MEET THE FOUNDERS

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Dr. Ivan Misner is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest business networking organization. BNI was founded in 1985. The organization now has over 10,000 chapters throughout every populated continent of the world.

Dr. Ivan Misner

Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of BNI
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Beth Misner is the Vice Chair Emeritus of BNI, the co-founder of the BNI Foundation, and founder of the Journey Center Claremont. She is a certified sports nutritionist & martial arts instructor, a black belt in karate, tai chi/qigong instructor, ordained minister, and meditation/prayer leader.

Beth Misner

Co-Founder

ADVISORY COUNCIL

Scope and Purpose

The BNI Foundation Advisory Council has historically been comprised of BNI Executive Directors whose BNI franchise regions were involved with the philanthropic efforts of the BNI-Misner Foundation, and/or the Misner Family Foundation, assisting Beth & Ivan Misner in the mini-grant donation process, via the California Community Foundation. As funds were raised throughout the course of each year from private donations and other allowed fundraising, the council would gather twice annually to intake mini-grant requests, review their merits, and determine their fit for the foundation’s resources.

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Members

Richard Barbara, Esq.

Richard L. Barbara, P.A.

Cathy Barrow

Ars Musik

Kadie Black

Development Manager,
Women of Reformed Judaism

Mirielle Enlow

Executive VP of Operations
Keller Williams

Dana Gallagher Tasker

Executive Director, BNI Delaware Valley Regions

Michael Gallagher

Executive Director,
BNI Delaware Valley Region

Elizabeth Karwowski

CEO, GetCreditHealthy

David Kauffman

Advisory Council Chair
Managing Director,
BNI Delaware Valley Region

Josh Markus, Esq.

Shareholder, Carlton Fields

Patrick Morris

Vice President of Community Affairs, South Florida at Wells Fargo

Maria E. Pena-Morales

Director Consultant, BNI San Diego

Tessa Pfeifer

CEO, Dancercise Kids

Tara Schmakel

Director Consultant, BNI Minnesota

Kevin Snow

Director Consultant, BNI Minnesota

Mark Taylor

Executive Director, BNI Houston East

ADVISORY COUNCIL

The BNI Foundation Advisory Council has historically been comprised of BNI Executive Directors whose BNI franchise regions were involved with the philanthropic efforts of the BNI-Misner Foundation, and/or the Misner Family Foundation, assisting Beth & Ivan Misner in the mini-grant donation process, via the California Community Foundation. As funds were raised throughout the course of each year from private donations and other allowed fundraising, the council would gather twice annually to intake mini-grant requests, review their merits, and determine their fit for the foundation’s resources.

As we have filed our own non-profit status, hired an experienced Executive Director, expanded our Board of Directors and are in the process of converting from a Private Foundation to a Public Foundation, our needs are changing. These include the need to expand our reach beyond BNI, grow our resources with fundraising and friend-raising, and expand our council’s membership and scope to include people from outside of BNI. These new members should have diverse backgrounds and experiences, proven leadership skills that in some way relate to non-profit services, along with a passion for children and education.

The Advisory Council will convene at minimum four times each year by phone to provide insight, recommendations, ideas, feedback and collaboration on a pre-set agenda of items being worked on by the BNI Foundation. The topics we cover on our agenda might be fundraising, development, marketing, governance and/or a mix of all of these. The Chairman will host and lead these meetings, and each member will have an opportunity to share their experiences, expertise, and perspectives – as Advisory Council members. We will also include input, as needed or requested, from a variety of sources including our Board Committees, and/or our Volunteers, to enhance the quality of the work being achieved by the volunteers, Board Committees, and Board of Directors.

The Advisory Council is not a Board of Directors, nor does it have any financial, legal, or other liability to the BNI Foundation as an organization. Membership is by Chairman’s Invitation Only, and completely voluntary. The Advisory Council is a special committee of highly qualified professionals from diverse backgrounds, most of whom are BNI Alumni or BNI Friends, who are dedicated leaders in their field, known in their communities, with access, influence, and passion for helping the BNI Foundation to succeed with its philanthropic activities.

Jeff Stay

BNI Foundation Board Chair, Executive Director – BNI Miami Dade

Kadie Black

Development Manager of Women of Reformed Judaism

Mirielle Enlow

VP Marketing and Event Coordinator City National Bank of Florida

Patrick Morris

Vice President of Community Affairs, South Florida at Wells Fargo

David Kaufman

Managing Director,
BNI DVR

Josh Markus

Esq., Corporate Counsel
Crestar Group

Kevin Barber

ED- BNI Germany

Richard Barbara

Esq., Alvarez Barbara, LLP

Michael Gallagher

ED – BNI DVR

Mark Taylor

ED- BNI Houston East

Ensure that all children obtain a quality education now and in the future.