Developing Minds Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
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Board of Directors
Philippe Houdard
Philippe Houdard is the Founder and President of Developing Minds Foundation. In addition, Philippe is the President and CEO of SkyBank Financial, an electronic payment processing company. He began his professional career as a Legislative Aide to Representative Joseph P. Kennedy II in the U.S. House of Representatives, and he later served on the campaign staff for U.S. Senator Edward "Ted" Kennedy. Subsequently, Philippe served in executive positions in sales, marketing and mergers & acquisitions for companies ranging from early-stage to Fortune 500.
He was Global Marketing Manager at Lucent Technologies, Director of Corporate Strategy at Concerto Software (now Aspect Software), Vice President of Marketing at Cell-IT Technologies and Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing at a national health care company. He serves in an advisory role to Astor Group, an investment bank with offices in New York, Miami and Rio de Janeiro.
Philippe graduated with a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, and a BS in Business Administration from University of Florida. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Miami.
Chris Mehringer
Chris Mehringer is a partner at Park Street Advisors, a management consulting, business building, and private investment firm serving corporate clients, equity funds, and family offices. Mr. Mehringer is also President of Park Street Imports, an importer and wholesaler of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage brands from Europe, South Africa, South America, Australia, and the US. Previously, Mr. Mehringer served as President of BioHaven Environmental Solutions, an environmental technology company providing award-winning water and wastewater treatment solutions in the People's Republic of China. Formerly Mr. Mehringer, served as President of a national health care distribution company where he was instrumental in developing and implementing the company's growth strategy and negotiating key relationships with Johnson & Johnson, Bayer Healthcare, and Abbott Laboratories. In addition to Developing Minds Foundation, Mr. Mehringer serves on the Board of the Harvard Club of Miami. He holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School and a Bachelor of Arts from Wesleyan University.
Joe Mohan
Joe Mohan is the Commercial and Planning Vice President of Copa Airlines, based in Panama City, Panama. Mr. Mohan oversees Copa Airlines’ Route and Fleet Planning, Alliances, Revenue Programs, Distribution Planning, Revenue Management, Pricing, Sales and Marketing.Prior to accepting his position at Copa, Mr. Mohan spent 10 years working with Continental Airlines, where he was part of the upper-management training program, participating in the areas of strategic planning, revenue analysis, sales and marketing.
He was an active participant in Continental Airlines’ turnaround from “worst to first.” While at Continental, Mr. Mohan was part of the team that engineered the airline’s equity investment in Copa, which contributed to Copa’s becoming one of the most profitable airlines in the world over the past 10 years. After earning his bachelor’s degree, Mohan began his professional career in Washington, D.C., where he served on the legislative staff of former Senator Bob Graham of Florida, focusing in the areas of intelligence and foreign relations.
Mr. Mohan has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Florida and an MBA from Georgetown University.
Dehdan Miller
Dehdan Miller holds an A.B. in Government from Harvard College, a Masters in Public Administration (M.P.A.) from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Dehdan currently works at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he manages the Leadership Planning and Operations team within the foundation's Communications Department. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Mr. Miller was in charge of legislative and public policy matters, strategic development, and investment opportunities for the Council for Information and Planning Alternatives (CIPA). Mr. Miller previously served in Lehman Brothers' Global Corporate Strategy Group, as a Legislative Aide to former Delegate to Congress Ron de Lugo (VI), and as a Budget Analyst for the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee.
In addition, Mr. Miller has served as a consultant or staff member to four Presidential campaigns, the White House Office of Scheduling and Advance, and the U.S. Department of State. Mr. Miller is a member of the U.S. Virgin Islands Bar Association.
Seth Zalkin
In 2004, Seth Zalkin founded the Astor Group, an advisor on mergers and acquisitions, private placements and the development of cross border strategies. The following year, Mr. Zalkin founded Astor Capital, an investor in consumer and technology companies.
As Managing Partner of Astor Group and Astor Capital, Seth has executed complex transactions, negotiated investments for a wide range of clients and portfolio companies and created a myriad of innovative growth strategies. Mr. Zalkin is recognized for his knowledge of the Brazil market and of the consumer, internet and TMT sectors and is frequently quoted in publications such as the New York Times, Forbes and Private Equity International.
Prior to founding Astor Group, Seth served as CEO of, and successfully exited, venture-backed internet, technology and professional services companies. As CEO, Mr. Zalkin led the sale of businesses to both public and private companies and successfully cultivated relationships with clients such as Time Warner, IBM, Bacardi, Sony Music and Perrier.
Mr. Zalkin currently serves as an Executive Director of Matter Unlimited, a creative agency that creates integrated strategic marketing, branding, and digital campaigns and serves on numerous corporate boards within Brazil, Canada and the United States. Mr. Zalkin received a JD from University of Pennsylvania School of Law and a BA from Duke University.