The Road Forward Scholarship Fund is led by a team of committed community members who help guide our mission and support local students. Their leadership ensures we continue to grow and make a lasting impact in our community.
Roxy Zajac – President
Roxy’s background is in international development, finance, and non-profits. She is a co-founder of The Paul Chester Children’s Hope Foundation, an organization that delivers life-saving surgeries to those in need in third-world countries. She led major infrastructure and investment projects in Central Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa with the World Bank. Roxy also co-founded a luxury pet accessory company, Hamptons Hound.
Vivian Shapiro – Chair
Vivian has been a social justice advocate her entire adult life. She was an outspoken advocate for Gay rights in the 80’s, chairing the Human Rights Campaign Board. She was a fundraiser for NOW, Lambda Legal Defense and the LGBT Community Center of New York. Vivian co-founded the Uncommon Women’s Foundation AKA Legacy. Legacy provided college scholarships for young lesbians who had been disowned by their families.
Steven Shepsman – Treasurer
Steve started his career in public accounting and was a managing partner of an E&Y practice before leaving to manage a real estate fund and start or acquire several specialty finance companies. He has served on several public companies’ boards, often as audit committee chair. Steve has actively supported education through 40+ years of involvement at the University at Buffalo where he currently serves as a trustee of the UB Foundation Board and member of its Executive Committee. He served as Dean’s Advisory Council chair for the School of Management and was on the Steering Committee for the recent UB Campaign.
Jane Epstein – Secretary
Jane has had a varied career in different industries, including archaeology, fashion, a coffee bar business owner, and most recently, as a recruiter for over 20 years, providing mentoring and advising to candidates.
Heidi Siegel – Board Member
Heidi began her career in Equity Research at First Boston. She moved into Marketing and Advertising at American Express, Citibank and AccuVein, a medical device start-up.
Lynn Blumenfeld – Board Member
Lynn is an award-winning advertising copywriter and creative director. In 2002 she co-founded blumenfeld + fleming, a leading local advertising and graphic design firm. Before that, she cut her teeth at Young & Rubicam, Wells, Rich & Greene, and Grey Worldwide. Her campaign for Pringles launched the brand internationally and one commercial is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art. Lynn is committed to the local community and has worked with i-ri, Ola, Group for the East End and more. A graduate of Emory University, Lynn is a singer songwriter and fronts the Lynn Blue Band.
Harold Zuckerman – Board Member
Harold’s career began as a staff accountant at Shapiro & Lieberman CPAs, before advancing to the role of Financial Controller of Schneider Optics USA. He leveraged that financial foundation to successfully launch and operate a textile design, manufacturing & nationwide sales company. After shifts in the market, he returned to corporate finance as Controller for Polonia Restoration until he retired in early 2020.
