Karina Christiansen, Board President

Dr. Karina Christiansen is a public health scholar and advocate, working at the intersection of health and social equity. She holds a doctorate in Public Health and a Master's in Public Policy, both from Johns Hopkins University. In her current position, she works for the Mayor's Office of Criminal Justice on gun violence prevention in New York City. She is also adjunct faculty at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in New York University. 

Karina began her love for running in high school, when she joined the track and cross teams. In college she ran NCAA Division I cross country at Loyola University Maryland. She continues to run locally in New York City with North Brooklyn Runners. She is a Level 1 USATF certified running coach, and works with her athletes to be fearless and run with joy. 

Christie Burnham, Board Vice President

Christie Burnham is a certified teacher assistant at Manhattan Star Academy in the Upper West Side for children with special needs and mother of Fast Feet athlete, Alisa. She also worked as a direct care professional for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities for 23 years. Currently, she is pursuing her BS degree in Human Services. Her years of working as a direct care professional made her a strong advocate for her daughter Alisa and others in her community.

Christie noticed her daughter’s love for running and exercising around the track whenever her father practiced every weekend. That is when she started researching online for an athletic program and found Fast feet NYC. Since joining Fast Feet she noticed Alisa’s confidence had increased and her love for running. Alisa enjoys participating in cooking classes and learning different healthy recipes and looks forward to exercising in person and online. There is a friendly competition between her and her father on who have the most medals and who can run the fastest. At school Alisa teachers and therapists noticed how much she had developed since joining the program. Christie has found Fast Feet NYC has given Alisa voice to express herself, provided her place where she is not judged by others and developed new friendships.

In Fast Feet, she has met amazing parents that shared important information regarding services and other programs and to have a simple conversation and a good laugh.

Emily Schriber, Board Secretary

Emily Verno is a registered nurse and certified family nurse practitioner. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her Master’s degree from New York University. Emily’s career as a nurse focused on premature and critically ill infants in the neonatal intensive care unit. Her career thus far as a nurse practitioner has focused on adults in the primary care setting. She attributes her passion for working with children with disabilities to the model her mother set for her, a lifelong commitment to children and infants with disabilities as a physical therapist and developmental specialist. Emily loves all things exercise including recreational running and completed the New York City marathon in 2013 with her husband.

Wesley Davis, Board Treasurer

Wesley Davis is a nonprofit professional with over 10 years of experience working in community engagement. He is currently the manager of the New York Road Runners Striders program, a free walking and fitness program that offers physical activity and wellness resources for older adults looking to get active, stay fit, and improve their health in a fun, social environment. He received his Bachelor’s degree from St. John’s University and his MBA degree from Pace University's Lubin School of Business. Wesley believes through sports, people of all ages and abilities can improve their physical and mental health, build a sense of positive identity, and create a community by bringing together various groups of people who share the same values. He loves being outdoors and continues to stay active through recreational running, community walks, boxing, and flag football.

Jessica Melendez, Board Director

Jessica Melendez is a professional nanny for families in Brooklyn, NY and the mother of Fast Feet athlete, Michael. She has worked in childcare all her life and holds an Associates Degree in Early Childhood education from Borough of Manhattan Community College. But none of this comes in comparison to having her own child, Michael and experiencing first hand the joys of parenthood and the struggles of finding what parenting approach works her family. Currently she is working on her BA in Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences with a concentration in Social Welfare. 

Jessica has always loved running but it wasn’t until she decided to run the NYC Marathon when she started running consistently and completed the required number of races to register for the NYC Marathon! While she was searching for activities to do with her son, Michael, she found Fast Feet NYC. Now when Michael attends Fast Feet races, they also became family events. In Fast Feet, she meet other wonderful families that are likeminded and have become her support system. Fast Feet isn’t just a running program, it’s an addition to her family. 

Harbert Okuti, Board Director

Harbert Okuti is a professional runner from Uganda. He first discovered that his endurance and speed translated very well to the running world on the soccer pitch. In 2004, Harbert was selected to wear the yellow and black for the national team at the World XC Championships in Belgium. On a recruiting trip, Harbert accepted an invitation to Iona College in New Rochelle. One year later, he earned back-to-back 2nd place team trophies at the 2008 & 2009 NCAA XC Championships, all while earning a double major in Psychology and Criminal Justice. In 2010, Harbert started his tenure as a star on the Westchester Track Club, under the tutelage of renowned coach Mike Barnow.

Focusing on the roads, Harbert is always at the forefront of the finishing order, including a 16th place finish at the NYC Marathon in 2019. His consistency is evident with his innumerable victories in NYRR races, culminating in his winning the 2022 NYRR Runner of the Year award. In the summer of 2021, Harbert joined the Fast Feet Westchester coaching staff. Harbert imbues the passion and joy that running fills him with. It allows him to explore the boundaries of his world. Wth Fast Feet, he revels in the excitement that comes with others breaking through their own barriers and realizing that nothing is out of their reach.

Maritza Tong, Board Director

Maritza Tong is a real estate broker and a strong advocate for her four children, including Fast Feet athlete Brandon. A graduate from St. John's University with a degree in business, Maritza specializes in research. She spends countless hours finding different avenues for the enrichment of her children and other families in need. She has been on numerous PSA & SLT boards in both public and special needs schools in all age ranges as she also cares for her elderly aunt with a disability.

She has found that Fast Feet has been a blessing for her son because it fits in so well for his needs. He is given structure, instructions and routine and is allowed to follow or participate at his own pace. He has grown to enjoy, follow, and make new friends "buddies" because he doesn't feel pressured to participate or complete. It has given him a chance to grow and become more independent without Mom. Which she says isn't always a good thing but so necessary in life!

Amanda Wirth, Board Director

Amanda Wirth is a board-certified clinical specialist in pediatric physical therapy with over ten years of experience in a variety of pediatric practices including early intervention, preschool settings, and outpatient hospital clinics. She is currently a Senior II Physical Therapist at NYU Rusk Rehabilitation, working with patients from infancy through early adulthood. Her specialties include aquatic physical therapy, serial casting, muscular dystrophies, and adaptive equipment.

One of Amanda’s passions is establishing relationships with adaptive community programming. While she believes that physical therapy plays a vital role in strength and independence for her patients with disabilities, she also believes that it is just as important to encourage an active, healthy lifestyle outside of the hospital clinic. Amanda was introduced to Fast Feet by a patient of hers who raved about this outdoor, adaptive running group that he looked forward to attending weekly. The best part, according to her patient, was finishing a race in his wheelchair. She realized that she needed to make a relationship with this organization and introduce more of her clients to this program that unlocks perceived barriers to a sport that many of her kids thought to be impossible!

Hope Buerkle, Board Director

Hope Buerkle is a nonprofit professional specializing in fundraising, board building, and program development. She is most passionate about helping smaller organizations put their ideas into action. For nearly a decade, Hope led teams at Youth INC, a venture philanthropy initiative that builds the capacity of grassroots organizations serving youth in New York City.  Today, Hope is a stay at home parent raising two young sons, including Fast Feet athlete, August.  She is also a founding board member of Impact 100 NYC and an active volunteer with The Quad Preparatory School.  Hope received her BA from Barnard College.

Fast Feet NYC has served as a fantastic outlet for August's energy and determination and helped reinforce the benefits of teamwork.  August continues a tradition of running established by his grandfather, two-time Olympian and the former indoor world record holder in the Mile, Dick Buerkle, and his father, Gabe Buerkle, who ran track and cross-country at Georgetown University. 

Frank Pecorelli, Board Director

Frank Pecorelli is an attorney practicing law in Manhattan at Dechert LLP. A native New Yorker, Frank was born and raised on Long Island, received his bachelor’s degree from Marist College in Poughkeepsie and received his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in Queens. Frank’s legal practice focuses on a variety of global finance matters across a wide range of industry sectors. Outside of work, Frank enjoys staying active in the gym and spending time with his family and friends. Ultimately, Frank is happiest when spending time connecting with others and fostering community.