Michael Beerman, EJ Levy, Eden Lopez and Howie Rubin, 2012 Co-chairs

2012 Co-Chairs

Michael and Jennifer Beerman are passionate about finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis, as people close to them suffer from this disease. Michael is currently Managing Member and Portfolio Manager of Wing Lake Capital, LLC, a New York-based investment advisory firm to global long/short equity hedge funds.  Michael is also a recreational, but passionate Texas Hold’em player.  Jennifer is a part-owner of Sarabeth’s, a restaurant and food wholesaler based in New York.  When not working, Michael and Jennifer enjoy spending time with their two boys, Jack and Drew.

Elissa (EJ) Levy is the Founder and President of MS Hope for a Cure.  Since being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis nine years ago, EJ has dedicated her time and energy to help find a cure for MS.  As her symptoms progressed and she could no longer ski or run but still needed an adrenaline rush, she became an avid poker player.  She is thrilled that the past six charity tournaments raised in total over $2.5 million and is looking forward to the 2011 tournament being even more successful.

Eden Lopez is a leader in the fight against MS, in hopes of finding a cure for her mom, Lois, and everyone else living with the disease.  Eden is a Managing Director at JP Morgan.  She lives in Manhattan with her 4 year old son, Maxwell.

Howie Rubin is currently managing a mortgage portfolio for Soros Fund Management, LLC. He was previously a Mortgage Bond Trader and Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns and Co.  He has been featured in the book “Liar’s Poker” and The Wall Street Journal.  Howie has several friends with MS and believes a cure will be found in the near future.

2012 Benefit Committee

Jane and Mark Greene have been close friends with Elissa for many years and care deeply about helping to find a cure for MS.  Mark is a partner specializing in mergers and acquisitions at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, LLP.  Jane is an attorney and the former Executive Director of the Innocence Project. Jane and Mark live in Manhattan with their three young children, Jacob, Lucy and Josh.

Jeff Jacobs currently works in the Private Banking and Investments Group of Merrill Lynch as a Private Wealth Advisor.  He has worked at Merrill Lynch for more than 20 years. He is actively involved in several charitable organizations, and has been a part of the MS Hope Poker tournaments since their inception.  He became involved as a result of his long standing friendship with EJ & her family.  Jeff lives on the UWS of Manhattan with his wife, Jordana, and 2 children.

Mike Levine began his career at Merrill Lynch working for EJ’s father, Judd Levy, and then moved onto Bear Stearns where he spent several years working for Howie Rubin trading Mortgage Backed Securities.  Michael got hooked on Texas Hold’em after trying it in a charity event in 2002,  and plays as much as possible ever since.  After a 25 year career working in finance, Michael now spends his time managing his family’s and his own portfolio in Westchester, while pining for the return of online poker.  Michael is very happy to be a part of this year’s event.

Judd Levy is the very proud father of EJ.  He recently retired as Chairman of the NY State Housing Finance Agency and the State of NY Mortgage Agency. Judd is the founder and former President of CDT, the country’s only affordable housing REIT.  He is an accomplished no-limit tournament player having cashed out in AC, Las Vegas and online but still plays 7 5 off suit.  He has seen Rounders 24 times.

Catherine “Cat” McKenzie is a senior producer at Good Morning America.  She met EJ while the two were cheering on their respective football teams at their favorite sports bar.  She’s “all-in” to finding a cure for MS, which she believes, will happen in their lifetime.

Haley Rubin Shuck is currently doing MBS sales at Mesirow Financial, following a sales and trading role at Cohen and Company after five years of experience at Bear Stearns and JP Morgan Chase. She graduated with a B.S. in Psychology with a business minor from The Pennsylvania State University in 2004 and has been living in New York City working in finance ever since.  She got involved with MS Hope for a Cure through her family and could not be happier to be supporting such a wonderful cause.

Seth Silverstein is currently an Executive Vice President and Head of Analytics and Modeling at Ally Financial Inc.  Mr. Silverstein spent most of his career as a Senior Managing Director and Global Head of Analytics Technology in the Financial Analytics and Structured Transactions group at Bear Stearns.  Mr. Silverstein’s wife has MS and he has been active with MS charities for over 20 years.

May Siu is involved in real estate development and is a part-time professional poker player. Previously she was a Statistical Arbitrage Trader.  She met EJ through her monthly poker tournament and has added EJ as her deadliest weapon at the poker table…her lucky charm! May eats, sleeps and dreams poker and her goal is to empower and liberate the positive side of the game.

Ashley Steinhart heads up the Estate and Trust group at Lowenstein Sandler.  He has counseled clients for over 40 years on incorporating values into their personal planning.  Also, he has been involved in many of the most substantial family trust and estate feuds and his advice is often, “Settle quickly and give the money you would have paid to the attorneys to MS or some other worthy cause.”  He has a monthly poker game that Elissa sometimes joins. Thus far, he hasn’t been as impressed with her poker play as he has been with her huge heart and total commitment to MS.  Her passion has inspired him to help.

Lisa Kassel and Mitch Winter met EJ through their good friend, Howie Rubin, and have been supporters of MS Hope ever since. Mitch is a Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Management at Merrill Lynch and Lisa is a fundraising consultant.  She also volunteers hours of her time for West Side Soccer League and Lafayette College, and of course, MS Hope for a Cure. They have three kids: Jason, Rebecca and Alexander, all of whom are avid poker players as well. Mitch is hoping that his experiences the last two years at the World Series of Poker Main Event will help him make his third final table this year and walk away with the trophy.

Allyson & Jahn Wolland have been actively involved in fundraising for the Annual MS walk- a- thon in New York City for many years. We walk with the hope of finding a cure for Jahn’s Mother, Lois Wolland who has been suffering from MS for over 20 years. Jahn is a Sales Director for Microsoft. Allyson stays at home full time to take care of their 2 boys, Ethan, 6 and Emmett, 3 both Jets fans. We are thrilled to be a part of MS Hope for a Cure!