Volunteers
More than 100 volunteers have joined us from all over the world (especially from the US and Romania). From entrepreneurs to non-profit leaders to professors to lawyers to marketing and management folk, our team is made out of people united by their commitment to supporting positive change and their love for Romania. Backed by a strong International Board of Advisors, they made RUF what it is today.
Mihai Lehene
Founding Angel
Board of Directors
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.
Maria Apo
Founding Angel
Board of Directors
Secretary of the Board, CEO of MDL Investments
Founding Member
Volunteer
Teacher
Ligia’s charity involvement began at a very young age, helping her family foundation with the distribution of humanitarian aid to the families in need in the area immediately. Today she continues to do what she is most passionate about: doing good.
Cosmina has a Master Degree in Economics from University of Targu Mures. She is the RUF office wizard, handling all accounting and administrative issues. She moved to Chicago from Romania more than a decade ago and she is passionate about helping people.
Valentin Daraban
Founding Angel
Founding Angel, Ambassador of the Romanian Community Center of Chicago
Volunteer
Irina Nedeljkovic
Member
RUF Core Team Member, ROCO Events Team Coordinator, "Trips To Romania" Program Manager
Staff
Diana Ulici
Member
ROCO Member, ROCO Fun Chapter Lead, Supporter of ROCO, the Romanian Community Cente
Volunteer
Monica Horga
Member
Founding Member, Ambassador of RoCo, Supporter of RoCo
Founding Member
Volunteer
Marius is internationally recognized as one of the founders of computer simulation of complex phenomena. He was Principal Investigator at the Argonne Laboratory and an Associate Professor at the Univ. of Chicago and Northwestern University.
Originally from Romania, I relocated to the US in 2013 with a Bachelor's degree in Economics. Currently, I serve as the administrative expert at RUF, where I handle all accounting and administrative issues. I have a passion for teaching young children.
Catalin is passionate about real estate investing, passive income, and world traveling.
Claudia graduated from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine with a Masters Degree in Medical Science as a Physician Assistant.
Florin Pricop
Volunteer
As a consultant, Florin is specialized in LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT and SALES. During his career he received his Executive Management from University of Notre Dame, helped many small companies or Nonprofit Organizations SCALE IT UP.
I am an entrepreneur scientist with a mission: to enhance human and business longevity, resilience, and purpose. At present, my attention is laser-focused on refining a comprehensive technology suite developed by Computyx,com. This versatile array of tool