Executive Leadership Institute Cohort IV
Robin Anderson
Director, Camp Young Judaea Midwest (Wisconsin)
Years in Role: 3
Education: BA in Jewish Studies and Sociology from Indiana University, MA in Jewish Communal
Service from Brandeis University (Hornstein Program)
Other Professional Experience: Prior to joining Camp Young Judea, Robin worked an Area Supervisor
of the Greater Midwest Young Judaea, Program Director at the Marcus JCC in Atlanta, and the Assistant Regional Director for Young Judaea in Illinois. During her time supervising the Greater Midwest Young Judaea she developed a nationwide alternative winter break option for Jewish high schoolers. She has been with Camp Young Judaea for since 2006 and was promoted to Director in 2015.
Lisa David
Director, URJ Camp Harlam (Pennsylvania)
Years in Role: 1
Education: BS in Family Studies from University of Maryland, MSW from the University of Pennsylvania, M.A of Jewish Communal Service from Gratz College
Other Professional Experience: Prior to joining Harlam, Lisa worked as URJ’s Associate Director of Camping, Director of KESHER, the College Department of the URJ, and as the Assistant Camp Director and Director of Teen Services and the Jewish Community Center of Central New Jersey. She joined the Harlam team in 2014 as Associate Director before being promoted to Director in 2017.
Toni Davison Levenberg
Director, Camp Interlaken JCC (Wisconsin)
Years in Role: 10
Education: BS in Business Admiration from the University of Florida, MA in Jewish Professional Studies from the Spertus Institute
Other Professional Experience: Prior to joining Camp Interlaken, Toni was the Assistant Director of House in the Wood Camp serving inner-city Chicago children, the Sales & Operations Manager of Camp CHI’s Perlstein Resort & Conference Center, and a Software Engineer with two major technology consulting firms. Toni Joined Camp Interlaken in 2006 and was promoted to Director in 2008
Anna Herman
Director, URJ Jacobs Camps Camp (Mississippi)
Years in Role: 4
Education: BS in Human Environmental science from the University of Alabama
Other Professional Experience: Following graduation from the University of Alabama, she became the assistant director at Jacobs, after which she served as a congregational youth director and as the assistant director of the URJ Meetings and Conventions Department. Anna then transitioned to the assistant director of business operations for the URJ’s camping system. Anna became Director of Jacobs in 2014.
Gary Kibort
Executive Director, Herzl Camp (Minnesota)
Years in Role: 4
Education: BA in business management and marketing from Augsburg College
Other Professional Experience: Gary’s background stems from business. He served as VP and CEO of RADS in Minneapolis. After which, he served as the Operations Manager and Controller of Capital Cash. In 2006 he transitioned back into the camping field serving as the Director of Operations and Business Manager of Herzl Camp. In 2013 he served as the Interim Director and transitioned to the Executive Director in 2014.
Jeremy Klotz
Director, URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute (Indiana)
Years in Role: 4
Education: BA in Psychology from Indiana University, JD from DePaul University College of Law
Other Professional Experience: Prior to his appointment as Camp Director, Jeremy enjoyed a 13-year legal career advising clients on risk management, dispute resolution, employment issues and compliance. He has also worked with several not-for-profit boards managing large projects and fundraising efforts. In 2014 he transitioned from a board member to Director of URJ GUCI.
Rachel Levine
Director, Perlman Camp (Pennsylvania)
Years in Role: 5
Education: BA in Psychology from the University of Mi9chigan, MSW from Wurzweiler School of Social Work
Other Professional Experience: Rachel got her professional start as a Regional Director in BBYO,
working with teens to develop their leadership potential. In 2010 she became the Assistant Director of B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp. In 2013 she was promoted to Director during which she helped the camp navigate the transition from B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp to Perlman Camp.
Rabbi Joe Menashe
Executive Director, Camp Ramah in California (California)
Years in Role: 8
Education: BA from University of Pennsylvania, Masters of Hebrew Letters from the University of Judaism (now American Jewish University), Rabbinic Ordination and Master of Arts degree (concentration in Jewish Education) from Jewish Theological Seminary in New York
Other Professional Experience: Prior to Camp Ramah, Joe served as the Hillel Director at The Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. During his tenure, Hopkins Hillel opened a physical home for Jewish life, and was awarded Hillel’s Richard M. Joel, Exemplar of Excellence Award in. Later, he gained pulpit experience as an Associate Rabbi at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas, Texas
Geoffrey Menkowitz
Director, Camp Ramah Darom (Georgia)
Years in Role: 10
Education: BA and MA in education from the University of Pennsylvania, and advanced coursework in Jewish Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary
Other Professional Experience: Prior to joining Ramah Darom, Geoff worked with Hillel at Rutgers and the University of Pennsylvania and as Director of the Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning at Hillel’s International Headquarters in Washington, DC.
Rebecca Meyer
Director, Camp Tawonga (California)
Years in Role: 3
Education: BA in Comparative Study of Religion from Harvard University
Other Professional Experience: Prior to joining the full-time staff at Tawonga, Becca worked as a Staffing Director at Camp Walt Whitman, a private camp in New Hampshire, and served on the Steering Committee of the Emerging Professionals in Camping organization. In 2015, Becca co-founded JOLT: Jewish Outdoor Leadership Training, a five-day training for camp professionals on how to incorporate Judaism into nature programming and outdoor leadership.
Josh Pepin
Executive Director, Camp B’nai Brith of Montreal (Quebec)
Years in Role: 6
Education: BA in Sociology from Concordia University
Other Professional Experience: Before CBB, Josh worked at the Bronfman Israel Experience Center (BIEC) as the Follow-Up and March of the Living Coordinator. This opportunity led to his next job as a Senior Development Officer at Federation CJA from 2005 to 2007. In 2007 he returned to BIEC as the Director overseeing the Birthright, March of the Living, and Dorot programs. He began his role as Executive Director at CBB in 2011.
Rabbi Joel Seltzer
Executive Director, Camp Ramah in the Poconos (Pennsylvania)
Years in Role: 5
Education: Rabbinic ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary of America, BS in History and religion from Florida State University
Other Professional Experience: Rabbi Joel grew up at Camp Ramah and served as a unit head and head specialist for numerous summers. After being ordained he served in a pulpit role at Temple Emanu-El in Providence, RI for four years before returning to Camp Ramah as Executive Director.
Esther Staum Katz
Director, Camp Shoshanim (New York)
Years in Role: 10
Education: BSC in Economica and Business Management from Empire State College, MA in Special Education from Daemen College and Teachers Certification from Jerusalem College for Women
Other Professional Experience: Esther received a degree in economics and business management while teaching English and working in the field of advertising. After returning to the US, she taught, mentored teachers and was the curriculum coordinator for Judaic Studies at a parochial school. A masters in special education catapulted Esther to the position of school principal in a middle school for children with special needs and subsequently to leadership of the school’s high school and post HS vocational programs. She joined the NYJ team full time in 2008
Lee Trepeck
Director, Tamarack Camps – Camp Maas (Michigan)
Years in Role: 8
Education: JD from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, BA from University of Michigan
Other Professional Experience: Lee has years of professional experience in law, the restaurant industry, commercial and residential real estate, and real estate website development. He has brought this experience with him to his role as Camp Director for the last eight years.
Adam Weinstein
Executive Director, Berkshire Hills Eisenberg Camp (New York)
Years in Role: 6
Education: BA from Yale College and a JD from Columbia Law School
Other Professional Experience: Prior to BEHC, Adam worked for seven years as the Executive Director of the American Camp Association, New York and New Jersey, the accrediting body for camps. Prior to working at ACA, Adam spent 10 years as a lawyer representing low income tenants in New York City.
Simon Wolle
Director, Camp Northland (Ontario)
Years in Role: 4
Education: BA from the University of Western Ontario, LL.B from the University of Western Ontario
Other Professional Experience: Prior to joining on as the Director of Camp Northland, Simon practiced law for 15+ years, working at firms and establishing his own private practice. He has also spent time as a high school teacher for over a decade teaching law, physical education, civics, Canadian History and leadership.