MEET COHORT #1 OF THE MANDEL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (MLI)
The Mandel Leadership Institute (MLI) is a new community leadership development program for individuals who demonstrate the propensity and desire for high-caliber training in advanced Jewish leadership.
MLI is a program of Federation’s Mandel Center for Leadership Development. Click here to learn more.
COHORT #1
Peter Bendetson
Dr. Peter R. Bendetson is a dermatologist practicing in Loxahatchee. He has a variety of interests but none greater than helping the cause.
Andrew Comiter
Andrew R. Comiter is a Partner of the regional tax law firm Comiter, Singer, Baseman & Braun, LLP. The focus of Andrew’s practice is federal taxation of partnerships, s-corporations, and limited liability companies, business transactions, income and estate tax planning, probate, and trust, estate and guardianship litigation. Andrew currently serves as a Director for the O’Connell Society, Inc. and is a member of the Law School Alumni Council for the University of Florida Levin College of Law. Andrew is the President of the Palm Beach County Estate Planning Council and serves as a Member of the Palm Beach Gardens Budget and Oversight Review Board. He is the past Chairperson of the Emerging Leadership Project, a collaboration between the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and the Mandel Center for Leadership Development, and currently serves as the Chair of the Community Planning and Investments Committee for the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County.
Ivy Faske
Dr. Ivy Faske has practiced pediatrics in Palm Beach County for over 30 years. She is a proud native Floridian whose grandparents immigrated to Tampa from Romania in the late 1800s. Her family was among the first Jews to move to Miami in 1910 before there were enough Jews to make a minyan. Her uncle was the second boy Bar Mitzvahed in Dade County—his cousin who was slightly older was the first. Dr. Faske attended The Hebrew Academy on Miami Beach from grades 2 through 12. It was during the time that Rabbi Alexander S. Gross (z”l) was principal. After graduating from Barry College, she attended the University of South Florida College of Medicine where she also completed her pediatric residency. She has been involved with Temple Beth El of West Palm Beach for many years and currently is a proud co-President.
Amy Garelick
Amy Garelick really likes – and loves – her husband of 24 years, Dr. Jeffrey Garelick. Her great joy has been raising her three children. She is Family CEO – in charge of investments, insurance, home maintenance and repairs, procurement, travel and logistics. In addition to supporting the Jewish community, she served on the board of her son’s crew team, and still serves on the board of her daughters’ synchronized swim team. Amy also plays on the PGA National tennis team. Prior to raising her family, Amy was a senior manager at Deloitte in litigation consulting as well as a loan officer at Chase. She majored in English with a minor in Art History at Williams College, and she has an MBA from Columbia University. She grew up in Manhattan and moved to Florida 22 years ago. Her hobbies are reading, photography, hiking and traveling. Something you might not know about Amy is that she taught herself to cook both Indian food and Thai food.
Scott Holtz
Scott Holtz is a native of South Florida and lives in West Palm Beach with his wife, Cecilia and their dog, Shula. A practicing attorney, Scott is a shareholder with Prestia Holtz, P.A., a boutique criminal and civil trial law firm in Lake Worth. When he is not in the office, Scott sits on the boards of several local civic and charitable organizations. He is a self-described “ardent Zionist” and proudly supports Jewish causes here and in Israel, and serves on the Board of Trustees of Temple Emanu-el of Palm Beach.
Alyson Seligman
Alyson Seligman is a public relations consultant, writer, blogger and mom of two who is passionate about helping women find their joy and recognize their greatness. For eight years, Alyson has led two companies: a public relations, branding and social media company called The SBS Agency, which primarily provides strategic guidance to nonprofits, hospitality and tourism, as well as a personal style and personal growth blog called The Modern Savvy. Alyson is passionate about volunteering to help shape a more vibrant Jewish community, and spending time with her husband Adam and their kids, Sarah, 9, and Evan 5.
Shayne Silver
Shayne is co-owner of a highly ranked local real estate team and serves the industry on the Agent Leadership Council. Prior to real estate, Shayne spent 20 years in the health and wellness industry and was a founding member of the Club Spa & Fitness Association. Shayne recently served on the Board of the Mandel JCC for two years and has chaired numerous events and fundraisers for the Mandel JCC of Boynton Beach and its preschool and camp programs, the Jewish Federation, Kol Isha, PJ Library and the ADL. Shayne lives in Lake Worth with her husband Jeff and their two daughters, Rachel and Jordyn.
Elissa Vessal
Elissa Vessal is a native Floridian, raised in Sarasota, Florida – bred to be a Florida Gator and an Attorney-At-Law. Elissa’s grandfather, Charles Rudd, was a Federal Judge from the State of New Jersey and her early role model. Judge Rudd’s passion for law influenced Elissa to follow in his footsteps. Elissa began her career as a litigator in the State and Federal Courts of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After furthering her career in a medium-size law firm, Elissa opened her own law office in 1999. Upon coming home to Florida in 2004, she has successfully continued helping her clients with their unique needs through her personal attention. Elissa’s transactional experience working on Estate planning, Real Estate transactions, drafting and negotiating contracts, evaluating business opportunities, and planning and structuring business operations has added value to client’s personal and business life for more than 20 years. Elissa’s litigation experience includes hundreds of Jury Trials, Judge Trials, Arbitrations and Mediations. Elissa resides in Boynton Beach, FL with her husband and two children.
Helene Weingarten
Helene Weingarten was born and educated in Brooklyn, New York. After graduating from Brooklyn College, she completed a Master’s Degree in Library Science at the University of Maryland. She spent most of her professional career working as a consultant for Booz, Allen in their Washington, DC Intelligence Practice. Helene was an active member of her synagogue and served on several committees. She managed her synagogue’s Sisterhood Gift Shop for over ten years. She and her husband, David, a practicing Attorney for a Washington, DC law firm, moved to Palm Beach county in 2010. They have two grown sons.
Leadership
Jonathan Chane
Co-Chair and Participant of MLI Cohort 1
Jonathan Chane is the Managing Partner at Chane Law Firm, established in 2017. Previously, Jonathan worked as an attorney at Domnick, Cunningham & Whalen, as a Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, and as an Assistant State Attorney in Bradenton, Florida. Jonathan is active in the community and is currently serving as a Member of the Board of Trustees of Temple Judea in Palm Beach Gardens. Jonathan also involves himself with the Palm Beach Jewish Federation for which he travelled to Los Angeles as part of its Synagogue Institute and to St. Petersburg, Russia as part of its Yachad mission. Originally from West Palm Beach, Jonathan earned his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Florida and his law degree from Stetson University College of Law. Jonathan is an avid traveler, having travelled extensively through Asia, Africa and Europe. When he isn’t working or travelling, Jonathan involves himself in politics. He has interned in both the White House and the United States Senate.
Stacey Ellison
Co-Chair and Participant of MLI Cohort 1
Stacey Ellison has lived in Palm Beach County for nearly 30 years. She moved to the community to work for the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County and therefore has the unique perspective of having been both a professional and lay leader in the community. She has served on the Board and Executive Board of the JCC, as well as chaired various committees such as the Boynton/Lake Worth Board, camp and preschool. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Temple Shaarei Shalom. Stacey has served on the Women’s Philanthropy Board at the Jewish Federation and most recently was the chair of the Jewish Volunteer Center. Stacey and her husband Steve raised their twins Sydney and Ben in the Boynton/Lake Worth area. Sydney is a Meyer Academy graduate and both Ben and Sydney attended the JCC camp for many years. Stacey enjoys traveling with her family as well as playing tennis.
Professional Partners
Debbi Roshfeld
Debbi.Roshfeld@JewishPalmBeach.org
561-385-0596
Lindsay Hirsch
Lindsay.Hirsch@JewishPalmBeach.org
561-242-6638 or 912-308-0622
