Mihai Lehene
Board of Directors
Founding Angel
Founder, Romanian United Foundation
Founder
Volunteer (full)
Teacher
Mihai is the Owner of MDL Investments, a real-estate and VC family-office with a focus on emerging technologies, including fintech, biotech and crypto. In 2020 Mihai resigned his business roles to run RUF, and in 2022 he was elected as President of FORA.
The founder and CEO of Optimus Realty Inc, Cristian strongly believes in the power of charity to improve people's lives and change the mentalities and hopes of the less fortunate ones. Cristian is acting Treasurer of RUF.
Vero Marcu
Volunteer
Teacher
Vero loves yoga, reading and indoor rock climbing. She adores children and currently studying to become a pediatric nurse. She believed that reading sparks curiosity, develops little minds and connects children with loved ones.
Angie Matei
RUF Angel
CEO of Red Oaks Surgical Centre / Supporter of ROCO Chicago, the Romanian Community Center
Volunteer
MΔdΔlina-Sorina MateΘ is a teacher of Romanian Language and Literature, English Language and Literature, and Latin, holding a bachelor's degree in dual specialization and a master's degree in Romanian literature.
Catalin is passionate about real estate investing, passive income, and world traveling.
Cristian Merdariu
Board of Directors
RUF Angel
ROCO Biz
Founding Angel, RCC Chicago Ambassador
Founding Member
Cristian is co-founder and owner of City Habitat Realty, a successful real estate company in Chicago. He believes Romanians should work harder to express and identify themselves as one nation, to earn their own sense of value and the right to be proud.
Georgiana is bringing extensive experience in Communication & Marketing gained from her previous roles as a journalist in the biggest media trust in Romania and coordinator of international campaigns for well-established clients at Ogilvy and Grey G2.
Diana has 5+ years of professional experience in data analytics and is based out of Washington DC area. She has graduated from University of Warwick with a degree in Economics.
Beata NaΘcu
Volunteer
I always felt that something was missing in our Community, in Chicago, a central point of connection for our people. It was a dream "if somebody would open a Community Center for all of us, that would be nice ..."
I am a dedicated member of the Romanian United Foundation (RUF) Core Team, I'm serving as the "Trips to Romania" Program Manager. Born and raised in Romania, I immigrated to the United States in 2006 at the age of 23.
At RUF, I coordinate annual Trips to
Dan Nicolae serves as the Faculty co-Director of the Data Science Institute and the Committee on Data Scienceat the University of Chicago and is a Professor in the Departments of Statistics, Human Genetics, and Medicine. His research interests are in the
His beliefs about a Global Romania come from his father that talked about "Romanirea omenirii". Liviu is an entrepreneur, a life long learner, a business advisor and a father of two great boys. Please connect on LinkedIn to know more.
Daniela Oprescu
Volunteer
Born in Ialomita, Romania, teaching was always a passion. It took her from graduating from the "Carol 1" high school in Fetesti, philology and foreign languages section, to the University Ovidius in Constanta.
Ramona Pindus is a Research Assistant in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California, San Diego, whose work explores the use of visual and non-visual tools in shaping communication in the contex
Cristina Pop
Volunteer
Adriana Preda is the CEO of The Social Incubator, a Romanian nonprofit supporting vulnerable youth's social and professional development, and the first Romanian Obama Foundation Scholar for 2023-2024.
MD from Bucharest, in Italy since 2002. Graduated Medical School at the University of Verona in 2008, became an anesthesiologist in 2014. Active member of Romanian Diaspora in Italy and one of the first doctors to volunteer for Reteaua de Solidaritate.
Radu Racean is a solutions-oriented IT Professional with extensive experience in directing a broad range of corporate IT initiatives while participating in their planning, analysis, and implementation.
Beatrice Radu
Board of Advisors
Advisory Board Lead, GlobalRomania Initiative | Strategic Communications Architect
Volunteer
Beatrice Radu is a business and life coach with expertise in management, community-building, and holistic practices like yogic astrology, empowering clients to align personal and professional goals.