Hearing Health Foundation (HHF), the largest nonprofit funder of hearing and balance research in the U.S., recently appointed Cary Kopczynski and Jay Grushkin to its Board of Directors.
Kopczynski is the founding principal and CEO of Cary Kopczynski & Company (CKC), an award-winning structural engineering firm based in Seattle with branch offices in Chicago and Los Angeles. CKC designs major urban building structures throughout the United States and internationally.
Kopczynski discovered HHF a few years ago through his own research and quickly became motivated to contribute time and money to the foundation.
Cary Kopczynski (left) and Jay Grushkin were appointed to Hearing Health Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2020.
“In my searches for worthwhile organizations, HHF continually came up as the source of leading-edge hearing initiatives,” Kopczynski recalls.
Grushkin is a partner in the New York City office of Milbank LLP, a premier law firm established in 1886 with 12 offices worldwide including Tokyo, where he previously served as Managing Partner. He is a member of the firm’s Alternative Investments Practice. Grushkin previously served for many years as the Senior Hiring Partner for Milbank and he now heads its Technology Committee. During 37 years of practice, his clients have included financial institutions, investment advisers, investment banks, airlines, and technology and telecommunications companies.
Grushkin notes, “Since first meeting with HHF CEO Timothy Higdon earlier this year, I've become engrossed by the innovative research the foundation is funding, and this research hits close to home.”
Both Kopczynski and Grushkin live with tinnitus. For Kopczynski, hearing and balance conditions run in the family; his mother lives with hearing loss and wears a cochlear implant.
“I look forward to playing a role in advancing future treatments and cures for hearing and balance related disorders,” Mr. Kopczynski says.
Kopczynski is a recognized expert in the design of major urban building structures. He frequently speaks at conventions and trade association events and has authored numerous papers on engineering design, building construction, and the importance of embracing innovation in the construction industry. His firm has won over 70 regional, national, and international design awards and he has twice been selected by McGraw-Hill’s ENR Magazine as a Top 25 Newsmaker for his pioneering role in advancing the use of high strength steel in major buildings.
In 2021, Kopczynski will become President of the American Concrete Institute, an international organization with over 30,000 members that develops design and construction policy for concrete buildings, bridges, and other structures. He is also a longtime member of Rotary International and a Past President of the Bellevue Breakfast Rotary Club.
Grushkin has been identified as a leading lawyer by three respected ranking agencies: Chambers and Partners, ILFR 1000, and The Legal 500. He frequently speaks at legal conferences throughout the world and his expertise has been highlighted by Bloomberg, CNBC, and The New York Times.
Outside of Milbank, Grushkin serves on the Board of Advisors to Vanderbilt Law School.
For his entire career, Grushkin has provided pro bono legal services to worthy causes including special education and human rights. He looks forward to service on the HHF Board and to promoting and facilitating research into treatments for tinnitus and other hearing conditions.
“It is a great pleasure to welcome both Cary and Jay to the Board of Directors,” said HHF CEO Timothy Higdon of the new appointments. “Each have demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in their careers and are enthusiastic and well-informed advocates of HHF. The Board, scientific advisory bodies, staff, and I are very grateful for their commitment and look forward to working with them.”
