PROFILE OF THE GOVERNING BOARD
SOUTHTECH ACADEMY
SOUTHTECH PREPARATORY ACADEMY
The Board of Directors represents a diverse group of people with a wide range of experience and expertise. The Board includes representatives of the school community, including parents and business and community leaders. A brief description of each Board Director follows:
Photographs by Steve Kozak
Roger Dunson, Sr.: Mr. Dunson grew up in Fort Lauderdale and after graduating from high school, joined the U.S. Army Security Agency and spent three and a half years in Japan. He later graduated from Palm Beach Junior College and received his BBA Degree from Florida Atlantic University. Mr. Dunson has spent 40 years in the Securities Industry as a Financial Advisor. He worked with A.G. Edwards and Sons and its successor companies for 32 years and retired from Raymond James. Mr. Dunson lives in the Boynton Beach/Lake Worth area since 1970. He and his wife, Elaina, have four children and five grandchildren and his hobbies are golf, fishing and traveling. Mr. Dunson has been a member of the Boynton Beach/Lantana Rotary Club since 1986, serving in various capacities. He has been a volunteer for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts as well as coach and referee for various youth organizations.
Ayesha Edmond, Board Secretary: Ms. Edmond is the parent of a SouthTech Preparatory Middle School student, graduated from Florida Atlantic University in Physics and has a Masters in Healthcare Management. She has worked in the Financial and Healthcare Sector and is currently a Secondary Science Teacher in the Palm Beach School District. Ms. Edmond has volunteered as faculty advisor for Key Club. She enjoys trying food from different ethnicities and has a deep appreciation for languages. She attended a magnet high school for international languages, taking Latin and four years of Spanish. Ms. Edmond also spent a year in Brazil as an exchange student where she learned conversational Portuguese. Ms. Edmond lives in Boynton Beach.
Russell Feldman: Russell Feldman retired after serving more than 36 years in the field of special education. He worked as a paraprofessional, teacher, teacher on assignment, supervisor and director in New York, Dade County, and Palm Beach County. He spends some of his time volunteering with families, consulting, and serving on the Board of the Palm Beach School for Autism and EdVenture Charter School. He earned his Bachelor, Masters, and Specialist degrees from the University of Colorado, Hofstra University, and Nova Southeastern University, and has lived and studied in France.
Christina Grenga: Christina Grenga is a Business owner and Managing Partner with Schooley Mitchell, the largest Independent Cost Reduction Consultant in North America. She has a 30-year multi-faceted background in Financial Services and working with Businesses to improve their bottom line. Christina serves on the Business Advisory Council of Dress for Success and is also a Mentor for DFS. Christina serves on the Board of Directors for the Hamlet Residents Community Association. Christina is a Member of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce and The Chamber of the Palm Beaches. She is also a Member of the South Florida Manufacturers Association and RCASF. Christina leads a Christian Women’s Group and considers herself a Servant Leader. Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in Business from the University of Missouri.
Originally from New York, she currently resides in Delray Beach and has been a resident of Palm Beach County for 9 years and is a member of the Seagate Country Club.
She enjoys tennis, pickleball, fitness, the beach and spending time with family and friends.
Originally from New York, she currently resides in Delray Beach and has been a resident of Palm Beach County for 9 years and is a member of the Seagate Country Club.
She enjoys tennis, pickleball, fitness, the beach and spending time with family and friends.
Diane Heinz: Diane Heinz is a 40-year resident of South Florida and has 18 years of public service. Ms. Heinz’ accomplishments during those years are many, some of which are: Co-Founder of AVDA "Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse"; Initiator of Crime Commission, originally entitled the “Crime Prevention Council”, resulting in judicial changes; Countywide Elected Palm Beach County School Board Member, resulting in cost saving by improving District business practices; Creator to the Minority/Women Business Enterprise programs at the South Florida Water Management District as well as Palm Beach County government. Prior to that, Ms. Heinz served at the senior advisor to a Palm Beach County Commissioner. She also is a graduate of Leadership Palm Beach and was a former Board Member of Executive Women of the Palm Beaches. Following her years in Public Service, Diane achieved the designation of CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member). She has been representing buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants for the past 17-years.
Most recently, Diane has combined her commercial real estate expertise and commitment to sustainability by joining Green Lumens, Inc., a cutting edge commercial LED lighting company, based in Boca Raton. She continues to practice Commercial Real Estate for Rinker Realty Inc., based in Palm Beach.
Ms. Heinz is a graduate of University of Kentucky and recently completed paralegal training to increase her legal knowledge.
Most recently, Diane has combined her commercial real estate expertise and commitment to sustainability by joining Green Lumens, Inc., a cutting edge commercial LED lighting company, based in Boca Raton. She continues to practice Commercial Real Estate for Rinker Realty Inc., based in Palm Beach.
Ms. Heinz is a graduate of University of Kentucky and recently completed paralegal training to increase her legal knowledge.
Dan Heller, Treasurer: Mr. Heller is a seasoned business management professional/entrepreneur with experiences in a diverse range of industries. His areas of focus are strategic planning, management, finance and accounting. His career has chiefly been with small businesses and non-profits though he has experience at a number of Fortune 500 companies. Over the last 16 years he has been in senior or executive management positions. He has a BA from Cornell College and an ACCSB accredited MBA from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville. He is listed in the 1989 edition of Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Previously he sat on the boards of two Palm Beach County non-profit organizations where he also served as Treasurer and chair of Finance Committees. Academia experiences are those of a Graduate Teaching Assistant while at SIUE and as Adjunct Faculty at National-Lewis University.
Robert M. Kesten, Board Chair: Mr. Kesten received his Bachelor of Science degree in Hospitality Management from Florida International University. He continued his studies in law and graduated from Brooklyn Law School, and is a member of the New York and Florida Bars. Mr. Kesten served two terms as Village Justice in Monticello, New York, his hometown, before moving to Palm Beach County. Mr. Kesten works with the Law Offices of Jason Evans, LLC, as the Chair of the Association Law Division, Corporate Law and all aspects of Real Estate Law.
Suzanne Nicolini: Suzanne Nicolini considers herself to be a lifetime volunteer. Since 1972, she has held officer positions in Girls Scouts, PTA and School Advisory committees in both Broward and Palm Beach County. She now gives her time to the Media Center at SouthTech Academy and is Box Top Coordinator at Atlantic Christian Academy. She also is a coach for the Boynton Beach High School Bowling team and AMF Saturday Bowling League. Suzanne retired from Broward College and has an AA degree from there and a BA in Psychology from Barry University in Miami.
James F. Notter, Vice Chair: James F. Notter, Chair: Mr. Notter began his career in 1972 and has served 39 years in public education, including 10 years as a classroom teacher and 29 years in administrative roles in New York and Florida. In 1986 he and his family relocated from upstate New York to Broward County, where he progressed through the organizational ranks, serving in a variety of administrative roles including North Central Area Superintendent (7yrs), Chief of Staff (5yrs), and five years as Superintendent of Schools, before retiring in June of 2011. During his time with Broward County Public Schools, he served in many leadership roles in our community including the Urban League, Children Services Council, United Way, Workforce One, Broward Workshop and Greater Ft. Lauderdale Economic Development Council. Mr. Notter continues his work through his volunteer efforts on several Boards e.g. BrightStar Credit Union, BC Urban League Advisory Council, and SouthTech Schools Foundation. Mr. Notter is a graduate of the University at Buffalo with a BS degree in education and earned a MS degree in administration from Niagara University in Niagara Falls, New York. He completed Florida certification work at Florida International University and further graduate work at the University of Miami and the doctoral program for Organizational Leadership at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida. Mr. Notter received the 2018 Champion Governing Board Member award from the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.
