Five Community Leaders Join Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County’s Board of Directors

Fort Lauderdale, Florida (July 13, 2026) – Five dedicated and passionate community leaders and influential philanthropists have been named to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County’s (BBBSBC) Board of Directors. They are Brandon C. Briggs, Teri Fuentes, Beth E. Linzner, Scott Meltzer and Aisha Rainford.

“Brandon, Teri, Beth, Scott and Aisha are exceptional, experienced leaders in our community who bring a passion for our mission,” said Malena Mendez, President and CEO of BBBSBC. “Joining our already strong board of directors, they will guide our future growth as we work together to ignite the potential of our community’s youth through the power of mentorship.”

The BBBSBC Board of Directors is led by Chair Lania Rittenhouse, Vice Chair Terry Frank, Treasurer Guillermo “Willy” Gomez, Immediate Past Chair Marlene Williams and Legal Counsel Meisha Coulter. The new members are:

Miramar resident Brandon C. Briggs is a senior executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across the hospitality, travel, entertainment and leisure industries. Throughout his career, he has held C-suite roles with public, private and private equity-backed organizations, leading global revenue and operations for multi-billion-dollar businesses, including Lucky Strike Entertainment, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, Virgin Voyages and Royal Caribbean International. His global responsibilities have led him to relocate for leadership roles as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii and Geneva, Switzerland. Briggs earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance and MBA from University of Florida. He is a husband and proud father of two daughters.

Teri Fuentes, a resident of Pembroke Pines, is a Senior Vice President and Producer at Lockton Companies, the world’s largest privately held insurance brokerage. With more than 30 years of experience in employee benefits consulting, she partners with employers to develop comprehensive benefits strategies that support workforce health, engagement and long-term organizational success. Fuentes is known for her client-focused approach and dedication to building strong relationships while helping organizations navigate the complexities of employee benefits and healthcare. A dedicated community advocate, she is committed to supporting initiatives that create meaningful opportunities and positive outcomes for individuals and families.

Originally from New Jersey, Beth E. Linzner is a retired commercial real estate attorney who spent her entire professional career in South Florida. A resident of Pompano Beach, she received her undergraduate degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts and her law degree from George Washington University. Linzner’s first Little was Dr. Sherika Newman, who was 13 years old at the time they were matched. The two remain close, and they will soon reunite to celebrate Dr. Newman’s 50th birthday. Linzner’s newest Little is about to begin college at University of South Florida in Tampa with the goal of also becoming a doctor. In honor of Linzner’s philanthropic support of the Little Steps, Big Strides initiative, BBBSBC dedicated a wellness room in her honor called Beth’s Zen Den. Located in the BBBSBC Fort Lauderdale office, the Zen Den serves as a central hub for in-person counseling sessions, evaluations and staff support in partnership with Henderson Behavioral Health.

As an AmeriCorps alumnus and first-generation college graduate, Scott Meltzer’s passion for helping all students and schools succeed has fueled his experience with school district-community partnerships and private foundation management. The Fort Lauderdale resident serves as Director of Strategic Partnerships and External Engagement at Lemnis, a national public charity investing in solutions that expand learning for all young people. He previously served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year, where he rebuilt the professional home of State Teachers of the Year and Finalists, advancing the teaching profession and student achievement. He’s also served as Chief of Staff, Office of Student Readiness and Director of Engagement at the Office of the Commissioner at the Tennessee Department Education, supporting internal operations and external engagement to serve the academic and non-academic needs of all students. Meltzer held leadership positions at the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, the 80/20 Foundation and City Year and serves on the board of directors of Ten Credit Union. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Centre College, Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from St. Mary’s University and Certificate in Education Finance from Georgetown University.

Aisha Rainford is a Certified Regulatory Compliance professional with more than 18 years of leadership experience in the financial services industry, specializing in building and transforming global compliance and risk management programs. The Plantation resident serves as Vice President at American Express, where she leads a global governance and regulatory oversight program.
Aisha is passionate about community service and youth development, having served as President and Executive Board Member of a Florida-based nonprofit and founder of the Aisha King-Rainford Scholarship to support higher education. She is the recipient of the South Florida Business & Wealth Prestigious Women Award.
Aisha and her husband Ryan are proud parents to their daughter Jasmin.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County
For more than 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County has offered unprecedented access to resources to empower youth to reach their full potential through meaningful mentoring relationships. These mentoring relationships build self-confidence and emotional well-being, encourage young people to stay on a path to graduation and higher education, and help them establish a plan for a successful future. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County is to ignite the power and promise of youth. For more information, visit bbbsbroward.org.