The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation Adds Two Staff Members to Executive Team

Full executive team now in place to help carry out the vision of Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.

Detroit, M.I./Buffalo, N.Y. (July 13, 2016) – The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation today announced two additions to the organization’s executive management team. The new appointments include Buffalo resident Nicole Tzetzo to the role of Vice President, Finance and Administration and Lavea Brachman to the position of Vice President of Programs.

“Nicole and Lavea are excellent additions to our executive team of high-level, seasoned professionals,” said David O. Egner, President and CEO of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “Each member of our executive team brings their own area of expertise which will elevate the organization to the next level as we ramp up operations and begin to carry out the Foundation’s mission of improving quality of life for the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York.”

In her role as Vice President, Finance and Administration, Nicole Tzetzo will help oversee finance, operations, investment and compliance for the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Tzetzo’s vast experience with non-profits in the Western New York market will serve as a valuable resource for the Foundation as the team works to identify projects within its core funding areas.

Most recently, Tzetzo served as a partner at Bond Schoeneck & King, PLLC in Buffalo where she specialized in counseling clients in the non-for-profit sector. She currently serves on the board of trustees for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Foundation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo. Tzetzo obtained her bachelor’s degree from Xavier University and a Juris Doctor degree from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University of America.

As Vice President of Programs, Lavea Brachman will be responsible for developing and implementing grantmaking strategies, collaborating with other funders, building and maintaining grantee relationships, as well as proposal analysis and evaluation. As a nationally recognized expert on urban policy and practice, with a focus on older

industrial cities, Brachman’s knowledge will help guide the Foundation’s efforts in a variety of focus areas including healthy community design and access, and working class families.

Brachman brings more than 20 years of experience in organizational development, management, policy reform and fundraising. In her most recent endeavor, Brachman co-founded the Greater Ohio Policy Center in Columbus, Ohio. The organization advocates for urban revitalization and sustainable growth strategies through research, policy development and community engagement. Brachman received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard College, master’s degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Chicago Law School.

With the hiring of Tzetzo and Brachman, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s executive team is now in place and strategically working to understand the complexity of the issues within its core funding areas and identify opportunities to affect meaningful change in the communities they serve.