Participants and Mentors - Young Adult Community

Class of 2020

Participants and Mentors

Zachary MaltzmanEntertainment Track Chair

Zachary Maltzman is the CFO of Eastman Music Company. Eastman is a musical instrument manufacturer operating under

the Eastman brand names in addition to S.E. Shires Co., Wm S. Haynes, Bourgeois Guitars, and Backun Musical Services. Zachary is a CPA with a BS in Accounting from the University of Maryland.

Cara RifkinEntertainment Track Chair

Cara Rifkin is the Vice President of Programming for Lando Entertainment, a non-scripted television production company. She has also produced over 15 series for Food

Network and HGTV, winning an Emmy Award for Outstanding Culinary Program in 2016. Cara holds a BS in Theatre and Art History from Northwestern University and an MA in Journalism from USC. A native of Los Angeles, Cara prides herself on knowing where to find the city’s best tacos.

Brian Bellinkoff Filmmaker and Creative Director, Selects Media

Brian’s career as an award-winning independent producer/director/editor spans feature-length documentaries for Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon to television shows and specials

for DIY, Great American Country, Comedy Central, and Showtime. In 2018, he founded Selects Media, a production company specializing in branded content and social media ad optimization for e-commerce and many Fortune 500 brands. Originally from Orlando, FL, Brian holds a BS in Communication from the University of Miami.

Calvin Berman Director of Global Distribution, Studio71

Calvin Berman is an L.A. native with a passion for innovative media and entertainment. He is an entrepreneurial attorney and business executive with professional experience

across production and/or distribution of traditional television, streaming content, esports, and VR/AR/MR, in addition to litigation experience on behalf of Fortune 500 brands defending class actions (marketing and privacy) and asserting intellectual property (copyright and trademark) rights. Calvin currently serves as Director of Global Distribution at Studio71, which is across the street from The Jewish Federation.

For more information contact us at The Jewish Federation Goldsmith Center | 6505 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90048 | (323) 761-8000

CLI Participants Mentors

Entertainment Track

Aaron Leibovic Managing Partner of Leibovic Law Group

Aaron is an attorney who co-founded and manages Health Advocates and Leibovic Law Group. Aaron has supported and been active on the boards of many Jewish organizations:

Camp Ramah, Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Sinai Temple, Sinai Akiba Academy, Milken Community Schools, BJE and Federation. Aaron was chairperson of Milken and Sinai Akiba Academy and held positions on other boards. Aaron grew up in New York and lives in Brentwood. He and his wife, Sheila, have three daughters and two granddaughters.

Howard Davine Former Executive Vice-President, ABC Studios

For over 20 years, Howard served as the chief business executive and deal-maker for ABC Studios, guiding its expansion into becoming one of the industry’s premiere television

content creators across broadcast, pay and basic cable and on video-on-demand platforms. Among his duties was oversight of the business affairs teams for ABC Studios, ABC Signature Studios and ABC Studios International, managing the negotiation of the studios’ agreements with actors, writers, producers and directors and with the myriad of networks and platforms licensing the studios’ programming.

Ryan Cohen Animation Compositor, Rick and Morty LLC

Ryan Cohen is a Chicago native with over a decade of professional video production experience. He has had the good fortune of working on a wide range of projects: animation,

news, documentaries, corporate videos, short films, music videos, and social events. The roles he has played are just as varied: writing, producing, directing, editing, compositing, and shooting. Ryan’s most notable work has been as an Animation Compositor on Netflix’s Disenchantment and Adult Swim’s Rick and Morty.

Gabrielle Doheny Senior Business Relationship Manager, National Football League

Gabrielle Doheny is a Business Relationship Manager for the National Football League. In this past year, she has also completed the

first draft of a novel and produced a play. She holds a BS in Film Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Whenever possible, Gabrielle can be found checking out the latest musical coming through town.

Michael Fishman Co-Founder, President, Pure Cycles

Michael Fishman is the Co-Founder and President of Pure Cycles, a bicycle manufacturer, distributor, and retailer based in Burbank, CA. He was a member of Forbes’ 30

under 30 in 2014. Michael holds a BA in Business from University of Wisconsin-Madison. A native of Los Angeles, Michael loves spending time with his wife, 2-year-old daughter, and dog, as well as shooting hoops, playing tennis, and riding his bike.

Jonathan Anschell Executive Vice President, Viacom CBS Media Networks

Jonathan Anschell is Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Viacom CBS Media Networks. Jonathan is past Chair of The Jewish

Federation’s Legal Network, a past member of the Federation’s Board of Directors, and an alumnus of The Jewish Federations of North America’s National Young Leadership Cabinet. Currently, Jonathan is Co-Chair of the Federation’s King David Society and a member of the executive committee of the American Jewish Committee’s Los Angeles region.

Lynne Himelstein Co-Director of the Story Archive of Women Rabbis Chair of the Board of the Jewish Women’s Theatre in Los Angeles

Lynne is Co-Chair of Lion of Judah Endowment for The Jewish Federation and on the Board

of Directors for Jewish Women’s Archive. She served as Lion of Judah Endowment Co-Chair for National Women’s Philanthropy, State Public Affairs Chair for NCJW for Indiana, Women’s Campaign Chair for the Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Campaign Chair of the Federation of Greater Indianapolis, Governmental Affairs Chair for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Indiana, and on the Board of Directors for the JCC of Indianapolis.

Kevin Bernet Chief Operating Officer & Head of Fabric, Pre-Cut, and Garment Divisions, Bernet International

Kevin was born in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia) and attended the University of Leeds in England.

He graduated in 1981 with a dual degree in Textile Management and Finance. Kevin joined Bernet International in 1986 after completing his CPA degree. He has focused his 35 years of textile industry experience in the area of fabric production and logistics.



Class of 2020


Joshua Forman Screenwriter

Joshua Forman is a recent graduate of UCLA’s prestigious MFA Screenwriting program who has written nearly a dozen original feature films and pilots. Originally hailing from Boston,

Joshua also holds a BA in Political Studies from Bard College. A big fan of Boston-area sports teams, he can be found most Sundays during the fall at Sonny Maclean’s bar in Santa Monica, that rare enclave of New England expats here in Los Angeles.

Sarah Herman Digital Account Manager, Club Media Group, National Football League Sarah Herman is an experienced digital media manager with a strong background in the sports industry. A Los Angeles native, she

holds both her undergraduate and graduate degrees from USC. She currently works at the National Football League, advising the 32 Club executive teams on their digital/social strategies and initiatives. Sarah is active in her Jewish community, serving as a community representative with JDC Entwine and as Vice President of the Jewish National Fund’s young professionals board in Los Angeles.

David Kashi Freelance Producer/Actor

Born in NYC and a New Yorker at heart, David received his MSC in journalism from Northwestern University. Working as a journalist for several publications, David

covered international affairs and national security. He later transitioned into the entertainment field where he worked as a research producer and member of the creative team on truTV’s Adam Ruins Everything. David performs improv and sketch, while developing/creating his own content with a focus on satirical non-fiction/docus.

Ron Nessim Principal, Bird Marella

Ron is a trial attorney specializing in civil litigation, including representing talent in disputes with major Hollywood studios, and white-collar criminal defense. Ron’s

philanthropic endeavors include serving as past chair/current executive committee member of the Sephardic Educational Center in Jerusalem, past board/executive committee member of Camp Ramah of California, past coordinator of Sinai Temple Family Minyan, past board member of Sephardic Temple Tiffereth Israel, and past member of the Sinai Akiba Committee.

Annie Spar Writer

Annie was the COO for The Social Investment Consultancy, worked in the Marketing Departments at New York Telephone NYNEX and Verizon, and served as a member on

the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services, and on the Federation’s Westchester Board. She is currently writing her first novel. Annie is also on the West Coast Regional Advisory Board of Sharsheret, the Board of The Alliance for Middle East Peace, and the President of Temple Beth Am’s Sisterhood. Annie and husband Elon have three children.

Willie Mercer Partner, Thruline Entertainment

Willie, a graduate of McGill Law School, started his career at the Just for Laughs Montreal International Comedy Festival, serving as Director of Talent Development. In 1996, he

formed Rozon-Mercer Management, which merged with Thruline Entertainment in 2006. Willie’s producing credits include the documentary Believer, which premiered at Sundance in 2018 and earned an Emmy nomination, the Comedy Central series Roast Battle, the Netflix series Bumping Mics, Fox pilot Detour, and the upcoming Universal Pictures romantic comedy, Marry Me.



Class of 2020


Jason Katchen Senior Manager, OnPrem Solution Partners

Jason Katchen is a member of the senior leadership team at OnPrem Solution Partners — a leading strategy and management consulting firm within the media and entertainment

industry. He works with major studios’ senior executives to create innovative solutions to evolving industry challenges and manages programs relating to consumer-facing product development and launches, organizational change management, process improvement and post-merger organizational integration. Jason holds a BA in Economics and minor in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

Gillian Kaye Manager, CBS Television Distribution

Gillian is a Manager of Branded Content at CBS Brand Studio, a division of CBS Television Distribution. Gillian previously worked on the Daytime Emmy Award-winning production team

of The Dr. Oz Show. She is an ambitious creative who is a skilled writer and spends her personal time tracking industry trends, listening to podcasts, and watching terrible reality television. In 2012, she graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication.

Jessica Lewis Marketing Lead, Facebook Watch

Jessica Lewis is an entertainment marketer/producer and Philly native. An early start in NY theater production evolved into an arts marketing career in Australia. She now brings

streaming platforms and originals to market around the world. Among the more memorable and dramatic highlights: launching Facebook Watch and Netflix’s The Crown/Making a Murderer; producing an original musical alongside Whoopi Goldberg. Traveling to remote places, theater, and city-hopping top the hobbies list.

Stewart Brookman Attorney, HJTH

Stewart Brookman’s practice encompasses all aspects of the feature film and television businesses, including the representation of actors, directors, writers, producers, and

strategic financiers. Outside of the office, Stewart enjoys spending time with his family, working with various charitable organizations, and playing competitive tennis.

Allison Gingold Chair, L’Dor V’Dor, Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy, The Jewish Federation

Allison serves as the LA Affiliate for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation and as a member of the Greater LA Advocacy Committee of

the American Heart Association, receiving the AHA Outstanding Advocacy Award. She serves on the Executive Board for the SAM Initiative, benefitting women, children, and families. She was President of University Women of American Jewish University for three years. Her biggest and most rewarding achievement is being married to Randall Gingold and together raising their four beautiful children.

Joannie Burstein President, The Burstein Company

Joannie Burstein is the President of The Burstein Company, a personal management and production company. Joannie graduated from UCLA with a BA in Communication Studies.

She worked as an agent before founding her own management company in 1994, representing talent and producing film and television projects. Joannie is a lecturer at UCLA, a board member for UCLA’s Semel Institute, and has served as a board member and mentor for Women in Film.



Class of 2020


Tanya Mashian Director of Finance and Operations, Digital Brand Products

Tanya Mashian is the Director of Finance & Operations for Digital Brand Products, a subsidiary company of United Talent Agency,

that specializes in product ventures. She is a CPA with a BA in Accounting from USC. Tanya has prior experience at Deloitte under the audit division and Fox Entertainment Group where she was involved in the Fox-Disney merger.

Leah Penkava Account Manager, HBO

Leah Penkava is a Marketing Manager at WarnerMedia driving HBO subscriptions for the company’s largest distributor as well as launching HBO Max, the new streaming

experience from WarnerMedia. She attended List College in NYC and earned a BA in Sociology from Columbia University and a BA in Jewish Studies from The Jewish Theological Seminary. Even though she considers herself an indoor cat, in the last 3 years she’s been to France, Greece, Argentina, Germany, and spent a month traveling around Africa!

Jonah Platt Actor/Writer/Director, Plattinum Records Inc.

Jonah Platt is a multi-platform creator and performer, working across many facets of the entertainment industry. He has starred on Broadway, written for network television,

rocked out on stages all across L.A., directed and composed new works for the theater, and produced all manner of content from award-winning a cappella albums to digital pilots to animated shorts to live comedy. Born and raised in L.A., Jonah is a sushi connoisseur, labradoodle owner, and a new dad.

Scott Beiser Chief Executive Officer, Houlihan Lokey

Scott is the CEO of Houlihan Lokey, an international investment banking firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, financial restructurings, and business

valuations. Scott earned both a BS and MS in Finance from the College of Business and Economics at California State University, Northridge. Scott has been active with a variety of organizations including AIPAC, Birthright, iTrek, The American Cancer Society, and The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. Scott is married and has two kids.

Julie Platt Immediate Past Chair of the Board, The Jewish FederationNational Security Campaign Chair

Julie has served as Federation’s General Campaign Chair, Chair of Ensuring the Jewish

Future Strategic Initiative, and Chair of Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy. She is on the Executive Committee of The Jewish Federations of North America and is Chair of the Board of the Foundation for Jewish Camp. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Julie also serves on its Board of Trustees and Executive Committee. She and her husband Marc have five children and five grandchildren.

Jacob Fenton Partner, United Talent Agency

Jacob is a Partner and Talent Agent at UTA. Raised in Portland, Oregon, he attended the University of Washington, earning a BA in Marketing & Entrepreneurship. Jacob is a past

president of the Junior Hollywood Radio and Television Society. He is the Mentor Chair of the CLI Advisory Committee, on the honorary board for Much Love Animal Rescue, and involved with The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Jacob resides in Los Angeles with his husband and their rescue dog.



Class of 2020


Danielle Robay TV Host + Reporter, NBC4

Danielle Robay is a journalist, currently an anchor + correspondent for IMDb and NBC4-LA. You’ve seen her on national TV programs like HLN’s Dr. Drew, E!, EXTRA, and The Steve Harvey

Show. In 2016, Danielle was named co-host of the Chicago-based, live morning news program The Jam, making her the youngest morning TV host in Chicago’s history. With a loyal social following of 250,000, she’s interviewed the biggest names in Hollywood — from Taylor Swift and Michael B. Jordan to Helen Mirren and Tom Hanks.

Charlotte Sandler Associate Manager, The Wonderful Company

Charlotte Sandler is an associate manager within corporate communications at The Wonderful Company. She handles public relations for FIJI Water, Wonderful Pistachios,

JUSTIN Wine, Teleflora, JNSQ, and Landmark Wines. Charlotte holds a BBA degree from New York Institute of Technology, where she studied marketing. Originally from Boston, MA, she has lived in London, NYC, and L.A.

Lauren Soroky Brand Marketing & Strategic Partnerships Consultant

Lauren Soroky started her career at Endeavor, where she most recently served as Director of Marketing for Endeavor Content. Prior to this

role, she worked in IMG’s Brand Partnerships division, and began in WME’s TV department. She currently consults for various companies across entertainment. Lauren graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a BA in Communications and Media Studies.

Debi Graboff Co-Chair of the Legal Network, The Jewish Federation

Debi is Co-Chair of The Jewish Federation’s Legal Network and a recipient of the Doris Factor award. She has held a myriad of

positions on the Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy Cabinet, recently serving as Co-Chair in 2016 and 2017. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Federation and Co-Chair of its Community Leadership Institute (CLI). Debi is a family law mediator and consultant. She and her husband Marc live in Pacific Palisades and have two married daughters, a son, and a one-year-old granddaughter.

Lynne Brookman Co-Chair of Past Chairs, Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy, The Jewish Federation

Lynne serves on the Federation’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Her many leadership positions within the Federation

include Lion of Judah Chair, Ruby Chair, Chai Chair, Brentwood Country Club Chair, L’Dor V’Dor Chair, and Lion of Judah Conference Co-Chair. Lynne was the inaugural recipient of the Doris Factor Leadership Award. In 2018, she became a mentor for the Community Leadership Institute (CLI) and served on the PK-12 committee. She is also a board member of Women’s Guild Cedars-Sinai. Lynne and her husband Stewart have two grown children.

Marc Graboff President, Global Business/Legal Affairs, Production Management and Studios, Discovery, Inc.

Prior to his work at Discovery, Inc., Marc served as president of CORE Media Group, Inc. and

chief business affairs executive and President of West Coast Business Operations for NBC Universal Television Entertainment. He held executive positions at CBS, the law firm of Troop, Meisinger, Steuber and Pasich, and was a founding partner of Silverberg, Katz, Thompson and Braun. Marc graduated from UCLA with a bachelor’s degree in communications studies and graduated from Loyola Law School.



Class of 2020


Alana Wexler VP of Sales + Partner, SMI Promotional Products Alana Wexler is the Vice President of Sales and a Partner at SMI Promotional Products, a company specializing in concert tour merchandise and branded promotional items.

She has a BA from Columbia College Chicago in fashion and retail management, applying her skills to creative VIP packages and logo products for top musical acts and brands. Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Alana now firmly calls L.A. home. She loves hiking with her dog Roxi, yoga, exploring the L.A. food scene, and rocking out at a concert.

Michele Wunderlich Publicist, Netflix

Michele is a publicist at Netflix where she executes global publicity campaigns for original series including The Crown, The Kominsky Method, and Orange is the New Black, among

others. She holds a BA in Psychology with secondary emphasis in Spanish and Latin American Cultures from Barnard College of Columbia University and completed the Harvard Business School HBX program in Business Analytics, Economics and Financial Accounting. Michele enjoys fulfilling L.A. stereotypes by doing a lot of yoga, hiking, and being an unabashed lover of kombucha and avocados.

Oran Zegman Director/Writer, ZigZag Films

Oran Zegman is an Israeli writer-director based in Los Angeles. She graduated from Beit-Zvi, the school for the performing arts in Israel, and holds an MFA in Film Directing from

the American Film Institute Conservatory. Her film MARRIAGE MATERIAL was a Student Academy Awards finalist, was acquired by Fox Searchlight, and is now being developed as a series for Quibi. In Israel, Oran acted in various TV shows and owned a theater school for children for 10 years.

Bruce Gersh EVP/President, PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly, PEOPLE en Espanol and Four M Studios at Meredith Corporation Prior to his position at Meredith Corporation, Bruce served as Executive VP at ITV Studios

America, Managing Director at Allison + Partners, Senior VP at the William Morris Agency, and as Senior VP at the Disney-ABC Television Group. He and the ABC.com team received an Interactive Television Emmy. He graduated from CSUN with a degree in Business Administration, Accounting Theory and Practice. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

Terri Smooke Board Member, UCLA Ronald Reagan Hospital; Trustee, MOCA; Board Member, JDC; Board of Governors Member, Cedars-Sinai

Terri is currently involved in the following organizations: MOCA, UCLA Ronald Reagan

Hospital, JDC, Beverly Hills Fine Art Commission, and Cedars-Sinai. In the past, Terri has been involved with The Jewish Federation as Women’s Campaign Chair, the Planning & Allocations Chair, the Community Engagement Chair, and the Chair of Leadership 2000. Additionally, she served as Chair of Beverly Hills Fine Art Commission and LACMA Modern and Contemporary Art Council.

Aaron Kogan Manager/Producer, Aaron Kogan Management

Aaron represents creative talents and storytellers through his management and production company, Aaron Kogan Management. Aaron’s Federation involvement includes serving

as Young Leadership Co-Chair of the Entertainment Division and Co-Chair of Young Adult Engagement & Leadership Development Committee; serving on the CLI Advisory Committee; co-founding/co-chairing The Network Leadership Alumni Committee; and currently serving on the Federation’s Community Engagement Committee and the Entertainment Media and Communication Network Leadership Committee. Aaron is an L.A. native married to Amanda Kogan and has two daughters.



Class of 2020


Class of 2020


Courtney Brodie Real Estate Leadership Track Chair

Courtney Brodie is the Director of Leasing for Southern California for Retail Opportunity Investments Corp (ROIC), a retail real estate investment

trust. Courtney holds a BS in Business Management from University of Arizona. Courtney is a past participant and co-chair of the ADL Glass Leadership Institute and is on the board of the ICSC Next Gen for Los Angeles.

Ben Feingold Real Estate Leadership Track Chair

Ben Feingold is Director at Grayslake Advisors, an expert witness and litigation support firm specializing in the areas of real estate, finance, and economics, as well as

an adjunct lecturer at USC. Ben holds a BA in Public Policy from the University of Michigan and a Master of Planning from USC, and he is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics at Claremont Graduate University.

Noah Applebaum Realtor, Rodeo Realty

Noah Applebaum is a real estate agent at Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills. He garnered over $13 million in sales during his first 18 months of work in real estate. Noah holds a BA in

International Affairs from the University of Colorado Boulder. Before working in real estate, Noah worked in the White House Liaisons Office at the Department of Homeland Security in Washington D.C. In his free time, Noah loves to cook and explore the outdoors with his two dogs Leo and Gracie.

Jeremy Basloe Vice President of Acquisitions, Equity Residential

Jeremy Basloe is the Vice President of Acquisitions at Equity Residential where he covers direct acquisitions, joint ventures, and

preferred equity origination for multifamily assets in Southern California. He previously spent three years in Europe working in real estate private equity. Jeremy started his career in NYC with Rialto Capital working within distressed debt. He has an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid and a BBA from CUNY Baruch in NYC.



Real Estate Leadership Track

Andrew KirshFounding Partner, Sklar Kirsh LLP

Andrew T. Kirsh is a founding partner of Sklar Kirsh LLP and is the Chair of the firm’s real estate practice. Andrew’s practice involves all aspects of the real estate industry, including

acquisitions, dispositions, equity investments, syndications, fund formation, development, leasing, financing, note purchases, and foreclosures. Andrew is active in the local community — serving on The Jewish Federation’s Real Estate Cabinet and active within Brentwood Country Club. Andrew was selected to become a member of Young Presidents Organization – Malibu Chapter.

Steven Gordon Chairman/Owner, Domino Realty

Steven C. Gordon is Chairman and principal owner of Domino Realty since 1970 and is actively involved in the acquisition, development, and management of over $1

billion worth of California real estate consisting of commercial, residential, and industrial properties. Steven is involved in community activities on the Real Estate Board and Cedars-Sinai’s Board of Governors; as a director of the Grand Foundation and a member of the American Conference of Christians and Jews; and in creating the nonprofit Public Education Program.

Max Berger Investment Associate, Compass

Max Berger is a commercial real estate agent on the Kenny Stevens Team at Compass, focusing on multifamily properties in the Hollywood and West Hollywood areas. He

is a graduate of USC with a degree in Business and Applied Mathematics. As an L.A. native, Max prides himself on his thorough knowledge of the city, which allows him to glean insights for his clients and help them maximize their returns.

Josh Bloch Investments, Columbus Pacific Properties Josh Bloch runs investments for Mountain Pacific Opportunity Partners and its precursor Mountain Capital Partners. Prior to his current role, Bloch worked on the student housing/

retail acquisitions team for Columbus Pacific. His former jobs include Acquisitions Associate at DFS Flooring Inc. and Acquisitions Analyst at JRK Property Holdings. Bloch holds a bachelor’s degree in Business/Finance from Queens University of Charlotte, where he was recruited on a tennis scholarship from Johannesburg, South Africa. He is also a California Licensed Real Estate salesperson.

Daniella Cohan Associate, RealtyMogul

Daniella Cohan is an Associate at RealtyMogul, one of the nation’s largest real estate crowdfunding platforms. Prior to this role, she was a Financial Analyst on the Real Estate

team in the Tel Aviv headquarters of Mindspace, a coworking startup, and was subsequently an Acquisitions Analyst at real estate consulting firm RCLCO. Daniella is a graduate of USC with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and concentration in Finance.

Shahram Ravan, MD Cardiology Specialist Dr. Ravan was born in France and lived in Israel and Iran before settling in the U.S. He has been in private practice as a cardiologist for over 40 years. As President of Olympia Medical

Center from 2004 to 2014, Dr. Ravan was closely involved in the turnaround of the 200-bed hospital. He has also worked in real estate development with his family for over 25 years. Dr. Ravan and his wife Soheila have three children and actively support a number of charitable Jewish organizations in Los Angeles.

Alan Epstein Managing Director, MSD Real Estate

Alan Epstein is a Managing Director on the MSD Capital, L.P. Real Estate team. He joined MSD in 2004 from The Voit Companies and MJW Investments where he served as President and

COO, and as Chief Operating Officer, respectively. Prior to that, Mr. Epstein served as Development Manager with Tooley & Company Investment Builders and as Vice President, Southern California for Disney Development Company. He received his undergraduate degrees from MIT and graduate degrees from Stanford Business School and Stanford Law School.

Melissa Bordy Chief Financial Officer, Held Properties, Inc.

Melissa Held Bordy is the CFO of Held Properties, Inc., a family-owned developer, owner, and operator of office, medical, and multifamily buildings in the Western United

States. Melissa has been in the banking, finance, and real estate arena for almost 40 years. She sits on the boards of the American Jewish University and Honeymoon Israel, is a board adviser to The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, and sits on the finance committee of Team Rubicon.



Class of 2020


Maxx Cohen Vice President, Cohen Asset Management

Maxx Cohen is Vice President of Acquisitions at Cohen Asset Management, Inc., a national industrial real estate investment and development company. He spent four years as

an investment sales broker at CBRE before moving to his current position. Maxx was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from USC. When not working, Maxx enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, playing tennis, cooking, and playing guitar.

Sharona Daneshrad Associate, Bocarsly Emden Cowan Esmail & Arndt LLP

Sharona Daneshrad is a real estate finance attorney at Bocarsly Emden Cowan Esmail & Arndt LLP where she represents investors

and developers in connection with the acquisition, financing, and syndication of projects utilizing the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Sharona holds a BA in Psychology with a minor in Education from UCLA and a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles.

Bronte Dardashty Senior Associate, Properties 12

Bronte Dardashty is a Senior Associate at Properties12, her family investment group and property management company based out of Los Angeles. She is also involved in building

an organic and natural foods company under the brand Nature’s Greatest Foods. She holds a BS in Business Administration from the Questrom School of Business at Boston University. Bronte enjoys playing beach volleyball on the weekends and salsa dancing at different venues around Los Angeles.

Jeff Friedman Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer, Mesa West Capital Jeff Friedman is Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Mesa West Capital, which was formed in 2004 and sold to Morgan Stanley in 2017. Before co-

founding Mesa West, Mr. Friedman spent three years at Maguire Partners as a Principal and was part of the team that led the firm’s $800 million IPO. Jeff received a bachelor’s degree from UCLA and a master’s degree in Applied Economics and JD from the University of Michigan.

Melissa Bordy Chief Financial Officer, Held Properties, Inc.

Melissa Held Bordy is the CFO of Held Properties, Inc., a family-owned developer, owner, and operator of office, medical, and multifamily buildings in the Western United

States. Melissa has been in the banking, finance, and real estate arena for almost 40 years. She sits on the boards of the American Jewish University and Honeymoon Israel, is a board adviser to The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation, and sits on the finance committee of Team Rubicon.

Loryn Arkow Partner, Stroock

Loryn Dunn Arkow is a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group at Stroock. She has extensive experience handling acquisitions and dispositions, joint ventures, lending and other

finance transactions, recapitalizations, and workouts. Clients turn to Loryn for counsel on structuring complex transactions and in finding creative strategies to get deals done. The Los Angeles Business Journal honored Loryn as Real Estate Attorney of the Year in 2019, and she has been recognized by Super Lawyers and The Legal 500.



Class of 2020


Oren Fishman Associate, Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP

Oren Fishman is a real estate attorney at Winston & Strawn LLP where he advises banks, debt funds, insurance companies, opportunity funds, real estate investment

trusts, and others regarding various type of real estate deals involving commercial real estate. Oren holds a BA from San Diego State University and a Juris Doctorate from UCLA Law.

Kate Gottlieb Principal, Real Estate Affiliates, Inc.

Kate Gottlieb is a Principal at Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a family office specializing in the development and redevelopment of retail properties. Prior to her career in commercial

real estate, Kate worked in the entertainment industry as a publicist for The Weinstein Company. Kate received her BA in Theatre Arts from California Polytechnic State Institute, San Luis Obispo.

David Hammerman Vice President, Fortress

David currently serves as Vice President on the real estate equity team at Fortress. David was previously a VP at Mack Real Estate and ICONIQ Capital and an Associate at Blackstone. David

holds a BSBA from Georgetown University where he graduated with a dual major in Finance and International Business and was given the Joseph S. Sebes award for service to the University. David continues to stay involved with Georgetown via his involvement on its Real Estate Associate Advisory Board.

Michael Sorochinsky Founder, CEO, Cypress Equity Investments As Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Michael Sorochinsky is the visionary of CEI and the driving force behind the company’s $5 billion real estate portfolio. Michael’s investment

strategies, business philosophy, and transaction execution diligence has brought about substantial annualized returns to equity. Michael’s background gives him a unique perspective into real estate finance and an in-depth understanding of real estate cycles, which he has successfully timed since 2001. Michael received his JD from the UCLA School of Law.

Sandy SigalChairman, CEO, President, Founder, NewMark Merrill Companies

Sandy Sigal is the Chairman, Founder, and CEO of NewMark Merrill Companies. Since NewMark Merrill’s inception in 1977, he has developed

and/or managed and repositioned over 100 additional retail centers. Mr. Sigal serves as a mentor for young adults interested in real estate through The Jewish Federation’s Community Leadership Institute (CLI). Mr. Sigal also served on the Board of the Camp Bob Waldorf Foundation, a camp for underserved children that Mr. Sigal attended as a child.

Bob Held Chief Executive Officer, Held Properties

Robert Held has more than 41 years of expertise in construction management, finance, tenant leasing, and institutional coordination. As a licensed general contractor and a licensed

real estate broker, Robert has provided services in construction completion, project workouts, marketing, and property management and sales for more than two million square feet of commercial and residential properties throughout the U.S. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Junior Blind of America.



Class of 2020


Anna Josephson Vice President, Jones Lang LaSalle

Anna Josephson is the Vice President in the Industrial Capital Markets practice for the Western United States at Jones Lang LaSalle. The Industrial Capital Markets practice

specializes in industrial investment sales and industrial re-capitalizations for real estate clients. Anna holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a focus on real estate from the University of North Texas. Originally from Belarus, Anna enjoys practicing her Russian and taking boxing classes, but never at the same time.

Max LehrmanVice President, Lehrco

Max Lehrman is the Vice President of Lehrco Corporation, a private Washington D.C.-based retail real estate development and management company. Max holds a BA

in History from Amherst College, where he was also an all-conference, all academic, and championship football player. A Washington D.C. native, Max now calls Los Angeles home. He enjoys traveling, playing golf, and attending sporting events and concerts in his spare time.

Eli Macanian VP, Asset Management, RealtyMogul

Eli Macanian is a VP of Asset Management at RealtyMogul.com, one of the nation’s largest real estate crowdfunding platforms. Eli is responsible for asset management of the

firm’s General Partner equity business, which includes multifamily investments across the U.S. Eli holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Arizona and a certification in Real Estate Finance and Investment from New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate.

Aliza Guren Chief Executive Officer, Karney Properties CO Aliza Karney Guren is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Owner of Karney Properties Co. The company develops, owns, and operates industrial, office, and mixed-use developments,

primarily in Southern California. Guren assumed her position in 2003 and sets the overall strategy for the company. She is also a board member of the Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s largest and most active theater companies. She is and has been on several other nonprofit boards.

David Schwartzman President and CEO, Harridge Development Group

David Schwartzman is the majority owner of the Harridge Development Group. To date, Mr. Schwartzman has successfully built over 6,000 homes including condominiums and

single-family properties and developed over 5,000 lots and mixed-use developments. In addition, Mr. Schwartzman is a generous supporter of The University of Judaism, Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind, the American Cancer Society, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Guardians of the Jewish Home for the Aged, and The Jewish Federation. In 2004, he was honored by the Hollywood/Los Angeles Beautification Team and received their Business Leader Recognition Award.

Marc Rohatiner Partner, Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, LLP

Currently a partner at Wolf, Rifkin, Shapiro, Schulman & Rabkin, Marc has 35 years of experience as a civil trial lawyer. Marc has been

responsible for all types of general business litigation, including real estate, securities, insurance bad faith, title insurance, lender liability, employment, unfair competition, professional negligence, common interest development, construction, and entertainment cases. Marc first received his bachelor’s degree summa cum laude and phi beta kappa and later his Juris Doctor from the University of California, Berkeley.



Class of 2020


Danny Matz Director, Mission Capital Advisors

Danny Matz is a Director with the Debt and Equity Finance group at Mission Capital Advisors, a boutique commercial real estate capital markets advisory firm. Danny moved

to L.A. from New York City to grow the west coast office for Mission Capital. Danny holds a bachelor’s in General Studies from the University of Michigan and a master’s in Real Estate Finance from NYU. When not working, Danny is most likely on the tennis court or planning his next ski trip.

Lauren Miller Principal, Modern Art Services

Lauren Miller is principal of Modern Art Services, a full-service art consulting firm providing fine art solutions for individuals and corporations. She received her BA in Art History from Loyola

Marymount University and is an L.A. native. Along with her professional life, Lauren enjoys giving back to the community and plays an active role in The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. In her free time, you’ll find Lauren skiing, baking, hiking, and spending time with her friends, family, and rescue pup Sterling Ruby.

Joshua Natker Senior Associate, Gantry, Inc.

Josh Natker is a Senior Associate at Gantry, Inc., the largest privately held mortgaging banking company in the western United States. Josh focuses on life insurance, CMBS, and bank

debt origination. Josh is an L.A. native and holds a BS in Finance with Real Estate & International Business minors from The Pennsylvania State University. In his free time, Josh is an avid sailor.

Randy Banchik Principal, Banchik Investments Randy is currently the Principal of Banchik Investments, a Los Angeles-based, real estate-focused family office. In addition, Randy has served in many philanthropic leadership

roles, including as a steering committee member for The Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership Development Institute, as well as President of the Young Men’s Division and 70th Anniversary Co-Chair for the Guardians of the Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging. His family, which includes his wife Jannell and three children, resides in Santa Monica.

Orna Wolens General Campaign Chair, Member of the Board of Directors, The Jewish Federation

Orna currently serves as General Campaign Chair of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and as a member of the Board

of Directors of The Jewish Federation, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Women’s Philanthropy, and the LA Museum of Contemporary Art. She serves on the Federation’s Campaign Cabinet and Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee. In addition, she is a member of the LA County Museum of Art Contemporary Acquisitions Committee and the Hammer Circle.

Keenan Wolens Chief Executive Officer, Amir Development Co.

Keenan Wolens is the Chief Executive Officer of Amir Development Co., a real estate company based in Beverly Hills, CA. He serves on the National Council of AIPAC, the Board of Trustees

of the Jewish Community Foundation, the Board of the American Jewish University (where he is a member of the Executive Committee and the Advisory Board of the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies), and the Board of the UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate.



Class of 2020


Danny Orland Director of Investments, Gelt Inc.

Danny Orland works in acquisitions and asset management for Mountain Pacific Opportunity Partners, a capital provider to multifamily developers and operators in the western U.S.

He is a licensed CPA and a CFA Charterholder. Danny received his BS in Business Administration and Master of Accounting from USC. Danny is an L.A. native who enjoys golfing and cycling when possible. When he’s not on the course or on his bike, he enjoys playing the guitar and going to see live music.

Yossi Reinstein Principal, Fulton Kitchens, LLC

Yossi Reinstein is a real estate developer with a niche focus on acquiring distressed industrial assets and repurposing them into multi-tenant commercial kitchen incubators.

The transformation of these decrepit warehouses into vibrant businesses has been applauded by local food communities and economic development departments in cities such as Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, and Las Vegas. Yossi grew up in Boston, attended the University of Arizona, and now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Hannah and son Walter.

Adam Scherr Senior Broker, Sands Investment Group

Adam is a Senior Broker with the Sands Investment Group (SIG), a commercial real estate brokerage focused on net lease investments. Last year SIG completed nearly

$2 billion transactions on a nationwide basis. Originally from Washington D.C., Adam holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Vermont. Adam’s tastes vary widely from a night out at Geffen Theatre with his wife Marlyse to offshore fishing.

Howard Banchik Partner, Westwood Financial Corp Howard Banchik has been part of the CLI program since its inauguration and is a founding Partner of Westwood Financial Corp. Howard is also a founding board member of

www.harmony-project.org whose mission is to utilize music to help children develop character traits. Howard lost his wife of 50 years in 2016 and is very proud of his family, including his two married children, Randy and Jannell Banchik and Anissa and Tim Siegel. Howard has six grandchildren.

Mark Weinstein President, Founder, MJW Investments

Mark is the majority owner of the MJW Investment’s $800 million diversified real estate holdings. Mark has led the firm’s strategic growth into student housing and has amassed

a large portfolio of properties throughout the country. Mark has maintained active associations and leadership with numerous civic and philanthropic groups including a three-year term as Chair of The Jewish Federation’s Real Estate & Construction Network and active associations with the Young Presidents Organization within the Guardians, an agency dedicated to serving the elderly.

Jesse Sharf Partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Jesse Sharf is a partner at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcherand Co-Chair of the Real Estate Department, and he sits on the Executive Committee. Jesse is a member of the Real

Estate & Construction Network and a former member of the Board of Trustees of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, the Founder of the Los Angeles real estate division of AIPAC, and is on the Board of Trustees of NYU Law School and the advisory board of JTS.



Class of 2020


Jordan Sharf Partner, Arileus Capital

Jordan is a partner at Arileus Capital, a private real estate investment firm focusing on retail in the western U.S. Jordan is responsible for executing the company’s vision, spearheading

equity relationships, and overseeing acquisitions for the firm. Prior to Arileus, Jordan worked as the Director of Acquisitions for JS Western Retail Investments, acquiring real estate investments and helping oversee the company’s portfolio of over $100 million in total assets. Jordan received a bachelor’s degree in counterterrorism and conflict resolution from IDC in Israel.

Michael Toveg Senior Vice President, Stepp Commercial

Michael Toveg is a commercial real estate broker and Senior Vice President of Stepp Commercial. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Regional Development

and a minor in Business. Born and raised in Valencia, CA, Michael immediately started working after college and has been a real estate professional for almost 10 years. Michael spends most of his free time by the beach, trying new restaurants and winning over his little nephews as “the Favorite Uncle.”

Larry Jacobson President/Chief Executive Officer, The Jacobson Company Larry Jacobson is President and CEO of The Jacobson Company, a private real estate investment company with a 50-year tradition

of acquiring and operating conventional multifamily and student housing throughout the Western United States. Prior to assuming leadership of TJC in 2012, Mr. Jacobson had served as an officer of the company and co-general partner of its various partnerships since the early 1990s. Mr. Jacobson literally started on the ground floor, managing properties while attending law school.

Greg Fishman Co-Managing Shareholder, Greenberg Traurig

Gregory Fishman is the Co-Managing Shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Los Angeles office and Co-Chair of the firm’s Los Angeles Real Estate Practice. Greg’s finance-related

work spans the representation of both financial institutions and borrowers in connection with construction, mezzanine, and general secured real estate financings, including loan workouts and restructurings. Additionally, Greg represents restaurant groups in connection with brand acquisition, investment and capital-raising, intellectual property, and leasing of space.



Class of 2020


Class of 2020


Elham Makabi Universal Leadership Track Chair

Elham Makabi is the Director of Finance at Pressman Academy of Temple Beth Am. Prior to joining the Academy, Elham was a Senior Associate at Duff & Phelps, where she

provided financial services and valuations to various Fortune 500 companies. Elham started her career as an Internal Audit Consultant at Deloitte. Aside from her professional background, Elham has served many Jewish organizations in a volunteer/philanthropic capacity, some of which include BJE, 30 Years After, and Chai Lifeline.

Shirley Pakdaman Universal Leadership Track Chair

Shirley Pakdaman is a psychologist in private practice in Beverly Hills and consultant at a premier global law firm in DTLA. She holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from

Pepperdine and a BA in Communication Studies with honors from UCLA. Shirley completed an Advanced Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Los Angeles VA, healing depression, insomnia, anxiety, and trauma. Shirley has been a clinical professor at Pepperdine and is a published author in mindfulness and ethical supervision of psychology trainees.

Ofer Barlev Senior Associate, Citron & Deutsch

Brian’s career as an award-winning independent producer/director/editor spans feature-length documentaries for Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon to television shows and specials

for DIY, Great American Country, Comedy Central, and Showtime. In 2018, he founded Selects Media, a production company specializing in branded content and social media ad optimization for e-commerce and many Fortune 500 brands. Originally from Orlando, FL, Brian holds a BS in Communication from the University of Miami.

Rebecca Bolour Associate Attorney, Howe Engelbert LLP

Rebecca Bolour is a Family Law Attorney at Howe Engelbert LLP. She has been practicing Family Law exclusively since May of 2017. Rebecca worked as a Law Clerk at Trope

and Trope LLP and Elkins Kalt Weintraub Reuben Gartside LLP. During law school, Rebecca clerked for the Honorable Harvey A. Silberman. She received her law degree from Southwestern Law School and her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UCLA with a minor in Spanish.



Universal Leadership Track

Rob Gach SVP Wealth Management, UBS

Robert Gach is a Senior Vice President - Investments, Wealth Advisor and a Senior Managed Accounts Consultant with UBS Financial Services, Inc. Robert provides wealth

management services for affluent individuals and nonprofit entities. Currently, he chairs the Investment Committees of two major L.A. nonprofits and is a Past Chairman of the Board and President of the USC Hillel Foundation. He has also been involved with The Jewish Federation for many years.

Julia Gandelsman Attorney, Law Offices of Rosaline L. Zukerman

Julia was admitted to the bar in 1995 after graduating from Loyola Law School. After practicing civil litigation and immigration, Julia was introduced to family law when she started

working for the Law Offices of Rosaline L. Zukerman in 1999. The prospect of helping families through the most difficult time in their life appealed to Julia. Her ability to speak fluent Russian and Spanish allows her to serve clients who are more at ease communicating in these languages.

Warren Coughlin Account VP, UBS Wealth Management

Warren focuses on helping tech founders make smart financial decisions ahead of future liquidity events. On the side, he helps manage his family’s single-family home rental

portfolio in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science from George Mason University and earned a Certified Financial Planner designation from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Warren is active in serving on The Jewish Federation’s Young Adult Campaign Cabinet and is a founding member of November Project fitness community.

Mahrad Enayati Law Clerk, The Law Office of Daniel N. Greenbaum

Mahrad Enayati is a legal professional at The Law Office of Daniel N. Greenbaum, a law firm dedicated to protecting Californian’s health

and safety. Mahrad holds a BA in Sociology from the University of California, Davis and a Juris Doctorate from Southwestern Law School. Born in Iran and raised in Los Angeles, Mahrad loves exploring California’s great outdoors and the ever-changing Los Angeles food scene with his wife Jessica.

Brittany Erdan VP, Client Relations, SHIPSI

Brittany Erdan is the VP of Client Relations for SHIPSI, a technology startup in Silicon Beach that allows retailers to offer same-day delivery. Brittany holds a BA in Communications

and Business from Indiana University. She has always called Los Angeles home with the exception of spending half a year studying and volunteering in Australia and another half working and volunteering in Israel.

Jeff WolmanChief Executive Officer,Wolman Wealth Management

Jeffrey founded in 1993 and is the current CEO of Wolman Wealth Management. Wolman Wealth Management provides business

management services primarily for people in the entertainment business. Jeffrey was the Board Chair of Sinai Akiba Academy and on the Executive Committee of the Milken Community School as Treasurer. Jeffrey is currently a member of the board of the Foundation for Jewish Camp and additionally serves as the organization’s Treasurer and on its Executive Committee.

Jeff Levine Business Consultant

Jeff Levine is a business consultant specializing in executive coaching, team development, and strategic planning. Prior to his consulting practice, Mr. Levine was the owner and CEO of

United States Container Corporation, practiced as a civil litigation attorney, and was also a founder and served on the Board of Directors of 1st Enterprise Bank. He has been an active member of Valley Beth Shalom as a member of the Board of Directors and a past Chairman and President.

Kathy Guccione Women’s Campaign Chair, Member of the Board of Directors, The Jewish Federation

Kathy first joined the Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy Cabinet of The Jewish Federation in 2006. Since, she has served as Women’s

Campaign Chair and Women’s Philanthropy Co-Chair. Currently, she is a member of the Federation’s Board of Directors and serves on the Caring for Jews in Need committee. Kathy is also a National Women’s Philanthropy Board member and sits on the board of Career Up Now. With one of her daughters, Kathy owns Pinot’s Palette locations in Valencia and Encino.



Class of 2020


Andrew Herr CEO/Adjunct Professor, Kitt Bio/Georgetown University

Andrew is the Founder & CEO of Kitt Bio, a company that delivers cutting-edge products to eliminate jet lag, improve sleep, and enhance

everyday performance. Prior to this, he led biotech and human performance strategy efforts for the U.S. military and coached executives to enhance their performance. Andrew’s work has been profiled and published by Wired, Joint Force Quarterly, Defense News, and others, and he serves as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, where he teaches on advanced weapons technology.

Allie Kaminsky Global Ecommerce Specialist, Harman International

Allie Kaminsky is an eCommerce Product Manager for Harman International, a subsidiary of Samsung, leading all customer experience

initiatives. Allie holds a BS from Lehigh University’s College of Business & Economics. She grew up in Boston and spent a few years in NYC before moving across the country to Los Angeles. Allie is loving the L.A. sunny lifestyle — playing tennis, hiking, and finding the best sushi.

Yev Katkovsky Sr. Wealth Strategy Associate, UBS Financial Services

Yev Katkovsky was born in Poland and moved to Los Angeles at the age of 5. He is a senior wealth strategist in wealth management

at UBS. Yev holds a finance degree from the Eller Business School at the University of Arizona. He has a passion for trying new restaurants and new foods. He is also passionate about sports and is active in basketball, soccer, and boxing. Yev enjoys spending his free time with family and friends.

Greg HellerFounder and CEO, HCR Wealth Advisors

Greg is the Founder and CEO of HCR Wealth Advisors. His entrepreneurial acumen has steered the growth of the company over the last 20+ years into a multi-faceted, SEC

Registered Investment Advisory firm whose client investment portfolios total close to a billion dollars. HCR has expanded their advisory services and client roster to include many high net worth individuals in entertainment, sports, and the technology sectors as well as private corporations and nonprofit organizations.

Robbin SteifPresident, Sherlock Investments

Robbin is the President of Sherlock Investments and previously founded LunaMetrics, an internet consulting firm specializing in Analysis and Insight as well

as Digital Marketing Strategy. Robbin built the company from scratch to become a $10 million company with three-year CAGR of 43%. She also served as the CFO of Maya, a high-tech company engaged in technical design and software as well as the Founder and President of Send Me No Flowers, a nationwide direct response gift company.

Alan RosenPartner, Duane Morris LLP

Alan Rosen is a corporate attorney with Duane Morris LLP, specializing in bank regulatory and M&A. He has served on the Federation Board since 1994, as Vice Chair from 2014-15, and on

the Executive Committee from 2005-17. Previously, he chaired Planning &Allocations (P&A, predecessor to Strategic Planning & Distribution (SPD), Budget Review, the Valley Alliance, and chaired Finance &Administration (F&A). Alan currently serves on the F&A and SPD Committees and as a CLI mentor.



Class of 2020


Judith Khakshouy Founder, Law Offices of Judith Y. Khakshouy

Judith Khakshouy is an attorney who practices Personal Injury Law and recently decided to start her own practice. Judith has been written about in the Jewish Journal and the

LA Business Journal. When she is not practicing law, Judith is well-known in the community as the “Challahmaven.” She began baking challah to pray for her ill grandfather during law school, and soon after it turned into a passion of hers. She currently blogs on Instagram under the account @challahmaven.

Itay Kohane Psychotherapist

Itay moved to the U.S. to finish his doctorate in Clinical Psychology following eight years of service in the Israeli Air Force. He has a private practice in Encino, Woodland Hills and West L.A.,

where he provides individual, couples, and family psychotherapy for children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Itay specializes in trauma work, addiction, working with the LGBTQ+ community, and transitional life circumstances. As an Ironman race finisher, Itay believes in dedication and self-care activities as a way of living.

Ben Landay Transportation Account Manager, Ring (Amazon)

Ben Landay is a Transportation Account Manager at Ring, a home security and smart home company owned by Amazon. Ben holds

a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from American University located in Washington, D.C. When he is not taking advantage of beautiful weather on his bike, he will be searching for the best kebabs all over Greater Los Angeles. He resides with his wife in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood.

Lynn BiderChair of Unistream Committee, Executive Committee Member, The Jewish Federation

Lynn currently serves on The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles’ Unistream Committee, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors;

on JFNA’s National Women’s Philanthropy Board; ; and on the boards of Beit T’Shuvah, USC Hillel, and the Los Angeles Jewish Community Foundation. Lynn has received the JQ Community Leadership Award, the Beauty Bus Lifetime Achievement Award, the Lea Rabin Award, and the 2019 ADL Humanitarian Award.

Bradley Tabach-BankFormer Partner, Tabach-Bank & Levenstein

Bradley spent over 45 years practicing law before retiring in 2012. He now devotes his time to nonprofit activities, primarily in the arts. He has served on the Board of Trustees of

Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services (Chair) and Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (Chair). He currently serves on the boards of Center Dance Arts and USC’s Kauffman School of Dance.

Rick PowellPresident, Ashjer LLC

Rick is currently President of Ashjer, LLC, where he devotes his time to assisting nonprofit organizations raise money, serving on numerous boards and committees as well as

a consultant to private companies. In 1989, Rick joined the Board of Directors for Jewish Vocational Service, serving as First Vice President prior to his election as Board President. Rick has been instrumental in bringing fundraising activities to the furniture industry by being honored through the City of Hope.



Class of 2020


Katrin Malakuti Clinical Psychologist, Malakuti Psychological Health Group

Katrin Malakuti, Psy.D. is a Forensic Psychologist who works at a male state prison facility in Los Angeles County. She also

has a small private practice on the side in Beverly Hills, where she works primarily with adults. Katrin has a multicultural background being an Iranian American Jew who was born and raised in Germany. She speaks five languages and loves to travel the world,be active, and spend time with friends, family, and her nieces and nephews.

Samantha Moray VIP & Celebrity Relations, Salvatore Ferragamo Samantha Moray is currently the Head of VIP & Celebrity Relations at Salvatore Ferragamo. Prior to this role, she was the Senior Manager of Public Relations at Hermès, based in New

York, where she oversaw earned media relations for the brand across all product categories. Samantha holds a BA from The Gallatin School of Individuals Studies at New York University.

Debbie Reyhan E-commerce Consultant & Analyst, Dr. Marketplace

Debbie recently started her own company and business venture as an e-commerce consultant. She majored in Psychology as a

pre-medicine student at the University of California, Berkeley. After college, Debbie worked as a marketing analyst for an e-commerce company and found a passion for technology. Debbie’s truest happy moments come from traveling and being with her family and friends she truly cares about. Debbie loves culture and the food that comes from varying cultures and enjoys a good burrito from a Mexican taqueria.

Paul SuperCo-founder, EyeCareLive Past Chairman of Optometry, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Paul Super is regarded as one of the leaders in the field of optometry, specializing

in contact lenses, binocular vision, and primary eye care. He is cofounder of Zoom Focus Eyewear, the first truly adjustable focus lens and the cofounder of EyeCareLive, an eyecare telehealth platform. In addition, he served as the Chair of Optometry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

Orna Wolens General Campaign Chair, Member of the Board of Directors, The Jewish Federation

Orna currently serves as General Campaign Chair of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles and as a member of the Board

of Directors of The Jewish Federation, The Jewish Federations of North America, National Women’s Philanthropy, and the LA Museum of Contemporary Art. She serves on the Federation’s Campaign Cabinet and Strategic Planning and Distribution Committee. In addition, she is a member of the LA County Museum of Art Contemporary Acquisitions Committee and the Hammer Circle.

Karmi MonsherKDS/Major Gifts Co-Chair, Leadership Advisor for Women’s Philanthropy, The Jewish Federation

Karmi Monsher has been active in the Los Angeles Jewish community for many years,

mainly with The Jewish Federation. Karmi has served as the Valley Alliance General Campaign Co-Chair, Major Gifts Co-Chair, Women’s Campaign Chair, and Women’s Philanthropy President. Karmi is currently the Federation’s King David Society Co-Chair and serves on its PK-12 committee . Karmi is active in her synagogue Adat Ari El andserves on the Executive Committee of Camp Ramah.



Class of 2020


Yoni Sadka Founder, Golani and Senior Software Engineer, Uber

Yoni is a Senior Software Engineer at Uber and recently founded Golani. Employing a new and unique concept — a one-of-a-kind sound wave

jewelry designed using their voice — Golani helps people cherish special moments. He has been featured on Forbes.com and holds a BS in Architectural Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and an MS in Structural Engineering from USC. The coldest place Yoni has ever lived is San Francisco, he is highly addicted to sweets, and has picked up archery since moving back to Los Angeles.

Kelsey Schilit PR and Events Manager, FIJI Water

Kelsey Schilit is now the PR and Events Manager at FIJI Water, after spending 10 years building a career in Fashion PR. This professional trajectory comes as no surprise,

as Kelsey went to USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism to specifically study public relations. As an L.A. native, she enjoys the hidden gems around the city as well as easy weekend road trips.

Stephanie Skoboloff Key Account Manager, Altria Group Distribution Company

Stephanie Skoboloff is a Key Account Manager for Altria Group Distribution Company, one of the world’s largest producers and marketers of

tobacco, cigarettes, and related products. She is a dynamic sales and marketing leader with a proven record of achieving results in a fast-paced, Fortune 200 environment in the CPG Industry. Stephanie also holds a BS in Business Administration and BS in Accounting from USC. Stephanie loves Los Angeles sports teams, live music, trying new recipes, and nail art.

Philip GayChief Executive Officer, Triple Enterprises

Philip has 30 years of experience in operating restaurants, accounting, and finance and has assisted middle market companies with financing, mergers and acquisitions, franchising,

and strategic planning needs. Rooted in experience with leading restaurant industry brands, his tenure has included positions as President & CEO of Grill Concepts, Inc., CFO for California Pizza Kitchen, CFO & Interim CEO for Wolfgang PuckFood Company, CEO for Color Me Mine, and CEO & COO for Diversified Food Group.

Nancy BeiserMember of the Board of Directors, The Jewish Federation

Nancy recently served as Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy Co-Chair and is currently a member of The Jewish Federation of

Greater Los Angeles Board of Directors, JFNA’s National Women’s Philanthropy Board, and the Jewish Campus Life Committee. She is also a Lion of Judah Endowment Chair. In addition, Nancy serves on the AIPAC Valley Executive Committee, Camp Ramah Executive Board, AJU University Women Board, and Birthright Leadership Council. Nancy also has her own business, By Nancy, personalizing gifts and party favors.

Ellen Silverman Vice Campaign Chair Valley Alliance, The Jewish FederationBoard Chair, Pico Union Project

Ellen has held many roles within the Federation including both as the Valley Alliance Sylvia

Weisz Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair and Women’s Chair. Currently, she sits on the Federation Board, serves on the Strategic Planning & Distribution committee, the King David Society/Major Gifts Society events committee and is a CLI co-chair. Ellen was the founding Board Chair of the Pico Union Project, is a past president of AJU’s University Women, and was both Sisterhood president and synagogue president at Adat Ari El.



Class of 2020


Allie Ticktin Founder/Director, Play 2 Progress

Allie Ticktin is the founder of Play 2 Progress, a play-based learning center. She is a licensed occupational therapist with a specialty in sensory integration and early childhood

development. Allie’s life’s work is to empower children to celebrate their differences and reach a new level of confidence through play. When Allie isn’t at work, she loves being outside, doing yoga, and connecting with friends — especially over a Shabbat dinner!

Benjamin Toubia Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

Benjamin Toubia is a licensed MFT and life coach in Los Angeles, with expertise in LGBTQ mental health and substance abuse issues. As a National Minority Fellow and

German Stipendium Recipient, he has conducted studies in the field of substance abuse and identity development. Ben has recently joined the faculty of the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Additionally, he is an advocate for developing inclusive spaces for LGBTQ individuals within the Persian and Jewish communities.

Michael YasharDirector of Emergency Simulation Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Michael Yashar, MD, is an attending physician and faculty member in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Cedars-Sinai

Medical Center. He also serves as the department’s Director of Simulation and teaches regularly to a variety of learners through a multidisciplinary simulation curriculum. He pursued his undergraduate and medical education at UCLA, followed by his residency training at the University of Chicago. After residency, Dr. Yashar was appointed as faculty at Stanford University where he concurrently completed an emergency medicine simulation fellowship.

Nancy EpsteinTeacher, Presbyterian Church PreschoolLife Coach, Private Practice

Nancy has a B.A. in Psychology and Education from Stanford with an emphasis on childhood development. She has worked for 30 years as

a parenting coach and teacher for toddler-age children. Nancy currently works at The Brentwood Presbyterian Church Preschool running their toddler program. She also has a private practice as a life coach for teen girls. Nancy volunteers at Vista Del Mar as a mentor for foster girls and is on its Board of Directors.

Deborah KallickVice President of Government and Industry Relations, Cedars-Sinai Health System

For the past 20 years, Deborah has been the VP for Government and Industry Relations at Cedars Sinai and responsible for coordinating

its efforts to assure that the public policy issues that affect the organization are being monitored, addressed, and implemented. Additionally, Deborah is currently the Board Vice Chair for Hillel International and the Board Chair of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce. She also serves on the board of the Getty House Foundation and is the past chair of USC Hillel and Hillel 818.

Alexander RivkinFacial Cosmetic Surgeon, Westside Aesthetics

Alexander Rivkin, M.D. is a Yale-trained facial cosmetic surgeon and Assistant Clinical Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. He has focused his practice,

Westside Aesthetics, exclusively on providing patients with the latest in non-invasive, non-ablative cosmetic treatments. Dr. Rivkin is an international authority on non-surgical cosmetic procedures. He divides his time between patient care, clinical research, educating other physicians, media appearances, and lecturing at scientific conferences throughout the world.



Class of 2020


Bella Zaghi Sr. Data Report/System Analyst, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Bella Zaghi is Sr. Data Report/System Analyst at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She is also the immediate past President of the Southern

California Chapter of Health Information and Management Systems Society, a cause-based Health IT nonprofit. Bella graduated from UCLA with her BS in Anthropology and continued to receive her MPH in Health Policy and Management with a focus in Health IT at the Fielding School of Public Health. In her free time, Bella enjoys spending time with family and friends and traveling.

Cheryl Cohen Member of Magnolia Council Tower Cancer Research Foundation

Cheryl Cohen was born and raised in Los Angeles, married 40 years to Brad Cohen, and has three children and three grandchildren. She

is a member of Magnolia Council, associated with Tower Cancer Research Foundation, and a past participant of AIPAC Women’s Leadership Program as well as a current member of AIPAC Women’s Political Network. She is also involved in The Jewish Federation’s Sylvia Weisz Women’s Philanthropy, currently as Ruby Chair. Her hobbies include cooking and baking, exercising, figure drawing, and watercolor painting.



Class of 2020


Participants and Mentors - Young Adult Community

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