Professional Development

Brett Gurwitz 

Brett Gurwitz is a trainer, coach, and consultant with over twenty years of leadership, youth development and team building experience. Brett believes in the power of relationships and that we learn and perform best when we feel connected to those we are working with. He offers interactive training and coaching experiences in areas like community building, supervising staff, social emotional learning, restorative justice and conflict resolution. He supports educators and camp professionals to do the meaningful work they care deeply about with greater skill, joy and intention. Brett has a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and has worked as a camp director, leadership coach, and consultant supporting summer camps, schools and youth-based organizations across North America. He has led teams and initiatives at organizations including: Foundation for Jewish Camp, True to Life Training, and Ramapo for Children. Brett lives in Queens, NY with his wonderful family and cat named Ginger Ale. 

Deborah Newbrun 

Deborah Newbrun was the Director of Camp Tawonga for 25 years. Her career as a Jewish leader (particularly in Jewish environmental education) spans almost 40 years including 4 years as Hazon’s Bay Area Director, serving on the founding board of Wilderness Torah, and co-authoring the groundbreaking book Spirit In Nature/Teaching Judaism and Ecology on the Trail, which paved the way for the early curriculum of the Teva Learning Center. 

Additionally, Deborah is a nationally recognized Jewish educator, she was honored with the 2018 prestigious Covenant Award. Deborah has served on the faculty of multiple fellowships for resident summer camp directors including: Lekhu Lakhem and Hiddur.  

Deborah is the founder/director of a new nonprofit, Divorce & Discovery: New Visions for Jewish Healing, whose goal is to create a sea change in how the Jewish community responds to divorce. She and her team have conducted retreats for over 175 alumni, have conducted rabbinical student training and workshops for rabbis…and they are just getting started! 

She is also the founder of SVARA’s Queer Talmud Camp and Tawonga’s LGBTQ Family weekend, Keshet. 

Before entering the Jewish not for profit world, Deborah was a National Park Service Ranger. Deborah is known for being an engaging and creative Jewish educator and infusing deep spirit into her teachings. 

She is the mother of two adult sons who are the apple of her eye. 

Shoshi Rothschild 

A consultant, informal educator, facilitator, and former camp professional, Shoshi Rothschild is the founder of in.tent consulting & facilitation, which was built on the belief that everything organizations do should be intentional and reflective of their mission and values. Shoshi often calls on her 20+ summers spent at overnight summer camp to help guide organizations through strategic planning processes, the design and implementation of new evaluation processes, and develop strategies to improve their overall organizational culture and employee experience. Shoshi loves working with camp leadership teams to help them design and implement strategies to improve staff culture, experience, and retention, including hiring, onboarding, training, and feedback and evaluation strategies. Every season, she works with camps across North America, designing and facilitating engaging and experiential training workshops that help staff members to develop skills such as supervision & evaluation, problem solving, and conflict resolution. She is avid speaker at camp conferences across the globe, including the Association for Quebec Camps Annual Conference, the American Camping Association’s Women in Camping Summit, Camp Leaders’ Camp Collab, Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Leaders Assembly, and Ontario Camps Association Annual Conference.

Amy Born 

Amy Born has over 20 years of professional experience in the field of organizational psychology and organizational development both as a consultant and in roles internal to organizations including working at Leading Edge, Korn Ferry Hay Group, City Year Headquarters, and Hillel International.   

Most recently Amy served as Chief Strategy Officer at Leading Edge where she and her fabulous team collected and analyzed information to inform, evaluate, and improve Leading Edge’s work, and share information with the Jewish nonprofit sector to empower positive change for the field’s talent, culture, and leadership. Her consulting work has focused on leadership in public education and ongoing consulting to public and corporate clients. Some past clients have included The World Bank, United States Postal Service (USPS), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), The Nature Conservancy, multiple law firms, and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (where she even got to meet an astronaut!).   

She has served as a board member of Hillel International, Joshua Venture Group, and currently serves on the boards of directors of Keshet and the Jewish Studio Project. Amy has a Master’s Degree in Social and Organizational Psychology from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Anthropology and Theatre from Washington University in St. Louis.   

Becca Sykes 

Becca Sykes offers dynamic coaching and workshops rooted in yoga, theater, and text-study that build experience in values-based learning. Her love of experiential education comes from decades at summer camps in North America, where it’s possible to build one’s creativity and connection while eating tater tots. With degrees in theater and music from Columbia University and JTS, she creates learning opportunities with the Foundation for Jewish Camp, the iCenter, Brandeis University, University of Chicago, the Jewish Education Project, and the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Rebecca explores middot (soul traits) to learn how the development of the soul affects the development of each day. Her work is described as engaging, energizing, and welcoming; there is learning at every level. Becca lives in Jerusalem where she teaches yoga, sings showtunes on stage and off, and eats hummus. 

Michael Mellen 

Michael Mellen, PCC, rabbi, is an executive and organizational coach and facilitator, who works with individuals and values-driven organizations to create space for growth, innovation, and possibility. His work with top executives, high potential team members, entrepreneurs, clergy, educators, camp teams, and boards moves people to see their work, organizations, and lives more holistically, enabling them to better tap into the strengths that can propel them towards a vibrant, equitable, and impactful future. Michael is interested in the knotty problems of leadership, the power of vision, and the joy of creativity.  With many years of camp and youth program experience, his current work with summer camps includes executive coaching for camp leaders, staff training, speaking about risk management, and coaching and facilitation related to mission, program, and strategy. Prior to launching his company, Iron and Sage, Michael served as a congregational educator and rabbi, as Director of Youth Programs and Director of NFTY for the Reform Movement, and as an innovation consultant with the Jewish Education Project. 

Adam Kertesz
Camp Northland – B’nai Brith

Adam Kertesz is a proud Jewish camp professional who has spent almost 30 summers at various camps throughout North America as a camper, seasonal and full-time staff. Currently, he is the Associate Director at Camp Northland, in Toronto, Canada. A strong leader and a people-person, Adam combines his expertise in teambuilding, staff development and creative programming/thinking into his role at camp. He prides himself on helping groups work together, through finding creative ways of bringing the best out of each team member. Adam also loves to have fun and enjoys helping those around him do the same. Adam is a strong believer in the transformative nature of camp, for both his campers and his staff. He inspires his summer leadership teams to design camper programs that foster and build independence, self-esteem, and meaningful friendships. And he applies the skills gained through his years of professional experience to help his young summer staff develop skills that will serve them throughout their lives, including effective decision making, problem solving, public speaking and collaboration. Adam takes the role of being a Jewish communal leader seriously and relishes helping his camp community connect with and strengthen their own Jewish identity, something that has now taken on increased significance. In his free time, Adam is either watching or playing sports. At home, his love of Jewish camp is exceeded only by his love for his family. Adam and his wife Lauren have two amazing kids, Cole and Isla, as well as their dog, Oscar.

Alli Moses
Camp Ramah in Northern California

Alli Moses is the Assistant Director of Camp Ramah in Northern California. She joined the Ramah community in 2017 first as a counselor and then as a Rosh Edah, before joining the year-round team in 2020. Originally from New Jersey, she grew up attending Jewish camp as a camper and staff member for many summers. This is where she developed a love for the camp environment and an appreciation for the role it plays in Jewish identity development and community building. She received a B.A in Psychology and Jewish Studies from Muhlenberg College followed by an M.A in Jewish Educational Leadership from the Davidson School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, where she currently lives. She brings a passion for Jewish education and an abundance of creativity, using camp as an ideal environment for immersive experiential education to create fun and meaningful experiences for campers and staff (with lots of dancing!)

Ashley Costello
Camp Tawonga

Ashley Costello is a Bay Area native who grew up immersed in the Jewish community, attending Jewish day school, religious school, and Jewish summer camp. She has always had a strong passion for tikkun olam, which inspired her to focus her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in Environmental Studies. Ashley spent many summers working at Tawonga and joined the full time staff in 2009, first serving as Tawonga’s Registrar, followed by the role of Bay Area Director. In 2019 she shifted gears and joined the at-Camp Director Team as the Program Director until being promoted to her current role, Senior Director, Camper Care. Outside of her passion and love of Jewish Camping, Ashley enjoys spending time with her family, being in nature, running, and doing crossword puzzles. Ashley is thrilled to be a part of the Yitro Leadership Program.

Becca Fishman
Tamarack Camps

Becca Fishman is deeply involved in Detroit’s Jewish community, currently serving as Tamarack Camps’ Associate Director. Growing up in Detroit, she was part of the community all her life, from attending day school and enjoying summers at camp. Her formative years were shaped by the close-knit community, instilling in her a deep sense of connection and belonging. After graduating from Michigan State University, where she was active in Hillel, Becca continued her community-building work at Hillel of Metro Detroit. Later, at Royal Oak Moishe House, she focused on creating welcoming spaces for everyone. Becca loves traveling, which is why she enjoys working with staff from all over the world. As someone who’s been a Tamarack camper and staff member for years, she’s passionate about providing meaningful Jewish summer experiences for the next generation. With her enthusiastic and personable approach, Becca Fishman strives to positively impact the communities she serves, near and far.

Blake Canowitz
Camp Livingston

Blake Canowitz, LSW, is the Assistant Director at Camp Livingston. She grew up going to Camp Livingston, spending seven summers there as a camper and two as a senior staff member. Her role includes managing the camper care team in the summer and focuses on recruitment and staff hiring during the fall and winter seasons. She attended University of Michigan for undergrad and went on to get her Masters of Social Work at the Ohio State University, specializing in mental health. Blake is a dedicated lifelong learner who believes in the importance of Jewish camp as a way for every child to develop their own connection to Judaism and the Jewish community. In her free time, Blake enjoys running, trying new restaurants in the Cincinnati area, and watching college football (Go Blue!).

Carolyn Harari
URJ Henry S. Jacobs Camp

Carolyn Harari, at age 10, won the all camp talent show with a performance of “Sk8ter Boi” by Avril Levigne. Carolyn believes batons are critical in relays and there is nothing better than packing for camp. She has experience with day camps, overnight camps, and even running a camp out of your house. Currently, Carolyn is the Associate Director at URJ Henry S Jacobs Camp. Carolyn’s background is in early childhood and teaching. When thinking about anything related to camp, she asks “how will this impact the kids?” She loves to dream big and turn those dreams into reality.

Ellie Tepper Schulman
URJ Camp Harlam

Ellie Tepper Schulman grew up in Rydal, PA and began her camp journey as a staff member at URJ Camp Harlam in 2007 when all of her NFTY-PAR friends convinced her it would be the best summer job ever. Clearly, it was a wonderful summer! Over the past 17 summers, she has had the opportunity to work with kids in a variety of units as a cabin counselor, assistant unit head, and unit head. She became an Assistant Director in 2018 after serving as camp’s Program Director and the Director of Youth Engagement for the Mid-Atlantic Region of NFTY. She was then promoted to Associate Director in 2022.

Ellie attended the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she earned her Master of Religious Education (MARE) in 2015. She also attended the University of Miami, where she earned a degree in music education in 2010. In her spare time, Ellie enjoys baking (especially chocolate chip cookies), rooting for the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Miami Hurricanes, watching old ‘Friends’ episodes, and making friendship bracelets. Ellie currently lives outside of Philadelphia with her husband, Jon Schulman, and their son Henry Tep!

Ilana Kornblatt
Capital Camps

Ilana Kornblatt is the Assistant Camp Director at Capital Camps & Retreat Center (CCRC) and has been calling CCRC home every summer since 2005. She joined the CCRC Year-Round team as Assistant Camp Director in October 2022. Ilana’s role includes overseeing the LIT and CIT teen leadership programs, and summer staff hiring, training, and engagement. In her 20 years with Capital Camps, including nine as a camper, Ilana also served on summer staff as a Cabin Counselor, Assistant Village Leader, Village Leader, and Counselor-In-Training (CIT) Coordinator. Prior to joining the CCRC Year-Round team, Ilana was a Regional Director for BBYO, engaging Baltimore area teens in meaningful Jewish experiences. Ilana has a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology & Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Ilana’s favorite camp activities are Shabbat Song Sessions and cabin times. Ilana was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland. In her free time enjoys completing the daily mini crossword, wordle, connections, and strands puzzles. Ilana is thrilled to be part of Foundation for Jewish Camp’s Yitro Leadership Program!

Iris Toth
Camp Young Judaea – Texas

Iris Toth is the Assistant Director of Camp Young Judaea-Texas. She grew up attending CYJ as a camper and has spent the last 11 summers on staff. In her current role, Iris is primarily responsible for the hiring, training, and supervision of the summer staff. One of the most rewarding things for Iris is seeing former campers come back as counselors and give back to the place that meant so much to them and helped shape their Jewish identity. She enjoys getting to know the staff each summer and helping them grow into amazing leaders and role models for the campers.

Iris earned her undergraduate degree in Applied Learning and Development from the University of Texas at Austin (Hook ‘Em Horns!) and is a Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional. In her free time, she enjoys trying new restaurants, watching sports or the latest TV shows, and taking long walks with her dog, Lucy.

Jennifer Walker
Camp Daisy and Harry Stein

Jennifer Walker is the Associate Director of Camp Daisy and Harry Stein in Prescott, Arizona. Jennifer has been in this role for 6 years, beginning her full-time position in 2018 after completing her Masters in Social Work at Arizona State University. Jennifer grew up in the Greater Phoenix area and spent time working in the Jewish community as a Youth Director, Religious School Teacher, and Preschool Teacher. In 2021-22, Jennifer was a mentee in the Women’s Leadership Institute. She was able to learn with and from a network of female Jewish leaders in Phoenix. During this program, Jennifer help launched the Doing Jewish youth grants to benefit the Jewish community. This program has had a lasting impact on her work at Camp Stein.

Jennifer loves working with kids and building lifelong connections with campers and staff. During the summer, Jennifer gets to focus on staff supervision and oversee camp programming. In her free time, Jennifer enjoys traveling, going to concerts, playing tennis and petting dogs.

Jessie Shamout
URJ Camp Newman

Jessie Shamout is the Associate Director at URJ Camp Newman, and has been working in the field of youth and camping for over 15 years. She attributes some of her most transformative experiences to Jewish resident camp, and is always eager to create meaningful moments for campers of all ages. As a Southern California native, she spent her summers at Camp JCA Shalom in Malibu, then ventured across the country to attend URJ Kutz Camp. She spent several years in congregational education before transitioning into the camp world full time. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies from the University of Arizona (Bear Down!), and a Master of Education from the University of Southern California (Fight On!). When she’s not at camp, you can usually find her at the dance studio, reading the latest fantasy series, or spending time with her husband, daughter and geriatric cat.

Jillian Hastings
URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI)

Jillian Hastings is the senior assistant director at her childhood summer camp – Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI), located in Zionsville, Indiana. In this role, she oversees GUCI’s communications and marketing, Avodah (GUCI’s rising 12th grade program), the camp care team and much more. Jillian received her bachelor’s degree in public relations/advertising and communications from DePaul University in 2014. Jillian also spent a semester at the University of Haifa in Haifa, Israel, studying Hebrew. After graduating, Jillian worked in Chicago at Edelman, a world-renowned communications marketing firm where she supported global clients such as United Airlines, LiftMaster, GoGo squeeZ, ScottsMiracle-Gro and more in their corporate communication and marketing efforts. She enjoyed traveling for work and working with amazing clients and colleagues.

Jillian returned to her first true love – camp – in 2019 and loves creating a meaningful experience for the next generations of campers and staff. Jillian met her now-husband, Matt, at GUCI, and were married in camp’s beautiful outdoor chapel. In the off-season, Jillian resides in Bloomington, Indiana with Matt and their beloved dog, Minerva (Minnie).

Johanna Press
Eden Village Camp

Johanna (she/her) strives to help young people harness tools of Jewish tradition to craft meaningful lives, foster deep community, and change the world. She studied Environmental Science and Jewish Studies at Yale University, the Pardes Institute, and Yeshivat Hadar. While teaching Talmud at Abraham Joshua Heschel High School, her students introduced her to Eden Village Camp, where she is now an Assistant Director.

Since her first summer at Eden Village in 2018, Johanna has loved getting to do the creative work of camp programming and education, recruitment and community partnerships, communications and family relationships, and camper care – while also getting to sing and dance every day, snack on farm-fresh produce, and grow life-long friendships! Originally from Philadelphia, she now lives with her husband and daughter in Austin, Texas.

Kelsey Thieke
Perlman Camp

Kelsey Thieke is currently the Assistant Director of Operations and Communications at Perlman Camp has been spending her summers at there since 2013. She has held a variety of positions at camp including Head Counselor, Operations Assistant, Lodge Manager, Camper Care Liaison and rental groups liaison – just to name a few! She took on her current role in October of 2021 where she now oversees all aspects of camp operations, marketing & communications, and assists with camper retention & recruitment as well as staff hiring, training, & off-season engagement. Prior to taking on this role, she taught both elementary and middle school for 5 years in both Seattle and New Jersey. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Education from Rutgers University. Kelsey currently lives in New Jersey with her husband Shawn and enjoys baking, crafting, and time spent with friends and family.

Lauren Grundland
URJ Camp George

Lauren Grundland is proud to be the Associate Director of URJ Camp George. With over 15 years in the Jewish camping space, her passion for experiential Jewish education and bringing Jewish youth closer to their own Jewish identities continues to grow. Her portfolio includes development, community care, camper recruitment, and supervision of the seasonal leadership team. Lauren believes that everything we do at camp must be centered around strong relationships with our stakeholders, campers, staff, families, alumni, and beyond. Lauren is excited about new opportunities for growth within the field of Jewish camping and for her as a professional. She continues to strive to move the needle locally and movement wide. Lauren is grateful for the opportunity to be a part of Yitro Cohort V to collaborate with other influential professionals who are equally has passionate about Jewish Camping!

Michael Arato
Herzl Camp

Michael Arato is the current Director of Program Innovation at Herzl Camp. He began his camp career in 2013, working as a cabin counselor and sailing specialist at Beber Camp. Since then he has worked as a CIT Leader, division leader, and in 2020 served as Rosh Imagination at Camp Ben Frankel Online. In his current role he works to develop creative and engaging activities for over 650 campers. On his off-days, he can be found at the movie theater. His favorite camp movie is Meatballs.

Mirit Sands
Camp Ramah in the Rockies

Mirit Sands brings her passion for relational engagement, program development, mentorship, and shtick to her role as Camp Life Director at Ramah in the Rockies. She strives to foster a warm, nurturing environment where campers and staff can explore their identity and relationship to Judaism, expand their knowledge, and challenge themselves in new ways. Mirit has witnessed and firmly believes in the power and magic of Jewish camping experiences, where pathways are paved for Jewish youth to explore their intersectional identities and find comfort and confidence in a home away from their own. A native New Orleanian, Mirit spent 14 summers at other Jewish overnight camps, including Ramah Darom as a camper and counselor and Ramah Berkshires as a Rosh Edah and Program Coordinator. Prior to joining the Ramah in the Rockies team in 2021, Mirit worked at Central Synagogue in New York City as the Assistant Director of their religious school. She graduated from Columbia University with a B.A. in Psychology and the Jewish Theological Seminary with a B.A. in Bible and a Master’s in Jewish Education. Always rooting for the New Orleans Saints and down for rikkud or Zumba, Mirit is also a music enthusiast, constantly boppin’ along to songs, creating song parodies in the moment, and attending concerts and silent discos.

Nicki Poliak
URJ Camp Eisner

Nicki Poliak, LMSW, is the Assistant Director of Camper Recruitment & Alumni Engagement at URJ Eisner Camp. Nicki spent many years at Eisner as a camper, counselor, Unit Head, and Assistant Director of Machon, and is thrilled to be back for her fifth summer as part of the Director Team. Nicki is a Jewish professional through and through, starting her post-college career as the Director of Programming & Engagement at UConn Hillel. Once an opportunity to work at Eisner presented itself a few years later, Nicki jumped at the chance to come back home. After a few years on the full-time team, Nicki took some time off to pursue a Masters in Social Work at Florida Atlantic University. After completing her degree, Nicki was so excited to rejoin the Eisner Team with this new knowledge and experience. Nicki takes her passion for Judaism, camping, and mental health to help campers and staff grow, learn, and find meaningful ways to connect to their Judaism. In her free time, Nicki loves to read, watch cooking and competition shows, and spend time outside with her dog, Beau! Nicki is ecstatic to be a part of FJC’s Yitro Leadership Program to have the opportunity to connect with incredible colleagues, learn new skills to make her a better Jewish professional, and to improve camp.

Rachel Eilbaum
Camp Young Judaea – Sprout Lake

Rachel Eilbaum, MA, EdM, holds a Master of Arts in Jewish Professional Leadership and a Master of Education in Jewish Educational Leadership from the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program at Brandeis University. She grew up attending Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake, and went on to work as a seasonal staff member for six summers, as a counselor and unit head. Her passion for working at camp led her to Tufts Hillel where she worked as an IACT Coordinator for Israel Engagement. As IACT Coordinator she supervised Israel centered student groups, coordinated and led Birthright Israel trips, and supervised the Visions of Peace student initiative, co-teaching a credited course on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. After graduating from the Hornstein Program Rachel went home to Camp Young Judaea Sprout Lake where she has served as the Assistant Director since May 2022. Rachel is excited to in Cohort V of FJC’s Yitro Leadership Program, and is looking forward to learning and growing with a dedicated community of like-minded camp professionals.

Sierra Shuster-Leibner
Camp Kinneret-Biluim

Suzanne Margolis
Camp Tel Yehudah

Suzanne joined the year-round Tel Yehudah team in 2022 after three years with Young Judaea Israel. She began her time as a Year Course madricha (counselor), eventually becoming the Tel Aviv Experience Manager. After four years living and working in Israel, Suzanne returned to New York and became the Assistant Director at Tel Yehudah. Suzanne draws on twelve summers of camp experience in various roles in her work at Tel Yehudah. Suzanne graduated from Binghamton University with dual degrees in English Literature and Business Administration. After completing her studies, she participated in the Masa Israel Teaching Fellows (MITF) Program, volunteering as an English teacher in Netanya, Israel for an academic year before beginning her career.

Suzanne lives on Long Island with her husband, Joel, and two dogs, Lulu and Thor. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs, going for runs, and reading good books. She is excited to take part in the Yitro Fellowship with FJC so she can learn new skills and bring new perspectives back to her work with Tel Yehudah.