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 Governing Board, 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

Robin Hettleman Weinberg
Chair, Governing Board

Marla Schulman
Chair, Community Leadership Council

Samuel Kaplan
President, Jewish Community Foundation

Jill Granader
Vice President for Financial Resource Development

Philip Blumenthal
Vice President for Strategic Planning & Allocations – Local

Daniel Raskas
Vice President for Strategic Planning & Allocations – Israel & Overseas

Marty Janis
Vice President for Finance & Treasurer

Brad Stillman
Vice President for Leadership & Volunteer Development

Brad Lackey
Vice President for Network

Jessica Heines Wolf
Vice President for Next Gen

Abby Cherner
Vice President for Women’s Philanthropy

Jeffrey Distenfeld
Secretary

Riva Mirvis
Audit Chair

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
Sarah Barnett
Vivian Bass
Sarah Bederson
Josh Bender
Gary Berman
Philip Blumenthal
Rabbi Dr. Hillel Broder
Josh Brown
Scott Brown
Johanna Chanin
Abby Cherner
Laura Cutler
Jeff Dannick
Rabbi Sholom Deitsch
Jeffrey Distenfeld
Lisa Downing
Nancy Duber
Staci Eichelbaum Levine
David Ervin
David Farber
Shai Fierst
Jeffrey Finkelstein
Julie Fisher
Daniel Flesch
Toby Frank
Sharon Freundel
Zachary Friedlis
Robyn Garnett
Eric Goldberg
Havi Goldscher
Jill Granader
Ariela Greenberg

Samuel Kaplan, President

Trustees
Ann Bennett
Adam Berman
Jeffrey Distenfeld
Isabel (Liz) Dunst
Vicki Fishman
Meg Flax
Robin Hettleman Weinberg
Michele (Cookie) Hymer Blitz