BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Founder and Chair
KEN FISHER
Kenneth Fisher, founder and chair of Heal The Planet, is a born entrepreneur. At 17, he purchased his first business, a Carvel-type ice cream store. Ken always had a love for real estate since he was a young boy, and at 19, he purchased his first four residential properties. His interest in business continued to soar, expanding across multiple industries including retail and telecommunications. His two telecommunications companies were twice featured in Inc. Magazine’s list of Top 500 Fastest-Growing Companies.
Ken's success led him to make a conscious choice to give back. He became what he refers to as a philanthropreneur, supporting the fundraising efforts of many charities over the past 30 years, including City of Hope, Joint Distribution Committee, Kids in Distress, JAFCO, HANDY, and Jack & Jill Children’s Center, to name a few. Ken also sits on numerous non-profit boards locally and globally. Yet, Ken felt there was more he could do.
As a successful businessman, Ken understands the power of commerce. How we spend our money and what we choose to consume have a direct effect on our planet. Making conscious choices on what we do or buy today has a direct impact on the planet’s sustainability, the health and well-being of all its inhabitants, and what we will leave for future generations. Ken is an unstoppable force who lives this vision every day. He is a two-time Ironman, having competed in New Zealand and Brazil. He is committed to pursuing personal growth and living an eco-conscious lifestyle. Still, he knew he could do more.
That’s when the magic happened. Ken enrolled in a two-year Master’s Program in Spiritual Psychology, founded and taught by Dr. H. Ronald Hulnick and Dr. Mary R. Hulnick, world-renowned pioneers and innovators in this field, at the University of Santa Monica. After 25 years in the making, Ken finally realized his dream and launched Heal The Planet, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving life on the planet through educating, inspiring, and empowering the next generation of children.
Like Aristotle and many other philosophers, Ken believes in the concept of entelechy. It is the idea that everything in the universe has an innate ‘possibility’ held within, like a seed, and that potential needs only a supportive environment to be fully expressed. Ken’s entelechy is to leverage his natural enthusiasm, business acumen, and love of people to enhance and uplift the quality of life for others. The joy that comes from supporting others has become the fuel that gets Ken out of bed every morning with a smile and a desire to Heal The Planet.
“There is no greater feeling than to utilize my life experience and innate gifts to inspire others and co-create a more loving, compassionate, and sustainable planet.”
Executive Board Secretary
CHARLES BRUTTEN
Charles Brutten is a lawyer who is passionate about his work, family and other pursuits. Charles enjoys traveling abroad and always has a list of future destinations that he would like to explore. He also enjoys domestic travel, hiking, kayaking, going to concerts and shows, and spending time with his family and friends. One of the global causes that is most important to him is providing wells for fresh water so that more people have access to an ample supply of clean water. He believes that nobody should be relegated to spending the majority of each day of their lives trying to obtain a sufficient quantity of water in order to live to see the next day.
He believes that there is so much potential on the planet if the technologies and information known to and possessed by the first world are shared. He looks forward to maintaining the direction in which Heal the Planet has been led by its founder and providing his support in advancing its scope and reach.
Executive Board Treasurer
AVI WEINTRAUB
Avi Weintraub is the manager and owner of various real estate-related ventures under the Weintraub Companies’ umbrella.
He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Building Construction from the University of Florida where he also studied architectural design. He is a Certified General Contractor and real estate broker. Mr. Weintraub has successfully taken and built on that knowledge to create a multi-faceted full-service company engaged in real estate development, construction and residential property acquisitions, holdings and management.
Mr. Weintraub has been active in the South Florida business community for more than 25 years and his experience encompasses commercial and residential development as well as the construction of scores of projects with over 2,000,000 square feet throughout South Florida, including office complexes, retail centers, schools, warehouses, apartments, condominiums and attached/detached single family homes. His latest projects are a 120,000 square foot office condominium in Aventura, Florida and a 69 unit residential condominium in downtown Miami, Florida.
His companies have received many accolades from various municipalities for design and construction as well as achieving the INC 500 list of Fastest Growing Companies in 2007 and 2008 for Weintraub Construction Company.
Mr. Weintraub is highly involved with, and has volunteered on the boards of several charitable organizations, including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, State of Israel Bonds as well as a member and board member of the Young Entrepreneur’s Organization.
He is an avid boater and skier and currently resides in Aventura with his wife Maria and their two son’s Sami and Daniel.
Executive Board Member
MARCELL BENEDETTI
Marcell Benedetti has lived in South Florida for 28 years. She was raised by a single father in Trapani, Sicily. She attended the University of Miami and is involved with many charities like Miami Rescue which helps abused women and children, Red Cross, and Hands on Broward.
She is very conscious of our environment and helped start Little Hands for the Planet with her son which sells environmentally safe products.
Marcell is a member of the Vestry at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and School that oversees the activities at both. She also sits on the St. Mark’s diversity and inclusion committee.
She is active in real estate and manages all legal aspects of her properties. She worked for MB Flagler for four years as a paralegal. She is married and has one son that has attended St. Mark's for 5 years. Her son is also an acolyte for St. Mark's Episcopal Church.
Executive Board Member
JAMES COLEN
James has felt from a young age that he is blessed and has a responsibility to give back to the world. Raised by a single mother who worked tirelessly to provide a private school education for her three sons, James developed a deep belief in the transformative power of education and its lasting ripple effects.
After reading Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, James became inspired by the idea that mindful education is one of the most effective ways to improve the world. In the 1990s, he worked with Heartlight Education for two years, helping to found schools, including one in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. He continues to believe that teaching mindfulness to children is a powerful force for positive change.
James graduated from Harvard University in 1990. He spent two years gambling professionally, reaching number six in the world in backgammon, before transitioning into a career trading stock options, including six years on the American Stock Exchange.
James and his wife Lisa have three sons. While homeschooling for two years, their children participated in the Young Seeds in the Park program, an experience James found deeply impactful. He is inspired to help expand Heal the Planet’s programs so more children can benefit from these meaningful educational opportunities.
Executive Board Member
LISA COLEN
Lisa used to work as a Chiropractor and has been married 21 years. She is a full time Mom of three boys who split their time between Arizona and Florida. She is passionate about you and giving kids the opportunity to learn things they might not have otherwise been exposed to and is excited about becoming our most healthy selves and maximizing passionate involvement in what touches us. Lisa is also a passionate gardener and love to learn and read.