About
MEET THE TEAM
Allie Tillinghast
Ed Stier
For 17 years, Ed Stier was a Federal and NJ State prosecutor specializing in complex organized crime and corruption prosecutions.
After leaving public service, Mr. Stier founded a law firm specializing in conducting objective, carefully documented investigations. During almost 40 years in private practice, he has investigated a wide range of integrity issues throughout the United States including numerous civilian nuclear and nuclear weapons facilities; major construction projects including Yankee Stadium; the World Trade Center recovery effort after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack; as well as reform of the Teamsters Union. Mr. Stier served as counsel to the Academy Award winning documentary, Icarus, that exposed the Russian state sponsored doping scheme culminating at the Sochi Winter Olympic Games.In addition to his law practice, since 2003, Mr. Stier has managed an ownership interest in the New York Yankees, served as a member of the board of directors of the YES regional sports television network, and spearheaded numerous philanthropic activities aimed primarily at improving the lives of inner city disadvantaged youth.
Honorable Judge Aquilina
Judge Rosemarie Aquilina earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Western Michigan Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1984 after earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree from Michigan State University in 1979. She was the first female JAG Officer in the Michigan Army National Guard and retired with 20 years honorable service. After owning a successful law practice she was elected to the 55th District Court she served 4 years as Chief Judge and Sobriety Court Judge and was then elected to serve as a 30th Circuit Court where she is in her 13th year. Judge Aquilina is a Law Professor at Western Michigan Thomas M. Cooley Law School and MSU College of Law. She is a worldwide motivational speaker and author. She authored three fictional novels: Feel No Evil, Triple Cross Killer and All Rise. Her memoir, Just Watch Me, was released December 2020 in partnership with Audible, Hello Sunshine and Reese Witherspoon. Judge Aquilina is a regular legal news commentator on News Nation, the mother of five children, three grandchildren, and resides in East Lansing, Michigan.
Diana Florence
Diana Florence started her career 30 years ago in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, after receiving her BA with honors and Phi Beta Kappa and her law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Fluent in Spanish, Florence spent 25 years as a prosecutor focusing on street crime, domestic violence, complex frauds, and corruption cases, ultimately creating and leading the nation’s first Construction Fraud Task Force. She won groundbreaking convictions against companies and individuals for defrauding 9/11 charities, corruption, domestic violence, wage theft, and deadly work conditions. Working side-by-side with community-based groups, unions, worker centers, and government agencies, Florence created an innovative prosecution model heavily rooted in broad based community participation. She also taught trial advocacy for over two decades to lawyers in the DA’s Office and has lectured investigators and lawyers from around the world on topics ranging from inter-agency cooperation to prosecuting fraud, racketeering and workplace homicide.
As an Assistant District Attorney (ADA), Florence held powerful interests accountable by prosecuting landmark cases on behalf of workers and taxpayers. She secured justice for the family of a 22-year-old construction worker, Carlos Moncayo, who was buried alive at work. Using the existing criminal law, Florence obtained convictions against the corporations and site supervisors, who had been repeatedly warned of hazardous conditions, for manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide related to Moncayo’s death. Florence also secured a record-breaking wage theft conviction working alongside Iron Workers Local 361 to secure $6 million in stolen wages and back-pay from AGL Industries. Not only did Florence prosecute these cases, but she also authored two bills—Wage Theft and Carlos’ Law—that later became New York State Laws. These successes led to her run for Manhattan District Attorney in 2021, with the support of 20 labor unions.
The conclusion of Florence’s campaign coincided with a sea of change in collegiate athletics, namely the broad legalization of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation. Recognizing the parallels between immigrant construction workers and these young athletes, namely that both groups were traditionally overlooked and yet were the engines of multi-billion-dollar industries, she transitioned her practice to collegiate athletics as both an attorney and a consultant. She is one of a handful of lawyers nationwide that has successfully sued the NCAA, on behalf of a Division One basketball player at Manhattan College and won a preliminary injunction that granted him immediate eligibility. Born in Manhattan, Florence is a long-time resident of Kips Bay where she lives with her husband and two children.
Alice Kearney Alwin MDiv
Vice President of Mission, Ministry, and Identity at Loyola Academy. Alice Kearney Alwin was Allie's teacher at the Marymount School of New York, where she served as Director of Ministry and Mission. She was a collegiate athlete on the Women’s Varsity Rowing team at the University of Wisconsin. She is doctoral student at Fordham University.
Ed Tillinghast
Ed Tillinghast is an Army Special Operations Veteran and MBA student at Columbia University. He was an original board member for Thriving Not Surviving as well as a passionate athlete who has completed several ultramarathons in addition to the Boston Marathon.
The Late
Dr. Steven Ungerleider
In Memoriam: Dr. Steve Ungerleider
Dr. Steve Ungerleider served as a beloved and deeply valued member of our board. A passionate advocate, dedicated leader, and cherished friend, Steve's legacy continues to guide and inspire our work.
An award-winning author of six books, Steve devoted his life to advancing the fields of psychology, sports, and social justice. He completed his undergraduate studies in psychology at the University of Texas at Austin, where he also competed as a collegiate gymnast under champion coach Jamile Ashmore—an experience that shaped his lifelong commitment to the power of sport and mentorship.
Steve’s wisdom, generosity, and vision left an indelible mark on this organization and on all who had the privilege of knowing him. His impact lives on in our mission, and we honor his memory by continuing the work he cared about so deeply.
