WENDY LEFKOE MORRIS received her bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University and her Juris Doctor degree from American University’s Washington College of Law. She began her career as a corporate and banking lawyer with Muldoon, Murphy & Faucette, and then Mayer, Brown & Platt. After her eldest son was diagnosed with autism, she has dedicated her time to volunteering with various autism-related organizations including Autism Speaks and Kennedy Krieger Institute. Wendy is married to Matthew S. Morris and has two sons, Jared and Drew. She joined the Bender JCC Board in 2020.

Noam Fischman is a Shareholder in the DC office of Polsinelli P.C., and serves as the Co-Chair of the firm’s Working Group dedicated to litigation arising from merger and acquisition activity. Noam also counsels several area nonprofit organizations about corporate governance and risk-mitigation issues. Noam graduated from Rutgers College and received a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University National Law Center. Noam and his family are congregants at Shaare Torah. Previously, Noam served on Shaare Torah’s Board of Directors and as its Vice President of Operations. Noam is a first-term member of the Bender JCC Board.

BRIAN GAINES is CEO at MdBio Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides science, technology, engineering and mathematics education opportunities. He has a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany. He has served on the Bender JCC Board since 2013.

A Cybersecurity and Information Tech Risk leader with more than 25 years of expertise who is passionate about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Technology. Jermaine is an influencer who is effective at gaining consensus at all levels of management. As a trusted advisor to multiple industries, such as Financial, Healthcare, Technology, and Government, Jermaine has coached organizations on best practices in creating inclusive cultures. As a technology leader with a reputation for building teams, mentoring, and a passion for creating diverse and inclusive cultures, Jermaine strives to help companies build, and launch initiatives that promote DEI within their organizations. Viewed as a rising voice in DEI and he brings a unique business perspective on DEI in technology. This perspective has enabled Jermaine with the insights to help companies develop and shape the their approaches to establishing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture.

RAMI KANDEL holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and is the Business Development Manager at 3M Health Information Systems. He has coached the Bender JCC boys’ soccer team at the Mid-Atlantic Junior Games. In 2005, Rami and his wife Melanie established the David Lev Kandel Memorial Endowment Fund in memory of their son. The purpose of the fund is to support the Camp JCC inclusion program. Rami has served on the Bender JCC Board since 2015.

JEFFREY KRAUTHAMER After graduating from Walter Johnson High School in 1991, I began my current job as a fulltime receptionist/legal assistant at the law firm of Krauthamer & Stahl in Chevy Chase. After taking some time off from school, I continued my education at Montgomery College, receiving an Administrative Support Technology Certificate in 2004. I received a Volunteer Service Award from the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes in 2007. I was a participant in a 2011 photography project for the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy, portraying people with disabilities in the workplace. My photo was used, along with a written profile about me and my job, on the Department's website. I am a past board member of the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes and the Jewish Social Service Agency. I have been a member of B'nai Israel Congregation, along with my family, since 1976.

BRUCE WIENER was born and raised in and around Detroit, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan, where he received his undergraduate and law degrees. Bruce and his wife Rochelle moved the area in 1984, where Bruce began practicing law in Washington, D.C. He worked for several law firms and the federal government until he he established Wiener Financial Management, an independent financial advisor business, in 1998. Bruce has been involved in various local Jewish organizations, including serving as the president of Beth Sholom in Potomac and participating in the Investment Committee for the Bender JCC of Greater Washington. Bruce and Rochelle have two sons – Daniel (who lives in Denver with his wife Rachel and their daughter Sadie) and Ari (who lives in Boston with his wife Francesca).

Holly Mendelson is the Vice President and co-owner of Potomac Publishing, Inc. She is the co- publisher of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the largest, oldest, and most respected national diversity, equity, and inclusion magazine in higher education. Prior to owning INSIGHT Into Diversity, Holly worked in corporate marketing at companies such as Marriott International, Inc., and Bell Atlantic, Inc. She spent 20+ years shaping the way organizations communicated with their customers and was proud to help grow the Marriott Rewards program into the largest hotel loyalty program in the world by the time she left. When the opportunity arose in 2007 to transition to communicating about diversity, inclusion, anti-hate/bias, and the critical nature of the work being done in these areas, she embraced the opportunity. Holly believes her work supporting higher education access, employment, and social justice for people from all underrepresented groups through INSIGHT Into Diversity over the last 15 years has turned out to be her 'calling.' It is in line with her strong personal beliefs and values, and she feels it has been life-changing for her in innumerable ways. Since purchasing INSIGHT Into Diversity, Holly and her co-owner have completely revamped the publication to be the foremost voice advancing the national conversation about diversity and inclusion in higher education and beyond. Holly has focused on expanding INSIGHT's readership through partnerships with highly respected non-profit organizations in order to reach all underserved populations, and its Editorial Board to ensure that all voices are represented. INSIGHT Into Diversity is well known for its Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award, the only national recognition for an institution's level of achievement of and commitment to diversity and inclusion throughout campus. Holly graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing, communications and psychology. She resides in Gaithersburg, MD, with her husband Brad, and has young adult children. To learn more about Holly Mendelson and INSIGHT Into Diversity visit www.insightintodiversity.com or (43) Holly (Benton) Mendelson | LinkedIn.