The Brooklyn Bridge stretches across the East River and the buildings of lower Manhattan appear behind it. The bridge and the buildings are lit up at dusk. Stretching beyond the frame are twin beams of light at the center, approximating the location of the original Twin Towers.
Photo by Jin S. Lee

9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network

The Next Generation Remembers

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network brings people between the ages of 21 and 45 together through acts of advocacy, commemoration, and engagement to deepen their connection to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and to ensure that their generation and future generations remember 9/11 and its aftermath.

This is a promotional video for the Visionary Network.

The Next Generation Remembers

The 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network provides an opportunity for people between the ages of 21 and 45 to deepen their understanding of the attacks of September 11 and to fulfill a commitment to never forget the lives lost, the sacrifices made, and the ongoing consequences of the day.

Visionaries benefit from networking opportunities hosted by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum; receive discounted rates for Museum events; and receive monthly communications with announcements, save-the-dates, and engagement opportunities. Join today!

Learn about a few of our Visionaries below.

Join the 9/11 Memorial & Museum Visionary Network

To connect with others and participate in acts of advocacy, special events, and moments of commemoration, join the Visionary Network today.

For more information, contact visionary@911memorial.org.

The Visionary Newsletter

Each month, our newsletter highlights news, updates, and opportunities about Visionaries. It's a great way to stay connected: read recent and past issues here. 

2023 Archives

2022 Archives

2021 Archives

    Members of the Visionary Network at our annual benefit dinner
    Photo by 9/11 Memorial Staff

    Members of the Visionary Network at our annual benefit dinner

    Visionary Leadership Council

    The Visionary Network was founded in 2020 by a group of individuals dedicated to preserving the memory of their loved ones and honoring the commitment to never forget. Learn more about the leadership team responsible for the Visionary Network and carrying out its mission. 

    On September 11, 2001, when Sean was 5 years old, he lost his father, New York City Fire Department Captain Martin J. Egan, Jr. Since then, Sean has dedicated his life to service to his community. In 2012, Sean founded Hearing Our Heroes, an organization dedicated to honoring veterans through acts of service. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, New York, and a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Sean is currently an Associate at Neuberger Berman.

    Bridget is the producer and director of the documentary "Dust: The Lingering Legacy of 9/11." A graduate of Marymount Manhattan College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and Master’s degree from the University College Dublin in Human Rights, Bridget currently works for law firm Barasch & McGarry as 9/11 Community Affairs Outreach. 

    In 2016, Bridget learned her father, William “Bill” Gormley, had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Bill, an FDNY firefighter, responded on 9/11 and spent several months on the "pile" during the rescue, recovery, and relief operation. He passed away in June 2017. Since then, Bridget has devoted herself to honoring her father’s memory and raising awareness for 9/11-related illnesses. Through her documentary, Bridget helps tell these stories. In October 2022, the Visionary Network hosted a special screening of "Dust" in the Museum. 

    Caitlin was 10 years old on September 11, 2001, when she lost her father, New York City Fire Department Lieutenant Joseph Gerard Leavey. Cait has dedicated her adult life to working with children, focusing on those impacted by trauma and their recovery. She has an undergraduate degree from New York University, a master’s in education management and policy from Loyola Marymount University, and is currently obtaining second master’s degree in counseling in mental health and wellness at NYU. Cait is currently an early childhood teacher in lower Manhattan and is involved in many 9/11 mission-based organizations, including Answer the Call, Tuesday’s Children, and Tunnel to Towers.

    Originally from Bayside, Queens, Logan was seven years old when he lost his uncle, NYS Supreme Court Officer Sergeant Mitchel Scott Wallace, on September 11th, 2001. Since then, he and his family have been active participants in preserving the legacy of those who perished in the WTC attacks. After graduating from George Washington University, he joined AlphaSights, where he is currently a Vice President focusing on their Private Equity practice. In 2023, he joined the Visionary Network Council, after several years volunteering at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

    Following graduation from United States Military Academy at West Point, Ashley branched Army Intelligence and served the majority of her five active-duty years in the 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division (4-2 SBCT). During that time, she deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, where she worked both as a Female Engagement Team Leader and a Brigade Assistant Intelligence Officer.

    Ashley continued her service with Teach for America as a mathematics and computer science teacher in San Jose, CA an earned her Masters in Urban Education from Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles). Ashley was then selected as a 2016 Pat Tillman Foundation scholar and went on to receive her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. Currently, Ashley is an Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York.

    On September 11, 2001, John was an 18-year-old freshman at Fordham University. That day and in the days that followed, John volunteered at Ground Zero, aiding in the rescue and recovery operation. He subsequently joined the Army, becoming a Green Beret with combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and other locations. A Purple Heart recipient, John medically retired from the military after over 10 years of service. He currently works at Bank of America Securities, Structured Finance with a focus on Environmental, Social & Governance, and is heavily involved with the company’s military veteran hiring. John is earning his MBA from Columbia Business School, where he has been active in their Nonprofit Board Leadership Program. A former State Department intern and joint fellow with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and U.S Special Operations Command, he also serves on the Fundraising Committee for St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Taste of Wall Street, and is a Founding Member of Special Forces Association - Chapter 58.

    Rob is currently a director at UBS and has been involved in philanthropy for more than 15 years, currently serving as co-chair for the Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone Medical Center. He serves as chair to the Executive Business Advisory Council for Wagner College and is a Board of Trustee member at Stanstead College Prep. Rob’s cousin Michael D’Auria was a probationary firefighter for the FDNY when he as was killed on September 11, 2001. His father also responded that day along with other family members. 

    Zachary “Zack” Reber is currently a full-time MBA student at Columbia Business School, where he is concentrating in real estate. Prior to business school, he was an investment banking Vice President at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York. He grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and graduated from Penn State University in 2016.  

    Zack joined the Visionary Network upon its inception in 2020 and has volunteered at several events. In 2021, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Zack volunteered at the anniversary commemoration. He wrote about his experience that day; meeting loved ones of a family friend who had been killed and representing Visionary Network on the field at the Mets/Yankee game. Read about his experience here.  

    Alex is an inaugural member of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum and joined the Visionary Network in 2020. A lifelong New Yorker, currently residing on Staten Island, Alex’s professional experience spans over 20 years across the government and nonprofit sectors. 

    Alex currently serves as the executive director of the Public Housing Community Fund, a public-private partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), supporting over 500,000 New Yorkers living in NYCHA communities. Prior to his work with the Fund, Alex served as the executive director of the Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy supporting 10,000 acres of federal, state and city parkland in Brooklyn and Queens, and has held various roles in city and state government as a senior program manager at the NYS Governor's Office of Storm Recovery, managing a number of resiliency projects and programs as the city recovered from the impacts of Superstorm Sandy, and at the NYC Department of Homeless Services as Director of Community Relations, and the NYS Senate and NYC City Council. Alex is an Eagle Scout and dedicates time to volunteer to support various causes throughout the year. He co-founded Friends of Postcards, a group of concerned citizens formed to support Staten Island’s September 11th memorial. Alex earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and investments from Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business and a master’s degree in community and economic development with a certificate in social entrepreneurship from SUNY Empire.

    Visionaries in Service

    Our Visionaries are a diverse group from a breadth of backgrounds, including a number who were drawn to serve in the United States military.

    Visionary

    John Paluska