Ethan Escowitz, Trustee

Ethan Escowitz is the parent of two children, Ryder and Troup, and husband to Kerri McShea. Kerri and Ethan are grateful for the highly engaged and exceptional teachers and staff, thoughtful pedagogy and strong values-driven community at Berkwood Hedge School. Ryder started at the lower school, graduated to the upper school and is currently in the middle school. Ryder has flourished in the classroom and at play during his time at Berkwood Hedge School.

Ethan has coached youth lacrosse, rock climbing, kayaking and wilderness skills and taught environmental education at the Keewaydin Environmental Education Center and has advised a variety youth focused non-profit organizations.

With a career that has included roles across manufacturing, product design and innovation, Ethan has a range of patents and inventions, products, and has founded and consulted a variety of companies. The company he founded in the family's Berkeley garage in 2017 (ARRIS), won the East Bay Innovation Award and is now making parts for consumer products and aerospace customers globally (If curious about the journey, ask him how the wisdom of trees informed the development of ARRIS' new carbon fiber manufacturing process).

Currently, Ethan is working on making manufacturing and materials more sustainable with a new startup he cofounded in 2022. As with his last company, he has partnered with UC Berkeley to provide internships to masters students pursuing engineering and materials science degrees that want exposure to small agile breakthrough innovation startup environments. He places a very high value on the education he has received from mentors and has a regular practice of paying it forward.

In his free time Ethan might be found on a recreational adventure around northern California with the family, doing a project in the garage with the boys, or he might have snuck down the block to do some rock climbing in North Berkeley.