ENACT Makes Changes to Board of Directors

The board of directors of ENACT, Inc. has voted to approve Hector Batista, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, as a new member of their diverse and professional ranks. Charles Lemonides, chief investment officer and founder of ValueWorks LLC, has taken over as the chair of ENACT's board.

"ENACT's use of dramatic techniques and drama therapy to help public school students navigate social and emotional challenges is inspiring. The tool kit and approaches ENACT has created can make a huge impact on transforming schools and students," said Mr. Lemonides. "I am honored and enthusiastic to become the chair of this board."

Charles Lemonides is taking over as chair of the ENACT board of directors after more than two years of service as a member. Prior to founding ValueWorks LLC, Mr. Lemonides was a partner and CIO at M&R Capital, an independent investment advisory firm. Before that, he was a managing director at Sterling Advisors, an investment advisory unit of Gruntal & Co. Mr. Lemonides started his career at Gruntal in the research department in 1986. He holds a BA in History from Vassar College and pursued graduate studies in Economics at New York University. He received his Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1989 and is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. He is a Manhattan resident.

Hector Batista has served in various leadership positions at large government departments as well as non-profit and private organizations. Immediately before joining Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City, Mr. Batista served as chief executive officer of Way to Work. Prior to that, Mr. Batista was the executive vice president of the New York Metropolitan Region of the American Cancer Society. Mr. Batista began his career in the office of the Brooklyn Borough President and was appointed to the position of first deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development by former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. In addition to ENACT, Mr. Batista sits on the board of directors of Saint Francis College in Brooklyn, East Harlem School at Exodus House, Bishop Loughlin High School in Brooklyn and City Lights Youth Theatre in Manhattan. He also sits on the community advisory board for the Spanish language newspaper, El Diario/La Prensa. Mr. Batista holds a BA in Political Science from Saint Francis College and an MPA in Public Finance from New York University. He is a Brooklyn resident.

"We are very pleased with the way our board of directors is evolving," said Diana Feldman, founder and executive director of ENACT. "The board has been instrumental in aiding ENACT in accomplishing our goals as an organization. We are so grateful to Mr. Batista, Mr. Lemonides and the entire board for their dedication to ENACT's mission."

ENACT is a New York City based non-profit organization that trains and employs professional actors to teach public school students social and emotional skills using creative theater and drama therapy techniques. Since its inception in 1987, ENACT has reached more than 125,000 New York City public school students, school staff and family members. ENACT creates a safe and effective learning environment, within which students learn to identify and manage their emotions and behavior in order to thrive in the classroom and beyond. For more information, visit www.enact.org.