Meet the Alumni
38 alumni to date have completed the CEO Onboarding Program. Alumni remain engaged and connected with one another as they change the landscape of leadership in the Jewish world.
Ilana Aisen
Ilana Aisen is the CEO of the JPRO Network, which connects, educates, inspires, and empowers professionals working in Jewish organizations in the United States and Canada. Most recently, Ilana served as Director of Experiential Education at the UJA Federation of Greater Toronto. She was part of the founding staff team at Repair the World and concluded her tenure there as Executive Vice President.
Jamie Allen Black
Jamie Allen Black is the CEO of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York, which raises the Jewish community’s awareness to issues affecting women and girls. Jamie brings more than 25 years of nonprofit leadership experience to the Foundation. Prior to this, she was the Director of Strategic Initiatives at Big Tent Judaism, where she worked to create inclusive, diverse Jewish communities.
Paul Bernstein
Paul Bernstein is the CEO of Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, an organization committed to making day-school education the first choice for Jewish families. Paul brings to this position his lifelong connection with Jewish day-school education and his wide-ranging management experience. Prior to joining Prizmah, Paul served as the Chief Executive Officer of The Pershing Square Foundation.
Rachel Fishman Feddersen
Rachel Fishman Feddersen is the Publisher and CEO of The Forward, a 120-year-old publication covering the issues, ideas, and institutions that matter most to American Jews. She brings to this position a passion for creating and supporting only the most engaging media properties. Prior to joining The Forward, Rachel was Chief Content Officer of Patch, Digital General Manager at MentalFloss.com and TheWeek.com, and Editor-in-Chief of Parenting.com.
Aaron Katler
Aaron Katler is the CEO of UpStart, which partners with innovators to redesign the experience and expression of Jewish life. He has worked in key strategy, operations, and leadership roles for both Jewish non-profits and businesses. Prior to UpStart, Aaron was the director of special projects and a senior philanthropic advisor at the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Sonoma and Marin Counties.
David Katznelson
David Katznelson is the Executive Director of Reboot, a community network working to create new ways for people to make Jewish traditions their own. A Grammy-nominated music producer, David has worked in the music industry for over 30 years. He is head of The Birdman Recording Group. Most recently, David served as Director of Strategic Change for the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Sonoma and Marin Counties.
Howard Libit
Howard Libit is the Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, which fosters, advocates, and builds relationships for and within the Jewish community. Before joining the Baltimore Jewish Council, Howard served as Chief of Public Affairs and Director of Strategic Planning and Policy in the Mayor’s Office of the City of Baltimore, where he oversaw communications efforts. He also spent 15 years as a reporter and editor forThe Baltimore Times.
Arlene Miller
Arlene Miller is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Federation & Family Services, Orange County. Previously, she spent five years directing a $25 million campaign as the Chief Philanthropy Officer of Shalom Austin, an association of organizations that includes the Jewish Federation of Greater Austin, Jewish Family Service, the Jewish Community Center, and the Jewish Foundation of Austin & Central Texas.
Heather Moran
Heather Moran is the CEO and Executive Director of Sixth & I, a non-denominational, non-membership, non-traditional Jewish synagogue located in Washington, D.C. Previously, Heather spent 20 years in television as a Programming Executive at Discovery Communications, TLC, and E!. Most recently, she was the Executive Vice President of Programming and Strategy at the National Geographic Channel.
Todd Polikoff
Todd Polikoff is the CEO of the Jewish Community Board of Akron, OH. Previously, he was President and CEO of Jewish Nevada, the principal organization in the state working on securing the future of the Jewish community. Prior to joining Jewish Nevada, Todd served as the Director of Donor Stewardship for the Jewish Federation of Cleveland. Throughout his over 20 years of Jewish communal service, Todd has worked for other Jewish federations and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
Learn MoreEric M. Robbins
Eric Robbins is the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, a community-driven organization that connect Jews in Atlanta and around the world. Eric came to the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta after leading Camp Twin Lakes, a network of camps for children with serious illnesses and life challenges, and serving as associate executive director of the Jewish Community Center MetroWest.
Rabbi David Rosenn
Rabbi David Rosenn is the Executive Director of the Hebrew Free Loan Society, a microfinance organization providing interest-free loans to low-income New Yorkers since 1892. He is also the founder of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, where he was the executive director for 13 years. Most recently, David was executive vice president at the New Israel Fund, where he worked to strengthen democracy and civil society in Israel.
Avi Rubel
Avi Rubel is the co-CEO of Honeymoon Israel, which provides immersive trips to Israel and creates communities of couples building families with meaningful connections to Jewish life. Before co-founding Honeymoon Israel, Avi was the founding North American director of Masa Israel Journey for seven years, bringing more than 10,000 North Americans to Israel every year.
Seth Vilensky
Seth Vilensky is the Vice President of Business Development and Community Health for Menorah Park. He previously served as the President and CEO of Montefiore, which provides a continuum of healthcare services to seniors in northeast Ohio. Seth was formerly the administrative director for the Center for Connected Care at Cleveland Clinic, where he oversaw operations and strategy for their homecare, skilled care, and hospice. He also played a key role in Cleveland Clinic's post-acute care planning and development.
Robert Bank
Robert Bank is the President & CEO of American Jewish World Service (AJWS), an organization inspired by the Jewish commitment to justice working to realize human rights and end poverty in the developing world. He previously served in New York's municipal government and in the leadership of GMHC, one of the world's leading organizations combatting HIV/AIDS. Robert's passion for human rights was shaped growing up in a Jewish family in apartheid South Africa.
Dov Ben-Shimon
Dov Ben-Shimon is the Executive Vice President & CEO of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, the largest Jewish philanthropy in New Jersey. Previously he served as assistant executive vice president of the JDC, and major gifts officer at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. He was chargé d'affaires at the Israeli Embassy in Luanda, Angola, and assistant spokesman to Foreign Minister Shimon Peres.
Jodi Bromberg
Jodi Bromberg is the CEO at InterfaithFamily, which empowers people in interfaith relationships (individuals, couples, families and their children) to engage in Jewish life and make Jewish choices, and encourages Jewish communities to welcome them. Jodi has written extensively on the topic, including for eJewish Philanthropy, and has also spoken at conferences, synagogues and Jewish institutions around the country.
Learn MoreMarci Glazer
Marci Glazer is the former CEO of the JCCSF, the oldest Jewish center on the West Coast. She has held several senior executive roles in product development, technology, and marketing across a wide range of startups including Pure Digital Technologies, Airena, Jupiter Communications, FamilyWonder.com and CMP Media. Marci holds an AB in Government from Harvard University. She is an alumna of the Wexner Heritage Fellow program.
Danny Grossman
Danny Grossman is the CEO of the Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund of San Francisco, The Peninsula, Marin and Somona Counties, which seeks to ensure a strong, secure and prosperous Israel for the Jewish people everywhere. Previously, he was CEO of SLOW Food for Fast Lives and CEO and founder of Wild Planet Entertainment. He also served for seven years in the U.S. Foreign Service, as a diplomat overseas and at the Department of State.
Michael Hoffman
Michael Hoffman is the President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County. He is focused on developing and transforming one of the fastest growing Jewish communities in North America. Michael provides leadership towards the advancement of the Federation's human and financial resource development agenda to successfully address the Palm Beach Jewish community's priorities locally, in Israel, and around the world.
Tami R. Lesser
Tami Lesser is a Vice President at MorseLife Foundation, raising funds to support the charitable work of MorseLife Health System to improve the lives of seniors in Palm Beach County. Tami previously served as the Executive Director of the West Palm Beach Library Foundation that supports and advocates for the Mandel Public Library of West Palm Beach. Tami was the founding CEO of Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches and was the Director of Major Gifts for American Jewish World Service. Tami is an attorney and an advocate for gender equality and social justice. She has held numerous senior volunteer leadership positions in communal and national organizations. Tami has received leadership awards for her past community service and was selected for the first cohort of 11 CEO’s from across the U.S. to participate in the Leading Edge CEO Onboarding Program. Tami has a BA cum laude in history from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD with honors from the George Washington University School of Law. Tami is a second generation native of West Palm Beach and has dedicated her volunteer and professional life to building community and creating a better world for all people.
Abigail Porth
Abigail Michelson Porth is Executive Director of the LSP Family Foundation. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council, a public affairs and government and community relations organization representing the Jewish community’s interests. She has more than two decades of experience with advocacy, government relations, coalition building, strategic planning, organizational development, and crisis management and communications.
Abby served as a Mayoral appointee to the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, providing oversight of City efforts to address systemic racism, inequity, barriers to access services, and discrimination of all kinds. She is co-founder of the Memory Garden, the nation's first-ever sacred Jewish memorial space for those grieving from neonatal and other fertility losses.
Stefanie Rhodes
Stefanie Rhodes is the CEO of Slingshot, which nurtures the talents, skills, and wisdom of Jewish young philanthropists to make an enduring impact on the Jewish future. She previously ran the Younger Funders programing and was the founding Director of the Foundation Professionals program at the Jewish Funders Network. She also ran the Annual Fund at the JCC Manhattan for two years.
Todd Schenk
Todd Schenk is the CEO of JSSA, a multi-service organization providing support through a wide range of home care services to 30,000 people in the greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area. Previously he was the CEO of Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services, where he oversaw the agency's program services including those serving individuals and families with needs related to areas such as mental health and child welfare.
Elana Silber, MBA
Elana Silber is the Executive Director of Sharsheret, an organization supporting young Jewish women and their families facing breast cancer. She previously joined Sharsheret as a volunteer and in her current role has overall strategic and operational responsibility for Sharsheret's staff, programs, and growth nationwide. She is a graduate of Yeshiva University and the Mount Sinai Hospital/CUNY Masters in Business Administration Program.