Board of Directors

Jon Bernstein, Chair of the Board

Jon Bernstein serves as CEO and Chairman of the Board of Cadec Global Inc., representing BlackBern Partners, Cadec’s principal investor. Prior to founding BlackBern, Mr. Bernstein was the second member of the Pershing Square Capital Management investment team and has also worked for First Manhattan Consulting Group and Founders Equity. He is currently the Vice Chairman of Corfin Industries LLC, Director of EOL Electronics LLC, Chairman of Minds Matter Inc., a member of the Columbia Business School Social Enterprise Program Alumni Circle, and a Director of NASDAQ-listed ARC Wireless Solutions Inc. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and an MBA with Honors from Columbia Business School.

Taylor Bollman, Director

Taylor Bollman is the Co-founder and CEO of Qwip, Inc., a technology startup based in San Francisco. Mr. Bollman began his career at the San Francisco office of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG), where he spent two years as an Associate and two years as a Consultant. After BCG, Taylor worked for two years in Boston with Audax Private Equity. Taylor recently co-founded and served as CEO for AudioPress⁽¹⁾. Mr. Bollman holds a BA in Philosophy, Magna Cum Laude, from Harvard University.

Bijal Choksi, Director

As a founder of Minds Matter Denver, Bijal Choksi led the start up effort for the chapter.   As Co-President for the first 2 years, Bijal oversaw the programming, recruiting, community outreach, and financial aspects of the organization.   She served as Chair of the Board of Directors, heading up the strategic aspect of the organization.  Other roles included: Mentor, Development Director for both the local chapter and the national Minds Matter organization, Director of Mentee Recruiting, and Denver representative for National Minds Matter Board.  In addition to Minds Matter, Bijal is an organizational consultant.  She is President of BC Consulting, with clients in Denver and Chicago. has worked for the in Colorado.  Prior to that, she worked for IBM, PriceWaterHouse Coopers, McKinsey & Company and Deloitte & Touche.  Bijal is also the doting mother of two young children, who keep her very busy. Bijal received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pennsylvania’s Undergraduate Wharton School, and a Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University’s Teacher’s College.

Graham Covington, Director

Graham Covington, along with several others, founded Minds Matter of Portland in 2005 recognizing a need to help highly motivated, economically disadvantaged high school students gain admission and financial aid to four-year colleges and universities. Mr. Covington’s corporate career included the advertising and the paper manufacturing industries where he was VP of Sales and Marketing at Boise Cascade Corporation. He also served as an officer the US Naval Reserve. He is currently the Managing Principal of Grease Consulting LLC, a west coast-based management consultancy.  His After Six jazz trio plays regularly in the Northwest. Other non-profit experience includes serving as Co-Board Chair at Portland Baroque Orchestra and on the boards of Outward Bound West, Neskowin Valley School and Portland Racquet Club. Mr. Covington holds an undergraduate degree from Williams College and an MBA from the University of California at Berkeley

Chad Hartup, Director

Chad A. Hartup is an Investment Associate at UBS Financial Services, Inc. in Cleveland, OH.  Mr. Hartup has been with UBS since 1999.  He has been with Minds Matter of Cleveland since 2009 serving various academic roles including Head Tutor.  Mr. Hartup is currently the Associate Dean of Academics for the Cleveland Chapter.  He also sits on the Executive Board for the Cleveland Chapter.  Mr. Hartup graduated from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1998 with a Bachelor’s degree on English.

Jonathan Levine, Director

Jon is an experienced business development, strategy and management professional, passionate about consumer brands and having fun! Jon is currently Vice President and member of the Senior Executive team at Brand Sense Partners (bsp), a leading brand management and business development firm. At bsp, Jon is responsible for investing and managing acquisition and incubation opportunities for bsp. While at bsp, Jon has also overseen the firm’s consulting practice, focusing on client acquisition, strategy, strategic partnerships and business development initiatives across industries such as CPG, consumer electronics, home furnishings and retail as well as leading bsp’s Media and Entertainment Practice Group. Prior to joining bsp, Jon was an Associate at Eaton & Associates, where he was responsible for the firm’s new business development and marketing. Previously, Jon was with Credit Suisse in their private equity division and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in various finance capacities. Jon received his Master of Business Administration from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University. Jon is a founding member of Minds Matter Los Angeles and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Jon is also a member of the Young Leaders Executive Committee for Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles and the Class Giving Committee for Colgate University. Jon was formerly a member of Minds Matter New York where he served as a Mentor, Team Leader and Executive Committee Member from 1998-2003.

Kelly Miller, Director

Kelly Miller is a Vice President at U.S. Bank Wealth Management. Kelly is responsible for developing equity market strategy and insights for U.S. Bank Wealth Management. She conducts fundamental stock research and works with clients to provide analysis and direction on individual equities. In addition, Kelly furnishes guidance for ongoing construction and maintenance of our overall equity capabilities. Prior to joining U.S. Bank in 2011, Kelly was a portfolio manager on the US Equity team at JPMorgan Asset Management, where she managed large cap value and large cap value 130/30 mandates.  She began her career with JPMorgan Asset Management in 2002 as an analyst with the US Equity Team. Kelly earned a B.S. degree from the University of Kansas and also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

Seth Palmer, Director

Seth Palmer is a member of the Global Private Equity Group within BlackRock.  Mr. Palmer is responsible for identifying, evaluating and executing illiquid investment opportunities on behalf of the Global Private Equity Group and managing those investments during their period of ownership.  Prior to joining BlackRock in 2010, Seth was an Associate with Weston Presidio, where he evaluated private equity opportunities across a range of industries.  Mr. Palmer began his career in the investment banking division of Banc of America Securities.  He holds a BA degree from the University of Michigan and an MBA degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Business.

Dennis Ruhl, Director

Dennis Ruhl is a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM), where he heads the U.S. Behavioral Finance Small Cap and Quantitative Research groups. He began his career at JPMAM in 1999 and was named JPMorganChase Mentor of the Year in 2003. Mr. Ruhl was involved with Minds Matter from 1999 to 2007 and served in a variety of roles including as the founding Chair of the National Board, Chair of the New York Board, President of the Executive Committee, and Co-Director of the Prep Program. He currently serves as a Regional Vice Chair of the MIT Educational Council, coordinating interviews for all Manhattan-area applicants to MIT. Mr. Ruhl also served on the Board of Directors of the MIT Club of New York from 2001 to 2010. Mr. Ruhl has his Master’s Degree in Computer Science and dual Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Computer Science, all from MIT.

Tom Siebert, Director

Tom Siebert has been involved with Minds Matter since 2007 and has served as a mentor, team leader and now Director. Tom graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with a BA in Economics and Psychology. He most recently worked in Corporate Development at Sears Holdings Corporation and is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business.

Chris Uhrinek, Philadelphia Representative

Chris Uhrinek is currently a consultant for the Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences division of Pricewaterhouse Coopers Advisory LLC. In his role, Mr. Uhrinek is responsible for proving strategic and operational advice to pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients. He has been responsible for the design and development of a number of large commercial and compliance programs within the healthcare industry. Mr. Uhrinek holds B.S. degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University. He has been involved with several service organizations and previously served as a mentor for the Minds Matter of New York program.