Meet The Fly a Kite Team
Meet The Fly a Kite Team
David Bernstein – President, Co-Founder
David is Zachary’s father. Throughout the course of Zachary’s illness, David was instrumental in planning and managing his treatment plan. He organized a collaborative medical team with medical professionals from NYU Langone Medical Center, Duke University, Stanford University, National Cancer Institute and New York Presbyterian to work together caring for and treating Zachary. As a result, David has established relationships with top medical professionals working to treat and cure pediatric brain cancers including the FDA, pharmaceutical companies and thought leaders in the cancer space.
David devotes much of his free time to building awareness about pediatric brain cancer, establishing industry relationships, and learning about the latest developments in treatment and care for children with brain cancer. In addition, he actively supports families with children battling brain cancers, from building treatment plans after first diagnosis to end of life conversations.
David blogs and shares inspirational stories about children overcoming obstacles, new treatment options and the changes the medical community is making. David has published articles and newsletters and has been interviewed by several media outlets. David@flyakitefoundation.org
Deena Bernstein – Vice President, Co-Founder
Deena is Zachary’s mother. Deena and David worked in tandem to define Zachary’s treatment and care plan and to push the medical team to go beyond the normal treatment options. While managing a full-time job and making sure Zachary’s life was as normal a life as possible, she gained an understanding of the biology of DIPG, treatment options, and new research and science working toward a cure.
Deena takes a very active behind-the-scenes role in managing the foundation’s website, events, social media and communications. Deena takes the time to analyze and understand the pros and cons of a situation and looks for long term strategies for the success. deena@flyakitefoundation.org
Kirti Srikant – Vice President, Brand Marketing
Kirti Srikant is the Vice President, Head of Brand & Advertising at OppenheimerFunds. Kirti’s marketing prowess extends over 17 years and most recently her tenure includes over 6 years at OppenheimerFunds, where she transformed the brand, and 4 years at Citibank where she launched new innovative communication platforms. With experience in traditional marketing, consumer marketing, business-to-business and digital marketing, Kirti has dealt with a variety of industries including entertainment, manufacturing, commercial and asset management. Kirti attended Rutgers University and City University of New York to earn her BS in Coporate Communications and Marketing, followed by-an MBA from Columbia Business School with a concentration on Marketing Strategy and General Business Management. In addition to Fly A Kite, Kirti serves on the Board for the Financial Communication Society another 501c3 with a focus on three children’s charities. Decorated with accolades, She has most recently been honored with the Advertising Working Mother of the Year from AWNY & Working Mother Magazine, 20 Rising Stars in Financial Marketing from the Gramercy Institute, , and a Brand Innovators’ 40 Under 40.
Kirti has been named Vice President of Brand Marketing for the Fly a Kite Foundation and is responsible for the marketing strategy, go-to-market planning and brand campaigns for the organization. Kirti will play a critical role in all areas of marketing, including, but not limited to, strategic alignment with other foundation partners, events, digital, media relations, branding and advertising. On her free time, she spends time with her daughter, Kiran in FiDi and sings in a band called The Mayhem, who performs for charity within NYC.
Tim Rumundo – Vice President, Creative Development
Tim Rumundo is the Creative Director at Stein IAS (Americas) a global marketing agency based in New York City, and has been named to the Fly a Kite Foundation Board of Directors as Vice President of Creative Development. Tim brings with him more than 15 years of experience in design and art direction. Tim helps oversee the creative team members at Stein to concept, create and execute work across all media for their clients around the world. His immense skill set has contributed to many of Stein IAS’ award-winning marketing campaigns over the years.
Tim, A graduate of Parsons School for Design, is responsible for the foundation’s creative design, brand image, website development, campaign creation and event strategy. Under Tim’s direction, Stein IAS, the Agency of Record for Fly a Kite has already created www.FlyAKiteFoundation.org and the Public Service Announcement (PSA) video featuring Joe Girardi, Manager of the New York Yankees. Tim’s vision is to provide news, information, resources, stories of hope and a comforting destination for families, children and the medical community dealing with Pediatric Brain Cancer.
David Hochman – Vice President, Public Relations
David is a business communications specialist at Major League Baseball and has been named Vice President of Public Relations for the Fly a Kite Foundation. At MLB, David handles communications for a variety of MLB’s business areas including consumer products, sponsorship and retail marketing. David also deals with national publicity for the league, its Clubs and players, something he worked on in previous sports communications roles with the New York Cosmos soccer team and New York Islanders Hockey Club. In addition to his appointment at Fly a Kite, David also serves on the board of Tomorrows Children’s Fund in Hackensack, NJ and the advisory board of the Marist Center for Sports Communication in Poughkeepsie, NY. David received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Marist College.
At the Fly a Kite Foundation, David will manage and streamline the non-profit’s communications with the media, families, medical providers and other interested groups. David will help develop public- and media-facing opportunities for Fly a Kite’s founders and board members while serving as a spokesperson for the organization as well.
Andrea (Andi) Mandell – Vice President/Legal Counsel
Andrea (Andi) is an attorney with over 20 years of experience working with not-for-profits. A partner in Dentons’ Capital Markets and Tax practices. Andi focuses her practice on tax aspects relating to structured finance, securitization and fund formation.
Andi has been instrumental in the formation of The Fly a Kite Foundation, from the initial Section 501(c)(3) filing with the IRS, to the drafting of by-laws and charter agreements and to the day to day legal issues that arise. Andi’s professional expertise will ensure the continued qualification and compliance with the federal, state and local laws. Andi received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania, her JD from Boston University School of Law and her LL.M. from New York University School of Law.
Alan Rehs – Director of Business Development
Alan Rehs has a Bachelor of Arts (BA), Economics from New York University in New York, NY. Alan has been in private business for over 25 years leveraging his extensive knowledge of the diamond business and working with some of the largest distributors in the world. Alan has served on a number of industry boards that include New York Diamond Dealers Club and Diamond Manufacturers and Importers Association of America.
Alan has been actively involved with the Fly a Kite Foundation since its inception. He has worked on event programming, revenue growth and local community participation, while consistently providing direction and guidance of the development of the foundation.
As Director of Business Development, Alan is responsible for growing corporate support and providing national exposure to a diverse set of business professionals. Alan has served on a number of working boards and will be instrumental in developing the Fly a Kite Foundation’s commercial funding.
Amanda Zimerman – Director of Social Services
Amanda Zimerman is a social worker at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York and has been named Fly a Kite’s Director of Social Services. Her past experience includes social work positions at Jacobi Medical Center and NYU Langone Medical Center – Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children where she has focused on individualized emotional support and counseling sessions for patients and their families. In her current role at Mount Sinai, Amanda collaborates with interdisciplinary teams at the hospital to create safe discharge plans for patients and she performs comprehensive psychosocial assessments of new patients. Amanda earned her Master’s Degree from Columbia University and a BS from the University of Maryland – College Park.
As the Director of Social Services for Fly a Kite Foundation, Amanda will work to expand outreach and knowledge to hospitals across the country to spread awareness of the foundation and its purpose. Amanda will be critical to the advocacy arm of the foundation where she will be relied on heavily for counsel with managing family and patient care. Amanda will also help bridge communication between the families Fly a Kite helps and medical practitioners.
