CYD is delighted to welcome two new members who recently joined our Board of Directors: John Baumgartner, Managing Director, Equity Research – Food & Healthy Living, Mizuho Securities USA; and Katie Karoll Lavino, Managing Director, Fixed Income Syndicate, Credit Suisse.

John Baumgartner relates strongly to the students CYD serves: “I am the product of a single-parent household and the first in my family to graduate from college. Throughout my life, I watched my mother work multiple jobs and make significant sacrifices to provide me with opportunities in education and extracurricular activities.” John was drawn to CYD for its “commitment to education, which is integral for our success as a country. I have a strong passion for the organization’s mission and am impressed by its successful outcomes.” In his work at Mizuho Securities, John is responsible for analyzing food industry data and consumer trends and developing financial projections for the companies in the industry. He appreciates the way CYD meets students where they are and has “the ability to see the big picture – there is quite a bit of inherent talent in our society that, for a range of reasons, is developing along alternative paths. Life is what you make of it and what’s most important is where you end up. We all develop at different paces for different reasons – it’s a marathon and not a sprint!”

Katie Karoll Lavino was already familiar with CYD when she became a Board member; she had participated in many CYD events because of two friends on the Board, SoVonna Day-Goins and Jacquelyn Krese. Katie has worked at Credit Suisse since 2008 and is currently a Fixed Income Syndicate Managing Director, covering domestic financials, oil and gas, real estate investment trusts, and chemicals. Katie chose CYD for her first nonprofit Board membership because she is passionate about CYD’s mission and the students we serve: “I grew up in the NYC public school system and my parents are children of immigrants. I feel I have a special connection to these students and want to do my best in getting them access to everything CYD offers them. CYD aims to provide the best possible education and post-school opportunities for each of its students. It is all so tailored to the students. It’s wonderful!” Katie also admires the CYD staff, who “work tirelessly and are beyond inspiring to all of us on the Board.”