Joe Kwapisz, Chair
Dr. Mel Chudnof, Vice-Chair
Jerry Breuer, Treasurer
Randy Bruce
Jon Buyle
Mina Feldman
Wilma Fellman
Susan Greenfield
Dan Harmon
Diane Henderson
Elaine Yaker
Rose Marie Battey
Martin Herman
Sharon O’Brien
Ralph Stromberg
Debra Yamstein, Executive Director
debray@soarexplore.com
Constance Bush, Program Assistant
constanceb@soarexplore.com
Board Chair
As President and Board Chair, Joe Kwapisz leads SOAR in making things happen. His 48-year career in automotive engineering, marketing and program management for American, German and Chinese automotive companies and suppliers, serves him well as a SOAR board member and committee chair. “I served in VP roles and started my own program management firm. After retiring, I was looking to lend my professional and organizational skills to an organization. My wife introduced me to SOAR. The variety of topics appealed to me and led me to join, and then Board Chair. I enjoy working with a diverse energetic team of professionals and find pleasure recruiting interesting people to share their knowledge and experience with our members.”
Board Vice Chair and Chair, Curriculum and Instruction
“I believe life needs to be purposeful and meaningful,” said SOAR instructor Mel Chudnof, Ph.D. “I want to make the world a better place. I get so frustrated when I see things going on which bother me. I can’t sit on my hands and be aggravated. Inaction is not an option.”
Being a SOAR member, committee member, and instructor since 2012—and now SOAR’s newly installed Board Vice Chair—are among the ways Chudnof is making a difference in the lives of others. “I am honored to be on the board. SOAR been a very important force in my life.”
Board Treasurer
A lifelong Detroiter, Jerry comes to SOAR with an expertise in finance. His career includes serving with major financial institutions in the area and across the country, and he was adjunct professor of Marketing at Lawrence Technological University in Southfield for about 15 years. “Since retiring in 2006 I have been volunteering at various non-profits, serving as treasurer of just about all of them at one time or another. I have been amember of SOAR on and off for many years.”
Chair, Governance
Chair, Special Events Committee
Elaine’s energy is on full display as she oversees SOAR’s roster of Special Events, which include the robust schedule of Featured Speaker Events. In her career as a portrait photographer, she developed a creative eye for settings and engagement. “I am the mother of four (now 8) and the grandmother of 11 and I still derive great joy from my career as a children’s portrait photographer and owner of Pierce Street Portraits. I volunteer for SOAR because I choose to give back to this fine institution for the stimulation, enrichment, and social connections it provides to me and SOAR members.”
Rose Marie Battey Board Member Emeritus & Chair – Field Trip Committee
Rose Marie has been involved with SOAR for many years, after spending her professional lifetime first as a K-8 specialty school principal and then as marketing coordinator for a large building company. Although the Field Trips committee has not been active since COVID, Rose Marie is eager to begin making plans again soon! “As chair of the SOAR Field Trips Committee, I’m always searching for new cultural experiences for our members.”
Martin Herman Board Member Emeritus
As one of SOAR’s founding fathers, Martin Herman’s contributions cannot be summed up in a paragraph. He was one of SOAR’s first faculty members and was an original member of SOAR’s Curriculum Committee. His experience as an academic administrator was essential in the creation of SOAR’s By-Laws. Most importantly, throughout his tenure with SOAR, and continuing on as Emeritus, Martin always ensured SOAR maintained its hard-earned reputation of offering high quality programs while meeting the diverse interests of its membership.
Sharon O’Brien Board Member Emeritus, Founder and Past Chair
Sharon is SOAR’s Founding Mother and remains one of its most active volunteers. She leads several SOAR Shared Interest Groups and remains involved on the Curriculum and Special Events committees. Her vision for SOAR to always maintain and offer quality programs and events is evidenced by its expanded agenda of musical, theatrical, social justice, and other kinds of innovative events that go beyond the courses offered during the regular terms.
Ralph Stromberg Board Member Emeritus and Past Executive Director
As SOAR’s first executive director, Ralph led the organization for close to a decade, carefully nurturing committees and volunteers to ensure SOAR’s growth and sustainability. As a lifelong learning advocate, Ralph continues to serve on several committees and attends nearly all of SOAR’s classes.