Executive Team
Adriana Piltz
Founder and CEO, born in Czechoslovakia and a mother of three, Adriana has been a COO and a President for fast paced NYC brokerage firms. Turning her attention to Nicky, her now 21 year-old son with IDD, she left Wall Street in 2018 to leveraged her experience and contacts to launch a new generation of services for IDD adults… Nicky’s Gardens of Hope.
"My Child With Special Needs Is Now A Young Adult, And This Is My Biggest Fear"
Chris Niccolls
Chief Operating Officer, working at the world’s largest Investment Banks, Legal, and Insurance companies, Chris has managed service delivery, created new departments, re-engineered and improved how corporations work. At NGOH Chris works with other team members to develop disruptive innovations, providing residents and their families with higher standards of living.
Thomas VanAntwerp
Chief Sustainability Officer, Tom assesses and directs environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities related to Nicky’s Gardens of Hope and its complementary businesses. He designs and directs business plans and processes that provide sustainability for Nicky’s Gardens of Hope. He leverages his professional experiences for strategy, planning, and execution in ERP software, AI & High-Performance Computing, and Aeronautics projects. He is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Journalism School, and former Capitol New Service, Bureau Chief, and a USMC veteran,
Sandra Margetis
Corporate Development Officer, Sandy’s career began in the US Air Force (USAF), leading the deployment & operations of aeromedical evacuation teams during Operation Enduring Freedom (‘01 – ‘02), retiring after 26 years as the Deputy Commander of the 146th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. As a reservist she leveraged her medical background working 28 years at Abbott Laboratories, in leadership positions at corporate headquarters. Sandy is committed to using her health care experience to improve the lives of the less fortunate, consulting in care design & business development with Nicky’s Gardens of Hope.
Apurva Patel
CFO-Interim, Apurva recently held financial leadership roles at Verizon (Corporate FP&A and Investor Relations). Over two-decades of corporate finance & equity research experience, Apurva started with trading at Lehman Brothers, transitioning to research, eventually covering US equity research for the U.S. Semiconductor sector for Goldman Sachs. Apurva holds an MBA from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a bachelor's degree in Finance from Rutgers University, and is a Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA).
George Parnell, Esq.
Legal, George provides contract, governance, and general business legal representation to a diverse portfolio of clients including, corporations, LLCs, LLPs, private equity, venture capital, educational, banking, NGOs, not-for-profit and individual clients. He is a seasoned stategic business attorney with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, international corporate law, contract preparation and law, corporate governance, fund formation, board advisory services, business development, litigation management and executive compensation negotiations. He is a member of the Advisory Committees of multiple private investment organizations and serves as the General Counsel to the United States Professional Tennis Association, Inc. George is graduate of Tulane Law School.
Board of Directors
Adriana Piltz
Chairman, Founder and CEO, Adriana was born in Czechoslovakia and a mother of three, Adriana has been a COO and a President for fast paced NYC brokerage firms. Turning her attention to her 20 years old IDD son Nicky, she left Wall Street in 2018 to leveraged her experience and contacts to launch a new generation of services for IDD adults… Nicky’s Gardens of Hope.
My Child With Special Needs Is Now A Young Adult, And This Is My Biggest Fear"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/15862407
Steven Kelley
President and CEO of Ellenville Regional Hospital (ERH) since September 2003. He has a diverse background in the computer, research, and healthcare industries. Under Mr. Kelley’s leadership, ERH has been recognized with 4 national awards from HRSA for patient safety and medication safety, has been recognized by the National Rural Health Association as one of the top 20 Critical Access Hospitals in the country for Quality, and has been a leader in New York State in the areas of quality measurement and rural health. Many other significant awards have followed.
Jon Merriman
As Head of Capital Markets of B. Riley, Jon develops financial solutions for public & private clients. With over 25 years of I-Bank experience, Jon brings to NGOH a deep understanding of healthcare, technology, & consumer sectors, and his extensive institutional and personal networks. Jon served on numerous private & public company boards. He is a frequent guest or contributor on: Bloomberg TV, CNBC’s “Fast Money”, The Wall Street Journal, and Barron’s, and contributes to numerous charities and non-profits.
Pat O'Brien
Mr. O'Brien has over 50 years of experience in international travel and hospitality management, across North & South America, the Caribbean, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Pat is the Lead Independent Director of Cinedigm Corporation (CIDM:NASDAQ), an independent distributor of streaming content. Member of the Board of Trust of ICPW Nevada Liquidation, and currently a private investor. Previously Chairman of the Board and CEO of Livevol, Inc., a leader in equity and index options technology. Mr. O'Brien also formed Granville Wolcott Advisors, serving as its Managing Director & Principal consulting on due diligence, and asset management.
Advisory Board
George Raab
Formerly the Chief Financial Officer for Guggenheim Partners brokerage business, and the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer of Bear Stearns’ Investment Bank, George has also served as the Chief Financial Officer of New York City’s Department of Education, where he managed their $20 billion budget. In addition to George’s extensive background in driving profitability and identifying operational and financial risk, George is also the father of five children, including a son with autism, and is active in Catholic Charities.
Sandra Ditore
Sandra Ditore is Regional Director of Membership for the East Region at Family Office Exchange (FOX). In her role, Ms. Ditore is responsible for identifying prospective family and advisor members, assessing their needs and priorities, and ensuring they have a deep understanding of the benefits of FOX membership. In addition to new member acquisitions, Sandra is responsible for identifying and securing sponsorship for FOX forums and educational workshops.
Sandra has more than 25 years of experience in sales and marketing. Before joining FOX in 2002, Sandra was a Senior Account Manager for a Chicago-based healthcare communications firm, where she developed marketing strategies for global pharmaceutical brands. Prior to this, she held research and marketing positions at several Wall Street investment banking firms, including Drexel Burnham Lambert, Dean Witter Reynolds, and Dillon Read & Co.
