Meet the Candidates
by Collin Lovas
Introduction
March marks the Council election period for Bard LLI members. Voting will start on March 8 and will end on March 15, at the end of day. The term of office for each position will commence on July 1, 2026, and end on June 30, 2028.
Here are the candidates:
President – Alan Katz
Alan has been a Bard LLI member since 2023. He is currently on the Communications Committee, working with the technical team that produces the Bard LLI newsletter (and, when nobody is looking, writing for the Funny Bones column). He is also part of the team that fills your mailbox with Mailchimp announcements and notices to LLI members.
Alan moved to Rhinebeck in 2017 and has been a full-time resident since 2020. He is married to Robin Gelburd (also an LLI member), who was the founder and President of FAIR Health, a national not-for-profit healthcare data company. They raised their three sons in Larchmont, in Westchester County, and now have a grandson (with another on the way!). They love the Hudson Valley and enjoy biking and hiking (and Alan can also often be found in the Stevenson Pool).
Alan is a retired attorney who practiced commercial real estate law for 37 years, most recently at Mintz & Gold and previously at Hogan Lovells (formerly Squadron Ellenoff). He holds a law degree from NYU School of Law and a BA from the University of Rochester.
First Vice President – Carmela Gersbeck
Carmela Gersbeck joined Bard LLI in 2019. She quickly joined both the Communications Committee and the Technology Committee. She is Chair of the Program Support Team, which is responsible for supporting online classes; supporting in-person classes with class managers; providing A/V support; and supporting the hospitality team when on campus.
Carmela is also responsible for Bard LLI technology-related operations, including managing membership renewals, the new-member process, ProClass registration, and the [email protected] email team that assists members seeking technical help.
Carmela moved full-time to the Hudson Valley in 2018, after spending 20 years as a weekender in the Woodstock area with her husband, Al. She retired in 2018 from a 40-year career in leadership roles at Goldman Sachs, Bear Stearns, and J.P. Morgan. Carmela’s favorite pastimes include spending time with her two grandchildren, cooking, bicycling, hiking, and reading detective novels.
Treasurer –
Marc Wieder, CPA
Marc Wieder, CPA, moved to Rhinebeck in the fall of 2019 after living on Long Island for more than 30 years, seeking a community where he and his family could enjoy retirement. Marc has been a member of Bard LLI for the past two years and taught a wine-tasting course last fall.
Marc retired in 2023 as Partner-in-Charge of the Real Estate Practice at Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP, where he spent his entire professional career and continues to serve as a Senior Advisor to the firm. Throughout his career, Marc advised clients and their families on complex financial, tax, and business matters, with a particular focus on real estate transactions, long-term planning, and financial stewardship.
In addition to managing sophisticated financial engagements, Marc has extensive experience with budgeting, financial oversight, and internal controls. He has published widely in real estate and financial publications, spoken at industry conferences, and served on the boards of Variety – The Children’s Charity and the Fashion Center Business Improvement District. He has also served as an advisor to the Department of Accounting and Law at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Marc looks forward to applying his financial expertise, nonprofit board experience, and commitment to Bard LLI in the role of Treasurer, supporting the organization’s mission and ensuring sound financial management for the benefit of its members.
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