SENA Board Members
Fritz Van der Grift
President
Fritz grew up in the Town of Palm Beach, attending Palm Beach Day School and then going to Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Fritz graduated from Palm Beach Atlantic University in 2010, majoring in Political Science. After graduation he worked as executive aide to Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater in Tallahassee, working with hundreds of business owners and constituents around the state.
Fritz eventually left state government to become a financial advisor at Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, working with high net worth families with a focus on complex estate planning and private investing as a Certified Financial Planner.
Most recently, Fritz founded VDG Partners Limited, a private investment firm that focuses on real estate development and venture investing in the Web-3 technology space.
Fritz is active in the community, serving on the board of the Hanley Foundation, the LLS South Florida Golf Committee, and SWORN Adventures. He also started the Young Friends of Peggy Adams in 2018 and is involved in a number of other community groups.
Fritz and his wife Judy built their forever home in 2021 in the south end and live with their two sons, Fritzie and Gordie, and their two dogs, Hans and Lady.
Melissa Ladd
Vice President
Melissa was born and raised in West Palm Beach, following high school she pursued her dreams of becoming a Gator and graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations. Post-graduation, she embarked on an adventure that led her to Coconut Grove and later, Savannah. However, the bonds of family and friends eventually beckoned her back after over a decade.
In 2016, Melissa and her husband made their home in the Southend, and their family recently grew with the addition of their daughter, CC. Currently, Melissa works in the Finance department of the Town of Palm Beach. She looks forward to connecting with new neighbors and upholding her commitment to enhancing our neighborhood.
Galen Brannan
Secretary
Bio coming soon.
Adam Rodman
Treasurer
Adam Rodman is the Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Segra Capital Management, an energy-focused investment firm with expertise in nuclear power and related industries. Segra Capital invests in both public and private markets globally, primarily through its flagship hedge fund, Segra Resource Partners. Segra Capital has distinguished itself as one of few financial firms widely considered to be a power subject matter expert and is a regular co-author or contributor to key industry-driven research and policy whitepapers - advocating for increased investment in the Western World’s energy infrastructure. Prior to founding Segra Capital, Rodman was a senior analyst and partner at Corriente Advisors, a Fort Worth, Texas based manager of hedge funds. At Corriente, Rodman specialized in energy-related cross-asset investments. Rodman started his career at Bank of America in the Global Corporate and Investment Banking Division after graduating from Amherst College with a B.A. in Political Science, cum laude.
Tim Benitz
Board Member
Timothy R. Benitz graduated from George Brown College, in Toronto, Canada, with a diploma in Construction-Engineering in 1982. Prior to relocating with his family to South Florida, Tim held senior executive project management positions for over a decade with several large real estate and commercial development companies based in Toronto. His diverse experience and well-rounded background may be attributed to his involvement in the development of lucrative high-rise, residential, commercial, retail and mixed-use projects in the greater Toronto area.
In the capacity of Owner and Managing Director of Benitz Building LLC, a high-end residential building company located in West Palm Beach, Florida, Tim is responsible for all aspects of construction administration and operations. Within the last twenty-three years, Benitz Building has contracted many custom residential homes, condominium renovations, residential renovations, construction management projects, several commercial projects, as well as minor projects primarily on the island of Palm Beach. Tim has held a Certified General Contractors license in the State of Florida since 2002. He is actively involved with Palm Beach’s business and real estate community and is a member in good standing with the following organizations: The Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce, The Palm Beach Civic Association, The Palm Beach Preservation Association, National Home Builders Association, Florida Home Builders Association and Florida Atlantic Building Association. Tim is also actively involved in several local and national charitable organizations.
Tim and his wife Sarah along with their three daughters have lived in the West Palm Beach SOSO area for twenty-six years.
Erica Dunhill
Board Member
I’m Erica Dunhill, a Palm Beach County native.
From being born at Good Samaritan Hospital to growing up in nearby Prospect Park, much of my childhood was in, around and through the Southend neighborhood. Life has come full-circle with the opportunity to now raise my children in SoSo. I feel very fortunate to continue to live a life near the water, in a community I love and give back through volunteering at South Olive Elementary and on the Southend Board.
For the last fourteen years, I’ve worked as a Photographer and Calligrapher, working mostly in the Palm Beaches. South Florida has been a beautiful area to specialize in Family Photography and the event opportunities with Saks Fifth Avenue, Bice Restaurant, Palm Beach Regency among other fun brands.
Being a second generation Floridian and spending most of four decades here means that I feel honored to be a part of the board overseeing what happens in our neighborhood and that the way I care about it comes from a place deep-rooted.
Micah Ford
Board Member
I have lived in the Southend for the past 18 years near South Olive Elementary. Since moving from New York City via Denver, I have grown to love our neighborhood and all of the many friends my husband and I have made over the years. I went to high school in Ponte Vedra, FL, attended the University of Florida and used to live in Manhattan while working for Lehman Brothers as the Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chairman. I subsequently relocated with Lehman Brothers to Denver for a year before moving again to West Palm Beach to work for Lehman and be with my fiancé, Rob Ford. After our children were born I became a full-time stay at home mom although I find myself much busier today than I was before. Rob and I have 2 children (ages 11 & 13). I spend my time running around the tennis courts at South Olive Tennis, shuttling kids to various after school activities, helping with homework and staying active in our community. I’ve been heavily involved with the Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation and always seem to be planning some type of event or fundraiser while still managing to find time for a periodic weekend getaway with friends or family. I love the Southend neighborhood and have served as the PTO President at South Olive Elementary School and got to know so many wonderful parents around our neighborhood. I look forward to the opportunity to get to know more neighbors and help keep our neighborhood great.
Sandy Lawson
Board Member
Bio coming soon!
Gail Levine
Board Member
In the words of Gail Levine…
In my previous life, our family lived up North and was part of the Real Estate World. Owned and managed over 100 properties in Manhattan where property management was my specialty. Settled in West Palm in the ‘80s, and have resided on Murray Rd for the past 23 years. Majorly involved with Aids research and awareness going back to 1981 when we spent six months of the year (for a 20-year span, on Fire Island Pines). I have been intimately involved in the South End issues and the City of West Palm Beach issues over the last 20 years and am proud to say I had created and continue to facilitate a 15th Circuit Court Ordered Health Educational program for arrested prostitutes and Johns, (Prostitution Impact Prevention Education, no cost to taxpayers). 4,200 people have completed the program with recidivism less than 1% (which, I am very proud of). I have personally been involved in a number of underbelly issues in our City as well as the County and am very content knowing I have helped lift some “very heavy hearts” through the years. Lastly, I enjoy being part of the fabric of the SENA community where I have been committed to bringing “change” to numerous sensitive and impacting issues over the years. There is nothing more rewarding than helping those “in need.” I consider myself an advocate who loves “paying it forward.”
Kara Logan
Board Member
Kara was born in New Jersey and relocated to Palm Beach county at the age of 9. She attended Pope John Paul II high school and graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A. in Business Administration. Professionally, she was the SE brand manager for a well know New Zealand winery; before taking time to raise her children.
She is a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church, where she was married to her husband, Gregory Logan, in 2016. They have resided in the South End neighborhood since 2017 and have two young boys. You can find the family on walks to the playground or exploring Suma beach. She loves playing tennis at South Olive and is on the team.
She looks forward to getting to know more neighbors and helping to keep the South End a great neighborhood!
Shanon Materio, a graduate of Marymount women’s college has lived in the south end for 48 years. She has been married to her husband and business partner Phil for 42 years. Together they own and operate McMow Art Glass a world-class art glass facility. McMow Art Glass was named the 2014 Retailer of the year award for the State of Florida. She was the 2016 WPB Chamber Athena recipient and the 2018 Women’s Chamber Giraffe award recipient. Shanon was elected to WPB district 5 city Commission in 2012 and served 6 years. Shanon was an LW Beach CRA commissioner for 4 years and is a founding member of SENA.
Shanon and her husband have three children, Jeanette, Taylor, and Philip Joseph.
Shanon Materio
Board Member
Camille Murphy
Board Member
Camille was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida and is a 3rd generation resident of the Southend Neighborhood. She attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a B.A. in Communications and Advertising. Camille is the Vice President of Pioneer Linens, her family owned business located in downtown West Palm Beach, that has served the Palm Beach community since 1912. She moved to the Southend in 2012 with her husband Jesse, where they are now raising their 2 young daughters. When she is not working and spending time with her family, she is actively involved in Habitat for Humanity and many other local charities and community services. Her favorite parts of the South End are family walks along Flagler, breakfast at Aioli and taking her kids to the South Olive playground. She looks forward to connecting with you and learning more about ways we can improve our beautiful neighborhood.
Richard Pinsky
Immediate Past President
Richard has lived in South Florida since 1971, moving to West Palm Beach in 1996, residing in the southend neighborhoods from Flamingo Park and Vedado, to where he and his wife Jessica currently live in the South End neighborhood, along with their daughter, Ella. During the 24 years, Richard has lived in West Palm Beach, he has continually been involved in city-wide and South End community initiatives. Richard currently serves as President of the Palm Beach County Blueway Trail, Inc., and is a member of the Water Resource Advisory Committee of the South Florida Water Management District. For the last four years, Richard has also been actively involved in the northwest neighborhoods of West Palm Beach helping to establish and grow the R.I.S.E. initiative, which is a designated Purpose Built Communities neighborhood, one of only two in the state of Florida and one of only 18 in the country. Professionally, Richard serves as the head of Governmental Affairs for the state of Florida for the Akerman law firm, the state’s largest statewide law firm. For over 37 years, he has represented clients before state and local government covering a wide range of complex policy issues from solar and renewable energy, transportation, and port infrastructure, to local government approvals, water projects, and new technology advancements. When Richard is not surfing, doing yoga, or riding his bicycle, he is doing non-stop gardening and yard work!
Contact Richard: 561-671-3692 or richard@pinskyassociates.com
Jefferson Kiely
Business Representative
Jefferson Kiely is the broker and owner of Kiely Real Estate here in the Southend. He sold his first listing here on Nottingham Boulevard over 20 years ago and has focused on working with both buyers and sellers in the neighborhood ever since then. Kiely Real Estate has been in the same location on South Dixie Highway since 2011 and employs multiple agents who live here on different streets here in the neighborhood including Flagler Drive, Potter Road and Linda Lane. Jefferson himself has lived on Pilgrim Road, Plymouth Road, Seville Road and South Olive Avenue. Kiely Real Estate supports the neighborhood and, in addition to being a Business Member of SENA, they have been a sponsor of South Olive Elementary, Phipps Park Baseball and South Olive Tennis. Jefferson is a 1993 graduate of Dartmouth College and is currently the President of the Dartmouth Club of the Palm Beaches.
Dina Martinez-Rubio
Business
Representative
Dina emigrated with her family from Nicaragua to West Palm Beach in 1981.
In 1982 she enrolled at Palm Beach Junior College and obtained an AA degree in 1984 in Interior Design, followed by a Bachelor’s degree at Florida International University.
Immediately, I started working in the field and continued for the next 11 years, for Brown and Beres Designs who had contracts with builders like Ecclestone, Sabatello, Burke and Divosta, and Engle Homes.
In 1994, in partnership with her husband, Dina acquired several locations of Don Ramon Restaurant where she overlooks all operations of the business from human resources to accounting– payroll-purchasing-marketing- event-planning-customer service-quality control-investment assessments and this may also include dishwashing, bussing tables etc.
Working and living in the same city, Dina learned the importance of getting involved in it. She joined various nonprofit organizations that represent the best of the community, such as the Southside Business Association serving now as their president, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County as an Executive Board Member, Puerto Rican Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, nonprofit organizations like Aspira Florida, Hacer, American Cancer Society, Grandma’s Place and last year she co-founded the Latin Quarter WPB serving as it’s president.
Dina has also volunteer to different City of West Palm Beach committees such as the Dixie Hwy Revitalization Study, Mayor Keith James first hundred days committee and Mayor Keith James Racial-Ethic Task Force
This is Dina's way to show appreciation and gratitude for all the opportunities that this great country has given to her. She adds this quote "My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”- John F. Kennedy