robin lynch

Board Chair

Robin is the Manager, Quality, Risk & Patient Safety at Med-IQ. Robin was awarded her Master of Science in Nursing Education from the State University of New York Institute of Technology and her baccalaureate of science in nursing from the University of Texas in Austin. Prior to accepting her current position at Med-IQ, she was a Risk Manager at Stamford Health and the manager of simulation centers at both NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center & the College of Health Professions Clinical Education Labs at Pace University in NYC.

connie hemphill

Board Treasurer

Connie earned her B.S. with honors in Accounting at the University of Connecticut and has many years experience in both public (C.P.A.) and private (C.M.A.) accounting. She is currently retired and lives in Bethel with her husband, daughter and son. She has been active in the Boy Scouts of America for many years and is currently serving in many roles at both the troop and district level. Connie has also served in several roles at St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Bethel where she currently holds the position of Clerk and helps with Sunday school when needed. Connie is very excited to join this energetic and passionate team!

don forstrom

Board Member

Don was born and raised in central Connecticut before earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Ithaca College. In 2020, Don retired from a 35+ year career in human resources management. Don and his wife, Becky, have lived in Danbury for 30+ years and have 2 adult children – Carolyn & Christopher. Don loves all sports (especially football, lacrosse, golf, and fishing) and in his spare time, he’s made over 300 pieces of Adirondack furniture.

Don grew up with a great children’s museum nearby so, as a child, he personally experienced the ‘positivity’ that an organization like EverWonder can provide a community…he’s excited to be part of EverWonder’s positivity, success, and growth!

tushar amin

Board Member

Tushar is a technology and finance executive with experience spanning Fortune 500 companies and venture-backed start-ups. Most recently, he served as the CEO and Board Director of Hazeltree Fund Services, a fintech company headquartered in NYC with offices in London and Hong Kong. Prior to this role, Tushar enjoyed an 18-year career at IBM, culminating as the COO of its $28 billion Global Technology Services business. Before joining IBM, he worked as a management consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers in Washington, DC.

Currently residing in Newtown, Connecticut, with his wife Margaret, Tushar has been an active member of the community for the past 13 years while raising their two children, Naiya and Dhilan. Tushar holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business and a BS from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He maintains a passion for STEM both professionally and personally and remains a loyal fan of the metro area sports teams, including the Yankees, Giants, and Rangers.

jean dos santos

Board Member

Jean dos Santos is a proud Brazilian-American husband and father of two daughters. Born in Brazil, he immigrated to the United States during elementary school and became a U.S. citizen in 2015. Jean earned his Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Western Connecticut State University while kickstarting his entrepreneurial journey. With over a decade of experience in affiliate marketing, he currently thrives as a content creator, engaging an online community of more than 160,000 followers. When not behind the camera or keyboard, Jean cherishes time with his wife and daughters, who inspire his creative journey. His daughters’ love for EverWonder Children’s Museum, where they play and learn, fueled his passion to join the board and support the museum’s mission to make a lasting impact on the community’s children.

kristen bednarz

Board Member

I’m passionate about transforming education through innovative strategies that put people at the heart of learning. My work centers on building strategic partnerships and identifying critical needs and opportunities that enhance skill development and create joyful, meaningful learning experiences. By leveraging diverse platforms and talent resources, I focus on developing solutions that don’t just teach—they inspire, empower, and serve humanity. I believe that education should be accessible, engaging, and designed with intention, creating pathways for individuals to grow both personally and professionally.

Whether through forging collaborative relationships, identifying emerging opportunities, or implementing creative approaches to learning, I’m committed to making education a force for positive change in people’s lives and communities.

julie abbett

Board Member

Julie Abbett is a finance executive with extensive experience in asset management, investment banking, and exchange-traded funds. She currently serves as Americas Head of ETF Sales for Equities and Credit at J.P. Morgan, where she works with asset managers and other clients across the ETF market. Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Julie held leadership and portfolio management roles at Deutsche Bank and IndexIQ, bringing more than two decades of experience in financial services.

Julie resides in Old Greenwich, Connecticut, and is the mother of two sons who share a keen interest in museums and learning. She holds an MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business and a BS from the University of Connecticut. Outside of work, Julie is an avid runner and marathoner who enjoys spending time outdoors. Her family’s love of museums and learning makes EverWonder’s mission especially meaningful to her.