Our Mentors
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Monica Wagenberg is the Head of Middle School at Lanaar School, founding the school’s first Middle School class this year. Dr. Wagenberg has worked in the field of education for 23 years, leading schools, programs for students with special needs, and community day schools. She has been a facilitator for schools across the country that are seeking national and regional accreditation, and has volunteered as a mentor with Women of Tomorrow, a group whose mission is to inspire, motivate, and empower at-risk young women. Monica is also on the board of the Social Cog, helping independently functioning adults with autism and other developmental and social challenges develop friendships, connections, and community.
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Josh Schrager is the founder and CEO of VoiceRite, which he started in 1986 during his first year of college. Josh is a visionary entrepreneur, responsible for product strategy and company direction. In 1988, he built one of the world’s first fax-on-demand systems, followed in 1992 with his creation of one of the first unified communications platforms, which helped 50,000 IBM employees become mobile workers. His platform, POET, integrated IBM’s office telephones, wireless pagers, and fax servers, with OfficeVision, IBM’s mainframe e-mail solution. Twenty years later, IBM’s CIO is VoiceRite’s largest customer, and VoiceRite manages over 500 servers globally for Unified Communications. Mr. Schrager has provided vision, direction, and support to the largest Fortune 1000 companies with their contact center, voice response, and unified communications systems.
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Abraham Cohen, born in 1985 in New York, is a graduate of Tiferes Yisroel and the Rabbinical Seminary of America. A devoted husband and father, and a dynamic entrepreneur, Abraham is the owner of Smart Business Funding, an online financial services company that specializes in providing innovative financing solutions to businesses across the United States. Abraham’s vision for the company goes beyond mere financial transactions; it encompasses a broader mission of fostering economic growth and prosperity. Under his leadership, Smart Business Funding has become a key player in the financial sector, extending financial support to thousands of businesses, empowering these companies to thrive, and contributing to the creation of thousands of job opportunities across the nation.
Abraham resides with his family in Miami. His commitment to community service and his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact are rooted in gratitude to Hashem.
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Louis Berlin is the President of the Beit David Highland Lakes Shul, and has a long history of involvement in Jewish philanthropy and teaching and mentoring. He is an author of several books and numerous articles on insurance and financial fitness, and the CEO of LouisBerlin.com, an independent life, long-term care, disability, and annuity insurance agency, and Synergix, his consulting firm. His ultimate goal is to make clients at all income levels and at all stages of their career more successful by benefiting from his extensive experience, and more financially fit by building wealth, protecting assets efficiently, and providing tax-free income in retirement. His education includes a BA cum laude from Princeton University, and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Finance. Mr. Berlin is married and has five adult children, four children-in-law, and three grandchildren.
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Patricio (“Pato”) Fuks is native to Buenos Aires. His first business venture was Achievers Advertising, a very successful advertising agency that he closed in 2001 due to the Argentinian economic crisis. In 2002, he entered the hotel industry, which led him to found Fën Hotels. He was featured on the cover of Inc., the most important entrepreneur magazine in the United States, because of the wild success of this venture. Pato then joined WeWork as CEO for Latin America in 2016, responsible for growing WeWork in Latin America, focusing on Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Chile. Under his leadership, WeWork had over 50 buildings distributed in 6 countries. Pato left WeWork in 2019 to focus on venture capital.
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Rivka Weingot, a wife and mother of four, was originally a middle school teacher before starting her own business, Driven Day. Driven Day focuses on bringing resources to spiritual mothers everywhere to be goal-oriented and intentional with their time and values. She is also currently a partner in Palm X Holdings, the private equity firm she started together with her husband, which focuses on recession-proof businesses and streamlining overhead for start-ups. Rivka enjoys a good book, traveling and outdoor adventure with her family, and a good run along the beach.
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Jacob Bengio is the Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Office for Ventura Services of Florida, a healthcare consulting firm providing a wide range of services to a large portfolio of skilled nursing facilities throughout Florida. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare, he brings with him his full range of experience and knowledge across many aspects of healthcare, providing Ventura Services of Florida with a valuable and unique perspective in the CFO position.
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Dina Kranz is a passionate educator who loves helping to shape and inspire the next generation. She is the founder and past director of Arevim Schoolhouse, a model school of inspired education, aimed to shape joyous independent learners surrounded by passionate educators. She holds a Master’s degree in Sociology, and has completed Montessori, Principal, and Head of School training. She also mentors educational leaders. Dina believes in sharing her passion as well as the tools and experiences I have acquired over the years. As a school leader, she very much enjoys mentoring and guiding the next generation to being successful learners and leaders.
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Dr. Rosanel is a non-invasive cardiologist at Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute.
She was born in Casablanca, Morocco, grew up in Paris, France, and attended college and medical training in New York. Dr. Rosanel holds leadership positions in several renowned medical organizations. She was chosen to join the American College of Cardiology Women in Cardiology Leadership Council, where she is one of sixteen board members. She is an associate professor of biology at Yeshiva University Stern College for Women, where she is also a mentor for women pursuing careers in medicine. She is a board member of the Jewish Orthodox Women Medical Association and United Hatzalah of Florida.
As an international researcher and speaker, Dr. Rosanel enjoys giving lectures, talks, and press interviews to share important cardiac and health information with the community. In honor of her advocacy, she was one of fifteen women awarded the Women in White Coats Heroes award in April 2022.
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Jeffrey Wolf, is a native of Miami, Florida. He has been in audio-visual and distribution since 1999, when he joined the family business, which he grew into one of the leading providers of the pro AV industry. Jeffrey, together with his brother, David, launched Herman Integration Services, which is the industry’s largest and only national sub-contractor to the AV Industry. Jeffrey was the co-CEO of Herman ProAV until his company was acquired by ADI Global in February 2020. Today, Jeffrey and the team run the Pro AV business under the ADI umbrella.
Jeffrey has a Bachelor’s degree in business from Tulane and a Master’s in accounting from the University of Miami. Jeffrey then earned his JD at the University of Miami School of Law. Jeffrey is married to Stefanie, and together they have three adult children. They have been part of The Shul’s family for over 20 years.
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Since 1985, Lloyd J. Eisenberg has dedicated his career to advocating for the rights of injured and disabled individuals. In 1993, he founded Lloyd J. Eisenberg & Associates, a firm that has since represented thousands of clients across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia in workers’ compensation, disability, and personal injury claims.
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Born and raised in New Jersey, Russell Schub, D.O., is a proud New Jersey native. He was a member of the National Honor Society and played on the basketball and baseball teams. Russell completed his undergraduate studies in Biology at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He worked as a camp counselor for children with mental disabilities while in college. He went on to receive a medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine at Coney Island Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. His fellowship training in gastroenterology was completed at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. He married Janet Levinson at Congregation B’nai Israel in 1983 and remains joyfully married today. They have two children and two beautiful grandchildren.
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Dr. Ruth Brodsky is an independent educational consultant who founded Ruth Brodsky Consulting, which specializes in assisting students with learning difficulties in their transition to higher education.
Ruth attended University of Maryland and George Washington University, attaining degrees in special education and educational leadership. As a professional in the field, she worked for PGCPS for over thirty years in both teaching and supervisory roles. After retirement, she worked at the Maret School in D.C., mentoring students with disabilities to work to their highest potential, and advising teachers about differentiated instruction and educational accommodations and support. Ruth has also taught at local universities, working with undergraduate and graduate students pursuing teaching careers. Since 2008, she has helped students with learning difficulties and their families navigate the college selection process.
In her spare time, Ruth likes to travel, read, bake, volunteer in the community, and spend time with her family.
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Following a forty-year career as a teacher, professor, computer scientist and reporter, Tovah Yavin decided to turn serious attention to the one endeavor that she had always wanted to pursue – writing. Since retiring from her various day jobs, Yavin has published three novels for middle-grade readers, articles for both children and adults in nationally distributed magazines and web-sites, poetry, and short fiction. Every writer believes talent is an important requirement for a successful publishing career. Good ideas and some luck also help. But the one ingredient that is absolutely essential to the recipe for a professional writer is – persistence! Ms. Yavin’s persistence has led to not only publications, but a Sydney Taylor book award and selection of her work for the PJ Our Way Book Club.
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Marc Felsen is a seasoned marketing and product executive and former Chief Marketing Officer at TouchTunes, with a track record of cultivating high-impact teams, driving innovation, and unlocking customer value and growth. Currently enjoying an extended sabbatical, Marc is channeling his expertise and passion into ventures that reflect a deep commitment to leadership, education, and well-being. In addition to being an advisor and mentor for the Ellicott City chapter of the Solomon Leadership Program, he is an affiliate instructor at Loyola University Maryland, where he teaches a course that he created focused on branding for the tech-driven age. A dedicated mindfulness practitioner, Marc integrates mindfulness into his professional and personal life, championing it as a tool for achieving greater mental agility, resilience, and overall well-being. Marc holds a BS in electrical engineering from the University of Maryland and a MBA from the Wharton School of Business.
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A State Farm agent in Ellicott City since 2020, I have managed and led a top-ranking agency that is currently in the top 2% of the company nationwide. My team is comprised of over 10 dedicated insurance and financial service professionals with extensive experience in financial services, investments, and insurance. I hold four professional designations from the American College of Financial Services: Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP), Chartered Leadership Fellow (CLF), and Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU).
I graduated from Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, WV, in 2012 with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics with a concentration in Finance. I recently expanded my operations by adding a new location in Eldersburg, Maryland and look forward to continuing to grow my business. A proud resident of Howard County since 2016, I am committed to serving my community with excellence and improving the lives of those I have the ability to serve
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The grandchild of a Holocaust survivor, Sergio Heumann was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil. Sergio has worked for twenty-three years advising corporations on complex financings for large infrastructure projects. After working for three European banks, he was responsible for establishing and leading Citibank’s Project Finance Division in Brazil. In 2005, he co-founded Brazil’s first independent company focused on project finance/advisory and headed the firm for eleven years. Sergio led some of the most complex and innovative financings in Brazil, including a US$ 3B project financing for the first ethanol pipeline system in the world.
In 2016, he immigrated to the USA on an Extraordinary Ability Visa, together with his wife and daughter, and became a US citizen in 2023. Sergio currently focuses on long-term financial investments, including in Israeli start-ups, allowing him time for personal projects and causes. He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from University of São Paulo and an MBA in Finance from Insper Business School, São Paulo.
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Kenneth Fisher is a born entrepreneur who purchased his first venture at age seventeen. In 1986, he founded Nationwide Paging, which became the tenth-largest paging carrier in the country. Currently, Ken is an investor in more than thirty-five different businesses. He has owned and managed residential and commercial properties for over 43 years in New York, California, and Florida.
Today, Ken is a proud philanthropist, supporting the fundraising of many charities over the past thirty years including City of Hope, Joint Distribution Committee, Kids in Distress, JAFCO, HANDY, and Jack & Jill Children’s Center. Ken sits on the national board of GALS INC. He personally funds and coaches many startup non-profits.
Ken finally realized his dream and launched Heal The Planet, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to improving life on the planet through educating, inspiring, and empowering our next generation of children. Ken is a two-time Ironman, having competed in Brazil and New Zealand.
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Shari Africk-Olefson was elected to serve Broward County residents as a Circuit Court Judge for the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in 2018. On the bench, Judge Africk-Olefson has worked hard to improve child welfare in Broward County, especially improving court-facilitated placements and outcomes. Prior to that, Judge Africk-Olefson served as Executive Director of The Carnegie Group, a think tank. For over a decade, she served as President and CEO of a Fortune 300 title insurance joint venture. Judge Africk-Olefson is the author of two personal finance books and has contributed to many publications for the legal community. During the 2008 real estate and economic crisis, she was relied upon as a respected subject matter expert.
Judge Africk-Olefson helped pioneer the Collins Center for Mediation to help save families save their homes from foreclosure. She and her family have passionately supported a wide array of organizations. Judge Africk-Olefson has earned two Bachelor’s degrees, a Juris Doctorate degree, an LLM in Finance, Development, Real Property and Land Use, a Master’s in Psychology-Neurology, and a Doctorate in Education Leadership.
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Andy Rosen is Chairman and CEO of Kaplan, Inc., one of the world’s largest and most diversified education companies, and EVP of Graham Holdings Company. Since joining Kaplan in 1992, Rosen has helped pioneer much of the company’s innovation and growth, with a focus on student success and outcomes. Under Rosen’s stewardship, Kaplan has built premier learning organizations, expanded its presence around the world and across the age spectrum, established new partnerships with universities and companies globally, introduced cutting-edge new technology platforms, and spearheaded the use of learning science to drive improvements in the student experience. Rosen is also the author of “Change.edu: Rebooting for the New Talent Economy,” which details the history of innovation and incentives in American higher education and lays out a prescription for restoring its pre-eminence. Bill Gates, writing in The Washington Post, called the book “truly important.” Rosen is a graduate of Duke University and Yale Law School. He and his wife Marcelle, a physician, have two children and live in Fort Lauderdale.
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Dr. Marla Reis is a Licensed Psychologist and has been practicing in South Florida for over twenty-five years, having received her Master’s and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Miami in Coral Gables
Dr. Marla specializes in couples and family therapy and has extensive training and experience in issues related to parenting. She also works with individuals to help them obtain greater communication and harmony in relationships, thereby increasing personal intimacy. Dr. Marla assists in her clients’ personal growth, thereby positively influencing not only the love relationship, but the many diverse relationships present throughout life.
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Founder of Iris Acker, Ltd., Iris Acker is an entrepreneur who provides promotional products, webstore development, and marketing expertise. After obtaining a degree in education, Iris decided to change careers and headed to Wall Street. There, she started as an executive assistant and event planner for Jefferies Group LLC. After eight years, she left Jefferies to become her own boss. She started her own business, taking Jefferies with her as her first client, and started providing swag for their events. Now, 35 years later, Jefferies is her biggest client, with over 5,300 employees worldwide. They depend on her for her company’s expertise in their branding. With a mission of creating long-lasting relationships, and the value of treating others as you would like to be treated, Iris’s business has grown due to referrals and a solid reputation. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, non-profits, and local businesses.
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Morris A. Sutton is the founder of LT Capital Partners Real Estate Firm, husband, father of six children, some with special needs, philanthropist, and noted speaker. After unsuccessfully searching for a local Jewish special needs school to service their children, Morris, and his wife, Shari, opened the Special Ed Academy of Deal, a school dedicated to educating children with learning challenges and developmental delays. This led to the establishment of Bridge Links, a not-for-profit therapy center offering high-quality speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral services at a discounted rate. In his role as the founder and managing partner of LT Capital Partners, Morris syndicates multifamily real estate opportunities and commercial real estate debt investments. Morris has taught real estate finance at NYU Stern, where he holds a BS in finance and earned the position of Adjunct Professor. Morris is a proud four-time Full Ironman finisher. He regularly shares about his life’s journey.
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Bryan Nudelman, a native of Brooklyn, NY, is a dedicated and accomplished medical sales professional. After graduating from Rutgers University, Bryan excelled in medical sales, quickly becoming a top salesperson at his company winning many awards and accolades. Following the acquisition of his company by the big pharma giant McKesson, Bryan worked there for 5 years before taking a bold step to establish his own venture, Peak Medical Solutions, where he now serves as the owner.
As the owner of Peak Medical Solutions, Bryan has led the company to specialize in servicing, renting, and selling medical and imaging equipment to hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and other medical facilities throughout the country. Under his visionary leadership, Peak Medical has become one of the largest medical equipment services companies in the Northeastern United States.
Bryan resides in West Long Branch NJ with his wife Natalie and their two children, Artie and Joyce. He is also a proud supporter and active participant in Chabad of the Shore, showcasing his commitment to giving back to his community.
In addition to his professional achievements, Bryan is a strong advocate for work-life balance and personal growth. Outside of his professional endeavors, he enjoys spending quality time with his family, exploring new hobbies, and staying active. Bryan’s unwavering dedication to his family, career, and community serves as a testament to his well-rounded character and drive for success. As the owner of Peak Medical Solutions, Bryan continues to be an inspiration to those around him and a leader in his industry.
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Major Joshua Zager was born and raised in Fair Haven and graduated from RFH in 1989. After graduating from Franklin and Marshall College in 1993, he went on to join the Israeli Defense Forces. Major Zager then joined the US Marines and received his wings in 1999. He has served with Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 533. Major Zager deployed with the “Thunderbolts” of VMFA-251 in September, 2001 and flew 43 combat missions over Afghanistan. With the “Hawks” of 533, he participated in a deployment to Japan and Korea. Major Zager served in the Navy and Marine Tactical Jet Training Squadron 22 as the Training Officer and Senior Marine. He later moved to Accra, Ghana where he served as the United States Marine Corps Attaché to Ghana, Togo, and Benin from 2009 -2011. Major Zager returned from Africa to serve at the Pentagon on the Staff of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. Major Zager’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal (Individual Action), the Air Medal (3 Strike Flight awards), the Air Force Aerial Achievement Medal and the Navy- Marine Corps Commendation Medal. Major Zager currently lives in Fair Haven with his wife Jana, and two children, Nathan and Lily.
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David S. Baker, Vice President of R. Baker & Son, has over forty years of combined field, office, and management experience in the field of millwright, rigging, plant dismantling and relocation, selective demolition and total site demolition. For the past twenty years, he has taken the company from sales in the $500,000 range per year, up to over $21m per year. In addition to the above, Mr. Baker is a partner in marinas, commercial properties in Monmouth County, a ski area in Hunter, New York, and many home development projects in Hunter, New York. Mr. Baker is former Shore Regional High School Board of Education President, and former President of the Monmouth Beach Board of Education, serving on each board since 2006 and 2000 to 2017 and 2018, respectively. He is a strong community leader and advocate for the school communities he served.
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Laurie A. Hesslein is currently an independent director for the VanEck Exchange Traded Funds Trust, and most recently the First Eagle Senior Loan Fund and the First Eagle Equity Growth and Income Opportunities Fund. She has over 35 years of experience in leadership and board roles across Asset Management, Wealth Management, and Consumer Lending. Through May, 2017, Mrs. Hesslein was a Managing Director and Head of Local Consumer Lending, North America at Citigroup. Prior to this role, in the City Holdings Division, she executed the Morgan Stanley Smith Barney wealth management joint venture. Previously at Smith Barney/Citigroup, Mrs. Hesslein held a number of leadership roles within Smith Barney’s Private Client Division, serving over 12,000 Financial Advisors and their clients. During this time, Mrs. Hesslein led the development of several new programs. Mrs. Hesslein earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and has served as both an interested and independent director for a number financial boards, as well as a non-profit board. She is married with 2 adult children and lives in Red Bank, New Jersey.
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Carl P. Gross is a lifelong Monmouth County resident. He is a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy, Rutgers University, Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, and Suffolk University Law School JD. In 1970, he set up a law practice specializing in real estate. From 1982 to the present, he has been the President of G.B. Ltd. Oper. Co. Inc., a real estate management company he founded with Henry H. Bloom. G.B.’s portfolio consists of over one million square feet of rentable space. Carl’s career has provided him with the ability to undertake many philanthropic endeavors. Over the past 25 years he has been extensively involved with the Boy Scouts of America and has served as President of Monmouth Council BSA. He has been the Cubmaster of Pack 1 and Scoutmaster of Troop 1 in Monmouth Beach. He is most proud of the 16 Eagle Scouts that he mentored. Carl is a member of the Chabad of the Shore. He is a supporter of the US Holocaust Memorial Fund, Jewish Federation, AIPAC, and many more organizations, including Monmouth University. Carl has been married for forty-seven years to Mary, is the proud father of Zachary, and uncle to Michael. His hobbies include sailing, skiing, car races, and bike riding.
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David joins the Solomon Leadership Program with over fifteen years of experience in growing companies and establishing marketing and growth strategies across multiple sectors, including regulated industries. David headed operations and marketing activities in the digital tech space, e-commerce, cannabis, the automotive sector, and currently in the auto finance sector. David has been responsible for managing operations, company growth, process automation, commercial agreements with leading multinational partners, building startups from concept to market, and delivering market disruption in new industries.
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Warren Chisling obtained his CPA degree in 1983 after having graduated from McGill University. His career consisted of several public accountancy positions and he then worked as a professional at Federation CJA. He also lectured in McGill’s CPA program for over ten years. In 1993, he joined Doris Hosiery as VP Finance and over the course of thirty years was involved in all aspects of managing the business ultimately becoming its COO.
Warren also has significant experience with volunteer organizations where he has held several senior leadership positions. Recently retired, he enjoys spending time with his wonderful family. He is very much looking forward to being involved with the Solomon Program for the third year.
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Steve Bramson is an entrepreneur that thrives on innovation. Leveraging his eclectic skill set, Steve has co-founded several then avant-garde companies including an Internet Service Provider, an Internet Retailer, a Secure Communications provider, and a Remote Data Acquisition provider. He is an avid cyclist, skier & hiker, plays tennis & squash, and enjoys kayaking & sailing. Steve is a past President of his local synagogue and has sat or sits on the boards and committees of several charity organizations.
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John R. Feifer is a Writer/Director/Producer in the television and film industry. An alumnus of McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, he also earned a Master of Arts degree in Filmmaking from the London Film School in 2014. John is currently producing and developing projects in the entertainment industry and has worked on two major feature films in the past year. John was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he currently resides with his wife and three children.
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Benjamin Chokron is an enthusiastic and passionate Montreal native. The youngest of three children of
Moroccan immigrants, after graduating Maimonides, he attended Vanier College, and then earned a BA in Finance from HEC Montreal. He currently works in real estate and has managed thousands of residences and dozens of buildings. He also manages a multi-million dollar private lending portfolio.
Benjamin has been proudly involved in many community projects, both around the world and locally. He is married and has three children.
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Zehavit is the Director of Judaic Studies at JPPS-Bialik School in Montreal, Canada. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Israel Education from George Washington University in partnership with The iCenter, and a Master’s Degree from McGill University in Educational Leadership. Having previous experience working at Jewish overnight camps, Zehavit believes in providing learners of all ages with opportunities to connect to their Jewish identity, Eretz Israel, and Am Israel through various educational approaches.
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Muriel Librati was born in Montreal March 23rd, 1967. She holds a law degree from the University of Montreal and a Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Public Administrations from Concordia. She is a member of the Quebec Bar Association.
She specializes in Family law and Civil Litigation. She is an advocate of mediation, negotiations and settlement conferences, however when the latter fails her sharp litigation skills are put into force to obtain her client’s best interest.
Over the past 25 years, legislation has significantly reformed personal and family law. These laws continue to evolve in order to respond to the sociological realities of Quebec’s families. As a lawyer specializing in family law her focus and interest is that of the client and their best course of action, whether it be mediation or litigation.
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Paul Kozloff was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Temple University in 1964 with a BS in business administration and went on to own or operate several different businesses in Reading. Mr. Kozloff was also extremely involved in communal affairs in Reading and the surrounding areas, serving at various times as the president of the Jewish Community Center, president of the Jewish Federation, board member of Temple Oheb Shalom synagogue, vice president of Lancaster Country Day School, member of Board of Trustees at Albright College, member of the Board of Trustees at Reading Area Community College, member of the Board of Trustees for YMCA Camp Conrad Weiser, and founding member of the board for the Berks County Foundation. Mr. Kozloff most recently served as a member of the Fox Business School Council at Temple University. He currently resides in Palm Beach.
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Sally Ann Nisberg is an author, counselor, and advocate. She is the founder and president of LiveLikeCrazy, Inc., a non-profit breast cancer charity. Sally serves on the Department of Defense, the Breast Cancer Research Board, and is a Child and Family Advocate serving several Palm Beach County agencies.
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Betsy is a lifelong teacher and learner who started her own small business and has helped start and lead numerous organizations. She is a strong believer in helping young people seek and find their leadership potential, and has achieved this as a tutor, mentor, college faculty member, and alumni recruiter for Yale. She is especially passionate about helping young female leaders get started. Mrs. Sheerr is an educator, communications coach, and advocate and activist for humanitarian, community, and political organizations. She is married and has four children and eight grandchildren.
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After graduating from the University of Wisconsin Law School, Mrs. Silverman practiced at the Securities & Exchange Commission and Federal Trade Commission. She helped create and manage the Army Reserve Family Support Program and served as the family support leader and family liaison for the 3rd Medical Command during deployment. Miriam sees mentorship as an opportunity to pass on the lessons she learned from her unique experiences as the wife of an army general.
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After receiving a BA at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, and a DDS from Temple University School of Dentistry, Major General Silverman received a commission in the United States Army Medical Department. During over forty years of service, Major General Silverman held numerous prestigious positions and was awarded more than a dozen decorations, culminating in his position as the commanding general of all medical personnel in the Iraq war.
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Ronnie Simpson is a chartered retirement planning counselor (CRPC), first vice president, and senior portfolio manager. Ronnie entered the financial services industry in 2001, and after spending the last twelve years at UBS, he joined Morgan Stanley in 2020. Mr. Simpson attended University of Florida, where he earned a B.S. in biological systems management. In his free time, Ronnie enjoys tennis, boating, and spending time with his family. Ronnie is a lifelong Florida resident and resides in West Palm Beach with his wife, Sari, and children, Sophia and Charlie.
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Judge Small has served as judge of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court in Florida since 2011. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University and her JD from the University of Florida. From 2016-2020, Judge Small served as the Administrative Judge for the Circuit Civil Divisions of the 15th Judicial Circuit Court. In 2017, Judge Small received the Distinguished Jurist of the Year Award from the South Palm Beach County Bar Association and from the Palm Beach County Chapter of the Inns of Court. In 2019, Judge Small received the Jurist of the Year Award from the Palm Beach County Justice Association.
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Yudi Hercenberg has been a senior managing director at Walker & Dunlop since he joined in March 2017. He provides financing to commercial real estate developers and owners throughout the United States.
Yudi joined Walker & Dunlop after they acquired Deerwood Real Estate Capital, a company he co-founded in 2009 with two partners. At that time, he was the youngest senior managing director at any NYSE public company. During his seven years at Deerwood, Yudi originated, underwrote, and placed over $10 billion in capital. He has a broad understanding of multifamily, office, hospitality, retail, industrial, and manufactured housing.
Yudi graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. in Business Administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University, with a specialty in finance. Beyond business, Mr. Hercenberg has been involved with over fifty charitable non-profit organizations. He has received three public service awards including the Making a Difference Award, Community Service Award, and Good Heart Award. He lives in Parkland with his wife, Simcha, and his three sons.
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Debbie Gober was born in Michigan and raised in Hollywood, FL. She attended UF for undergraduate and FIU for her postgraduate degree in physical therapy and rehabilitation. She has practiced inpatient, outpatient, and in private practice. Debbie’s greatest vocation involves philanthropic work, specifically in the Jewish realm. She has been chair of the David Posnack Jewish Day School, Women’s Philanthropy, and recently the Jewish Federation of Broward. Debbie is active and has held numerous executive positions on many nonprofit boards, such as AIPAC, Hillel, David Posnack Jewish Day School, Soref JCC, Jewish Federation of Broward, and National Women’s Philanthropy. Debbie resides in Coral Springs, FL with her husband of 38 years, Frank. Her greatest joys are her children and grandchildren. She is also the proud “mom” to many rescue dogs!
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Brian Levy grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Atlanta. He joined RadioShack in 1974, at age 15, as a part-time salesman. He rose through the ranks and was ultimately chosen as the CEO, serving in this position until he sold the operations. At age 47, he came out of retirement to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a physician, attending York University in Toronto followed by medical school at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. After completing his residency, he was employed as a Staff Emergency Physician at Brampton Civic Hospital in Toronto. He has earned board certifications in Emergency Medicine in both Canada and the US. He continues to work as an ER doctor in Fort Lauderdale. Dr. Brian Levy and his wife, Angela are proud Jewish Americans and have been active members at Chabad for most of their married lives. They have two children, Rachel, and Michael, who is married to Sarah, and many pets.
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Gary Mintz attended the University of Toledo for a business accounting degree, Ohio State University for his Masters in Business and Accounting, and finally Ohio Northern University for his Juris Doctor Law degree. Currently semi-retired, Mr. Mintz has filled roles as an attorney, certified public accountant, and entrepreneur. He looks at each business opportunity for profitability, but more importantly, his focus has been on the people he works with, especially the management team, employees, customers, and the public. He is currently the majority owner of a warehouse business in Miami focusing on logistics, runs a full package apparel e-commerce business, owns several commercial real estate investments, works as an Attorney/Certified Public Accountant, and last but not least, is a college professor at Cuyahoga Community College – Accounting and Business Law. In his free time, Mr. Mintz enjoys playing golf, exercise, travel, and spending time with his grandchildren. He is also an avid sports fan.
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Joanie Mintz was born in New York and raised in New Jersey. She began her career as an AP Psychology teacher and co-developed a program to assist distressed children and their families. She then pivoted to the business world and has owned several businesses, including two restaurants and a clothing manufacturing company. An investor in the real estate market, Joanie received her Florida real estate license eighteen years ago and became one of the leading realtors in the city of Parkland and surrounding areas. A Parkland resident since 1986, and a member and proud supporter of Chabad of Parkland, Joanie loves spending her free time with her husband, two children, and five grandchildren.
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Dr. Brooke Frenkel is a dedicated clinical psychologist specializing in evidence-based assessment and treatment for children with a wide range of behavioral and developmental differences. With a passion for helping young minds navigate their unique challenges, she works closely with families to create tailored interventions that support each child’s growth and well-being.
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Brooke Frenkel is the author of Atlas and Friends, a series of social scripts designed for early childhood classrooms. These scripts provide teachers and students with the appropriate language and tools to foster a more inclusive environment for neurodiverse students.
A devoted wife and mother of four, Dr. Brooke Frenkel balances her professional commitments with her deep love for her family, bringing the same compassion to her home as she does to her work.
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David was born in Moscow, Russia and grew up in Netanya, Israel. David is a distinguished serial entrepreneur in the aviation industry. As president of Monarch Air Group, he leads a leading private aviation provider. He is also the founder of Mercury Jets and Capital Jets. With a focus on safety, innovative technology, and exceptional customer service, David has developed groundbreaking solutions for digital interactions and is dedicated to reducing inefficiencies in private aviation. In 2020, he was recognized by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) 40 under 40 committee for Monarch Air Group’s humanitarian efforts in Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Afghanistan, including evacuation services, airlifting supplies, and aiding families during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Monarch Air Group was one of the five first recipients of sustainable flight department accreditation, along with Netflix and Textron. He has lived in South Florida for over fifteen years.
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Dr. Zeltsman was born and raised in Odessa, Ukraine. Shortly after graduating from high school in 1999, he and his family immigrated to the United States. Dr. Zeltsman studied English at Miami-Dade Community College and earned an Associate in Arts degree a few years later. He then earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Florida International University and worked as a Registered Nurse at Mount Sinai Medical Center for three years. He graduated medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, and completed pediatric residency at Miami Children’s Hospital. He has been a practicing pediatrician at Pediatric Associates since 2005.
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Born in Odessa, which was then part of the Soviet Union and is now Ukraine, Oleg immigrated to the U.S. over 30 years ago with his family as Jewish refugees. His journey, from those early days of resettlement to becoming a multifaceted entrepreneur, has shaped his worldview and work ethic.
In his decades of business, Oleg has founded a diverse range of companies in areas from trading to technology and entertainment. Each venture has been marked not just by business success, but by a commitment to nurturing talent. Oleg has had the privilege of informally mentoring numerous young professionals, and he takes pride in seeing many of them assume leadership roles in their chosen fields.
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Dr. Simkin Zeltsman immigrated with her family from Gomel, Belarus, in 1976. She lived in Providence, Rhode Island until 1990, when she moved to Florida to attend college. She started at Broward Community College and finished getting her Pharm. D. Degree at Nova Southeastern University in 1996. She worked for Walgreens as a staff pharmacist and pharmacy manager until 2022. She was also an adjunct professor and preceptor for Nova Southern College of Pharmacy until February 2022, when she became a full-time Clinical Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Services. Dr. Simkin Zeltsman is married and the mother of two sons who are both pursuing their dreams and education at Purdue.
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Ilana was born in Kfar Saba, Israel. When she was nine, her family moved to Miami, Florida. She received her Bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Florida International University, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Nova University Law School. She has been practicing law for over twenty years, concentrating her practice in the areas of real estate transactions, commercial property development, and corporate acquisitions. For the past eight years, she has been involved with JAFCO and served on their annual fundraising committees. She has been a congregant of the Russian Chabad of Sunny Isles for over twelve years. In her spare time, she enjoys books, cooking, and traveling around the world with her husband, son and daughter.