Meet our Mentors
Mentors are a core island of stability in the Fellows' experiences - providing practical advice shaped by their worldly experiences.
Personal Mentors are influential community members, who commit to meeting their matched- Fellow once a month over the course of the program, to serve as a role model and provide practical advice and wisdom as these social entrepreneurs seek to launch their ventures.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) also provide mentorship to the Fellows throughout the program - offering specific subject matter expertise to the Fellows, often structured as "office hours". Legal advice, Marketing advice and budget assistance are just a few areas in which SMEs are especially helpful.
The core goals of mentorship include:
If you are interested in being a mentor for one of our Fellows, or know someone who would be a great mentor, please let us know. More information on mentoring can be found at mentorforpresentense.com
Personal Mentors are influential community members, who commit to meeting their matched- Fellow once a month over the course of the program, to serve as a role model and provide practical advice and wisdom as these social entrepreneurs seek to launch their ventures.
Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) also provide mentorship to the Fellows throughout the program - offering specific subject matter expertise to the Fellows, often structured as "office hours". Legal advice, Marketing advice and budget assistance are just a few areas in which SMEs are especially helpful.
The core goals of mentorship include:
- Building: Facilitating the exploration of an area of mutual interest
- Problem Solving: Delving into pressing questions
- Network Building: Assisting the Fellow with networking
- Inspiration: Motivating the Fellow
- Opening New Doors: Helping the Fellow understand and consider new options in the field
- Creating Value: Demonstrating the value of forging connections and establishing collaboration.
If you are interested in being a mentor for one of our Fellows, or know someone who would be a great mentor, please let us know. More information on mentoring can be found at mentorforpresentense.com
Meet the 2011 Personal Mentors
Dan Caligor
Dan Caligor is a seasoned business advisor
with deep expertise in business strategy and operations. During his extensive
career, Dan has advised companies of all sizes and stages of development, and
has also served in an executive capacity at several ventures. This breadth of
experience affords him a wide perspective on business issues of all types.
Dan’s consulting career includes almost 15 years with the strategy practices of Booz-Allen & Hamilton, BearingPoint, and Alexander & Associates, serving clients across the telecom, technology and media sectors, and ranging from the earliest start-ups to fortune 100 companies. His functional focus has been equally broad, with projects ranging from opportunity assessment for new products and services to diagnosis and remediation of operational performance problems. Most recently, Dan founded Business Advisory Network, an advisory firm specializing in helping entrepreneurs and early stage companies take their businesses to the next level, and offering a full range of strategy and operational services.
Dan has also held leadership roles at two start-up ventures. At VIATEL, a pioneer in international call-back services, he was employee # 1 and oversaw design, pricing and marketing of a full line of calling services. He also led the development of an international network of sales agents covering 20+ markets. At GWH, a holding company which built proprietary data networks in emerging markets, he had responsibility for business and product strategy, strategic and tactical marketing, and market development.
While Dan’s expertise is characterized by unusual breadth, he has particular depth in a number of areas, including product definition and product management; business and marketing strategy; design and implementation of growth strategies; and product and customer portfolio management.
Dan holds an MBA in Marketing and International Business from Columbia Business School and a BFA in Film and television from NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts.
Dan’s consulting career includes almost 15 years with the strategy practices of Booz-Allen & Hamilton, BearingPoint, and Alexander & Associates, serving clients across the telecom, technology and media sectors, and ranging from the earliest start-ups to fortune 100 companies. His functional focus has been equally broad, with projects ranging from opportunity assessment for new products and services to diagnosis and remediation of operational performance problems. Most recently, Dan founded Business Advisory Network, an advisory firm specializing in helping entrepreneurs and early stage companies take their businesses to the next level, and offering a full range of strategy and operational services.
Dan has also held leadership roles at two start-up ventures. At VIATEL, a pioneer in international call-back services, he was employee # 1 and oversaw design, pricing and marketing of a full line of calling services. He also led the development of an international network of sales agents covering 20+ markets. At GWH, a holding company which built proprietary data networks in emerging markets, he had responsibility for business and product strategy, strategic and tactical marketing, and market development.
While Dan’s expertise is characterized by unusual breadth, he has particular depth in a number of areas, including product definition and product management; business and marketing strategy; design and implementation of growth strategies; and product and customer portfolio management.
Dan holds an MBA in Marketing and International Business from Columbia Business School and a BFA in Film and television from NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts.
Richard Marker
Richard Marker is Senior Fellow and
chair of NYU’s Academy for Funder Education [the nations most comprehensive
program teaching philanthropists and foundation professionals], and also is
co-principal of Marker Goldsmith Philanthropy Advisors, advisors to
foundations, families, and independent funders. He specializes in strategic and
intergenerational philanthropy.
Previously been chief executive of a philanthropic foundation [Bronfman/Seagram Foundation], a professor [at Hofstra, Loyola-Chicago, Brown and NYU], a management consultant for the private and non-profit sector [The Solutions Group], a university Chaplain [Brown University – first university employed Jewish chaplain in the Ivy League], and an executive in the not-for-profit world [International Vice President of Hillel]. In these capacities, he has been a guest speaker on 5 continents, including 32 countries and 40 States. Over the years, he has spoken extensively for Federations and Jewish Community Foundations/Endowments.
His career was featured in a Lifestyles magazine profile in 2006, he was awarded the 2007 award for Excellence in Teaching by NYU, and in 2008 received the first annual Burman Award by the National Speakers Association. His book, Saying ‘Yes’ Wisely; Insights for the Thoughtful Philanthropist, [Blooming Twig Books] was published in 2009.
A Philadelphia native, he has academic, rabbinic, and management degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Brown University.
Marker serves as an active volunteer as well. He currently is Co-chair of the Board of World Religious Leaders, Chair of IJCIC - the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations; serves on the boards of MAZON, Bikkurim, and the UN Coalition for Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding, and was national chair of DeLeT until July ‘07. Over the years, he has sat on many other local, national and international boards.
Marker is married to Mirele Goldsmith, Ph. D., an environmentalist and co-principal of Marker Goldsmith Philanthropy Advisors, and is the father of Adam, a public interest attorney in Washington, DC.
Previously been chief executive of a philanthropic foundation [Bronfman/Seagram Foundation], a professor [at Hofstra, Loyola-Chicago, Brown and NYU], a management consultant for the private and non-profit sector [The Solutions Group], a university Chaplain [Brown University – first university employed Jewish chaplain in the Ivy League], and an executive in the not-for-profit world [International Vice President of Hillel]. In these capacities, he has been a guest speaker on 5 continents, including 32 countries and 40 States. Over the years, he has spoken extensively for Federations and Jewish Community Foundations/Endowments.
His career was featured in a Lifestyles magazine profile in 2006, he was awarded the 2007 award for Excellence in Teaching by NYU, and in 2008 received the first annual Burman Award by the National Speakers Association. His book, Saying ‘Yes’ Wisely; Insights for the Thoughtful Philanthropist, [Blooming Twig Books] was published in 2009.
A Philadelphia native, he has academic, rabbinic, and management degrees from the University of Pennsylvania, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Brown University.
Marker serves as an active volunteer as well. He currently is Co-chair of the Board of World Religious Leaders, Chair of IJCIC - the International Jewish Committee on Interreligious Consultations; serves on the boards of MAZON, Bikkurim, and the UN Coalition for Interreligious and Intercultural Understanding, and was national chair of DeLeT until July ‘07. Over the years, he has sat on many other local, national and international boards.
Marker is married to Mirele Goldsmith, Ph. D., an environmentalist and co-principal of Marker Goldsmith Philanthropy Advisors, and is the father of Adam, a public interest attorney in Washington, DC.
Nancy Schwartz Sternoff
A long-time
activist on behalf of women and girls, Nancy
Schwartz Sternoff is the director of the Dobkin Family Foundation. The
foundation is considered a pre-eminent advocate and funder of feminist programs
to advance women and girls and of projects that will lead to a more inclusive,
egalitarian society. Nancy devotes considerable time to encouraging women of
means to use their philanthropy effectively and generously, as well as to
delivering technical assistance to progressive organizations supported by the
foundation.
The Dobkin Family Foundation operates on the premise that its grantees are its full partners; thus, Nancy’s role is an activist one with highly respected organizations as the American Jewish World Service, the Women’s Funding Network, and the Ms. Foundation for Women, Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community and others.
Prior to coming to the Dobkin Family Foundation nearly thirteen years ago, Nancy served for five years as the Director of the Women’s Department of the Baltimore Jewish federation. She was the first women’s campaign director to be named a senior vice president in any of the major city federations. During her tenure in Baltimore, she founded, with her lay leaders, the first ever federation based, community-wide Jewish domestic violence project in North America. She has also served as Executive Director of the National Republican Coalition for Choice and as a senior policy advisor to former Congressman John Miller.
Nancy has devoted significant energy in both her volunteer and professional careers to advancing the cause of Jewish women in our communal structure. She advocated for and initiated the first Women’s Campaign Professionals Institute. She was a founding member of the UJA’s Young Women’s Leadership Cabinet, and she served on the Business and Professional Women’s Council and the National Training Center. She has taken a special interest in the “innovation sector” and serves as a sounding board for young entrepreneurs working in the social justice arena. She is an alumna of the Jewish Fund for Justice’s SELAH program and serves on its network leadership team.
Past board service includes the National Abortion Rights Action League, Jewish Funders Network, the New Israel Fund’s International Council and Seattle’s Leadership Tomorrow Program. Nancy currently serves on the national boards of the Jewish Women’s Archive and the American Jewish World Service.
She is the mother of four children and has four granddaughters and one grandson.
The Dobkin Family Foundation operates on the premise that its grantees are its full partners; thus, Nancy’s role is an activist one with highly respected organizations as the American Jewish World Service, the Women’s Funding Network, and the Ms. Foundation for Women, Advancing Women Professionals and the Jewish Community and others.
Prior to coming to the Dobkin Family Foundation nearly thirteen years ago, Nancy served for five years as the Director of the Women’s Department of the Baltimore Jewish federation. She was the first women’s campaign director to be named a senior vice president in any of the major city federations. During her tenure in Baltimore, she founded, with her lay leaders, the first ever federation based, community-wide Jewish domestic violence project in North America. She has also served as Executive Director of the National Republican Coalition for Choice and as a senior policy advisor to former Congressman John Miller.
Nancy has devoted significant energy in both her volunteer and professional careers to advancing the cause of Jewish women in our communal structure. She advocated for and initiated the first Women’s Campaign Professionals Institute. She was a founding member of the UJA’s Young Women’s Leadership Cabinet, and she served on the Business and Professional Women’s Council and the National Training Center. She has taken a special interest in the “innovation sector” and serves as a sounding board for young entrepreneurs working in the social justice arena. She is an alumna of the Jewish Fund for Justice’s SELAH program and serves on its network leadership team.
Past board service includes the National Abortion Rights Action League, Jewish Funders Network, the New Israel Fund’s International Council and Seattle’s Leadership Tomorrow Program. Nancy currently serves on the national boards of the Jewish Women’s Archive and the American Jewish World Service.
She is the mother of four children and has four granddaughters and one grandson.
Ruth Salzman
Ruth Salzman is the CEO of The Russell Berrie
Foundation, a mid-sized private foundation based in New Jersey, a position she
was named to in May of 2008. Previously, she was the Principal of Ruth Salzman
Consulting, a New York based firm advising nonprofit organizations, community
development financial institutions (CDFIs) and funders on issues of business
strategy and financial structuring. Clients included the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation, Carver Federal Savings Bank, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Calvert
Foundation, Public Health Institute and Low Income Investment Fund.
Prior to launching RSC she held the position of Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending & Investing within the Community Development Group of JPMorgan Chase. In this capacity she managed the non-real estate business sectors of CDG, lending to nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and community development financial intermediaries. Ms. Salzman also initiated and managed the socially responsible investing program at JPMC. In aggregate these activities resulted in over $1 Billion being provided, through loans and investments, to customers that the bank’s mainstream business units did not reach. In 2005 her department won a New Markets Tax Credit allocation for the institution, enabling lower cost financing to be extended to eligible projects in low income communities.
Previously she was Team Leader of the Middle Market Banking team providing lending and noncredit services to major nonprofit organizations based in the New York area. Ms. Salzman came to JPMC following four years with Citibank, and had served as a consultant with Martin E. Segal Co., working with managed care organizations undergoing the Federal HMO qualification process.
Ms. Salzman earned an MBA at The Wharton School, and holds a BA from Brooklyn College. She chaired the Investment Committee of the New York Community Investment Company (NYCIC), a multibank investment fund created by the Clearing House bank members of New York City. She serves on the boards of two New York-based CDFIs, the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) and the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF). She was named a 2000 – 2001 David Rockefeller Fellow by Partnership for New York City and was recognized as a Woman of Distinction in 2002 by the Brooklyn (NY) YWCA. She previously served as a board member of the Institute for Community Living, American Women Economic Development (AWED) and the Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network.
She is the Expert Advisor on Traditional Banking to the Catherine D. Reynolds Program of Social Entrepreneurship at NYU’s Wagner School and participated as a judge in the 2007 graduate Fellows selection process. Ms. Salzman is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Center for Community Investments of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank.
Prior to launching RSC she held the position of Senior Vice President of Commercial Lending & Investing within the Community Development Group of JPMorgan Chase. In this capacity she managed the non-real estate business sectors of CDG, lending to nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and community development financial intermediaries. Ms. Salzman also initiated and managed the socially responsible investing program at JPMC. In aggregate these activities resulted in over $1 Billion being provided, through loans and investments, to customers that the bank’s mainstream business units did not reach. In 2005 her department won a New Markets Tax Credit allocation for the institution, enabling lower cost financing to be extended to eligible projects in low income communities.
Previously she was Team Leader of the Middle Market Banking team providing lending and noncredit services to major nonprofit organizations based in the New York area. Ms. Salzman came to JPMC following four years with Citibank, and had served as a consultant with Martin E. Segal Co., working with managed care organizations undergoing the Federal HMO qualification process.
Ms. Salzman earned an MBA at The Wharton School, and holds a BA from Brooklyn College. She chaired the Investment Committee of the New York Community Investment Company (NYCIC), a multibank investment fund created by the Clearing House bank members of New York City. She serves on the boards of two New York-based CDFIs, the Primary Care Development Corporation (PCDC) and the Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF). She was named a 2000 – 2001 David Rockefeller Fellow by Partnership for New York City and was recognized as a Woman of Distinction in 2002 by the Brooklyn (NY) YWCA. She previously served as a board member of the Institute for Community Living, American Women Economic Development (AWED) and the Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network.
She is the Expert Advisor on Traditional Banking to the Catherine D. Reynolds Program of Social Entrepreneurship at NYU’s Wagner School and participated as a judge in the 2007 graduate Fellows selection process. Ms. Salzman is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Center for Community Investments of the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank.
Corey Cutler
Corey Cutler is the Director of Development
for Eisner and Crane Lake Camps.
Corey is responsible for fundraising efforts that will help Camp meet
its aspirations. Prior to joining the organization full time, Corey was a
member of the Camp Commission. Corey has been actively involved in non-profit
management and fundraising, mostly for a 9/11-related charity, World Cares
Center, Inc. Corey successfully helped World Cares Center raise nearly $2
million.
Corey holds a Bachelors Degree from the State University of New York at Albany. He enjoys traveling, bike riding, swimming, the New York Mets and music of all types. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his daughter, who is now an Eisner camper too! A member of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, Corey resides in Springfield, NJ at present.
Corey holds a Bachelors Degree from the State University of New York at Albany. He enjoys traveling, bike riding, swimming, the New York Mets and music of all types. Most of all, he enjoys spending time with his daughter, who is now an Eisner camper too! A member of Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, Corey resides in Springfield, NJ at present.
David Sable
David Sable is the chairman and CEO of the
international marketing company Wunderman, where he plays a strategic role in
providing counsel to key client-partners. He is also responsible for the
day-to-day management of Europe, Middle East and Africa. Wunderman is part of
the WPP Group and is one of the largest, most experienced customer-focused
marketing communications companies in the world with 76 offices in 36
countries.
David first joined Wunderman in August 2000 and served as president and CEO of the company's flagship New York office, leading a 500 strong team. In March 2003 he was promoted to vice chairmen and president, worldwide operations and became responsible for global accounts, including Citibank and Kraft. With more than 20 years in marketing communications, David has flair for developing unique, award-winning communications programmes for clients all over the world.
Prior to joining Wunderman, David served as executive vice president at Young & Rubicam New York. He directed the agency's US Postal Service account and global portions of Colgate-Palmolive and Bausch & Lomb accounts, among others. From 1985 to 1990, he worked for Burston-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe covering accounts with consumer goods, manufacturing and high-tech companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment Corporation and IBM/Prodigy. David was a founding partner of Genesis Direct, an innovative direct-to-fan sports retail business.
David serves on the City of New York's Cultural Advisory Committee and is a member of the steering committee for the US Postal Service's Mail Industry Task Force. In addition, he is a marketing advisor to a number of charitable organisations and universities and is on the board of two New York schools.
David first joined Wunderman in August 2000 and served as president and CEO of the company's flagship New York office, leading a 500 strong team. In March 2003 he was promoted to vice chairmen and president, worldwide operations and became responsible for global accounts, including Citibank and Kraft. With more than 20 years in marketing communications, David has flair for developing unique, award-winning communications programmes for clients all over the world.
Prior to joining Wunderman, David served as executive vice president at Young & Rubicam New York. He directed the agency's US Postal Service account and global portions of Colgate-Palmolive and Bausch & Lomb accounts, among others. From 1985 to 1990, he worked for Burston-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe covering accounts with consumer goods, manufacturing and high-tech companies, including Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment Corporation and IBM/Prodigy. David was a founding partner of Genesis Direct, an innovative direct-to-fan sports retail business.
David serves on the City of New York's Cultural Advisory Committee and is a member of the steering committee for the US Postal Service's Mail Industry Task Force. In addition, he is a marketing advisor to a number of charitable organisations and universities and is on the board of two New York schools.
Joseph Hyman
Joseph Hyman is the President and Founder of
the Center for Entrepreneurial Jewish Philanthropy. Joseph Hyman has worked
extensively with major philanthropists and leading professionals throughout his
18 year career in Jewish philanthropy. He has held senior positions in three major
communities: Chicago, Montreal and New York, serving the Friends of the Israel
Defense Forces (1991-1997), Federation CJA’s Combined Jewish Appeal (1998-2002)
and the Westchester Region of UJA-Federation of New York, resulting in
community efforts that have raised over $250 million.
He has developed a strong international network of relationships with major philanthropists, senior foundation professionals and heads of Jewish organizations, enabling him to serve your interests with the highest level of proficiency and effectiveness.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hyman has been a visionary in developing cutting edge strategies to engage and empower donors. He strongly advocates for the role of major contributors as active partners in both planning and funding communal priorities. It is this belief that led him to found CEJP.
He has developed a strong international network of relationships with major philanthropists, senior foundation professionals and heads of Jewish organizations, enabling him to serve your interests with the highest level of proficiency and effectiveness.
Throughout his career, Mr. Hyman has been a visionary in developing cutting edge strategies to engage and empower donors. He strongly advocates for the role of major contributors as active partners in both planning and funding communal priorities. It is this belief that led him to found CEJP.
Don Sylvan
Don Sylvan has been the President of the
Jewish Education Service of North America since 2005. In his time at JESNA, Don
has helped the agency improve Jewish education in North America by focusing on
figuring out what works in Jewish education and actively disseminating and
helping apply it in geographic and topical communities throughout North
America.
Before taking on his present responsibilities at JESNA, Don was a member of the JESNA Board for six years, participating in a number of JESNA committees and task forces. Don has also served as a congregational president, a founder and president of Kol Ami, the Community Hebrew School of Columbus, and Vice Chair of the Columbus Jewish Federation for a decade, in charge of allocations and strategic planning. Other lay leadership positions Don has undertaken include being a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio State University Hillel Foundation, and of the Executive Committee of the Melton Center for Jewish Studies at Ohio State University. Don has also served in leadership roles in the Northeast Lakes Region of the U.A.H.C.
For many years, Don was a Political Science professor at Ohio State University. His research, writing and teaching focused on international relations, political psychology, and foreign policy decision making, with a specific emphasis on Israeli-Palestinian relations. Don has served in a number of leadership roles in professional organizations.
Before taking on his present responsibilities at JESNA, Don was a member of the JESNA Board for six years, participating in a number of JESNA committees and task forces. Don has also served as a congregational president, a founder and president of Kol Ami, the Community Hebrew School of Columbus, and Vice Chair of the Columbus Jewish Federation for a decade, in charge of allocations and strategic planning. Other lay leadership positions Don has undertaken include being a member of the Board of Directors of the Ohio State University Hillel Foundation, and of the Executive Committee of the Melton Center for Jewish Studies at Ohio State University. Don has also served in leadership roles in the Northeast Lakes Region of the U.A.H.C.
For many years, Don was a Political Science professor at Ohio State University. His research, writing and teaching focused on international relations, political psychology, and foreign policy decision making, with a specific emphasis on Israeli-Palestinian relations. Don has served in a number of leadership roles in professional organizations.
Michael Miller
Michael S. Miller is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the Jewish Community
Relations Council of New York (JCRC). He has served in that capacity since
October 1986.
The JCRC, a beneficiary of the UJA-Federation of New York, is the central coordinating body and unified voice for more than 60 major civic, communal, educational and religious organizations in the metropolitan area. Its agenda includes Jewish communal affairs, intergroup and government relations, Israel and international concerns, and special projects such as Legal Assistance for Jewish Organizations, Jewish Heritage-NY, Security and Emergency Planning and the Universal Torah Registry.
During Mr. Miller's tenure, the JCRC has become widely recognized as the go-to strategic bridge builder in New York, as it strengthens relations internal to the Jewish community and with the broad array of local ethnic, racial and religious groups in the area. Indeed, JCRC’s CAUSE-NY division, has been hailed by the White House, Congress and City Hall for its trail-blazing programs focusing on community and coalition building, youth diversity leadership training and crisis management.
Furthermore, the professional and personal relationships he has forged with major figures in the halls of government in New York and Washington, D.C., key opinion makers in Israel, and multi-ethnic leaders in the metropolitan area, have engendered respect for the JCRC as an organization dedicated to outreach efforts while protecting and defending Jewish rights and interests.
An ordained rabbi, he began his career in Jewish communal service in 1976 as a U. S. Army Chaplain in Fort Knox, KY and was awarded the coveted Army Commendation Medal. He then accepted an appointment as spiritual leader of a congregation in Springfield, MA, where he played an active role in Jewish communal affairs. His training and experience served him well when, years later, he volunteered after the September 11 disaster and was certified as an American Red Cross Chaplain, working in the area of Ground Zero, and, subsequently, in the aftermath of the American Airlines flight #587 crash in Queens.
Mr. Miller is an honors graduate of Yeshiva University, where he earned a Bachelor’s and Master's Degree in Jewish history, as well as his ordination. He has addressed audiences around the world on a range of local, national and international issues, and is the recipient of numerous awards.
A native New Yorker, Mr. Miller and his wife, Phyllis, are the parents of three children – Nehama (Kohn), Nitza (Jerome) and Yonatan, and five grandchildren. Mr. Miller is the son of the late Rabbi Israel Miller, Senior Vice President of Yeshiva University and past Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
The JCRC, a beneficiary of the UJA-Federation of New York, is the central coordinating body and unified voice for more than 60 major civic, communal, educational and religious organizations in the metropolitan area. Its agenda includes Jewish communal affairs, intergroup and government relations, Israel and international concerns, and special projects such as Legal Assistance for Jewish Organizations, Jewish Heritage-NY, Security and Emergency Planning and the Universal Torah Registry.
During Mr. Miller's tenure, the JCRC has become widely recognized as the go-to strategic bridge builder in New York, as it strengthens relations internal to the Jewish community and with the broad array of local ethnic, racial and religious groups in the area. Indeed, JCRC’s CAUSE-NY division, has been hailed by the White House, Congress and City Hall for its trail-blazing programs focusing on community and coalition building, youth diversity leadership training and crisis management.
Furthermore, the professional and personal relationships he has forged with major figures in the halls of government in New York and Washington, D.C., key opinion makers in Israel, and multi-ethnic leaders in the metropolitan area, have engendered respect for the JCRC as an organization dedicated to outreach efforts while protecting and defending Jewish rights and interests.
An ordained rabbi, he began his career in Jewish communal service in 1976 as a U. S. Army Chaplain in Fort Knox, KY and was awarded the coveted Army Commendation Medal. He then accepted an appointment as spiritual leader of a congregation in Springfield, MA, where he played an active role in Jewish communal affairs. His training and experience served him well when, years later, he volunteered after the September 11 disaster and was certified as an American Red Cross Chaplain, working in the area of Ground Zero, and, subsequently, in the aftermath of the American Airlines flight #587 crash in Queens.
Mr. Miller is an honors graduate of Yeshiva University, where he earned a Bachelor’s and Master's Degree in Jewish history, as well as his ordination. He has addressed audiences around the world on a range of local, national and international issues, and is the recipient of numerous awards.
A native New Yorker, Mr. Miller and his wife, Phyllis, are the parents of three children – Nehama (Kohn), Nitza (Jerome) and Yonatan, and five grandchildren. Mr. Miller is the son of the late Rabbi Israel Miller, Senior Vice President of Yeshiva University and past Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
Mark Segall
Mark Segall is the Senior Managing Director
of Kidron Corporate Advisors, LLC, a New York based mergers and acquisitions
corporate advisory boutique serving emerging growth companies primarily in the
technology, consumer goods and financial services sectors, which he founded in
2003. He is also a founder and managing member of Kidron's private equity fund,
Kidron Opportunity Fund I, LLC.
From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Segall was the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Investec, Inc., the U.S. investment banking operations of the Investec Group, a South African based specialist bank. He served as head of investment banking and general counsel at Investec Inc. between 1999 and 2001. From 1996 to 1999, he was a partner at the law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel LLP, specializing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital markets activities and between 1991 and 1995 he was an associate at the same firm.
Mr. Segall currently serves as a director of Integrated Asset Management plc, an alternative asset management company, and Ronson Europe N.V., a Polish residential real estate development company. Mr. Segall served as director of the Spectrum Group (formerly Escala) from 1999 to 2007 and of Cogo (formerly the Comtech Group) from 2000 to 2006.
Mr. Segall graduated with an A.B. from Columbia University and a J.D. from New York University Law School. Mr. Segall brings significant business finance experience as well as his extensive management expertise to the Company from his background as a chief executive officer in the corporate advisory and investment banking industries, board member of several corporations and counsel to numerous technology company clients.
From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Segall was the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Investec, Inc., the U.S. investment banking operations of the Investec Group, a South African based specialist bank. He served as head of investment banking and general counsel at Investec Inc. between 1999 and 2001. From 1996 to 1999, he was a partner at the law firm of Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel LLP, specializing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions and capital markets activities and between 1991 and 1995 he was an associate at the same firm.
Mr. Segall currently serves as a director of Integrated Asset Management plc, an alternative asset management company, and Ronson Europe N.V., a Polish residential real estate development company. Mr. Segall served as director of the Spectrum Group (formerly Escala) from 1999 to 2007 and of Cogo (formerly the Comtech Group) from 2000 to 2006.
Mr. Segall graduated with an A.B. from Columbia University and a J.D. from New York University Law School. Mr. Segall brings significant business finance experience as well as his extensive management expertise to the Company from his background as a chief executive officer in the corporate advisory and investment banking industries, board member of several corporations and counsel to numerous technology company clients.
Marc Kramer
Marc Kramer is the Executive Director of
RAVSAK: The Jewish Community Day School Network. He holds a bachelors degree in
Near East and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University, an MSW from the Columbia
University School of Social Work, a masters from the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America, and both a masters and a doctorate from Teachers College-
Columbia University. In addition to his work with RAVSAK, Marc is an
educational consultant and group facilitator for the Jewish Board of Family and
Children's Services of New York.
He is the author of several major studies on Jewish day school education and develops psychotherapeutic programs that explore the interface of traditional Jewish texts, civic engagement, and normative mental health issues.
In his role as Executive Director, Marc represents our member schools on the regional and national fronts, serving on numerous organizational boards and steering committees, provides on-site consultation, and develops new initiatives to strengthen Jewish day school education.
Dr. Kramer is the former head of the Beit Rabban School in New York, NY and the Director of Judaic Studies for the El Paso Hebrew Day School (now known as the El Paso Jewish Academy). Marc is the recipient of the 2006 Covenant Award.
He is the author of several major studies on Jewish day school education and develops psychotherapeutic programs that explore the interface of traditional Jewish texts, civic engagement, and normative mental health issues.
In his role as Executive Director, Marc represents our member schools on the regional and national fronts, serving on numerous organizational boards and steering committees, provides on-site consultation, and develops new initiatives to strengthen Jewish day school education.
Dr. Kramer is the former head of the Beit Rabban School in New York, NY and the Director of Judaic Studies for the El Paso Hebrew Day School (now known as the El Paso Jewish Academy). Marc is the recipient of the 2006 Covenant Award.
Jill Abramson
Jill Abramson joined UJA-Federation of
New York in 2006 after nearly ten years as a lay leader and an accomplished
career in Entertainment. Starting in the Young Entertainment, Media and
Communications Division, she now is a Manager in the Emerging Leaders and
Philanthropists Department.
Prior to joining UJA-Federation, Jill spent 10 years as a successful TV producer working for ABC, The Food Network, CBS, Discovery, Lifetime Television and HGTV. Past shows include “Barefoot Contessa”, “Guiding Light”, “The Main Ingredient with Bobby Flay”, and “Our Home”. She won a 2001 Emmy Award for her work on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.”
Jill graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in TV, Radio and Film and has a Masters of Business Administration from Fordham University in Communications and Management. Currently Jill sits on the Next Generation Board of The Washington Institute of Near East Policy and is a past chair of the Young Entertainment, Media and Communications Division of UJA-Federation of New York.
Jill lives on the Upper West Side in Manhattan and enjoys traveling and cooking.
Prior to joining UJA-Federation, Jill spent 10 years as a successful TV producer working for ABC, The Food Network, CBS, Discovery, Lifetime Television and HGTV. Past shows include “Barefoot Contessa”, “Guiding Light”, “The Main Ingredient with Bobby Flay”, and “Our Home”. She won a 2001 Emmy Award for her work on “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.”
Jill graduated from University of Wisconsin, Madison with a Bachelor of Arts in TV, Radio and Film and has a Masters of Business Administration from Fordham University in Communications and Management. Currently Jill sits on the Next Generation Board of The Washington Institute of Near East Policy and is a past chair of the Young Entertainment, Media and Communications Division of UJA-Federation of New York.
Jill lives on the Upper West Side in Manhattan and enjoys traveling and cooking.
Gali Cooks
Gali Cooks is Director at the Rita &
Stanley Kaplan Family Foundation. Previously, she was Founding Director of The
PJ Library, which gives Jewish children’s books for free to Jewish families
with young kids.
Before delving into philanthropy, Gali spent several years in Washington, DC as a speechwriter for Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, as a Legislative Assistant at the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and as a Research Analyst for the Newton & Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust.
In addition to her role at the Kaplan Family Foundation, Gali is involved with the New York City Venture Philanthropy Fund. She has a BA in political science and international relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is currently pursuing an MBA at the NYU Stern School of Business.
Before delving into philanthropy, Gali spent several years in Washington, DC as a speechwriter for Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, as a Legislative Assistant at the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), and as a Research Analyst for the Newton & Rochelle Becker Charitable Trust.
In addition to her role at the Kaplan Family Foundation, Gali is involved with the New York City Venture Philanthropy Fund. She has a BA in political science and international relations from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is currently pursuing an MBA at the NYU Stern School of Business.
Ruby Gottlieb
Ruby Gottlieb
built her career on the agency side of the marketing and advertising
business. She has a background in planning and buying media on all
platforms, analyzing research of all kinds and developing insights and
consumer-relevant cross-media marketing programs.
She previously held a variety of leadership and business development roles at Horizon Media, the largest independent media services agency in the country, where she helped grow the company’s billings from $60mm in 1990 to over $2 billion when she left in December 2010. She accomplished this by building and managing three company divisions – Planning, Out of Home & most recently, Digital, and growing the clients’ activity in those areas.
Her innate sense of curiosity made her an early adopter, and she found herself instantly mesmerized by the advent of technology; and especially the impact she imagined it could have on media and marketing. She assumed an evangelist role at Horizon in the mid –nineties and migrated her colleagues and clients into digital, mobile, social and cross-platform media. She ran on-going training programs to educate internal teams and clients on digital marketing strategies and best practices, and she continues to be fascinated with every new technology development’s potential impact on transforming the brand/consumer relationship.
Her open-door policy to innovative individuals or companies always allowed her to investigate and introduce groundbreaking and game-changing opportunities to clients.
Now running her own consultancy, The Media Advisory, Ruby offers her expertise to marketers of all sizes and types, working with them to navigate the myriad of marketing and media options before them in this complicated and new media world.
She previously held a variety of leadership and business development roles at Horizon Media, the largest independent media services agency in the country, where she helped grow the company’s billings from $60mm in 1990 to over $2 billion when she left in December 2010. She accomplished this by building and managing three company divisions – Planning, Out of Home & most recently, Digital, and growing the clients’ activity in those areas.
Her innate sense of curiosity made her an early adopter, and she found herself instantly mesmerized by the advent of technology; and especially the impact she imagined it could have on media and marketing. She assumed an evangelist role at Horizon in the mid –nineties and migrated her colleagues and clients into digital, mobile, social and cross-platform media. She ran on-going training programs to educate internal teams and clients on digital marketing strategies and best practices, and she continues to be fascinated with every new technology development’s potential impact on transforming the brand/consumer relationship.
Her open-door policy to innovative individuals or companies always allowed her to investigate and introduce groundbreaking and game-changing opportunities to clients.
Now running her own consultancy, The Media Advisory, Ruby offers her expertise to marketers of all sizes and types, working with them to navigate the myriad of marketing and media options before them in this complicated and new media world.
