Ted Hoskinson is the Founder and President of Roots and Wings. After spending over 15 years as an elementary school teacher in Washington, DC, Ted transitioned into the business sector. In 2016, following the unexpected passing of his wife, Anne, he established Roots and Wings to honor their shared vision of empowering children through education. Ted’s commitment to education and community service has been recognized in several ways. In 2022, Ted was awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. for his dedication to building a stronger nation through volunteer service. In 2024, Ted was recognized with the prestigious Catalyst Award from the Carl Angus DeSantis Foundation.
Tony Graziano earned his undergraduate degree from the College of the Holy Cross in 1963 and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1966. He practiced corporate law for over four decades, including 25 years as General Counsel for several NYSE-listed companies. Tony has also been actively involved in nonprofit governance, serving on various boards, notably as Secretary and President of the Town of Gulf Stream Civic Association. His extensive legal and leadership experience contributes significantly to the Roots and Wings Board.
Mr. John Peters has built a distinguished career spanning military service, banking, entrepreneurship, and community leadership. After graduating from Western Michigan University, he served as an officer in the United States Army before beginning a successful career in the banking industry, where he held roles in management and trust services across multiple institutions.
In 1985, Mr. Peters founded his own insurance agency as a representative of State Farm and has served the Delray Beach community in that capacity for decades. His professional journey reflects a strong commitment to service, leadership, and relationship-building.
Mr. Peters has been deeply involved in the Delray Beach community through his long-standing work with the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, where he has served as a Chamber Ambassador for more than 35 years. He has also held leadership roles with the Delray Beach Chamber Education Fund, including serving as President and Vice President.
His connection to Roots and Wings began through State Farm’s recognition of the organization’s impact in the community. Since then, he has attended celebrations at Roots and Wings partner schools, helping to remind students and educators that they are supported by a larger community. Mr. Peters is passionate about creating opportunities that help children grow, learn, and discover their full potential through literacy.
Clara Acero is the Executive Director of Kingdom Charitable Trust, a private foundation dedicated to improving lives through initiatives in spiritual development, economic opportunity, community inclusion, and medical outreach. Her leadership is defined by a collaborative approach that fosters meaningful partnerships and lasting community impact.
With more than 16 years of experience in public service and philanthropy, Clara has raised over $30 million for nonprofit organizations. Her work has included leading large-scale initiatives such as the Women’s Volunteer of the Year Luncheon, which has honored dozens of nonprofits across Palm Beach County. Earlier in her career, she served as a grant liaison and special project manager for a national organization supporting at-risk youth.
Clara is actively engaged in the nonprofit community, serving in leadership and advisory roles with several organizations across Palm Beach County and beyond. Her work reflects a strong commitment to advocacy, collaboration, and expanding access to resources for underserved populations.
A first-generation Colombian American, Clara brings a deeply personal commitment to service and resilience to her work. She is passionate about creating opportunities for children and families and is proud to support the mission of Roots and Wings.
Mark Burns is the CEO of BlueIvy Communications, where he oversees business operations and strategic growth. With more than 20 years of experience across industries including health and fitness, sales, real estate, and marketing, Mark is known for building cohesive teams and delivering strong results.
Mark is actively involved in the Delray Beach community, serving on the boards of organizations such as Arts Garage and the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the Executive Committee for the Boca Raton Bowl Game. Mark served as the Volunteer Team Manager at the World Maccabi Games in Israel in 2022 and again in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at the Latin Maccabi Games in 2023. He is also a member of 1909, a non-profit organization of innovators and entrepreneurs in West Palm Beach, FL, and the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce.
With his extensive background in marketing, leadership, and community engagement, Mark brings valuable expertise, energy, and dedication to the Roots and Wings Board of Directors.
Don Uselmann’s career in retail management spanned over three decades, including leadership roles at May Department Stores and Saks Fifth Avenue, where he served as Senior Vice President and Director of Stores. After retiring from the corporate world, he transitioned to academia as a professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology and later served as President of MD Solar Sciences. Now retired, Don remains active in nonprofit work and brings a wealth of experience in leadership and community engagement to the Roots and Wings Board.
Susan Tolson graduated cum laude from Smith College in 1984 with a B.A. in Economics and earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1988. Ms. Tolson started her career as a corporate finance analyst at Prudential-Bache Securities in 1984 and then joined Aetna Investment Management in 1988 as an Investment Officer, managing private investments in media and entertainment companies. From April 1990 to June 2010, Ms. Tolson worked at The Capital Group, one of the world’s largest investment management organizations, as an analyst, portfolio manager, and Senior Vice President, specializing in the High Yield Bond Market.
Ms. Tolson has previously served on the Board of Directors of American Media, Groupe Lagardere, and Worldline E-Payment Services. She also served on the Board of Trustees of the American University of Paris, the Franco-American Fulbright Foundation and the American Friends of the Musee D’Orsay. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of Take-Two Interactive where she chairs the Audit Committee and a member of their Technology Risk Committee. She is also on the Board of Outfront Media where she chairs both the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Audit Committee. Her extensive experience brings financial, corporate governance, and non-profit expertise to the Roots and Wings Board of Directors.
Dr. Rachael N. Capitano has dedicated more than 20 years to public education in Florida and currently serves as Regional Superintendent for the Palm Beach County School District, a role she has held since July 2023. In this position, she provides leadership and oversight for a diverse region of 58 schools, with over 60,000 students and 6,000 employees.
Rachel began her career as a Language Arts teacher and has since held a range of leadership roles, including Assistant Principal, Principal, and Instructional Superintendent. Her experience across elementary, middle, and high school settings has shaped her comprehensive understanding of student achievement and school leadership.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Arts in Secondary Education from West Virginia University, as well as a Certification in Educational Leadership from Florida Atlantic University. In 2024, she earned her Doctor of Education from Lynn University.
Throughout her career, Rachel has been recognized for her excellence in educational leadership, earning multiple honors including Principal of the Year distinctions at both the district and state levels. She is deeply committed to advancing student success and strengthening educational communities and firmly believes that service to others is the best work of life.
Jeffrey Levine is the former Senior Vice President, Legal at PayPal, where he served as Chief Global Product, Credit, Regulatory, Privacy & Marketing Officer. Over a decade at PayPal, he led a global legal team supporting products, regulatory matters, strategic partnerships, and marketing across 60+ countries. He also oversaw The PayPal Giving Fund, a global charitable organization distributing donations to over 600,000 nonprofits.
Now retired, Jeff applies his expertise in governance, legal strategy, and organizational growth to nonprofit service. He is President of the Harbour Green HOA and chairs the Legal and Grievance Committees at Broken Sound Country Club. Jeff is passionate about advancing literacy and proud to support Roots and Wings’ mission to create equitable educational opportunities.
Sherry Zepatos is an accomplished Business Development professional with a background in branding, marketing, merchandising, and event planning. She has held roles with Grande Affaires of Miami, Campo Marzio Design, and Giorgio Armani Corporation. Sherry studied at Faculte De Lettres in France, SUNY Binghamton, and SUNY Stony Brook.
With over 40 years of volunteer experience, Sherry has been instrumental in planning key Roots and Wings events including the Wizards, Wine & Wisdom Gala, Boca Chamber Festival Days, and La Bibliotheque Parisian Luncheon. She is now helping lead a new Business Development initiative and is passionate about supporting the Roots and Wings mission.
Thomas Weber is a seasoned executive with leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, including nonprofits. He co-founded Arbitration Resolution Services, a national provider of online mediation and arbitration. His career includes senior roles at Aquila Property Company and Ocwen Financial Corporation. In the nonprofit space, Tom has led capital campaigns and operational growth, and served as Chair of the Children’s Services Council, Chair of the Education Foundation, and on several civic boards. He holds degrees from Florida Institute of Technology and Texas State University.
