NoVA Leadership Cohort

Jenna Friedberg

Jenna is a community affairs and public engagement professional specializing in transportation infrastructure and stakeholder relations. As Community Affairs Director at the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, she works with elected officials, local governments, community organizations, businesses, and residents to advance major passenger rail projects across Virginia. Her work focuses on building meaningful community partnerships, communicating complex infrastructure projects, and creating effective public engagement strategies. She is also personally committed to the community, volunteering as a docent at the Virginia Holocaust Museum in Richmond, and as an active volunteer at the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria. Jenna holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in American Studies from The George Washington University.

Ryan Gardiner

Ryan hails from New Jersey, where he attended Rutgers University before commissioning as U.S. naval officer. He served six years, four of those deployed at sea as a Surface Warfare Officer on a guided missile cruiser. Upon completion of his military service, Ryan began working for the Department of Homeland Security where he remains today. In a decade living in the DMV, Ryan has been an active volunteer and member of the DC and Northern Virginia Jewish communities, tutoring DC resident GED candidates in grammar and arithmetic, serving as a board member at the Pozez JCC, and most recently a member of the DC Community Security Service initiative protecting synagogues and Jewish events. In his time off, Ryan enjoys playing hockey, landscaping, and chasing his toddler.

Bob Greene

Bob is the CEO and Principal Consultant of RCG Workgroup, a nationally recognized business advisory and sales strategy firm. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Political Science and Organizational Leadership, later earning executive certificates from MIT Sloan and The Wharton School, deepening his expertise in negotiation and intercultural analysis. Bob’s work focuses on sales enablement, leadership development, and crisis management training and consulting for the private sector, federal government, and U.S. military. A dedicated community leader, Bob has served as PTA President at Mantua Elementary School and Club President of the Rotary Club of Fairfax. He currently serves as Roundtable Commissioner for the Burke Lake District of Scouting America, as well as board member and Security Committee Chair at Temple Beth Torah in Chantilly. He is the father of five and grandfather of two, and lives with his wife in Chantilly.

Barry Hemmerdinger

Barry grew up in Old Bethpage, New York, graduated from MIT, and moved to Northern Virginia in 1991. He later earned a master’s in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech and works as Chief Engineer at Argon ST, part of The Boeing Company. Barry is a longtime member of Olam Tikvah (OT) Synagogue. At OT, he helped launch ABBA, a social group for young Jewish men, and organized events for several years. He joined the OT Men’s Club board in 2018, served as president in 2022. He is now a vice president on the synagogue’s executive board. Barry also advises the Seaboard Region of FJMC. Barry, his wife Karen, and their three kids are active in the local Jewish community. When he’s not working, volunteering, or advising, you’ll find Barry out photographing birds.

Tony Johnson

Tony was called to the Torah for his bar mitzvah in 2020, taking the Hebrew name Jacob Nathaniel ben Yoel (נתנאל בן יואל יעקב), given to him by his dearest friend and father figure, Joel. He and his husband, Juan, are active members of Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, where Tony chants Torah during the High Holy Days, sings with Koleinu, and serves as an At-Large Member of the Leadership Council. He serves on the DC Regional Board of the American Jewish Committee, and previously advised Israel Policy Forum’s IPF Atid program, helping develop the Charles Bronfman IPF Atid Conveners Fellowship for young North American Jewish leaders on Israel-focused policy and security issues. He writes about faith, Israel, and citizenship on his Substack, Reconnecting the Republic. Professionally, Tony has spent three decades advising senior Pentagon leaders on national security, most recently as Intelligence Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. His graduate studies at Georgetown focused on the U.S.-Israel security partnership; he’s a Non-Resident Senior Scholar at Georgetown’s Center for Security Studies and a U.S. Navy veteran. Tony is thrilled to join this cohort and looks forward to connecting across Northern Virginia’s Jewish community.

Aaron Lippman

Originally from Fairfax, VA, Aaron now resides in Arlington with his wife. After graduating from Cornell University in 2020, Aaron worked in the investment banking and private credit industry for six years. As of summer 2026, he started his own business, known as Maten’s. Maten’s is an out-of-home entertainment concept providing customers with access to a place “to gather” with amenities such as shuffleboard tables, foosball, billiards, lounge areas, beverages and more. The first location is at a 4,500 square-foot retail site in Bethesda, MD, adjacent to the metro station. Previous Jewish leadership positions include being the recruitment chair at Alpha Epsilon Pi Jewish Fraternity during college as well as currently being active in the Federation’s Ben-Gurion Society. Outside of work, Aaron’s favorite activities include watching movies, playing chess, and taking his French bulldog for walks.

Jennifer Meyers

Jennifer is a board member at Temple B’nai Shalom in Fairfax Station, VA. She moved to Virginia after receiving a bachelor’s degree in political science from Tufts University. She recently retired after a 30-year career in national security with the federal government. In her free time, Jennifer loves watching the Yankees, Caps, and Nats and spending time with her husband, two children, and their dog, Scout. She loves being a temple board member and strives to build engaging and meaningful Jewish relationships within her congregation.

Molly Niznikov

Jewish community has been central to Molly Nizhnikov’s life for as long as she can remember. Growing up in Virginia Beach, she was an active BBYO kid (serving as council president), continued that involvement through Hillel at UVA, and has carried it into adulthood and now parenting. Molly is a Principal, Client Success at Veho and graduated from the University of Virginia with a degree in English Language and Literature. Today, she and her husband Joe—who was active in Hillel at Virginia Tech—live in Arlington with their three children, Lucy (11), Nora (9), and Harris (5), and belong to Olam Tikvah. Lucy and Nora attend Capital Camps each summer, and Harris will join as soon as he is old enough. In her free time, Molly loves to run, read, cook, and spend time with her family.

Caitlin Murphy Pine

Caitlin is co-founder and Head of Grantmaking Services at The Kendrick Arts Group (KAG), a nonprofit supporting the performing arts through foundation services, grant stewardship, and support to composers, performers, and organizations that fund them. A classically trained violist and arts administrator, Caitlin leads grantmaking for foundations supporting contemporary concert music, overseeing grant review and distribution while providing capacity-building services for arts philanthropy. Before co-founding KAG in 2026, she was Head of Grantmaking Services at Alter, Kendrick & Baron, LLP, and earlier Grants and Development Coordinator at Chamber Music America. Caitlin holds a bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from Oberlin College and Conservatory of Music, with further studies in business, endowment finance, and foundation practices at NYU School of Professional Studies. A committed community leader, Caitlin brings synagogue governance experience to her role as vice president of development at Congregation Beth Emeth. Her prior leadership at Sutton Place Synagogue in NYC included Chair of Young Professionals Programming and vice president of development. Caitlin is also active on the fundraising committee of her children’s elementary school PTO. Caitlin has lived in Reston, Virginia for four years with her husband and two children. She enjoys cooking, Crossfit, soccer, and attending concerts.

Sara Pollack

Sara has been an active part of the Northern Virginia Jewish community since moving to NoVA 20 years ago. She graduated from the joint program between the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University with degrees in Jewish History and Sociology. After a career in the nonprofit world (including working as Youth Director for a congregation), Sara found her professional calling in the classroom and is currently a high school Business & IT teacher. She focuses on building community and connections in her work, including serving on the board of Temple Beth Torah and as a JFamily Ambassador for the Pozez JCC. In her free time, Sara loves to read, needlepoint, play mahjong, and spend time with her family and dog.

Andrew Selznick

Andrew is a Senior Product Manager at Capital One, where he develops cybersecurity products focused on secure, AI-assisted software development. Previously, he spent nine years at Amazon as both a software engineer and technical product leader, building large-scale platforms used by hundreds of engineering teams. Andrew holds an MBA from Carnegie Mellon University and a degree in Computer Science from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where he also played Division I baseball. Originally from Shelby, North Carolina, Andrew now lives in Arlington with his wife, Peri, their 9-month-old son, Hershel, and their two dogs. He is interested in entrepreneurship, software development, and emerging technology. Andrew is excited to become more involved in the Northern Virginia Jewish community, build meaningful relationships with other local leaders, and help strengthen connections among Jewish families across the region.

Rachel Shor

Rachel is the Vice President of Ticket Sales and Service for the Washington Spirit, where she leads the club’s ticket sales and service efforts with a focus on delivering exceptional fan experiences and building lasting relationships. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Rachel moved to the Washington, DC, area in 2024 and has enjoyed becoming part of the region’s vibrant Jewish community. Throughout her career, Rachel has been passionate about connecting people through sports and creating meaningful experiences for fans. Her dedication to relationship-building, leadership, and community engagement has led her to her current role with the Washington Spirit, where she is committed to growing the club’s fan base and supporting the continued growth of women’s soccer. In her free time, Rachel enjoys traveling, reading, working out, attending sporting events, and spending time with family and friends.

Joel Taubman

Before joining the Brandeis Center, Joel served as an Assistant Attorney General in Virginia’s Office of Civil Rights, representing the Commonwealth against landlords, employers, and schools violating Virginia law. Joel’s team won the largest jury verdict in the history of the Virginia Fair Housing Law. He also led Virginia OCR’s K-12 investigations and was appointed to Attorney General Jason Miyares’ Antisemitism Task Force. Joel serves on the board of the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists, volunteering as the Jewish voluntary bar’s Director of Student Engagement. Joel is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School, where he was a Brandeis Center JIGSAW Fellow and Law Clerk. While at GW Law, Joel was also a member of the International Law in Domestic Courts journal, the Alternative Dispute Resolution board, and founded a law student group fighting for Uyghur human rights. Joel studied law after a career zoning, permitting, and constructing cellular towers at Crown Castle. He has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia.

Stacy Weiner

Stacy is a business development and marketing professional at the law firm Thompson Hine, where she works closely with attorneys and firm leadership to build relationships, develop strategies, and support the growth of the organization. Throughout her career, Stacy has been drawn to opportunities to bring people together, build meaningful connections, and turn ideas into action. Stacy is also an active lay leader at Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria, where she has been involved in board leadership, rabbinic transition, strategic planning, and strengthening connections within the congregation. She is currently a Vice President and on the executive committee. Her Jewish leadership is deeply personal, and she is passionate about creating a welcoming, connected, and vibrant Jewish community for future generations. She is excited to join the Jewish Federation leadership cohort to learn from other emerging leaders and explore new ways to contribute to the Northern Virginia Jewish community. In her free time, Stacy enjoys spending time with her husband, Mark, and their two daughters, Samantha, a senior, and Alexa, an eighth grader at Lake Braddock. Between driving her daughters from one activity to the next, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, reading on her Kindle, going to the theatre, and, most importantly, making memories with family and friends.

Gabrielle Witkin

Gabrielle Witkin is a real estate agent with TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, serving Arlington, McLean & Falls Church. She grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and moved to Washington, DC for college, where she played soccer and studied Biomedical Engineering. Before real estate, she built her career as a technology consultant at a leading global firm. Today Gabrielle guides busy professionals and growing families through some of their biggest decisions, and she brings that same care to her community. A Jew-by-choice, she is driven to help build a warm and vibrant Jewish life across Northern Virginia. She wants families to feel a real sense of belonging, and children to have a joyful place to gather and grow. Her connection to Israel and to future generations runs deep. Gabrielle lives in Arlington with her husband, Barrett, their daughter, Vera, and their two cats, Seb and Poppy.

Cohort 2

• Izzy Arbetter, Rodef 2100 (Temple Rodef Shalom)
• Ellyn Fine, Congregation Olam Tikvah
• David Goldman, Community Member
• Andy Grabel, Pozez JCC of Northern Virginia
• Jennifer Kulkin, Temple Rodef Shalom
• Ken Lichtman, Agudas Achim Congregation
• Ali Nadel, Temple Rodef Shalom
• Steve Pregozen, Congregation Beth Emeth
• Joel Regignano, The Network Council
• Jesse Reisman, Beth El Hebrew Congregation
• Joel Stillman, JSSA
• Daniel Strouse, Gesher Jewish Day School
• Irvin Varkonyi, George Mason University Hillel
• Misha Vinokur, Agudas Achim Congregation
• Michael Zalesne, AIPAC