Clarke is proud to introduce Michael Budner as the newly elected Chair of its Board of Trustees.
Budner is a Partner at Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky P.C. in Philadelphia and has been a vital member of Clarke’s Board of Trustees since 2020. He has served as Board Vice Chair and Clerk and Chair of the Governance Committee while guiding organizational strategy and advocating on behalf of Clarke, which teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and talk. Budner was introduced to Clarke in 2018 when his daughter was diagnosed with hearing loss at 20 months old. “There is no handbook for the diagnosis and the path is not an easy one to navigate,” says Budner.
Since that time, Budner’s daughter has graduated from Clarke’s Preschool Program in Philadelphia after building a strong foundation of communication and self-advocacy skills with the support of the Clarke team and her family. Today, his daughter is flourishing at a mainstream school alongside her peers with typical hearing.
“We want all families with a child newly diagnosed with hearing loss to have the knowledge to make informed decisions about their child’s education and future, just like Mike and his family,” explains Judy Sexton, MS, CED, LSLS Cert. AVEd, Clarke’s head of programs and schools and interim president. “Mike brings his personal experience, knowledge and professional expertise to our Board and we are grateful for his leadership.”
The decision to give back to the organization that taught his daughter the listening, learning and spoken language skills to thrive came easily to Budner. “I want every family who needs Clarke’s services to have access to them,” he explains. “I have personally witnessed the unparalleled care and expertise that Clarke brings to each child. Leading Clarke’s Board of Trustees is one way to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and success.”
With over a decade of legal experience, Budner’s practice focused on catastrophic, complex personal injury cases. He is a fierce advocate who has earned the respect of his colleagues and adversaries, alike, for his relentless pursuit of justice on behalf of each of his clients with the utmost care and compassion.
In addition to his four-year tenure on the Clarke Board of Trustees, Budner actively participates in various community and philanthropic organizations. He serves on the Board of Directors for Philadelphia VIP, a nonprofit dedicated to providing pro bono legal services to individuals, small businesses and nonprofit organizations facing civil legal issues. He also serves as a Pro Bono Volunteer Attorney for the organization, representing clients who lack the means for legal representation in matters spanning Americans with Disabilities Act litigation, debt collection defense and nonprofit formation and governance. Additionally, Budner volunteers his time as an instructor and judge in the LL.M. in Trial Advocacy program at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law.
Budner is a graduate of Emory University and earned his law degree from the Temple University Beasley School of Law. While in law school, he excelled in oral advocacy. Budner served as a member of the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review. He returned to Temple University Beasley School of Law to earn his LL.M. (Masters of Law) in Trial Advocacy, graduating with Honors.
