FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (March 14, 2023) –Three new members have been appointed to the Broward College District Board of Trustees. The appointments of Cindy Kushner, Alexis Yarbrough, and Mario Zanotti-Cavazzoni were announced by Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday, February 17. The announcement also included the reappointment of the current Chair of the Board, Zachariah "Reggie" P. Zachariah, Jr. The appointments are subject to confirmation from the state Senate.

Cindy Kushner is a partner with the federal tax services group Crowe LLP, where she specializes in assisting healthcare industry clients. She is the Chair and Founder of Women Executive Leadership Florida and was listed as one of Florida’s 500 Most Influential Business Leaders in 2019. Kushner earned her bachelor's degree in accounting and finance from Thomas Jefferson University.

Alexis Yarbrough is Vice Chair of the Fourth District Court of Appeal Judicial Nominating Commission. Prior to that, she served as the former General Counsel for the Florida Department of Transportation. Yarbrough earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Miami and her juris doctor from Nova Southeastern University.

Mario Zanotti-Cavazzoni is the Senior Advisor of Organizational Transformation for CONMEBOL, the continental governing body for professional soccer in South America. He is the former Senior Vice President of Latin America for Millicom International. Zanotti-Cavazzoni earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul and his master’s degree in business administration from Universidad Católica de Asunción in Paraguay.

Zachariah "Reggie" P. Zachariah, Jr., who was first appointed to the Board in 2020, is a shareholder with Greenberg Traurig. His industry experience includes healthcare technology and services, education, insurance, manufacturing, franchises, retail, consumer products, business-to-business services, and infrastructure. Zachariah earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and his juris doctor from the University of Florida.

“We’re pleased to welcome these distinguished and powerful leaders to our Board,” said President Gregory Adam Haile, J.D. “Together, they bring a wealth of experience in executive leadership, financial management, strategic planning, legal expertise, and entrepreneurship to our institution. The College and our community are fortunate to have them by our side as we fulfill our mission “to transform lives and enrich our diverse community through academic excellence, innovation, and meaningful career opportunities.”

President Haile also expressed his gratitude for the service of outgoing board member Gloria Fernandez, whose first term on the Board of Trustees began in October 2013. She became the Vice Chair in August 2015 and assumed the position of Chair in August 2018. Fernandez served as Chair for four years. 

“Gloria Fernandez has been an invaluable member of our Board for nearly a decade,” said President Haile. “I want to sincerely thank her for the breadth of insight and innovation she brought to the College during her tenure.”

Akhil K. Agrawal is the vice chair and fifth member of the Broward College Board of Trustees.  Agrawal is co-founder and managing partner of the early-stage venture capital and middle-market healthcare investment company AMD Equities, and he was appointed to the Board in January 2021.  

- B.C. -