982 – Acuscope Therapist for the San Francisco 49ers Football Team. Traveled with the team during the season when Joe Montana and the “Niners” won the Super Bowl

1983 – San Francisco Giants Baseball Team. Installed and Trained Staff. First Major League Team to evaluate and use the Acuscope

1983 – Featured Speaker and Panelist at the first Electro-Therapy Sports Medicine Seminar in San Francisco.

Herbie treats Lawrence Pillars (Defensive Tackle) for back pain in the 49er Locker Room. Lawrence was the first player treated with Acuscope modality; because of the success of his therapy, Herbie was invited to become part of the medical staff for the remainder of Super Bowl Season!

Fred Dean (Hall of Fame Linebacker) is seen here in the locker room being treated by Herbie using the Acuscope for head and neck trauma.

History continued…

1983 – 1985 – University of Hawaii Rainbows

The first university football team to evaluate Acuscope/Myopulse for an athletic dept. Herbie installed the equipment, trained the therapists, and stayed on as a staff member to oversee treatments.

1984 – Member of the US Olympic Medical Staff at Olympic Headquarters Summer Games, Los Angeles, CA.

1985 – 1987 – Introduced Acuscope/ Myopulse System to professional NBA basketball; New York Knicks.

1987 – 1990 – Electro-Acuscope Therapist at The Osteopathic Center for Dance Medicine; installed multiple systems for acute and chronic treatment (Manhattan, N.Y.)

1991 – 1999 Member of the medical staff for the NYC Ballet; Dr. Richard Hamilton, Medical Director.

2003 – 2005 – Visiting practitioner for the Miami City Ballet working with Artistic Director and Founder, Mr. Edward Villella.

2003 – Present – Visiting practitioner for Anti-Gravity Acrobatics and Gymnastics Company.

2006 – Present – Visiting Practitioner Gyro-tonics New York (Dance Exercise Rehab System).

2007 – Visiting practitioner Cirque De Soleil.

Additional Accolades:

1993 – AMMA Certification – Kodenkan Judo School.

1998 – Black Belt – SHODAN from Professor Ramon Lono Ancho, Senior Judo Master.

Jeannine Gant, CFP, Member

Jeannine Gant

Jeannine Gant is the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit. She joined the WHGF Detroit board in June of 2021.

Amy Gordon, Member

Amy Gordon

Amy Gordon has been a marketing/fundraising professional for over 20 years after an earlier career in retail. She is currently the Senior Director of Fundraising Initiatives for VISIONS/Services for the Blind & Visually Impaired and consults for both Monroe College and the City University of New York Athletic Conference.

Amy met Wendy in 1997 and from then until 2019, she assisted the WHGF with marketing, fundraising, board development and more.

Amy is an avid swimmer and tennis player and volunteers her Sundays as a dog-walker at a local no-kill animal shelter.

Wendy Hilliard, Member

Wendy Hilliard

Wendy Hilliard has long been a major force in women’s, Olympic, and community sports. She was the first Black to represent the United States globally, and she remained on the Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team a record-setting nine times, serving twice as National Team Captain. Wendy competed in 3 World Championships and the 1984 Olympic Trials and traveled to over 15 foreign countries. She was a 4-time U.S. National Team Coach and coached 1996 Olympian, Aliane Baquerot Wilson. She is a Master of Sport, an honor for developing an Olympic athlete. In 2008, Wendy was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

In 1995, Wendy Hilliard became the first Black and gymnast to become the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation, the leading organization for women’s sports issues.

Wendy’s own non–profit organization, the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), has provided free gymnastics for almost 25,000 urban youth in NYC since 1996 and expanded to Detroit in 2016.

In 2011, Wendy was awarded the Rings of Gold from the U.S. Olympic Committee for her work helping children develop their Olympic dreams. She was the athlete representative for gymnastics to the U.S. Olympic Committee and served on the executive committee of USA Gymnastics for over ten years.

Wendy has been a TV commentator for many sports and gymnastics events, including the Olympic Games for NBC Sports. She has performed on numerous television shows and tours with the world’s top gymnasts and also performed on Broadway in “Candide”.

Wendy was Director of Sports for NYC2012, NYC’s bid for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. As a member of the NYC2012 Senior Staff, her responsibilities included overseeing all of the sports and athlete matters, including over 2,000 Olympians and Paralympians worldwide that supported the bid. Wendy was instrumental in bringing several international events to NYC including the Freestyle Wrestling World Championships held at Madison Square Garden, the Archery World Championships the Fencing World Cup, and was the lead in developing the NYC Triathlon, which is now a sold-out annual event.

In 2006, she designed, programmed, and directed the Gymnastics and Rock Climbing Center for Aviator Sports and Recreation, a multi-million-dollar, multi-sport complex in Brooklyn, New York.

Wendy currently serves on the board of the Armory Foundation, Advisory Boards of Power Play NYC, and Black Women in Sports. She was a founding member of the Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation, Women in Sports and Events (WISE), and Antigravity, an international performance company.

Wendy resides in Harlem with her husband, Robert Mensah, and sons Kennedy and Bailey. Wendy studied Russian and Physical Education at Wayne State University and graduated from New York University with honors.

Willem “Hans” Humes, Member

Hans Humes

Hans Humes is Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Greylock Capital Management, LLC., which he founded as a joint venture with Van Eck Global in May 1995.

Mr. Humes has over three decades of experience working in emerging markets. Humes was a Managing Partner of Van Eck Absolute Return Advisors, Inc. when he launched the fund which became the Greylock Global Opportunity Master Fund in 1997. From 1991 to 1994, he was a key member of the Lehman Brothers emerging markets debt trading team, co-developing the desk and managing over $500 million in investments. Prior to that he traded a proprietary debt portfolio at Banco Santander and engineered several debt/debt and debt/equity swaps in Latin America. Humes began his career at Manufacturers Hanover, where he worked on the sovereign debt restructurings for the Philippines and Yugoslavia.

Mr. Humes has served on numerous sovereign debt restructuring committees, among them the Steering Committee of the Private Creditor-Investor Committee for Greece and the Global Committee of Argentine Bondholders (GCAB), where he was co-chair. Mr. Humes has been active in policy and regulatory initiatives affecting creditors globally. He is currently co-chair of the IIF Committee of Sovereign Risk Management, a trustee of the IIF’s Principles Consultative Group (PCG) for the Principles for Stable Capital Flows and Fair Debt Restructuring in Emerging Markets, a member of the IIF Working Group on Reconciliation of Past Due Sovereign Debt and a member of the IIF Market Monitoring Group.

Mr. Humes is on the board of directors of the MacDella Cooper Foundation, which provides care and schooling for Liberian orphans, the Georgie Badiel Foundation, which focuses on providing access to clean water and sanitation to the people of Burkina Faso and neighboring Sub-Saharan African countries, and the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation, which provides gymnastics training for young people in Harlem. Mr. Humes is also on the board of trustees of the New York Theatre Workshop.

Mr. Humes received his BA from Williams College in 1987. He has lived and studied in Nigeria, Morocco, Canada, Netherlands, Chile, Mexico, and Belgium and is fluent in Spanish.

Dimitrius Hutcherson, Member

Dimitrius Hutcherson

Dimitrius Hutcherson works for First Independence Bank as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Technology Officer. In this role, he has responsibility for the Human Resources, Technology, Retail Banking, Treasury Management, and External Affairs. Dimitrius is an experienced Board Member and results-driven Finance, Operations and Technology Executive with extensive experience in developing companies from early stage through fruition and commercializing ideas. He has over 30 years of work experience at private and public organizations. His relationship management/advisory experience includes soliciting from and presenting to numerous public officials, boards, agencies, commissions, foundations, private investors and community stakeholders. He has been a trusted advisor to publicly traded, closely held, non-profit, private equity portfolio companies and the federal government. He has spectrum proficiency in experience in management consulting, commercial lending, technology in financial services, managing start-ups, and strategic planning.

Dimitrius is Chairman Emeritus of the National Black Child Development Institute, Inc., Board Member and Treasurer, Harvard Business School Club of Michigan; Board Member, Michigan Roundtable on Diversity & Inclusion; Board Member, Detroit Economic Growth Corporation; Board Member Junior Achievement of Southeastern Michigan and Board member, the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation. He served as Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania where he chaired the Investment Committee (Sept. 2015 – Oct. 2020) He is an Online Adjunct Instructor at the American University, Kogod Graduate School of Business, a member of various technology, finance and community boards, and has served as a professor and guest lecturer at several educational
institutions, conferences and workshops.

Dimitrius has prior work experience in senior level roles at PNC Financial Services Group, Deloitte Services, LP, Freddie Mac, GMAC Commercial Mortgage, GE Capital, Ernst & Young, LLP and JP Morgan Chase.

Dimitrius earned a BA degree in Finance, cum laude, at Morehouse College and an MBA in Finance and Business Strategy from the Harvard Business School.

Brenda Levin, Member

Brenda Levin

Edward A. Matthews, Member

Edward A. Matthews

Edward Matthews (Former Collegiate Gymnast and Coach) is an accomplished Real Estate financial professional from New York City who offers extensive knowledge of Real Estate Sales, Real Estate Leasing, and Real Estate Management Accounting. As a long-time supporter of the sport of Gymnastics, Edward offers a unique experience of having trained and coached in the publicly funded Chicago Park District Gymnastics program at inception.

Currently, as Managing Director of EA Realty, Edward has managed and sold over $100M in a portfolio of industrial, commercial, and residential real estate properties throughout his career. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and a Master of Science in Software Development.

Dominick Minicucci Jr., CFP, Member

Dominick Minicucci Jr., CFP

Dominick is a retired American Olympic gymnast. He was a member of the 1988 United States Olympic gymnastics team in Seoul, South Korea, and the Team Captain in 1992 in Barcelona, Spain. Dominick is a highly decorated gymnast who has won medals at the national and international level including the induction into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame and Temple University Athletics Hall of Fame.

During his athletic career, he demonstrated perseverance with focus on individual and team strategy. This has uniquely shaped Dominick into the Financial Advisor he is today. A graduate of Temple University with a B.B.A. in Accounting, Dominick holds the Series 3, 7, 63, 65 as well as Life & Health Insurance licenses. As a Certified Financial Planner™, he develops comprehensive plans to acutely manage the intersection of pivotal life events and capital market cycles. Dominick has also obtained his CIMA® (Certified Investment Management Analyst) designation and is an elite member of the Endowment & Foundation Consultant (EFC) group enabling him to act as fiduciary while consulting on customized solutions in accordance to the philanthropic mission, investment philosophy and financial goals. He also actively advises and offers fiduciary services for companies as a Managing Director/Investments and Portfolio Manager – Solutions Program.

Before joining UBS Financial Services, he held advisory roles at Oppenheimer Inc. and Wachovia Securities LLC. Dominick has worked in wealth management and advisory for over 25 years. He currently serves on board for the Wendy Hilliard Foundation and has served on boards for The US Olympic Committee and USA Gymnastics Foundation.

Dominick and his wife, Christy, currently reside in Monroe Township, NJ with his two children.

Tom Sherry, Member

Tom Sherry

Tom Sherry is the Founder and Principal of consulting practice 313Creative, who has been a supporter of the WHGF on a volunteer basis for over 5 years focusing on locations, partnerships, and relationship-building in the Detroit landscape. He joined the WHGF Detroit board in June of 2021.

Ginji Wang, Member

Ginji Wang

Alpha Alexander, PhD, Emeritus

Dr. Alpha Alexander was born June 9, 1954 in Nashville, Tennessee to parents Alpha Omega Alexander and Rufus S. Alexander. Alexander’s mother, Alpha Omega Alexander was an elementary school teacher in Dayton, Ohio. Alexander’s father graduated from the University of Wisconsin and worked for the United States Post Office. Alexander later moved to Dayton, Ohio where she grew up. Dr. Alpha Alexander attended Blairwood Elementary and went to Jefferson High School. Alexander was unable to play sports at Jefferson High School due to sports not being offered to girls. Alexander then went on to attend The College of Wooster in 1976 where she attained her bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. While there she played Volleyball (1973-1975), Lacrosse, Tennis, and Basketball (1972-1976). Alexander earned her master’s degree in 1978 and Doctorate degree in 1981 at Temple University in Pennsylvania.

In 1976 Dr. Alpha Alexander began her career as a graduate assistant in Women’s Athletics at Temple University. She was the Assistant Women’s Athletic Director while there from 1980-1983 and the Women’s Athletic Director in 1981–1983. She went on to work at Women’s Sports Foundation 1985–1986. In 1986 she worked at the YWCA of San Francisco as Health and Wellness Director until 1987 until she became the health and sports advocacy for YWCA of the USA National Office. In 1990 Alexander became special assistant to the chief executive officer of the YWCA. Alexander then worked as Chancellor to the New York City Board of Education Office in 2000–2001. Dr. Alexander taught at Walter State Community College from 2001-2005 and Lane College from 2005–2007. Alexander served on the Olympic and Pan-American Sports Advisory Council, the United States Olympic Committee Board of Directors, and was president of the Arthur Ashe Foundation. In 1992 Alexander co-founded the Black Women in Sport Foundation with Tina Sloan Green, Nikki Franke, and Linda Greene. They met while at Temple University. Currently Alexander is the chairperson of the Morristown Task Force on Diversity.