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About Us

Who We Are

We are a volunteer-driven family foundation committed to reducing the number of young athletes lost to sudden cardiac arrest and helping students pursue their education through scholarships.

  • Board of Directors

A LEGACY BUILT ON CARE & ACTION

Sanjay Yodh

 President

Sanjay Yodh is a senior financial services executive with more than 30 years of experience across asset management, insurance, and capital markets. Throughout his career, he has held senior leadership roles focused on developing investment solutions and building relationships with insurance companies and institutional investors. Sanjay earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a master’s degree from Rutgers Business School. A founding member of the Ken Carlson Jr. Memorial Foundation, Sanjay is proud to support its mission of honoring Ken’s memory through educational scholarships and efforts to advance awareness, research, and early detection of cardiomyopathy.

Brian Teitelbaum

Treasurer

Brian has over 30 years of experience in financial services and asset management. He is currently the Head of Private Markets performance at Neuberger. Prior to joining Neuberger, he spent 10 years at Apollo Global Management as a Managing Director in the Credit and Hybrid space. He has also previously held roles at GoldenTree Asset Management, Deutsche Asset Management, and Lazard. Brian earned his undergraduate degree at Rutgers University, and his MBA from Pace University.

Clint Bogan

Secretary

Clint Bogan is a leader in the electric power industry with 35 years of experience focusing on the safe and reliable generation and distribution of power to customers. He received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University, and his M.S. in Electrical Engineering from N.J.I.T. He is a founding member of the Ken Carlson Jr. Memorial Foundation.      

Joseph Heavey

Director

Joe Heavey is a retired KPMG tax partner with over 30 years of accounting experience.  He specialized in providing tax services for hedge funds, private equity funds, general partners and management companies as well as individual tax planning services for many of the hedge fund and private equity fund founders.

Joe has a Master’s degree in taxation from Seton Hall University.  Joe lives in Wyckoff with his wife.  They love to travel and really love to explore our National parks across the country.   

John Twomey

Director

John Twomey is originally from Lakewood NJ, and is a 1992 graduate from the Rutgers School of Business.  John has worked for Herc Rentals since graduation.  He and his wife reside in Bradley Beach. 



John Palus

Director

Mr. Palus is a founding member of Dynamic Engineering PC and currently sits on the Board of Directors. His main duties include management of the company’s financial strategies and oversight of the branch offices. John’s extracurricular activities include sitting on the Industry Board of Advisors for the Civil Engineering Department at Rutgers University and sitting on the Board of the Ken Carlson Jr. Foundation. Mr. Palus has earned a BS and an MS in Civil Engineering at Rutgers University and has over 30 years of experience in the Land Development field. Past honors include attaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America and being named Engineer of the Year by the ASCE Central Jersey chapter in 2014.

Dr. Charles R. Ford Jr.

Director

Dr. Ford earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Rutgers University–Livingston and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City. In 2013, he completed his doctoral studies at Nova Southeastern University, earning a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Ford has an expansive career in public education, serving in a variety of instructional, administrative, and executive leadership roles. He currently is a retired Superintendent of the Monmouth County Vocational School District, where he provided leadership for one of New Jersey’s premier career and technical education systems.
Prior to his retirement, Dr. Ford served as Superintendent of Schools in the Deptford Public School District and as Superintendent of the Monmouth Regional High School District. His superintendent experience has provided him with extensive expertise in district leadership, strategic planning, organizational development, instructional improvement, community engagement, and the development of systems designed to support student achievement.
Earlier in his career, Dr. Ford served as a Principal and Assistant Principal in the South Plainfield Public Schools, including leadership assignments at Roosevelt Elementary School and South Plainfield High School. He began his educational career in the Irvington Public Schools, where he served as an Assistant Principal and Teacher at Union Avenue Middle School and Chancellor Avenue Elementary School.

Michael Alvarez

Director

Michael is a Rutgers College graduate from 1991. Originally from the Washington DC area, he settled in New Jersey with his wife & 3 daughters. He retired from Wells Fargo after 21 years and 26 years in the financial lending industry.

James Prendergast

Director

James Prendergast holds a BS in Industrial Engineering from Rutgers College of Engineering. Graduating in 1994, James has spent over 20 years in various Engineering, Operations and Strategy roles specializing in Supply Chain for retailers and technology companies. James currently lives in Southern New Jersey with his wife and has two daughters attending college at Clemson and Florida Atlantic University.

Michelle Carlson

Director

Michelle has been working in the mental health field for over 20 years, from prevention and crisis work to policy and advocacy, serving the last 10 years in the non-profit sector. She earned her undergraduate degree at University of Southern California and a Masters of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

She is currently the founding Executive Director for Helping Hearts, a newly launched national nonprofit organization founded by renowned grief expert David Kessler to restore dignity and support for individuals carrying unattended grief.

Michelle has a strong commitment to giving back, serving on the Board of Directors for several national mental health organizations. When she isn’t volunteering, Michelle is spending her time on outdoor adventures with friends and her pup, Bugsy.

  • OUR LEGACY

Protecting Hearts. Powering Futures.

Our mission

To prevent sudden cardiac death in young people by funding organizations who conduct cardiac screenings, awareness and research to prevent sudden cardiac death in young people and ensuring college opportunities to students through scholarships

Our vision

A future where fewer young athletes are lost to sudden cardiac arrest, where every community understands the role it can play in prevention, and where every student has the support to pursue their education.

  • Our story

Ken made everyone feel like a teammate

In the months that followed, his family and friends learned how often sudden cardiac arrest in young people traces back to a condition that a simple screening can reveal. That gap became our work.

Today the foundation is run entirely by volunteers, guided by a working Board of Directors, and funded by a community that keeps showing up.

  • Updates

Recent milestones

2002

Ken's family and friends establish the foundation, funding its first AED and a memorial scholarship at Whippany Park High School.

2021

Partnership with Heartfelt Cardiac Projects launches free ECG screening days for local student athletes.

2023

Rutgers University joins as a program partner, extending awareness and CPR training to collegiate athletes and staff.

2026

The foundation passes 3,000 athletes screened and 50 AEDs placed across New Jersey communities.

  • KEEP KEN’S LEGACY ALIVE

Your gift keeps a legacy going

Every dollar raised funds scholarships for students and research into cardiomyopathy detection and treatment.

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