MBAW Board and Staff

Special thanks go to the members of our Board of Directors:

Eric Miller, MD, Chair of the Board
Robert Leckie, JD, Secretary
Judy Crabb, Treasurer
Suhail Arastu
Yurii D. Borshch, MD
Alba M. Diaz
Susan C. Franklin
Richardson B. Gill, PhD
Caleb Gonzalez
Awilda I. Ramos, MD
Luis R. Ramos, MD
Reema Shroff, JD
Sujata Venkateswar, CPA
Stan Zebrowski, MD

Eric Miller, MD - Chair of the Board

Dr. Miller is originally from Pittsburgh, PA and founded the Central Texas Pain Center in 2004 in New Braunfels, TX. His practice now has over 7000 patients. He earned his B.A. in Biology from Washington and Jefferson College in 1995 and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in 1999. He completed a one year internship at Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh and then completed both his anesthesiology residency and pain fellowship at Duke University. He is the owner of Hunter’s Creek Pharmacy and Positive Returns (a medical billing company). He is also a general partner for New Braunfels Sports and Spine Physical Therapy Center. In his spare time he enjoys travel with his family, tennis, and golf.

 

 

 

 

Robert B. Leckie, JD - Secretary 

Mr. Leckie is a consultant on mergers, acquisitions and technology transfer. He left the private practice of law to join CCL Industries, Inc. of Toronto in 1981, became General Counsel of Indal Limited in Toronto in 1988, and moved to the U.S. with Novar PLC in 1993. Mr. Leckie’s legal practice also encompassed the management of business litigation, insurance, and technology transfer. His legal career has been interspersed with a number of line management assignments, including a role as Chief Executive of Novar’s North American Industrial Division. He holds an LL.B. and M.Eng. (Elect. Hons.) from McGill University, and has practiced both law and engineering.

 

 

 

 

Judy Piatek Crabb - Treasurer

Ms. Crabb was born in Pleasanton and raised in Jourdanton, Texas. She spent 15 years as a vocal performer in the entertainment field. She married Jefferson A Crabb, Jr. and is an Office Manager in his busy real estate law practice in McAllen and San Antonio. Judy and Jefferson have two daughters attending college: Jordan at Trinity University and Jeryn at the Texas State School of Music. Mrs. Crabb enjoys supporting Musical Bridges Around the World and looks forward to its continued success.

 

 

 

 

 

Suhail Arastu

Mr. Arastu was raised in San Antonio and completed his Bachelors of Arts & Science in Classics and Neurobiology at the University of California, Berkeley while competing in NCAA Gymnastics. In Philadelphia he continued research and began graduate studies before realizing he needed a break from academia and moved to a small fishing village in Japan for what he likes to call his “time at Walden Pond.”  After a year and a half of contemplation, deep sea fishing, hiking, skiing and teaching he began working in development, traveling the world by ship under the auspices of the United Nations Economic & Social Council. In 2008 he returned to San Antonio to assist with the expansion of the family businesses—Alamo Gymnastics Center and Live Oak Allergy & Asthma Clinic—but spends every spare moment consumed by the Arts!

 

 

 

 

Yurii D. Borshch, MD

Dr. Borshch obtained his Fellowship in Pain Management and completed his residency in Anesthesiology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He later practiced as an assistant professor and Chronic Pain Clinic Director at The Department of Anesthesiology at Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada for seven years, and in private practice for three years in upstate New York. Before moving to North America, Dr. Borshch practiced as a general surgeon in the former USSR.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alba M. Diaz

Originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, Ms. Diaz attended the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez, then traveled around the world under the auspices of the Air Force before arriving in San Antonio in 1997. With her strong background in bilingual administration and human resources, she has enjoyed a long career with various private and public sector agencies, including the United States federal government and American Airlines and Mexicana Airlines. She currently works for the City of San Antonio, is a founder and president of Estudio Cuatro, Inc., and member of the Diversity Council for the Department of Human Services. She enjoys spending quality time with her daughters Vanessa Marie and Lilliam Damaris, volunteering, performing arts, and crafting. Ms. Diaz is greatly interested in Flamenco, and believes music is the international language.

 

 

 

Susan C. Franklin

Ms. Franklin is the co-owner and co-founder of Franklin Development Company. Franklin Development Company has holdings in San Antonio, Plano, North Richland Hills,and Lewisville, Texas. Susan currently sits on the boards of the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts, Arts San Antonio, and Musical Bridges Around the World. Her other activities include: Guild Member for New York City Ballet, Chicks for Chan Organization for District 9 Councilwoman, and enthusiastic donor/attendee for many other worthy causes and endeavors. She has opened her home on multiple occasions to host such notable musicians as Nobuyuki Tsjuii, 2009 Gold medalist from the Van Cliburn International Competition and Yeol Eum Son, 2009 Silver medalist from the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

 

 

Richardson B. Gill, PhD

Dr. Richardson Gill was born and raised in San Antonio, where he now resides. He has earned numerous academic degrees in several fields from the University of Texas at Austin including Bachelors degrees in History and Latin American Studies (Spanish minor), Electrical Engineering (Mechanical Engineering minor), Mathematics and Physics.  He followed with an MA in Anthropology and a Ph.D. in Archaeology.

Dr. Gill’s business career is just as varied, including moving from Bill Collector to President of Gill Savings/Gill Companies, President and CEO of GillDorn Savings, CEO and President of Ste. Genevieve Winery, co-founder and the first Chairman of Llano Estacado Winery, Business Development Department Head for J. B. Poindexter & Co, and Practice Director of Virginia A. Pittman-Waller, M.D. before becoming General Manager of Cibolo Creek Ranch between 2010 and 2012.

Dr. Gill is the author of the groundbreaking book, The Great Maya Droughts: Water, Life, and Death (University of New Mexico, 2000). He has authored numerous academic articles and book chapters. A one hour documentary about Dr. Gill and his archaeological accomplishments, entitled Ancient Apocalypse: The Maya Collapse, was produced by the BBC and The Learning Channel.

Dr. Gill has been very involved in civic activities.  He is treasurer and director of the Mind Science Foundation.  He has been co-chairman of the San Fernando Cathedral Foundation and co-chairman of the Archbishop Patrick Flores 10th Anniversary Celebration.  He was president of both the San Antonio International Mariachi Festival and the San Antonio Mariachi Foundation.  He is a member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory, the Advisory Board of the Physics Department at the University of Texas, and a member of the board of Musical Bridges Around the World.

 

Awilda I. Ramos, MD 

Dr. Ramos has served on the Board of Directors for Musical Bridges Around the World for five years, the last three as President. She was born in Puerto Rico, obtained her medical degree at the Universidad Central del Caribe, Puerto Rico, and completed her Pediatric Residency at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, Texas. After 30 years, she retired from the Army Reserve with the rank of Colonel in 2010. She currently practices Pediatrics in New Braunfels, Texas. Both she and her husband, Dr. Luis R. Ramos, and their two children, Luis and Rafael, share a love of music and the arts.

 

 

 

 

 

Luis R. Ramos, MD

Dr. Ramos has served on the Musical Bridges Board of Directors for five years, two of them as Treasurer. He was born in Puerto Rico and obtained his medical degree at the Universidad Central del Caribe in Puerto Rico. He completed his Internal Medicine residency in Mount Vernon, New York and his Anesthesia Residency at New York Medical College, Westchester County, New York. He currently is an anesthesiologist in New Braunfels, Texas. Dr. Ramos, his wife Awilda, and their children, Luis and Rafael, have devoted many years to supporting music and the arts.

 

 

 

 

Reema Shroff, JD

Ms. Shroff holds a Juris Doctor from Southern Methodist University, School of Law and graduated magna cum laude from Trinity University with a bachelors of arts in business administration. Ms. Shroff currently serves as a research consultant for several large physician practices and provides marketing, financial and legal services to strengthen their clinical research operations. Previously, Ms. Shroff managed clinical contracting and outsourcing at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and was in-house counsel at Fresenius Medical care. In her private legal practice, she focused on corporate and regulatory healthcare law. With over 15 years experience in the healthcare field, Ms. Shroff has been a speaker at various industry symposiums in clinical research and has authored publications on bioethics and healthcare fraud. In their free time, Ms. Shroff and her husband, Dr. Naveen Kella enjoy travel, music and the arts.

 

 

Sujata Venkateswar, CPA

Sujata Venkateswar, an Indian Classical Vocalist, is a versatile artist who is adept at performing classical, semi-classical and popular Indian music. To listen to her music, please click here.

Sujata also has enormous experience in producing and managing large shows.   In October 2011 Sujata produced the show “Songs of India” for Musical Bridges Around the World.  She was the Artistic Director and also one of the principal vocalists for the show.  To view the show please click here.

Sujata also produced “Bollywood Extravaganza” for Luminaria 2012 – a vibrant and colorful presentation of Bollywood songs from the 1950s – 2000s involving over 30 performers. 

Sujata is a licensed C.P.A. and an active member of the San Antonio Indian Community. She regularly coordinates a monthly program at the Hindu Temple of San Antonio called Raaga Archana that promotes local as well as out of area Indian musicians.   She also runs a local Indian music school called “Geetanjali Fine Arts.” 

 

 

We are grateful to our staff, and loyal volunteers and professional contractors:

 

 

Artistic Director /CEO - Anya Grokhovski DMA

 

 

 

 

 

 

Program Manager - Diana Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

Director, Marketing and Development - Subia A. Ahmad

 

 

 

Media Producer - James Sanders of Standard Definition
Photographer - Ken Mahnke
Graphic Designer - Lia Lamm
Webmaster - Susan Smylie of The Box

We are also pleased to thank our Board of Advisors:

Richardson B. Gill, PhD, Jo Long, Gustavo Medellin, MD, and Eliseo Rios

Others who have given countless hours to our cause are:

Victoria and Sophia Acuna; Irina Alekseeva; Roberta Cohen; Amy Erwin; Cristina Hotea; Catherine Lee; Lisa Lopez; Ray McDonald; Erik Michaelson; Dr. Robert Michaelson; Elena Portnaya; and Rafael A. and Luis A. Ramos.