Brian Backstrom is the Vice President at the Foundation for Education Reform & Accountability. In that and prior positions at nonprofit institutions, Mr. Backstrom has been deeply involved in charter school public policy, the implementation of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, issues surrounding state education funding, school district structural reforms, privately-funded education scholarship programs, and other education-reform issues. Mr. Backstrom also has served in various capacities with the New York State government, including as the Director of Management and Policy Operations in the Governor's Office of Regulatory Reform, as Director of Research for a legislative commission on economic development, and as a fiscal analyst in the Governor's Division of the Budget. He has extensive service on the governing boards of nonprofit organizations and is involved in numerous local civic and youth groups.

John Carl, a Certified Public Accountant who also holds an MBA, is a professional financial advisor with over 24 years of experience. Mr. Carl works as Vice President and a financial advisor with Morgan Stanley, and has served in a similar capacity previously for Wachovia Securities, Salomon Smith Barney, First Albany and KeyCorp. Mr. Carl has managed and overseen divestitures, mergers, initial public offerings, professional financial analyses, and more. Mr. Carl is a lifelong Albany-area resident, and has been deeply involved in the nonprofit social service network of Albany, serving as Executive Board Member and Treasure for Equinox (a youth and domestic violence shelter in Albany), as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Albany Public Schools magnet schools, and as a board member of other local charter schools.

Marcia Chandler has worked for more than 30 years in administrative, supervisory, and management positions in the New York State Assembly, serving under more than a half-dozen Assembly Members. Ms. Chandler has been actively involved in the Albany community, volunteering for church and civic groups providing programs for women and youth. Ms. Chandler also has coordinated community outreach groups to educate women and girls on issues such as health, education, and employment.

Jason Kramer is the Executive Director of the New York State Higher Education Initiative, a non-profit organization advocating for the interests of the public and private academic and research libraries of the state. Mr. Kramer previously has served as an Assistant Vice President in the Office of Corporate Communications at the Research Foundation of SUNY, as a Senior Research Analyst for the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research's Empire Center for New York State Policy, and as Director of Government Relations for the New York State Catholic Conference. He also held various public affairs and communications positions in the New York State Assembly. Mr. Kramer has served as a guest lecturer at several colleges and universities in New York, and has served on various non-profit advisory panels, boards of trustees, and steering committees.

Eric Lewis is the Dean of the Graduate School of Management at Union College in Schenectady, New York. Mr. Lewis has held professorships in accounting, applied economics, and management for nearly two decades at institutions that include SUNY-New Paltz, Skidmore College, Cornell University, and Ithaca College (here he was Chairman of the Accounting Department). Mr. Lewis has had nearly two dozen articles published in professional journals and in the proceedings of professional conferences, and has participated in or is participating in at least five grant-funded research projects. He also is affiliated with approximately a half-dozen professional organizations in the fields of accounting, management, and finance.

Kerry Sager has worked for the Governor's Division of the Budget for more than 15 years, with responsibilities that included oversight of the state's education budget and the development of policy, program, and fiscal recommendations in this area, including the implementation of the New York Charter Schools Act. Ms. Sager also has served as a teaching assistant in the Department of Public Administration at the State University of New York at Albany, and has served as a substitute teacher in local elementary schools.

Ken Williams serves as a Professional Strategist in Strategic Management in the Marketing/Management Department of Siena College. Mr. Williams has extensive financial, strategic planning and management experience and has a history of teaching and community service. He has served as the Chief Financial Officer of a local nonprofit organization, worked for BMW of North America to develop and implement marketing strategy, founded and managed a successful insurance and financial services company, and served as president of a company providing a cutting edge PC based hand-held computer bar code inventory system for controlling assets. Prior to his current position at Siena College, Mr. Williams taught management, marketing, finance, computer science and other business courses in the School of Management at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Skidmore College, Siena College and at his alma mater, Clarkson University.

Lizz Williams is the parent of a student at Albany Prep. Ms. Williams has worked as an import logistics coordinator, a production account manager, and a customer service representative for freight shipping companies. She also previously served as a public safety officer for a California police department.

Bill Wood is an administrative manager at the New York State Insurance Department. In prior positions within the agency during his long-term service there, Mr. Wood has been involved in licensing regulation, consumer affairs, and company taxation. Mr. Wood is active in local youth athletics and youth faith-based community activities, serving in both administrative capacities on oversight boards and as a fundraiser.

Please direct all inquiries to the Board to info@albanyprep.org.