Lay & Professional Leadership

Fred is the Chair of the Na’aleh board. He is the past Chair of the ACHARAI Advisory Council. Fred’s involvement with Jewish leadership and philanthropy began many years ago as the initial Chair of The Associated’s Connections Committee. Since that time, he has been a sustained and committed volunteer serving as Co-Chair (with his wife Tammy) of the Blum Seminar, Super Sunday (again with Tammy), and as Board Chair of Johns Hopkins Hillel and Capital Camps and Retreat Center. Fred is currently a board member of the JCC, where he Co-Chairs the Camp Committee and its DEIJ task force, a proud member of Cohort V of the ACHARAI Fellows Program (AFP), and a graduate of the Baltimore Jewish Council’s leadership development program.

Fred is a past recipient of the Harry S. Greenstein Young Leadership Award and the Exemplar of Excellence for Thoughtful and Strategic Leadership Award from Hillel International. He is an attorney and partner at Bennett & Heyman. P.A, and he and Tammy are the proud parents of sons Adam and Ethan.

Ned is in his second term serving as Na’aleh Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. His involvement in volunteer leadership in the greater Baltimore Jewish Community spans decades. He has previously been the President of The Center for Jewish Education, a founder and Chair of ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Jewish Leadership Institute, on the Board of the Darrell D. Friedman Institute (DFI) for Professional Development, and head of the teen commission that led to the creation of 4Front, among other board and committees in the Baltimore Jewish community. In the broader community, Ned has been involved in leadership of the Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center, Maryland State Bar Association Intellectual Property Committee, and Baltimore City Bar Library.

Ned is an attorney and Chair of the Technology and Intellectual Property group at Gordon Feinblatt.

Fran has served in a variety of leadership roles in the Baltimore Jewish community. She is the immediate past Na’aleh Board Secretary after serving last year on Na’aleh’s Strategic Alignment Committee, now its Program Committee. She is a former Vice Chair of the ACHARAI Advisory Council, a co-facilitator of the Synagogue Presidents Circle, and a proud ACHARAI Fellows Program (AFP) Cohort V alumna. Fran currently chairs one of the Associated’s Caring and Community Relations managing councils and also serves on the Community Planning and Allocations (CP&A) lead team. She was a co-chair of the Beth Tfiloh Spotlight 2022, a former Beth Tfiloh Congregation Board chair, and a longtime former trustee of the Beth Tfiloh School Board.

Fran earned her M.B.A. and B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland Robert H. Smith School of Business and is a retired KPMG Consulting partner.

Chavi Abramson Chairs the Na’aleh Communications and Outreach Committee. A Baltimore native with a passion for affecting positive change and recognized for her loyalty and fair-mindedness, Chavi Abramson has fast established herself as an up-and-coming talented young leader in our community. Devoted to the educational field for nearly 15 years, Chavi – or “Mrs. A” – demonstrated a unique and sensitive understanding of her students, nurturing hundreds of children in her classrooms at Yeshivat Rambam and Ohr Chadash Academy. Her reputation for her commitment to the needs of others and fostering a community of equal opportunity precedes her. Chavi spearheaded the successful launch of the Baltimore Chessed League for young girls, creating a platform for them to live meaningful and impactful lives. In 2016, Chavi was the recipient of Suburban Orthodox Congregation’s prestigious Tzorchei Tzibbur Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions to the synagogue’s membership experience.

She matriculated from the University of Baltimore with a Masters in Negotiations and Conflict Management. Chavi is married to Moishe, and they have 3 wonderful and mischievous kids.

Randi Benesch is an experienced fundraiser, relationship-oriented leader, and chair of the PRT. In her role as an independent consultant for non-profit
organizations, Randi specializes in fundraising campaigns, engagement strategies, board development, strategic planning and  coaching early career development professionals. Cultivating relationships, crafting an inspiring story and activating engagement are at the core of Randi’s work. Previously, she served as the Director of Advancement for Baltimore Center Stage, overseeing all development initiatives, including corporate, foundation and individual giving.

Randi had spent the previous five years as the Managing Director of Arts and Culture for the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore. In addition to overseeing the revitalized vision and programming of the Gordon Center, she managed the launch of a robust arts education program including a performing and visual arts camp, and a children’s theater production company.Randi has extensive non-profit management experience from her time at the Columbia Festival of the Arts, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center Festival in New York City, as well as Edison Theater on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis where she earned her B.A. in Theater. She currently serves on the boards of the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance , Na’aleh: The Hub for Leadership Learning, and Columbia Jewish Congregation. Randi lives in Ellicott City, Maryland with her husband Adam and two teenage children, Jacob and Mollie.

Randi Buergenthal is the chair of the Governance Committee and has held several volunteer leadership positions in our community. She is the past Chair of the Board of the JCC of Greater Baltimore, a past President of Beth Israel Congregation, and a past President of the American Marketing Association, Baltimore Chapter. She serves on the Board of The Associated and is Chair of ACCELERATE, a new Na’aleh intensive fellowship for emerging leaders. She is also a graduate of the Wexner Foundation Heritage Program and Class V of the ACHARAI Fellows Program.
Professionally, Randi has always worked in the creative arena, whether as vice president of an advertising agency, owner of a boutique and art studio, or in her current role as an interior designer.

Randi holds a BA from the University of Maryland. She and her husband John are proud parents of two adult daughters, a very large dog and an adorable puppy who is now in charge.

Emily is an artist whose work focuses on perspective, gratitude, light and wonder. She is the creator of f/LIGHT DECK, a tangible tool designed to help curious people shift their perspective and in doing so, shift their lives.

She has served in a variety of volunteer roles in the Baltimore community, and currently sits on The Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences. Emily is also the immediate past Chair of the DFI Advisory Council.

Emily has a professional background in arts administration, strategic planning, development, and nonprofit management.

Mandy started her leadership and learning career in Australia, working as a Learning and Development Consultant for one of Australia’s major banks. This saw her move through various roles in learning and development with her focus always on leadership and team development. Mandy was responsible for developing, designing and facilitating a leadership development program for frontline managers and worked through a company merger, playing a pivotal role in the change management program.

While on maternity leave with her first child, Mandy co-authored a book with Ivan Nurick, “Leaders Developing Leaders”. The success of this book led her to leave her role at the bank and join Ivan at On Cue Executive consulting. This enabled Mandy to expand into Executive level leadership and strategy development, cultural change initiatives and executive coaching engagements. Mandy has worked globally with clients in Australia, Asia, Pacific Islands, Middle East and the USA. She has worked across a variety of industries from mining to hospitality and in both the private and public sector. Whether her focus is at a 1-on-1, team or organizational level, Mandy has the ability to connect with individuals and open their eyes to possibilities and capabilities they never thought possible.

This is the foundational principle of her business, Blue Zone Thinking. Mandy has made it her mission to provide organizations (and their leaders) with the tools (and the confidence) to move beyond their comfort zones. Everything you have ever desired lies just outside your comfort zone. We refer to this space as the Blue Zone, because once you’ve broken through the barrier of comfort, the sky is the limit.

David is the vice chair of the Na’aleh program committee. With over 20 years of experience working in and for the Jewish community, David Golaner has relied on the core values of amenability, curiosity, and humility to guide his work. David is currently the Director of Planned Giving at the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), working to sustain and enhance Jewish life around the world for centuries to come. He is no stranger to the Baltimore Jewish community, after working nine years in The Associated system as the Centennial Campaign Director and as Executive Director of the Edward A. Myerberg Center. He also was Director of Alumni Relations at The Park School.

David also serves on the Board of Beth Tfiloh Congregation and on several committees at Beth El Congregation. He is a former Board member of the Darrell Friedman Institute (DFI) for Professional Development and the Supportive Community Network of Northwest Baltimore. In addition to a Bachelors Degree in Orchestral Conducting from Franklin & Marshall College, David has engaged in post-graduate study in Nonprofit Management at The American University and Gerontology at John’s Hopkins University. David and his wife Terry (whom he met at an Associated event!) live in Stevenson with their three daughters.

Jordan (Jody) Harburger is the immediate past co-Chair of the Marketing Committee. He is retired after 47 years as a Jewish Community professional executive in Jewish Federations, Israel Bonds, American Jewish Committee, JCC, and Jewish Foundation for Group Homes. He also had an early career as Jewish Camp Director and Regional Youth Director. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Jewish Communal Service by Hebrew Union College after 25 years in the profession.

As a lay/volunteer leader, Jody is currently active in several committees at Chizuk Amuno Congregation, including Chair of the Stuhlman Center for Adult Education, and member of the Social Justice Advocacy Committee and the Afghan Refugee Welcome Circle. He also currently serves Jews United for Justice as a Leadership Council member, Good People Fund as a Board member, JPride Baltimore as a member of the Grants Committee, and The Associated as a Legacy Committee member. Jody is an immediate past member of the DFI Advisory Council.

He is the father of 3 and grandfather of 5, as well as just celebrating 50 years of marriage to Sheila Harburger, MSW. Jody studies Mishna and Modern Hebrew Literature as part of life-long learning, which started with BA in Hebrew Literature from UCLA and a Certificate and Honorary Doctorate in Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College.

Dan Hirschhorn is Chairman and President of American Trading and Production Corporation (Atapco). Atapco develops, acquires and manages commercial and residential real estate and holds a portfolio comprised primarily of public and private equity. Within the greater Baltimore Jewish Community, Dan is a Governor of The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore, a member of the Investment Management Committee of the Associated Jewish Charities, a Director of Sinai Hospital, Co-Chair of the 2022 LifeBridge Health Magic of Life Gala, and a former Board member of Hillel of Greater Baltimore. He also is a past President of the Board of ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Jewish Leadership Institute, and until recently, served as a member of the ACHARAI Advisory Council.

In the broader community, Dan formerly served as Capital Campaign Co-Chair for Everyman Theatre and as a Trustee of Connecticut College and Sheppard Pratt Investment, Inc. A Park School alumnus, Dan has served his alma mater as President of the Board, and is currently a member of the Finance Committee, Campaign Steering Committee, and Committee on Trustees. He is also a member of the Washington, D.C./Baltimore YPO Gold Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization and currently serves as President of the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation.

Dan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics, Magna Cum Laude, from Connecticut College and an M.B.A. from the University of Virginia. He and his wife Gina, a senior vice president at Bank of America, live in Roland Park and have twin college age sons.

A native New Yorker, Matt Lipsky moved to Maryland in 1992 to attend Towson University. He had been involved in all aspects of real estate for over twenty-five years. In 2021, Matt changed paths and is now working in private equity. Matt has a Master’s in Business Leadership and Management, a background in real estate finance, brokerage operations, and residential and commercial title. A member of the U.S. Navy Reserve, Matt is a decorated veteran, having served two tours of duty in the Middle East. Upon returning from his last deployment in 2019, he assumed command of a naval security forces unit that supported the U.S. Fifth Fleet. In February 2023, Commander Lipsky assumed command of the Defense Logistics Agency’s Troop Support Joint Reserve Force, based in Philadelphia, PA. Matt enjoys spending time with his family, volunteering with local charities, and serving on philanthropic boards.

Yisrael Motzen, a native of Montreal, Canada, serves as rabbi of Ner Tamid Greenspring Valley Synagogue in Baltimore, MD. He also serves as the Special Assistant to the EVPs of the Orthodox Union. He is a graduate of Ner Israel Rabbinical College and holds an M.A. in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University. Yisrael writes regularly in a variety of Jewish publications and is involved in a number of initiatives and projects focused on strengthening the Jewish community.  

Lee is the Executive Director of Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom Congregation and is the immediate past Executive Director of Chizuk Amuno Congregation and Schools. Previously, Lee was president and CEO of the National Human Services Assembly, the national network of many of the nation’s largest human service providers. Prior to that, Lee was President and CEO of the Association of Jewish Family & Children’s Agencies, a network of over 125 human service providers in the U.S. and Canada. He has served in various leadership roles in the community, locally for The Associated, Jewish Community Services, Jewish Family Services, the Center for Jewish Education, the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies, and Chizuk Amuno Congregation, nationally for the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance and 501C Trust, and internationally for Yahel, a service-learning program in Israel.

Lee earned a B.A. and M.A. in English from the University of Virginia, and a J.D. from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary.

Baltimore born and bred, Marty Taylor is a 3^rd generation Beth Tfiloh member and a proud BT Alumna.  He is the chair of the Na’aleh program committee. He and his wife Vered, also a BT Alum served as Co-Chairs of Spotlight 2016 featuring the Idan Raichel Project. The high school sweethearts have two children Maya, a nursing student at the University of Delaware, and Guy, a high school junior at Beth Tfiloh.  Marty is a graduate of the BJC Leadership Development Program and the Acharai Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Institute (Cohort VII). Marty currently serves as the Chairman of Beth Tfiloh Camps, Vice Chairman of Beth Tfiloh Synagogue, Chairman of the Maryland Chapter of FIDF (Friends of the Israel Defense Forces) as well as serving as an Assistant Scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop 97.  In his professional life Marty is an Executive Director of ERN Israel, an Israel based payment processing company and serves as the Managing Director of SIB Investment Group and as Managing Partner in Kesher Technology, a fund focused on Israeli Startup Investment.

Ilene has extensive volunteer and professional experience in the Baltimore Jewish community. She served as Vice President of Education for the Women’s Department of the Associated, President of the Board of Jewish Education, Vice-President of the Darrell Friedman Institute (DFI) for Professional Development, and President of the Pearlstone Conference and Retreat Center.

As a professional, she was the Director of Machon L’Morim Bereshit, the founding Director of the Early Childhood Department at Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), and Director of the Pauline Mash School for Early Childhood Education. Ilene was also the founding Director of Beth El @ Federal Hill, the only Jewish early childhood program in downtown Baltimore.

She commissioned and is co-author on the first national study on early childhood Jewish education entitled Untapped Potential: The Status of Jewish Early Childhood Education in America (2002). Additionally, Ilene is the author on numerous other publications including Early Childhood Jewish Education “If not now, When?” (2008) and a co-author of “Early Childhood Jewish Education” in The International Handbook of Jewish Education.

Ilene has a MA in Speech Pathology and a MS in Applied Behavioral Science. Ilene and her husband Bert are grandparents to four beautiful grandchildren.

Debs is the immediate past Board Chair of Na’aleh, and a former board chair of The Associated: The Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore, having led the Board when the Covid pandemic pummeled our community. Reflecting on the challenges of the times, Debs says “it was a strong reminder that one does not lead alone. There is nothing more important than the lay-professional relationship and surrounding yourself with people who bring diverse qualities to the table. The community is stronger for it.”

Her perspective about the value of the lay-pro relationship has been honed from decades of successful service as both a lay-leader and a professional in the Jewish community. In addition to serving as Board Chair of the Associated, Debs has also served in several other Associated roles, including Campaign Chair, Community and Planning Chair, and co- Chair of the Anti-Semitism Task Force. Debra was also the international Chair of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute (HBI), which explores fresh ways of thinking about Judaism and gender worldwide and currently sits on the national Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) Board.

Professionally, Debs served from 2005-2015 as Executive Director of ACHARAI: The Shoshana S. Cardin Leadership Development Institute, where she focused on top volunteer leadership, and from 1995-2005 as the Director of The Darrell Friedman Institute for Professional Development (DFI), which cultivated and trained professionals for work in the Jewish community.

After Graduating from Drew University, she earned an M.A. in Modern Jewish History from the Baltimore Hebrew University and an M.S.W. from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and a certificate in Jewish Communal Service from the Baltimore Institute for Jewish Communal Service (BIJCS). A lifelong learner, Debra earned a certificate in “Women, Leadership and Change” through the Johns Hopkins University and participated in the first class of the Weinberg Fellows Program: Leadership Training for Executive Directors of Non-Profit agencies in 2001. She is also a certified leadership coach, a graduate of the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching certificate program, and a certified facilitator.

Debs is happily married to Joe Weinberg, her high school sweetheart, and they have successfully raised three children, Jenna, Daniella, and Ben to be “upstanders.” A lover of yoga, nature, and traveling, the pandemic helped her to focus more on her passions and creativity. Her greatest pleasure is watching her grandchildren grow.

Erica Bloom (she/her) is the Senior Director of the Jewish Connection Network. Erica is the guiding force behind our Community Connections team. With a passion for building strong relationships, Erica also helps manage our group of Community Connectors and VolunTeams. Erica earned her Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland School of Social Work and Bachelors from York College of Pennsylvania. When she’s not empowering connections, you can find her enjoying the outdoors, soaking in live music, and savoring delicious meals with her husband, two sons, and dog.