PARTICIPANTS IN FEDERATION’S 2021 LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS ANNOUNCED
At Jewish Federation, we know that engaged and effective leadership transforms our community for the better. We have seen the impact volunteers have made in the lives of so many locally and across the globe and so we equally recognize the critical value of investing in future leaders through education, mentorship and experience.
Hundreds of leaders that donate countless hours in the Jewish and broader community have graduated from Federation’s Leadership Program (ELP) and Mandel Leadership Institute (MLI), and now, we are proud to announce the 2021 cohorts for these esteemed leadership programs.
EMERGING LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (ELP)
Established more than a decade ago, ELP was established to provide future leaders a deeper understanding of leadership styles; deepen their connection to Jewish peoplehood; and identify key local issues related to advocacy and social action.
Chaired by Pamela Comiter, ELP Cohort 2021 participants include:
David Benson, the Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, at Kismet New Vision Holdings who lives in Palm Beach Gardens with his family.
Amy Forleiter is a Physician’s Assistant who lives in Palm Beach Gardens.
Jordan Frances is a business development manager who lives in Wellington.
Iryssa Jackowitz is the entrepreneur and founder of Sweet Loaf Challah; she lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her family.
Randi Karmin is a business consultant who lives in Jupiter with her daughter.
Joshua Kaston is the Founder/President of Clearwater Merchant Corp. He and his wife live in West Palm Beach.
Ethan Kernkraut is the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for MorseLife Health System. Ethan and his husband live in Palm Beach Gardens with their two children.
Andrew Koerner is an immigration attorney who has been in private practice in Miami, New York and since September of 2020, in Wellington. Andrew and his husband have one son.
Maria Zamora Kugler has been a Florida attorney for over 10 years, lives in Jupiter is married and has two sons.
Kerryn Lehman spends her time volunteering for a variety of organizations focusing on social justice. She lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and two girls.
Patrick Nicholas works in independent business ventures and lives in Jupiter with his wife and two children.
Adam Rickel works for NextEra Energy Resources in utility-scale renewable energy development and resides in Palm Beach Gardens with his wife and son.
Justin Shifrin is an associate in Gunster’s Private Wealth Services department and lives in Palm Beach Gardens.
Brad Sobel works in Finance and Accounting at NextEra Energy and lives in Boynton Beach with his wife and two sons.
Addie Zubatkin is a former geriatric social worker and currently a stay-at-home mom. She lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and two daughters.
MANDEL LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (MLI)
Now in its third year, MLI is designed for individuals with leadership experience who currently volunteer or serve in a leadership capacity at a Jewish organization or nonprofit agency, synagogue or at Federation, and who have the potential to serve in a senior leadership role.
The 2021 participants include:
Andrew Alminana is a financial advisor, a graduate of Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s ELP Program and serves on the Board of Advisors for the JCC in Palm Beach Gardens and Boynton Beach. Samuel Cohen is an attorney and a current board member for the Palm Beach County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section as well as a founding Board Member for the Young Lawyers Section of the Palm Beach County Justice Association. Sam most recently joined the Board of Directors at the Mandel JCC. David Ginsberg, the owner of an Allstate insurance agency for more than 12 years, has donated his time and financial resources to many organizations, and is deeply committed to the survivorship of the Jewish people and Israel while being actively involved in the community. Gary Hoffman is a former first vice president of JFS and current Board member. He is currently a board member of JCRC, and active in several other organizations. Michael Kugler is a Commissioner for the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics and a member of Palm Beach County’s Sexual Assault Response Team. He currently sits on the Outreach and Engagement Committee at Federation. Patti Lehrhoff is recently retired and currently serves on Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy board where she is involved in a new mentorship program to engage young women. Richard Stein is the President of the Illinois Auto Truck Company and currently serves on the Israel and Overseas Committee and is co-chairman of the IBIS community committee. Jeff Silver, the new Chair of MLI, is currently a member of Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Task Force and past member of the Mandel JCC Board of Directors. For questions about ELP or MLI, please contact Lindsay Hirsch, Director of Leadership Development, at (561) 242-6638 or lindsay.hirsch@jewishpalmbeach.org.
