Board of Directors
There are
currently 8 members of the Board of Directors, all of whom are
members of the local community. Membership on the Board is by
invitation.
Kenneth Thurston
President
Mr. Thurston is President of Acclaim Management and Realty, Inc., a real estate and property management company. He graduated from Morehouse College with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, in Economics and Business Administration. Mr. Thurston holds Florida licenses’ in the following areas: Real Estate Broker, Mortgage Broker and Community Association Manager.
He has been active in the Broward County community for years, having graduated from Ely High School in Pompano Beach. He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Kiwanis Club of Pompano Beach, Sickle Cell Disease Association, Broward County Housing Authority Board member, Lauderhill Housing Authority, Lauderdale Lakes Economic Development Advisory Board, NAACP, Urban League and Morehouse College Alumni Club. He is also a member of Mount Olive Baptist Church.
George Schulte
Vice President
Mr. Schulte graduated from the University of Miami in 1984 with a major focus in Business Computer Systems. He was President of Dockside Fueling of North America, Vice President of Pavilion Web Communications, and is presently co-founder of 22nd Century Computers, Inc. In 1996 he founded Admiral Oil Corporation.
Mr. Schulte had a professional relationship with VLP and was asked to join the Board in 2003.
Steve Bast
Secretary/Treasurer
Mr. Bast is President of Westwind Consulting, Inc., a rehabilitation consulting firm. He has a Master of Health Sciences/Rehab Counseling, Masters of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science/Social Science. He also is certified in the following areas: Vocational Evaluations, Disability Management, and Case Management.
Mr. Bast has had numerous articles and papers published. He is widely regarded as an expert in the field of disabilities and serves as an expert witness in many court cases. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Victory Living Programs, Steve is a member of the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals.
Ronald J. Schwartz
President Emeritus
Mr. Schwartz is a graduate of Penn State Technical Institute of Building Construction and holds a Business Degree from the University of Pittsburgh, with continuing credits in Sales Management from the University of Chicago.
He is a member of the Construction Specifications Institute (since 1970) and was certified in 1994 as a Certified Construction Products Representative, one of only about 140 nationally. He is a past president of the Fort Lauderdale Chapter and currently serves as Industry Director. He is a Life Director of the Builders Association of South Florida, and a Life Director of the Florida Home Builders Association.
Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz are residents of The Trellises Association in Plantation. He has served on the Board of Directors for 22 years. He is a member of Temple Kol Ami and serves on the Ritual, House, Membership and Social Action Committees. He is Vice President of Membership for the Brotherhood.
Mr. Schwartz was asked in 1984 to help form a Board of Directors, which he did, and he has served as a member from the beginning. He currently holds the position of President Emeritus. “It is without a doubt the most important, gratifying and rewarding work that I do.”
His son, Gary, is a client of VLP, living and working the community for many years. “I stay dedicated because I have seen the success of the program on a personal level.
Mary
Lou Grayson
Mrs. Grayson joined the VLP Board in 1993 and candidly admits that her involvement with the agency is very personal. Her son, Jay, lives in his own apartment as part of the Supported Independent Living Program. “Through the counseling he has received, Jay now manages his own finances, takes care of the apartment, buys groceries and enjoys being part of a community.” It is her desire to make sure that Jay and those like him are well cared for and happy.
Mary Lou co-founded the Angels for Victory, an Auxiliary that interacts with consumers, does PR and helps with fund raising for VLP. She is president of MLG Holdings, Inc., a diamond sales and consulting company.
“I believe Victory Living Programs provides a much needed and growing service to individuals who otherwise would not be able to live independent and productive lives.”
Frederic
(Fred) Mattes
Mr. Mattes has been in the accounting profession for more than 40 years. He has held various controllership and CEO positions in both publicly and privately held companies, including seven years as a part owner of one of New York’s major textile manufacturing firms. While in New York, Mr. Mattes was actively involved in the New York and Coney Island Chambers of Commerce.
Fred has served on the Board of Directors since 2001 and has been instrumental in setting up internal controls and systems, budgets and monthly financial reports.
“It has been my great pleasure to watch Victory Living Programs, Inc., become the
professionally managed and fiscally responsible agency that it is today.”
Gloria S.
Schwartz
Mrs. Schwartz and her husband have been residents of Plantation, FL since 1969. She has been in the field of human resources in both the retail and hospitality industries, retiring from Brandsmart USA as Director of Human Resources in 1998. They have three children and four grandchildren who live in Florida and Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Schwartz joined the Board of Directors in 1984. She is a founding member of the Angels Auxiliary.
A member of Temple Kol Ami, she serves on the Social Action, Membership, and Women’s Cancer Support Network Committees. She is currently Recording Secretary of the Sisterhood.
“Our son, Gary, is a graduate of the VLP Campus Program and has worked for Winn-Dixie for 11 years. He lives in his own apartment in Plantation and has achieved independence through VLP training.”
William D. Grayson
Mr. Grayson joined the VLP Board of Directors in September 2002 after being involved since 1993 via his son, Jay. He is the former president and CEO of Jan Bell Retail Group, Senior Vice President of Macy’s and Senior Vice President of Montgomery Ward.
Mr. Grayson is excited about the enhancement that VLP has given to the quality of his son’s life.“We thought Jay would live with us for the rest of our lives. Now, due to the direct training of the VLP counselors, Jay is able to live in his own apartment and hold down a part-time job. They have given Jay an independent life!”
Mark Higgs
Mr. Higgs is President of M&T Transportation Inc. A native of Kentucky, he graduated from the University of Kentucky. Upon graduation from college, Mark was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys where he played under legendary coach Tom Landry. His pro ball career also included stints in Philadelphia, Arizona and the Miami Dolphins.
He fell in love with South Florida during his tenure with the Dolphins and has become involved in a wide variety of community activities and events. He is a member of the Miami Dolphin and University of Kentucky Alumni Associations. |
