WISE Services

Dr. Winsome Gregory has over 35 years of leadership experience dedicated to improving the social, emotional and academic growth of youths. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York; a Masters in Education from Long-Island University; a Professional Diploma from Fordham University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership also from Fordham University.

In 2002 she began her tenure in the Nyack Public Schools as the Director of Special Education. A year later she was promoted to Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services and Personnel. In that capacity she provided leadership for all aspects of Pupil Support Services, Special Education and Personnel and Labor Relations. Dr. Gregory remained in that position until July of 2012 when she was appointed as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel.

Prior to beginning her career as a school district administrator in Nyack, Dr. Gregory spent 11 years working as a supervisor for Cardinal McCloskey’s School and Home serving abused, neglected and run-a-way boys. Subsequently, she worked in the Greenburgh Central 7 School District for 11 years in various positions including school psychologist, Coordinator of ESL, the Gifted and Talented Program and CSE Chairperson. During her tenure in Greenburgh she worked collaboratively to establish the District’s first Inclusion Program K-12; an after-school program for Students with Special Needs; a Life Skills Program for multiply disabled students; and the highly successful Inclusive Summer Camp which fostered the District’s initiative to integrate students with special needs into the general education population.

Dr. Gregory’s long history of advocacy and service to youth was first recognized in 1993 when she received the Major J. Owens Congressional Award for promoting access and achievement for underprivileged youths and again in 2005 when she received the Young Adult Institute/Rockland County Association for Learning Disabilities (YAI/RCALD) Educational Leadership Award for her commitment to students who have learning and other disabilities. Her passion, advocacy and commitment to create opportunities for today’s youth to succeed continue.

Ralph J. Vasami serves as Chief Executive Officer of Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. In that role, Vasami is charged with leading the company’s day-to-day operations, setting and communicating the company’s vision, priorities for growth and efficiencies, policy and procedures for global compliance and service standards and strategic planning.

Vasami joined Universal full-time in 1982 as a meteorologist in the company’s White Plains, New York location, having been associated with the company earlier as an intern. From 1988 – 1991, he served as Manager of the company’s satellite weather office in Pittsburgh and for more than five years was also responsible for Universal’s Midwest Sales territory.

After completing undergraduate work at Harvard and earning a graduate degree from Boston University, Eric began his teaching career at Woodlands High School before moving to Scarsdale High School in 1964. Eric taught in the Social Studies Department and served as its chair from 1973 until 1998. In 1993, Eric helped bring WISE/Senior Options to Scarsdale High School.

Eric perfected the art of having students “do history,” making history come alive as he bounced around the room, questioning, encouraging, inspiring generations of nascent historians and teachers. Eric championed the use of simulations as a teaching tool, developing games ranging from The Constitutional Convention and The Women’s Hall of Fame to the murder mystery,Who Killed Teddy Roosevelt? Students in Eric’s classes were true historians, becoming expert at the use of media as they pored over countless primary documents to unlock the secrets of the past.

Susan Somersille Johnson was named executive vice president and chief marketing officer of SunTrust Banks, Inc. in August 2014. She oversees the company’s brand strategy, corporate and line of business marketing operations and communications, and serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Previously, Johnson was vice president of Global Marketing at NCR Corporation, overseeing the company’s worldwide marketing, communications and business intelligence programs to drive increased awareness and consideration of NCR products and services across 180 countries. She also improved internal engagement through a leading global community initiative.

Glenn has served on the Board of WISE Services for the past decade, and currently serves as Treasurer and Interim Executive Director. With a JD and MBA from NYU, Glenn’s involvement in education began in 1983 at American Management Association, where he became increasingly aware of the limitations of classroom style learning, and the powerful impact of experiential learning through its Operation Enterprise for teens. His career in adult continuing education continued with positions at Simon & Schuster, Market Data Retrieval (D&B – where he ran School Construction Alert), Executive Enterprise Institute (as President for their Continuing Professional Education for accountants and lawyers), and SmartPros’ Cognistar (as President for their Continuing Legal Education live and online programs for lawyers).

Vic Leviatin is the Founder and President Emeritus of WISE Services. He was born in Dubno, Poland, in 1939 and came to the United States under the Displaced Persons Act of 1948 when he was nine years old. He received his B.A. in World History from The City College of New York and earned two Masters Degrees—one in education, and the second in sociology.

Vic began teaching social studies at Woodlands High School in 1961. Seeking a solution for “senior slump” and wanting to help prepare students for life beyond high school, Vic and colleagues in 1973 created the Woodlands Individualized Senior Experience (WISE), a program that gives seniors of all ability levels the opportunity to design individualized, passion-driven projects that empower a transition from high school to college, work and lifelong learning.

Steven Brown is the newly elected Executive Director of Building Skills New York, beginning in January of 2015. Building Skills New York provides employment opportunities for low-income New Yorkers in the affordable housing construction and management industries. Leaders in the affordable housing industry created BSNY to help meet the needs of unemployed and under- employed residents and increase their access to economic opportunities where affordable housing is built. BSNY’s leaders understand that along with quality housing, access to good employment opportunities for local residents is a critical aspect of community development.

For the past 10 years, Steven has been President of the Greyston Foundation, a non-profit community development organization in Yonkers, New York that addresses poverty through multiple interventions including workforce development, affordable housing, child care services and community gardens. World renowned, the Greyston Bakery has served as a model for successful work force development, community renewal and personal transformation within a profitable business environment.

Andrew Courtney is an artist, teacher and social change activist. He is a graduate of the High School of Music and Art, has a BFA from Syracuse University and an MFA from Columbia Teachers College. Courtney wears three hats. The collaboration between the Fine arts, teaching and social change activism has made his focus “Photography for Social Responsibility. His art has been included in many local and international exhibits.

Significant photo-documentaries include work from Central America, Northern Ireland, Viet Nam, South Africa, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories.

Dr. Winsome Gregory has over 35 years of leadership experience dedicated to improving the social, emotional and academic growth of youths. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York; a Masters in Education from Long-Island University; a Professional Diploma from Fordham University and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership also from Fordham University.

In 2002 she began her tenure in the Nyack Public Schools as the Director of Special Education. A year later she was promoted to Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services and Personnel. In that capacity she provided leadership for all aspects of Pupil Support Services, Special Education and Personnel and Labor Relations. Dr. Gregory remained in that position until July of 2012 when she was appointed as the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Personnel.

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Michael is a graduate of Northwestern University, with Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education. As an original cast member, Michael won a Drama Desk Award as a featured actor in the Broadway musical, I LOVE MY WIFE. Michael is the composer of the theme song for the long-running television show, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT.

For more than twenty-five years, Michael has been fortunate to collaborate and perform with singer/songwriter/advocate Tom Chapin. Michael has won two Grammy nominations for his work with Chapin, writing songs for young elementary school children and their parents. The songs are used in classrooms and music rooms all over the United States and the United Kingdom.

Coming Soon

Douglas T. Schwarz is a trusted advisor to and advocate for employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. He litigates in court, arbitration, and administrative proceedings; counsels employers on human resources matters; negotiates and drafts executive employment and separation agreements; advises on labor and employment aspects of corporate transactions, both domestic and cross-border; and conducts internal investigations of employee complaints. Doug also handles ADA Title III and state law matters involving access of persons with disabilities to public accommodations.

Doug’s clients include financial services firms (mutual funds, hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, commercial and investment banks, wealth management); educational institutions; and media, technology, and telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences companies.
He represents numerous non-U.S. companies, from Japan and elsewhere in Asia, the United Kingdom, and Europe, regarding their U.S. labor and employment matters, and U.S. companies on international labor and employment issues.