BRIDGE BEYOND BORDERS

Empowering Student Athletes for a Brighter Future

Our Vision

Welcome to Bridge Beyond Borders, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of student-athletes. We believe in the profound power of education and sport to shape well-rounded individuals ready to excel in college and beyond.

Our mission is to empower student athletes by providing scholarships and support in pursuit of higher education and overall development as people. We are committed to building bridges that connect talent with opportunity, ensuring that financial barriers do not stand in the way of academic and athletic dreams.

Our Team

Anthony Closson

Jay Frankle

Joshua Izenberg

  • CEO/Founder of Colossal Contracting, LLC, an SBA-certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business dedicated to delivering cutting-edge IT solutions and professional services for government and commercial clients. For more than 16 years, he has led Colossal in providing turnkey, mission-critical IT systems and networks in support of the warfighter, private and public missions. 

    Anthony is an avid entrepreneur in real estate, an array of small businesses, and a proud investor of Takedown Inc.  Takedown is a global apparel company with partnerships with Professional Fight League (PFL), Real American Freestyle (RAF), UFC Bantam Champion Merab Dvalishvilli, Olympic Gold Medalist Gable Steveson. 

    Beyond business, Anthony is passionate about giving back. Under his leadership, Colossal Contracting has raised $1 million+ through its annual #22ForYou Day event, supporting veterans with PTSD and advancing critical awareness initiatives. He is also an active supporter of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and a mentor through the Patriot Bootcamp program, helping guide the next generation of veteran entrepreneurs.

    At home, Anthony is a devoted husband to wife April and proud father of four boys with three of them attending Severn School in Severna Park. He enjoys lifting weights, training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, coaching youth football, giving back to veterans, and traveling with his family.  

  • Jason Frankl advises management teams and boards of directors on how to proactively develop and implement value creation plans and strategies that keep shareholder activism and unwelcome M&A pursuits at bay. With 20+ years of consulting experience, Mr. Frankl has led hundreds of engagements, including some of the highest profile shareholder activism and contested M&A situations in U.S. history (measured by dollar value). He has also served as an expert witness in connection with corporate governance and capital markets matters.

    Mr. Frankl has also counseled hundreds of Nasdaq- and New York Stock Exchange-listed companies on the application of and strategies to achieve and regain compliance with relevant listing requirements.

    Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Frankl spent 20 years with FTI Consulting, where he most recently served as Senior Managing Director and Co-Leader of the Activism and M&A Solutions practice. Before that, he served as Counsel with Nasdaq, where he conducted/or was involved in 1,000+ hearings for issuers faced with the threat of delisting or denial of initial listing for failure to satisfy Nasdaq listing standards.

    Mr. Frankl was appointed by Maryland Governor Larry Hogan in 2019 to serve on the Board of Directors of the University of Maryland Medical System, a $4.8 billion medical system. He is currently Vice Chairman-elect, having served as Chairman of the Audit & Compliance Committee, Chairman of the Investments Committee, and on the Executive Compensation Committee. 

    Mr. Frankl earned a bachelor’s degree in general studies from Springfield College and a J.D. from the Catholic University of America. He is a four-time honoree of the National Association of Corporate Director’s Directorship 100 list, which recognizes the most influential leaders and advisors in corporate governance.

  • Joshua Izenberg is the Founder and Principal of IzenbergLaw PLLC. Josh has 25 years of experience as an attorney, including as a former public company General Counsel in the aerospace and defense industries, and as an Associate in the Corporate & Securities Group at one of the world’s largest international law firms. Josh runs a diverse legal practice based in Washington, DC, with a particular focus on M&A and commercial and government contract counseling. Josh also counsels clients in connection with corporate governance, company formation, structuring of shareholder and operating agreements, fundraising, and several other legal areas.

    In addition to his legal practice, Josh currently acts as a Co-Founder and General Counsel of Woodford Resources, LLC, a startup focused on building a US-centric rare earth element supply chain. Recently, Josh also was a Co-Founder and the General Counsel of OffWorld, Inc., a venture-backed company that is a world leader in novel autonomous technologies for terrestrial mining. Prior to his current roles, Josh was General Counsel of the aerospace and defense businesses at Alliant Techsystems (“ATK”), a Fortune 500 provider of aerospace, defense, and sporting products. Before ATK, Josh was the General Counsel at Versar, and a Deputy General Counsel at Alion Science and Technology. Josh started his legal career at Baker McKenzie LLP.

    Josh is Chair of the Board of Directors at the Challenger Center for Space Science Education in Washington, DC, a not-for-profit started by the families of the Space Shuttle Challenger Astronauts, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation.

    Josh is a member of the Board of Advisors of CisLunar Industries, which aims to develop the Space Foundry that will recycle and refine metal space debris into raw materials for use in space.

  • Brad Fowler is a Branch Manager and Vice President at NFM Lending, where he oversees branch operations, drives business growth, and leads a high-performing team dedicated to excellence in mortgage lending. With a proven track record of success in the financial services industry, Brad has built his career on developing strong client relationships, cultivating top talent, and executing strategies that deliver both organizational and community impact.

    In his dual leadership role, Brad is responsible for branch performance, market expansion, and operational efficiency, while also serving as a trusted advisor to clients navigating complex mortgage transactions. His expertise spans strategic planning, compliance oversight, and sales management, enabling him to balance customer satisfaction with business profitability. Brad’s leadership style emphasizes accountability, collaboration, and innovation—qualities that have positioned his branch as a consistent top performer within NFM Lending’s national network.

    Beyond operational leadership, Brad is deeply committed to advancing NFM Lending’s reputation as a premier mortgage lender by championing best practices, strengthening referral partnerships, and leveraging technology to enhance the client experience. His vision is rooted in empowering both his team and his clients, ensuring long-term success through sustainable growth and meaningful community engagement.

    Brad is a Severn School Alumni that resides in Severna Park MD with his wife Amy and three sons, Bo- a Severn School Alumni that currently attends and plays football for Richmond University, Jack and Finn who both currently attend Severn School in Severna Park.

Brad Fowler

Upcoming events

  • Annual Fundraiser

    Date/Time TBD

    We will be holding our annual fundraiser at Chartwell Golf and Country Club in Severna Park.

  • Football Camp

    Description of Camp Activities

    Date/Time TBD

  • Lacross Camp

    Description of Camp Activities

    Date/Time TBD