Member Bios | Bronxville NPC

MEMBER STATEMENTS

1. District 16: Wendy Halley - Third Year Member; Term ending 2024
Wendy and her family moved to Bronxville in 2015. Her twin daughters attend the Bronxville Middle School and her son attends the Bronxville High School. Wendy is an executive and attorney with over 20 years of experience in music, media, and entertainment. Most recently, Wendy was an in-house music lawyer for Twitch, a subsidiary of Amazon. Wendy received her JD from NYU School of Law and her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Wendy previously served on the board for The Community Fund and currently serves on the fund board for the Bereavement Center of Westchester/Treehouse.

Wendy, who served as Chair this year, will be serving the last year of her NPC term in the coming year, having originally been elected to serve a partial term, and then re-elected to serve a full three year term.

2. District 16: Simone Kane (Secretary / Treasurer) Second-year member; Term ending 2025
Simone and her husband have lived in Bronxville since 2018 with one child at Bronxville High School and one as a freshman in college. With a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University, Simone has worked for ad agencies, design firms, and publishers. She enjoys volunteering locally as a member of the PTA DEI Committee, co-chairing the Lunar New Year Celebration, and the International Fair. Simone is a Bronxville Field Club member and is on the BFC House Committee.

3. District 16: PAUL HEATHWOOD - Incoming member; term ending 2026
Paul Heathwood has lived in Bronxville for 12 years, with three children attending the Bronxville School, two in the High School and one in the Middle School. Paul is an investment management professional with Boston Partners Global Investors. Paul has a degree in Economics from the University of Colorado and holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He has also volunteered extensively for the past seven years as a baseball and soccer coach for TYA and EYSA respectively.

In his own words, “The Bronxville School and the education our children receive is the centerpiece of our village. I would like to give back to our community by volunteering my time and efforts to help ensure that we continue to have a strong Board of Education. My wife, Jennifer Heathwood has been active with the Bronxville School PTA, serving as President and in many other roles over the last 10 years. And, my sister, Jennifer Russo, is wrapping up 6 years of service on the Bronxville School Board of Education. I would like to continue our family tradition of volunteering for our school and giving back to the Bronxville community.”

4. District 17: Laura Busker - Third-year member; Term ending 2024
Laura and her husband David have lived in Bronxville since 2018. They have two children who currently attend the Bronxville Middle School. For the past decade, Laura’s focus has been on community and family. She has served on the board of CASA NYC, the Junior League (Dallas/NYC/BXV), and as a Crisis Text Line volunteer. In Bronxville, Laura is currently serving as a Board Member for The Community Fund, an MS Council Member, and a Deacon at the Reformed Church in addition to her role on the NPC. Prior to volunteering, Laura worked at American Express and as a portfolio manager for the Trammel Crow family office. Laura has an undergraduate degree in Economics from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Texas.

5. District 17: MICHAEL UTELL - Incoming Member; Term ending 2025
Michael Utell and his wife Whitney have lived in Bronxville for nine years, the past two and a half in the school district. They have two children in the Bronxville Elementary School. Michael is the CEO of the software engineering firm CodeScience and holds an MBA from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business and his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University.

In his own words, “The Bronxville NPC is a tremendous asset to our village: an organization that evaluates, without prejudice or bias, members of our community who are equipped to take responsibility for shaping the policies, curriculum, and finances of our school that is in so many ways the heart of this town. We are so fortunate to have a team of interested and engaged residents in the NPC who provide a service to Bronxville by performing diligent candidate identification and vetting so that a confident and well-informed endorsement can be made of those who will prioritize both the best interests of our school and the balanced education of our children above all else.”

“I welcome the opportunity to become a part of the NPC team; and to serve our community by ensuring that our School Board is comprised of the leadership needed to carry forward the tradition of excellence that our school prides itself on. My objective will be to confidently articulate to my community and my neighbors that the candidates that the NPC puts forward have the best qualifications and the right intentions for joining our School Board. That the individuals have appropriate motivations for running, that they bring a skillset to the Board that complements the existing members, that they have the level of commitment required for the demands of the role, and that they intend to represent the entirety of the Bronxville community. Our village needs to have confidence in the NPC vetting process, and we should feel assured that the NPC selected those they put forward in an ethical, collaborative, and non-partisan manner. I appreciate the opportunity to join this committee to represent District 17 in bringing this confidence and carrying out the mission of the NPC.”

Through his business, Michael is actively involved in community and volunteer work in metropolitan areas across the country.

6. District 17: MATT CHRIST - Incoming new member; Term ending 2026
Matt and his wife Lindsey have lived in Bronxville for two years. They have two children at the Bronxville Elementary School and a six-month-old future Bronco. Matt is a debt investor for emerging markets and climate at Ninety One, where he invests in companies and projects that are leading to global decarbonization. He is a graduate of Middlebury College, with a degree in English and French, and holds an MBA from Columbia Graduate School of Business, with a focus on Value Investing. Matt's volunteer work has included being a Big Brother with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, serving as an alumni interviewer, reunion chair, and class agent for 15 years for Middlebury. He has also volunteered with the Good Dog Foundation in New York and Aspire, a tuition-free academic enrichment and leadership program in Cleveland for high-achieving students from under-resourced schools.

In Matt’s own words, “Growing up the son of the head of a high-performing K-12 school, I have long understood the transformative power of accomplished academic leadership supported by a strong, dedicated board. For a school to thrive and excel, good governance is critical - and here that starts with recruiting, vetting, and electing Trustees who will work tirelessly to uphold the Bronxville Promise. The NPC is a unique institution, born of the community and committed to operating above politics to serve our common goal: an excellent school, that allows every child in the Village to grow and thrive. I would be honored to dedicate myself to this effort."

7. District 18: Tatiana Castro-Taboas (Vice Chair) - Third-year member; Term ending 2024
Tatiana Castro-Taboas has lived in Bronxville since 2015. After a few years abroad, Tatiana and her husband, Alex returned to New York and chose the village as the future home for their young family. Her oldest child, Antonia attends Bronxville Middle School and is in seventh grade, and her younger two children, Martina and Joaquin, attend Bronxville Elementary and are in second and first grade, respectively.

Tatiana is a NY-licensed real estate salesperson and works locally at Julia B Fee Sotheby’s. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Universidad EAFIT in Medellin, Colombia, and a Master’s degree in International Relations from New York University. Tatiana is an active volunteer at the Bronxville School. She is a current member of the PTA DEI Committee and is co-chair of the Bronxville School International Fair.

Tatiana served on the NPC Executive Committee this year as Secretary and will take on the role of Vice Chair in the coming year.

8. District 18: Vincent McBride (Vice Chair) - Second-year member; Term ending 2025
Vincent McBride and his wife Michelle have lived in Bronxville since 2009, and have three children. Their two sons currently attend Bronxville High School, and their daughter graduated and now attends Boston College. Vincent is a Partner & Portfolio Manager Global Equities 2003-present Lord, Abbett & Co., and previously worked with Warburg Pincus & Co. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware and obtained his MBA in Finance from Rutgers University. In addition to serving for six years as a Bronxville School Foundation Board member, Vincent has been a coach for TYA, AYYA, and Bronxville 5/6 grade football.

9. District 18: KATELIN O’ROURKE GORMAN - Incoming New Member; Term ending 2026
Katelin and her husband Michael have lived in Bronxville for about two years. They have a four-year-old attending RCNS. Katelin is an attorney and partner at Clyde & Co LLP, and earlier in her career, served as a law clerk for the Hon. Charles L. Brieant, Jr. (US District Court for the Southern District of NY). She is a graduate of The Ursuline School, Boston College with a degree in History, and New York Law School. Within the community, Katelin has served this past year as the RCNS Asst Treasurer and will serve again as RCNS Treasurer next year. She has also held several mentoring and leadership roles, past and present, including as a member of Clyde & Co LLP’s Management Board, a Clyde & Co LLP Women's Initiative Founding Partner and Chair, a Fordham Law Negotiation Competition Coach, and the NYC Bar Association’s High School Pipeline Committee Co-Chair, among others.

In her own words, Katelin would “like to volunteer on the NPC because I sense an earnest desire for discussion between trustee candidates and the community, and I want to help that engagement however I can. Providing opportunities to discuss the issues, trustee candidates’ solutions, and the principles and practicalities underlying those solutions are the hallmarks of what the NPC can offer, through respectful debate, information sharing, and dialogue. In my work and in life, I always try to build consensus through connection. Here, I would like to help our community and future candidates find as many ways as they can to connect on proposed plans for the continued excellence of our school.”

10. District 19: Jonathan Beer - Third year member; Term ending 2024
Jonathan and his wife have lived in Bronxville since 2015. They have twin boys in Bronxville Elementary School. Jonathan spent 20 years working on Wall St. in Fixed Income, before becoming a writer. He is currently completing his MFA from Sarah Lawrence College. He is also Treasurer of the School’s BASC program, a member of the PTA Executive Committee and a board member of the Hilltop Association.

11. District 19: Alexandra Hoopes Remmel - Second-year member; Term ending 2025
Alexandra Hoopes Remmel and her husband Towson Remmel have resided in Bronxville since 2020. They have three children, two of whom attend Reformed Church Nursery School. Alexandra is on the board of the Reformed Church Nursery School serving as the Fundraising Co-Chair. Alexandra is a graduate of The Juilliard School, where she majored in violin performance. Alexandra is currently at J.P. Morgan Private Bank as a Vice President Banker. Prior to J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Alexandra worked at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management for eight years, both as a Wealth Advisor and in Business Development. Prior to her time at Morgan Stanley, Alexandra was a member of the Campaigns and Special Projects team at Carnegie Hall, working directly with the Board of Trustees and raising funds for the construction of the Hall’s Resnick Education Wing.

District 19: TSHERING AMDO, M.D. - New Member; Term ending 2026

Tshering (Jerry) has lived in Bronxville since 2019. He and his wife have three children currently in Bronxville Elementary School. Before that, the children attended RCNS.

Tshering is an Associate Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the Pulmonary and Critical Care Section Chief at NYU Langone Health-Brooklyn. He is concurrently pursuing an Executive Master's Degree in Health Administration at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

In the past, Tshering founded a non-profit organization, Global Tibetan Professionals Network. GTPN is a volunteer-based networking forum consisting of Tibetan professionals from North America. The organization aims to connect and build a support network of Tibetan professionals in North America and globally. The organizational goals are to mentor aspiring young Tibetans through networking and sharing ideas, information, and resources.

In his words, "Bronxville Village is a great place to live and bring up your precious young ones. But we can make this place better and safer. We engage in efforts to make Bronxville a walk and bike-friendly town. We petition to keep our village safe for children and everyone to walk and bike around the village without traffic hazards. I am eager to collaborate with like-minded people to initiate and create change."

And regarding his desire to serve on the NPC, "Each of us has transcended from being individuals to life partners to parents. Our children and our school community are important aspects of our lives. I can contribute by using my innate leadership skill sets and participating in discussions and policy-making to build a better future for our children in the school and the community. I want to be an integral part of a dedicated committee that focuses on our children's growth while focusing on community engagement, collaboration, and innovation."

13. District 20: Robert Andrews, M.D. - Third-year member; Term ending 2024
Robert Andrews has lived in Bronxville since 2013. He has three children currently attending both middle school and high school. He is the Vice-Chair of the Department of Surgery at Northwell Health - Lenox Hill Hospital and holds a faculty appointment at the Zucker School of Medicine. He participates in many philanthropic, volunteer, and research efforts mostly related to his interest in medicine.

14. District 20: Tracey Di Brino - Second-year member; Term ending 2025

Tracey and her husband Alex have lived in Bronxville since 2014. They have two children attending preschool. Tracey has been in real estate for over 17 years and is currently an Associate Broker with Houlihan Lawrence Residential and Commercial Group. Tracey is a member of the Junior League of Bronxville and has served as a board member for the Women's Enterprise Development Center in White Plains. She also serves as a parent volunteer at the Reformed Church Nursery School and as President of Beverly Gardens here in Bronxville.

15. District 20: Jose Manuel Rodriguez - Second-year member; Term ending 2026
Jose Manuel Rodriguez and his wife Dana have lived in Bronxville since 2011. Their two children attend the Bronxville Middle School and the Bronxville Elementary School. Jose has been the sole proprietor of XMR Trading since 2012 and led a career in institutional investor sales. Jose recently completed an immersive software engineering program to pursue his interest in technology. He is a graduate of the University of Buffalo.

Jose ran for re-election to his NPC District, after serving the final one-year term of a previous NPC who left the NPC.

16. District 21: James Cherundolo (New Chair 2023-24) - Third-year member; Term ending 2024
Jim and his wife, Olivia, have been residents of Bronxville since 2018. They have two children who attend the Bronxville Elementary School. Olivia is a management team member of the Junior League of Bronxville and a passionate baker. Jim is a co-founding investor in Nutshell Asset Management, a long-only, global equity fund, and actively manages his personal investment portfolio. Prior work experience includes being an investor and operator in two start-up companies, as well as 17 years as a senior banker at J.P. Morgan, working directly with public and private companies’ senior management and Board of Directors. Jim is a Den Leader in Cub Scouts, Bronxville Pack 5, and has previously served on the Junior Board of Directors of the Saint Vincent de Paul Center (Chicago, IL), an organization devoted to promoting vital programs and services in areas of early childhood education, youth services, and community outreach services to families in need. Jim has a BA in Economics from Wabash College, spending his entire junior year as a visiting student at the London School of Economics, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

17. District 21: Anne Marie Hein Niogi - Second-year member; Term ending 2025
Anne Marie and her husband Sumit have lived in Bronxville since 2010. They have three daughters who attend the Bronxville Elementary School. Anne Marie’s career has spanned academia, finance, and industry (biotech/pharma). She currently works in Business Assessment for Pfizer’s Commercial Strategy and Innovation organization. Before joining Pfizer, for more than a decade, she worked in life sciences strategy consulting, and previous to that worked in investment banking at Lehman Brothers. Anne Marie holds a Ph.D. from the Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology Program of Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and is a graduate of Fordham University. She is an active parent volunteer at the elementary school and coaches basketball at St. Joseph’s.

18. District 21: Hugh Allan - incoming Member; Term ending 2026

Hugh and his wife, Andrea, have been residents of Bronxville since 2019. They have a daughter who attends Bronxville Elementary School. Hugh and Andrea are members of The Reformed Church of Bronxville and the Bronxville Field Club.

Hugh worked in finance for 20 years and transitioned careers to become a mental health therapist five years ago. Hugh currently has a private therapy practice in Bronxville. Hugh works with patients who are facing mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Hugh also works at The Parallax Center in New York which is an outpatient substance abuse facility.

Hugh graduated from St. Lawrence University and received his Master's Degree at the NYU Silver School of Social Work.

Hugh wants to serve on the NPC to participate in the process of finding the most qualified leadership to help ensure that the school and community provide an enriching environment for his daughter.

19. District 22: Donald Bringle - Returning member; Term ending 2024

Don and Emily Bringle have been residents of District 22 in the Bronxville Community since 2013. They have two children, both currently in the 8th grade at the Bronxville Middle School. Don attended the U.S. Naval Academy and subsequently served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Following that, Don has been a commercial airline pilot. Don is active in the community including at Reformed Church and as a parent volunteer for the school and coaching youth athletics, including EYSA. Don applied and was appointed to serve the NPC for District 22 to fill a temporary vacancy due to a member's resignation in October. Don previously served the NPC from 2015 to 2019.

Don volunteered to serve a partial term as an NPC member, who resigned in the Fall of 2022 with two years left of that term.

20. District 22: Michael Girimonti - Second-year member; Term ending 2025
Michael and his wife, Gladys, moved to Bronxville from Manhattan and have been residents here since 2020. Their son attends the Bronxville Middle School. Michael is a construction lender at Builders Capital and previously worked at Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan, and Natixis financing commercial real estate. Michael graduated from the University of Hawaii with a BS in Geophysics, has an MA in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Commercial Real Estate Finance from New York University.

21. District 22: Jamie Abruzzo - Incoming new member; Term ending 2026
Jamie Abruzzo is a lifelong village resident and graduate of the Bronxville School. She is active in the community as a member of the Junior League.

Jamie has worked in real estate since 2000 and is currently an associate broker at Julia B Fee Sotheby’s in Bronxville. Previously, Jamie was an international private banking relationship manager at Citicorp and Banco Santander. Jamie has a Bachelor of Science in Languages and Linguistics from Georgetown University.

Jamie believes that her lifelong experience as a resident and Bronxville graduate can make a valuable contribution to the NPC.