JCC - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Executive Assistant to the President
- Executive Assistant to the President and CEO at JCC Association of North America
Aleksandra Palka is the executive assistant to the president and CEO at JCC Association of North America. An experienced administrative professional, she most recently worked with Rocco Di Spirito's Kitchen and Catering, where she, as general manager of operations, oversaw all administrative aspects of daily operations. Before that, Palka worked at the Consulate of the Republic of Poland, first as an executive assistant to the consul general and then as the consular officer for the legal affairs department. Palka holds master's degrees in management and marketing from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poland.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Build out and lead JCC Association corporate partnership strategy, fundraise for the program areas that make up JCC Association signature portfolio including JWB, JResponse, JCC Maccabi, and Camping.
Job Titles:
- Program Associate on the Experience Team
- Program Associate, Experience
Asher Newman is the program associate on the Experience Team at JCC Association of North America. A recent graduate of The College of New Jersey, he earned a bachelor's degree in international studies with a concentration in global health, development, and environment. He has a longtime interest in promoting an understanding of the Jewish experience, and prior to his collegiate career, Newman was involved with his central New Jersey synagogue community and its youth group. On campus, he held leadership positions with Alpha Epsilon Pi, a fraternity that develops leadership for the Jewish community, and Chabad.
Job Titles:
- Senior Philanthropic Advisor
- Senior Philanthropic Advisor JSummit Conference Director
Beth Mann is the senior philanthropic advisor and JSummit conference director for JCC Association of North America. A consultant specializing in organizational strategy and financial resource development in Jewish communal entities, her advice and guidance are sought by a diverse array of institutions. She previously held professional roles with Jewish Federations of North America, the 14 th Street Y, and the Educational Alliance. Prior to her Jewish communal work, Mann was a practicing attorney. A native New Yorker, she earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a juris doctor degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University. She is a past recipient of the Matthew Elson Award of Distinction for Professional of the Year of the Association for Jewish Center Professionals and a board member of several Jewish communal organizations.
Job Titles:
- Special Advisor to the President and CEO
Brian Schreiber, a longtime Jewish communal professional, is president and CEO of the JCC of Greater Pittsburgh and special advisor to the president and CEO of JCC Association of North America. He is a Leadership Pittsburgh XVII graduate and winner of Pittsburgh's Leonard and Doris Rudolph Jewish Communal Professional Award and the Blaustein Award in Modern Jewish History from Baltimore Hebrew University. Schreiber holds two master's degrees: one in social work from the University of Maryland and one in Jewish studies from Baltimore Hebrew University. He is a two-time JCC Association board member and currently serves on the professional development and finance committees.
Job Titles:
- Chief Talent Officer
- of North America As Its Inaugural Chief Talent Officer ( CTO )
Carrie Darsky joined JCC Association of North America as its inaugural chief talent officer (CTO) in 2023. In this role, she leads the design and execution of a talent strategy to engage, attract, develop, retain, and elevate professionals throughout the JCC Movement. Darsky previously served as vice president of talent & leadership development for Hillel International. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and earned a master's degree in social work from Yeshiva University's Wurzweiler School of Social Work. A licensed social worker, Darsky serves on the executive committees of the national board of JPro, the board of directors of the JCC of Central New Jersey, and as a lead standards visitor for the American Camp Association. She and her family are members of the JCC of Central New Jersey.
Chani Kolan is the education and operations lead for JCC Association of North America. Based in Israel, she works with JCC shlichim (emissaries) and for the Mit-habrim grant project, a partnership between JCC Association and the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. She has worked in Jewish education for more than 10 years and through the Jewish Agency, previously served as the community shlicha for the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County in Florida. Kolan also has worked with Birthright, various youth movements and gap-year programs, and as the director of a student village. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and education and a master's degree in Jewish peoplehood studies. Recently, Kolan volunteered with Lev-Echad in Ukraine, where she worked with refugees, and with IsraAID, working with evacuees from Kibbutz Be'eri.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the Executive Vice President
Job Titles:
- Engagement and Education Manager, JCC Maccabi®
David Immerman is the JCC Maccabi® Engagement and Education Manager. He has a passion for the Jewish community, using his love of sports to connect teens, and a strong connection to Israel, where he spent a year on the Nativ College Leadership Program, studied at Hebrew University, and volunteered in Yerucham, a town in the Negev.
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Immerman played BBYO basketball and was a counselor at Camp Ramah Darom, where he was chosen as a Cornerstone Fellow. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Immerman holds a bachelor's degree in philosophy, politics, and economics. He previously worked in business development, sales, and marketing in the for-profit sector.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President, Executive Leadership
Dori Denelle is a senior vice president, executive leadership at JCC Association of North America and a BoardSource certified governance trainer. She works with JCC boards on excellence in board governance and lay leadership development and leads JCC Association's executive search team. Denelle has spent her entire career in the JCC Movement, starting at the JCC of Greater Boston followed by many years at the St. Paul JCC, where she was the executive director prior to joining JCC Association's staff. Denelle earned a master's degree in Jewish communal service from Brandeis University and holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island. A native New Yorker, Denelle resides in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor for Jewish
- Senior Advisor for Jewish Education Director, Martin Pear Fellowship
Dr. Andi Meiseles is senior advisor for Jewish education and director, Martin Pear Fellowship at JCC Association. She was previously director of the North American Office of International Academic Affairs for Ben Gurion University; director of Year Course, Young Judaea's freshman year abroad program in Israel; and director of Camp Tel Yehudah. She taught Hebrew at Jewish day schools in New York and Philadelphia and English as a second language at Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Meiseles is an adjunct professor at the Davidson School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she earned her doctorate. She is a summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Rutgers University and earned an M. Ed. with Distinction in secondary and foreign language education at Temple University.
Job Titles:
- Development Assistant
- Development Assistant at JCC Association of North America
Edgar Díaz is the development assistant at JCC Association of North America. He previously worked in congregational administration at two United Methodist churches in Manhattan and, most recently, a shul in Brooklyn. Originally from Illinois, he came to the east coast to attend Yale University, where he majored in religious studies. After a brief time in New York City's gourmet food industry, Díaz began working in progressive religious communities that focus on social justice. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner and enjoys taking care of his collection of houseplants.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Secretary
Job Titles:
- Project Manager
- Project Manager, Marketing
Emily Reilly is the project manager on the marketing team at JCC Association of North America. She previously was the marketing manager at JCC Denver in Colorado and has a background in various non-profit marketing roles. Reilly has mastered the art of executing marketing strategies while building strong, open communication with her teammates. A proud alumna of Central Connecticut State University, she holds a bachelor's degree in marketing and communications. Having recently returned to the East Coast from Denver, she resides in Stamford, Connecticut, with her partner.
Job Titles:
- Chief Experience Officer
- Chief Experience Officer ( CXO ) of JCC Association of North America
Gabe Most is the chief experience officer (CXO) of JCC Association of North America, guiding the agency's work to enhance the quality and value of agency relationships within the JCC Movement. Prior to joining JCC Association in 2020, Most had significant tenures at American Associates, Ben-Gurion University; Jewish Federations of North America; Young Judaea; and Shalom Hartman Institute of North America. He is well versed in many areas of non-profit management, including program development and administration, marketing, operations, consulting, leadership development, governance, and fundraising. Most holds a degree in Jewish history from Columbia University and lives in New York City, where he is a member of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan, a disaster response volunteer with the American Red Cross, and, through The Trevor Project, advocates to reduce suicide among young people in the LGBTQ community.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- Director of Resources and Communication
Director of Resources and Communication supports the staff of Jewish Community Centers and Jewish Community Camps across North America by maintaining the JCC Resource Center (JRC), a robust website for practice- and resource-sharing and facilitating peer-to-peer networking and assistance. In addition, the Director of Resources and Communication disseminates resources, opportunities, information and announcements to JCCs via multiple regular email communications.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations
- Director of Operations and Outreach, JWB Jewish Chaplains Council®
Hadassah Nitzan is the director of operations and outreach for JWB Jewish Chaplains Council®. She has more than 20 years of experience in government affairs, international relations, and project management and has worked for agencies in Israel and the United States. Most recently, she was diplomatic liaison and legal counsel with the Consulate General of Israel and the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations, where she managed administrative relationships with the Department of State and served as in-house legal counsel for all contractual obligations. Nitzan holds a Bachelor of Law degree and a Master of Law degree, both from the Buchmann Faculty of Law, Tel Aviv University, and is passionate about strengthening ties between the Jewish and Israeli worlds.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Grant Manager
- Grant Manager at JCC Association of North America
Heather Kibel is the RootOne program and grant manager at JCC Association of North America. She has more than 25 years of leadership experience in Jewish organizations and movements, including Young Judaea and North American Alliance for Jewish Youth. Most recently, she was the executive director at
Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Kibel earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Brandeis University and a master's degree in Jewish professional studies from Spertus Institute in Chicago, Illinois. She is a longtime member of the JCC of Middlesex County.
Job Titles:
- Director of Conferences and Events
Director of Conferences and Events leads the planning and successful execution of a varied portfolio of JCC Association conferences, meetings and events ranging from small gatherings in the NYC headquarters to large-scale industry wide conferences of JCC professionals and lay leaders held across the U.S. and Canada.
Job Titles:
- Director, Human Resources
Responsible for human resources administration including all aspects of payroll and payroll taxes, and coordination of all employee benefits and corporate insurance.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Program Associate
Program Associate | Sheva Center for Innovation in Early Childhood Jewish Education & Engagement
Jacob Harris Wright is the Sheva Center program associate. Originally from a small town on the North Shore of Long Island, New York, he holds a bachelor's degree of fine arts in acting from the University of Connecticut and has spent years studying and practicing his craft around the world, from New York and London to East Texas and beyond. He has held leadership positions in theatrical, experiential, and religious circles. In the early childhood education arena, Wright has worked as a performer, advocate, and teacher, and he is honored that these efforts contribute to tikkun olam and bettering Jewish life for young students and their families.
Job Titles:
- Senior Writer
- Senior Writer at JCC Association of North America
Jane E. Herman is the senior writer at JCC Association of North America. She previously was a longtime writer and editor at the Union for Reform Judaism. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., and a master's degree in public administration from the Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, part of the CUNY system in New York City. Herman writes and edits Jewish and secular content for blog posts, websites, newsletters, social media, and more. A BRCA mutation carrier, she speaks and writes frequently about inherited genetic mutations that increase individuals' lifetime risk of certain cancers and is active in the hereditary cancer community.
Job Titles:
- Manager, JWB Jewish Chaplains Council
Provides administrative and program support for JWB Jewish Chaplains Council and summer VISA program.
Job Titles:
- Acting President
- CEO
- Acting President and CEO of JCC Association of North America
Jennifer Mamlet is the acting president and CEO of JCC Association of North America. A seasoned professional with vast experience at JCC Association and in the JCC Movement, Mamlet has served as executive vice president since 2022, leading day-to-day operations and strategic growth. Before that post, she was the chief development officer, overseeing a 10-fold increase in philanthropy in the JCC Movement in four years.
Mamlet is a former executive director of the JCC of Central New Jersey in Scotch Plains, New Jersey, and a senior vice president of development at the Ad Council. Earlier in her career, she was director of SCOPE (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education) at the New York section of the American Camp Association. She holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and Spanish from Bucknell University and a master's degree in social work from Columbia University. Mamlet and her family are longtime members of the JCC of Central New Jersey.
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- Program Manager for JCC Maccabi
- Program Manager, JCC Maccabi®
Jessica Posnock is the program manager for JCC Maccabi®. She previously worked in development at Columbia/Barnard Hillel and was an intern for JCC Maccabi in 2019. The internship allowed her to combine her passion for sports with engaging the Jewish community, and she looks forward to continuing that combination in her new role.
Originally from New Jersey, Posnock graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a bachelor's degree in community and nonprofit leadership and communications. In her spare time, she enjoys her Peloton bike, watching reality television, and trying the newest items at Trader Joe's.
Job Titles:
- Chief Marketing Officer
- Chief Marketing Officer ( CMO ) at JCC Association of North America
Joanne Harmon is the chief marketing officer (CMO) at JCC Association of North America. She joined the marketing team as creative director in 2014, bringing a broad range of talents that contributed significantly to the organization's first rebranding effort in more than a decade. In her expanding role, Harmon has guided the organization to rebuild all communication platforms, elevate the marketing of all sponsored events and training sessions, and reestablish a public profile. As a creative director, Harmon contributed to these and other brands: Food Network, Cooking Channel, Showtime Networks, and Sundance. Her diverse portfolio of branding, design, and promotion for television, film, video, photography, print, digital, products, events, and more demonstrates the breadth and depth of her expertise.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Director, JCC Maccabi®
Works with JCC Maccabi host community staff and lay leaders to put on the largest Jewish teen engagement program in the world. Manages the oversight of planning and continuity of the program across all hosts. Tracks best practices and helps host communities through the process from volunteer management to working with visiting delegations.
Job Titles:
- Associate for JCC Maccabi
- Program Associate, JCC Maccabi®
Jordan Rovinsky is the program associate for JCC Maccabi®. She is a recent graduate of SUNY Oswego, where she earned a bachelor's degree in public relations with minors in sport studies and business administration. A hockey lover, Rovinsky previously was a community relations intern with the New York Islanders. She learned about JCC Maccabi when her younger brother competed in ice hockey at the JCC Maccabi Games in Detroit in 2019. She grew up near the Mid-Island Y JCC in Plainview, New York, where she attended preschool and BBYO events and worked as a day camp counselor.
Vice President | Director of Training and Professional Development
Joy Brand-Richardson is a vice president and the director of training and professional development at JCC Association of North America. A longtime employee of JCC Association, Brand-Richardson has developed and directed leadership cohorts and programming for thousands of JCC employees over the last 25 years. Before joining JCC Association, she worked at three different JCCs. Brand-Richardson holds a master's degree in education and has additional training in coaching, staff development, and customer service. She is a proud recipient of the JCC Association Graduate Scholarship, member of the SRE Network inaugural advisory board, and an advisor for JPRO's WellAdvised program. Although not a Red Sox fan herself, she does have a dog named Fenway and another named Journey; as a family they love to hike and swim.
Job Titles:
- PR Specialist
- PR Specialist at JCC Association of North America
Lauren Magy is the PR specialist at JCC Association of North America. She previously served as director of PR and community engagement at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan and press manager at The Public Theater, both in New York City. She also was the director of marketing and communications at Theater J at the Edlavitch DCJCC in Washington, D.C. Originally from central New Jersey, Magy received a bachelor's degree in public communication from American University. She lives in Tarrytown, New York, with her husband and two dogs and is a proud alumna of the 2004 Maccabi Games, where she competed in girls' soccer.
Job Titles:
- Senior Vice President of Israel
- Senior Vice President, Israel Engagement Director General, Center for Israel Engagement
Leah Garber is the senior vice president of Israel engagement at JCC Association and the director general of the Center for Israel Engagement in Jerusalem, where she facilitates connections to Israel in all JCCs in North America. She previously served as a shlicha (Israeli emissary) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, providing an educational and cultural link between the local community and the people of Israel. Garber also served as a teacher and principal at the School for New Immigrants under the Israel Ministry of Education. She holds a bachelor's degree in educational psychology and art history from Hebrew University; an MBA in finance and human resources from the Academic School in Kiryat Ono, and a general management diploma from Beit Berl College. A native of Jerusalem, she lives in Modi'in with her family.
Job Titles:
- Program Director at the Sheva Center
- Program Director, Sheva Center
Lisa Kuh, Ph.D., is the program director at the Sheva Center at JCC Association of North America. She previously served early childhood communities as a classroom teacher, teacher educator, instructional coach, university professor, researcher, and professional developer. Kuh has held faculty positions at Tufts University, University of New Hampshire, and Lesley University. She was the director of early education for the city of Somerville, Massachusetts, where she expanded access to early education. She holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education from Chestnut Hill College in her hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a master's degree in human development from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Washington. She lives in Seattle, Washington.
Liv Mendelsohn, M.A., M.Ed., JCC Association's inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility (IDEA) consultant, also is director of accessibility and inclusion at the Miles Nadal JCC and artistic director of the ReelAbilities Film Festival Toronto. She leads efforts that ground JCCs' inclusion work in Jewish principles and advance JCC Association's support of JCCs as places for all. A former University of Toronto social work field instructor and Ruderman Jewish Leadership Institute on Disabilities and Inclusion faculty member, Mendelsohn received a Civic Action Leadership Foundation DiverseCity Fellowship and a City of Toronto Equity Award. She serves on Toronto's Accessibility Advisory Committee; City of Toronto Museums' Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility Committee; and the Civic Re:Action Toronto COVID Recovery Task Force. Mendelsohn is a 2021 fellow of the Maytree Foundation Policy School and a 2021-23 Mandel Executive Leadership Program Fellow.
Job Titles:
- Senior Designer
- Senior Designer at JCC Association of North America
Loraine Machlin is the senior designer at JCC Association of North America. During her career, she has worked for marketing and communications firms in the non-profit sector, where she designed projects for New York City cultural organizations, educational institutions, and foundations. She also has worked as a book designer for publishers, including Oxford University Press, and as an independent consultant, designing a wide range of print and digital projects. Prior to her tenure at JCC Association, Machlin was the graphic designer in the marketing department at JCC Rockland in West Nyack, N.Y. In addition to her design career, she served as office manager, registrar, and webmaster at a camp and conference center in the western Adirondacks.
Job Titles:
- Resources and Communications Associate
- Resources and Communications Associate, Experience
Lyla Menaker is the JCC resources and communications associate on the Experience Team at JCC Association of North America. She is a graduate of Vassar College, where she earned a bachelor's degree and departmental honors in philosophy and a minor in religion. As an undergraduate, she worked at the Pachamama Alliance, an organization advocating for indigenous rights and the rights of nature, as well as at Exodus Transitional Community, where she worked with people transitioning from incarceration back into society. Most recently, Menaker worked in business development at Rubenstein, a public relations firm in New York City, where she co-led the Diversity Equity and Inclusion council. She is passionate about creating lasting community and enhancing Jewish life.
Marci Melzer is director, administration, at JCC Association of North America. She has more than 20 years' experience in office and accounts management, operations, and administration. Most recently, she was the operations manager at the Sephardic Academy of Manhattan (SAM) School, where she oversaw all administrative aspects of daily operations, including managing vendors, facilities, and IT support. Melzer holds a bachelor's degree in history from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Talent Strategy
- Vice President, Talent Strategy / Director, JResponse
Mark S. Young is vice president of Talent Strategy and the director of JResponse® at JCC Association of North America. He brings 20 years of experience in leadership, program development, and talent strategy in nonprofit organizations to his roles, much of which he gained in previous positions with the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS), Episcopal Social Services of New York, 92NY, and the Mandel JCC in Cleveland, Ohio.
Young holds dual master's degrees in nonprofit management and Judaic studies from New York University and a bachelor's degree from McGill University. He is the author of "Bless Our Workforce: Changing the Way We Manage Our People." He lives in Hartsdale, New York, where he, his wife, Rabbi Mara Young, and their two children are members of the Harold and Elaine Shames JCC on the Hudson.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
- Secretary
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the Honorary Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team
Job Titles:
- Member of the OFFICERS Team