2024-2025 Season
October 11, 2024
Jack Oehm - Retired Battalion Commander
Jack Oehm is a retired Battalion Commander from the New York City Fire Department where he worked for 32 years. Jack earned a degree in Business Management from Marist College and attended the FDNY/USMA West Point combating terrorism leadership program in 2005.Jack was an off-duty Battalion Chief on 9/11, all his units responded, three out of eight never came home, losing 20 of his men. Jack was injured on the job and forced to retire in 2012. Jack always volunteered with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation but after his retirement became much more involved. He is married to his wife Kathy for 41 years; they have four grown children and seven grandchildren.
February 28, 2025
Illana Raia - Founder & CEO, ÊTRE
Named one of the first 250 entrepreneurs on the Forbes Next 1000 List and recognized twice by Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas, Illana Raia is the founder and CEO of Être - a mentorship platform for girls. Believing that mentors matter as early as middle school, Illana brings girls directly into companies they choose to meet female leaders face to face.
Illana is Chair of the International Space Station U.S. National Lab Education Subcommittee, serves on the National Girls’ Collaborative Project Champions Board and recently joined the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Board of Governors. She has authored two books on mentorship, 60+ articles and contributes to the Forbes Business Council.
Prior to launching Être in 2016, Illana was a corporate attorney at Skadden Arps in NYC and a guest lecturer at Columbia University. She graduated from Smith College and the University of Chicago Law School, and remains unapologetically nerdy.
Illana is Chair of the International Space Station U.S. National Lab Education Subcommittee, serves on the National Girls’ Collaborative Project Champions Board and recently joined the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Board of Governors. She has authored two books on mentorship, 60+ articles and contributes to the Forbes Business Council.
Prior to launching Être in 2016, Illana was a corporate attorney at Skadden Arps in NYC and a guest lecturer at Columbia University. She graduated from Smith College and the University of Chicago Law School, and remains unapologetically nerdy.
How to Register
7th grade Black River students will receive an email, through the school, with a link to register for our events. The keynote will be presented during the 7th grade lunch period.
The first 30 registered students will be able to attend. Please print your ticket to be admitted.
(The Media Center can only hold 30 students for lunch)
The first 30 registered students will be able to attend. Please print your ticket to be admitted.
(The Media Center can only hold 30 students for lunch)
