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.
William
D. Grayson
President
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!”
Mr. Grayson
serves as chair of the Long Range Development Committee and
the Development
Committee. He was elected Vice President in 2003.
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, and the Executive Board in
2004.
Gloria
Schwartz
Secretary/Treasurer
DirectorMrs. 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 and has served as chair
of the Human Resources Committee for several years. She is a
founding member of the Angels
of Victory.
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 12 years. He lives in his own condominium in
Plantation and has achieved independence through VLP training.”
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.
His son,
Gary, is a client of VLP, and he was asked in 1984 to form a
Board of Directors.
He has been
president of the board ever since and has watched the agency
grow from just the Campus, to Supported Independent Living and
Employment Services, to receiving CARF accreditation . “It is
without a doubt the most important, gratifying and rewarding
work that I do.” Moving out of rented quarters into our own
building on Campus was a real high-light, and now we have enlarged
our offices so we can serve even more clients.”
“I stay
dedicated because I have seen the success of the program on
a personal level. Our son Gary is a graduate of the Campus Program
and now lives in Supported Independent Living with his roommate
in Plantation. Through the Employment Service Program, he has
been employed by Winn Dixie Supermarkets for the past twelve years.”
Mary
Lou Grayson
Director 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 condominium 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.
She chaired the Strategic Technology
Planning Committee and co-founded and chairs 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.
From 1997
through 2000, he served as Controller of Victory Living Programs,
Inc., helping the organization obtain financing to construct
and most recently expand the headquarters.
He was instrumental in setting up internal controls and systems,
budgets and monthly financial reports. In 2001, upon retirement,
he joined the Board of Directors and was elected treasurer in
2002.
“It has
been my great pleasure to watch Victory Living Programs, Inc.,
become the professionally
managed and fiscally responsible agency that it is today.”
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