Our Leadership

Gil Preuss, PhD
Chief Executive Officer

Sara Brenner
Executive Director, Jewish Community Foundation

Elisa Deener-Agus
Chief of Staff

Anna Freiman
Chief Talent Officer

Craig Mintz
Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

Helenka Shy
Chief Communications Officer

Keren M. Waranch
Chief Development Officer

A community like ours—bold, diverse, ever evolving—deserves a leadership model that reflects who we are and where we’re going. That’s why, over the past two years, we’ve approached this work with deep intention: reimagining our governance model to reflect our values, our community and our future. This change is the result of careful listening, learning, and collaboration across our leadership and community, rooted in where we’ve been and designed for where we’re headed.

Here’s what’s new:

• A smaller, sharper Board of Directors, focused on Federation’s strength and strategy
• A new Community Leadership Council: a powerhouse group of 70–90 leaders, connectors, and changemakers bringing the voice of the community to the table
• A renewed commitment to data-informed decision-making, gathering broad community insight, analyzing what we learn, and acting with clarity and purpose

Jill Granader
Board Chair

Samuel Kaplan
Jewish Community Foundation Chair

Marla Schulman
Community Leadership Council Chair

Riva Mirvis
Treasurer & Finance

Marty Janis
Financial Resource Development Chair

Sophie Buslik
Financial Resource Development

Staci Eichelbaum Levine
Financial Resource Development

Philip Blumenthal
Strategic Planning & Allocations – Community Capacity

Daniel Raskas
Strategic Planning & Allocations – Israel & Overseas

David Wellisch
Strategic Planning & Allocations – Community Change

Josh Brown
Marketing & Communications

Jeffrey Distenfeld
Secretary & Governance

Brad Stillman
Leadership Development

Past Presidents and Board Chairs
Dr. Seymour Alpert*​
Paul S. Berger*​
Gary Berman​
Herschel W. Blumberg*​
Rabbi Isadore Breslau*​
Joel Breslau​
David J. Butler​
Morris Cafritz*​
Joseph Cherner*​
Melvin S. Cohen*​
Jerome J. Dick*​
Diane S. Feinberg
Leopold V. Freudberg*​
Michael C. Gelman​
Susie Gelman​
Dr. Leon Gerber*​
The Hon. Joseph B. Gildenhorn*​
Hyman Goldman* ​
Edward H. Kaplan* ​
Irene R. Kaplan​
Samuel Kaplan​
Edmund I. Kaufmann*​
Joel S. Kaufmann*​
Abraham S. Kay*​
Jack Kay*
Stuart S. Kurlander​
Jac J. Lehrman* ​

Lay leadership is a pillar of Federation and a driving force behind its ability to shape a vibrant Jewish community. From the beginning, lay leaders have played a crucial role in guiding Federation’s work, lending their time, expertise, relationships, and passion to elevating Federation’s strategies.

In 2025, Federation expanded the role of lay leaders by amending its governance structure to include a Community Leadership Council (CLC), a group of more than 100 individuals of various professions, generations, political beliefs, religious observances, and organizational affiliations to serve as thought partners and communal ambassadors.

As one of its first acts, the CLC undertook a listening tour, engaging a broad range of Jewish community members in conversation about the gaps they see and the aspirations they have for our community. Initial findings and ongoing discussions will help inform Federation’s strategic direction.

Federation relies on CLC members to surface critical issues from their own perspective as community members and to reach out to even wider circles of people for their views and insights. If you are interested in applying to be a member, please email info@shalomdc.org.

Marla Schulman, Chair
Linda Adams
Rise Ain
Rabbi Aaron Alexander
Sarah Barnett
Vivian Bass
Sarah Bederson
Joshua Bender
Trevor Bryant
Jackie Burman
Johanna Chanin
Amanda Chorowski
Laura Cutler
Jeff Dannick
Rabbi Sholom Deitsch
Nancy Duber
David Farber
Toby Frank
Sharon Freundel
Eric Goldberg
Havi Goldscher
Ariela Greenberg
Bea Gurwitz
Elyssa Hammerman
Daniel Hirsch

Samuel Kaplan, Chair

Trustees 
Ann Bennett
Jonathan Brodie
Isabel (Liz) Dunst
Peter Federowicz
Meg Flax
Jill Granader
Michael Holzman
Ellen Kagen Waghelstein
Drew Karr
Jocelyn Krifcher
Stuart Kurlander
Brad Lackey
Jonathan Lerner
Shary Levitt
Gil Preuss, Ph.D.