Jake is from Bethesda, MD and has been working in the commercial real estate field for 10+ years. He currently serves as a commercial office property manager for Blake Real Estate in Washington, DC.  He earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Wisconsin in Madison and his masters in real estate from The American University. Jake has been serving as an Advisory Director on the Bender Foundation Board since 2018. 

Daryle currently serves as CEO and owner of American Paving and Striping, a Baltimore-Washington area leader in providing asphalt paving, concrete, and lot striping. Daryle was recently the President of Hof Laundry Systems in Beltsville, Maryland as well as the President of Best Lockers, LLC. Hof was the area’s largest local provider of coin and card operated laundry equipment to multi-family housing. Best Lockers was the pioneer of the electronic locker system that is now in use on a global scale. Daryle has an extensive background in non-profit work and was actively involved on the Board of Directors for local branches of the Daniel Heuman Fund for Spinal Cord Research from 1991-1998, The Sharre Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem from 1993-1994, the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington from 1994-2000, and the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes from 2015-2018. Daryle Co-founded Most Valuable Kids, a non-profit agency that turns unused tickets of sports and cultural events into opportunities for kids in need.

Daryle is the Past Chair of the Bender JCC of Greater Washington, The Vice President of Woodmont Country Club, and a Board Member of Tickets for Kids. A native Washingtonian, Daryle earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Wisconsin in Madison and lives in Rockville, Maryland with his wife and their four children. 

I’m a proud graduate of Pennsylvania State University and currently serve as the Director of Business Development at Collars & Co. where I focus on managing strategic partnerships while continuing to drive growth with our wholesale partners. Originally from Rockville, MD, I’ve grown up with the JCC as a constant and meaningful presence in my life – an essential part of the community. Over the past several years, I’ve deepened my commitment to the Jewish community through active involvement in the Ben Gurion Society, a Next Gen program part of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. I’m eager to bring both my professional experience and passion for service to the board, with the goal of supporting the Bender JCC’s continued growth and impact in the community

I am a Senior Manager at EY with over 11 years of experience serving clients in a variety of lifecycle stages. This includes companies in their startup phase, those experiencing significant growth during and post-IPO, and mature Fortune 500 companies. This diverse client base has provided extensive experience coordinating global teams and navigating complex accounting matters. I have also worked with various clients through implementing and maintaining effective controls compliance.

I build trusting relationships with executives and boards by providing timely and relevant insights about a company’s finance function and bringing in subject matter resources, when appropriate. I have a strong track record of leading with a client-centric, collaborative approach, built on timely and transparent communication.

I have volunteered at various EDC JCC events. I met my Husband (Ben) volunteering on Christmas in 2013. I love to visit the Bender JCC pool with my 3-year-old daughter (Addison) in the summer, and I am inspired and amazed by the bustling energy every time I enter the JCC.

I am a member of the American Institute of Public Accountants and the Virginia Board of Accountancy. I serve as the co-chair of a professional women’s network that brings together local executives with diverse backgrounds to develop mentorship and foster relationships. I reside in Bethesda, MD, and stay very busy trying to keep up with Addison at playgrounds across Bethesda.

Noam Fischman is a Partner in the DC office of Akerman LLP. Noam serves as the Firm’s Co-Team Lead for Health Care Litigation, with a focus on government investigations, fraud litigation, commercial litigation for health care companies, and managing legal risks related to merger and acquisition activity. Noam also counsels several area nonprofit organizations about corporate governance and risk-mitigation issues. Noam graduated from the Rutgers College Honors Program Magna Cum Laude and as an undergraduate associate for the Eagleton Institute of Politics. Noam received his Juris Doctor degree, with Honors, 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. From 2015 – 2024, Noam served as the General Counsel of the Bender JCC Board of Trustees. 

Avi Friedman is the Founder and Principal of Jumpstart Philanthropy, a consulting firm focused on empowering local, regional and national non-profit organizations and their leaders to achieve their philanthropic goals and enhance their organizational capacity. Avi currently serves on the board of Montgomery County Little League (MCLL), and is on the executive committee of Shaare Torah, his family’s synagogue. Avi earned his BA from The University of Wisconsin-Madison and MBA/MA from Brandeis University. A native of Long Island, New York, Avi has called the Washington DC area his home since 2006 and currently lives in Gaithersburg, Maryland with his wife and their three children. 

DAVID HELFAND is a personal injury attorney focused on helping victims and survivors of accidental injuries. He has been a member of the bar for 30+years. He has also worked in a variety of management roles at his family’s manufacturing and distribution company as well as a liquidation and distribution company that he founded. Additionally, he has served as the Chairman of the Board for United Force for Good, a non-profit that he founded with his daughters. He has been tied to this community for years having been raised in Rockville and Potomac, and he attended nursery school at the JCC in the early 1970’s. 

 I am originally from Peabody, Massachusetts, a suburb north of Boston. I came to the DMV for college (The American University) and law school (Washington College of Law at The American University) and never left. I met my husband in 1990. We got married in 1992 and bought a house in Rockshire in Rockville not long after. We lived and raised our three children in Rockville until moving to Friendship Heights in August of 2019.

We have been long-time, active members of B’nai Israel Congregation. Our family has participated in JCC activities over the years, including camp, adult-education, and special programs. Our children spent a significant amount of time at the JCC during their high school years when they participated in BBYO.

Professionally, I have been a federal tax attorney for over 30 years and got my LLM in Taxation from Georgetown University Law School in 1992. I began my career in the IRS Office of Chief Counsel, then worked at two Big 4 accounting firms and as an Associate Legislative Tax Counsel in the Office of Tax Policy at the Treasury Department before joining my current firm, Crowe LLP, as a principal.

My past volunteer activities include having been president of the Fallsmead Elementary School PTA and a delegate to the Montgomery County PTA for Frost Middle School and Wootton High School. I am currently chair of the Administrative Practice Committee of the American Bar Association Tax Section and immediate-past chair of the AICPA Tax Section’s IRS Advisory and Relations Committee. I am also a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.

Yair Inspektor currently serves as the Executive Director of Construction and Real Estate and Senior Managing Counsel at Children’s National Hospital. In previous roles, Yair served as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Senior Advisor to the Deputy Mayor for Education, and as Interim Assistant Superintendent at the Office of State Superintendent of Education, Office of Health and Wellness. Before entering the fields of real estate, law and policy, Yair taught 11th grade global history in the South Bronx. Yair is a fluent Hebrew speaker (hailing from Israel by way of Pittsburgh) and has served on various boards including most recently the Sela Public Charter School. He is a proud husband and father of two, who both enjoyed experiences at the Bender JCC camp and can still perform spirited renditions of most of the choreographed dances and ‘Take me home, Montrose Road’. A member of the B’nai Israel Congregation, Yair calls the North Farm neighborhood home, just a short trip down that same Montrose Road. 

Barry is the current ombudsman for the Bender JCC, having served as Treasurer for two years and as a board member since 2019. Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Barry has deep roots in the JCC community, having worked as a summer camp counselor and lifeguard at the Memphis JCC. Professionally, Barry is a Senior Investment Director at NRRIT, where he is responsible for international equity investments. In addition, he serves on the Board of Investment Trustees for Montgomery County. Barry resides in Gaithersburg, MD, with his two teenage children. 

Aaron Kaufman joined The Jewish Federations of North America’s Washington DC office in January 2016. He is the Senior Manager of Legislative Affairs. He focuses on disability and poverty issues.  Aaron came from the Arc Maryland where he lobbied members of the Maryland General Assembly and the Maryland Congressional delegation on issues affecting Marylanders with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. He worked in the offices of then Congressman (now Senator) Chris Van Hollen and former Senator Evan Bayh as well as the Easter Seals Office of Public Affairs. In addition to working at JFNA, Aaron is a member of the Maryland House of Delegates where he serves on the Judiciary Committee. Having Cerebral Palsy, Aaron feels he brings a unique perspective to his work in the House of Delegates and JFNA’s efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. Outside of advocacy, he was the instructor in Project SEARCH Montgomery, a job-training program for young adults with significant disabilities. Aaron graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park with a BA in American Studies and with several honors. He is on the Executive Committee of the Jewish Foundation for Group Homes and is the former Vice Chair of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council.  He also served on the Board of the National Association of Developmental Disabilities Council as well as the Board of Disability Rights Maryland. He is on the Board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and former Board Member of the Union for Reform Judaism. Outside of work, Aaron enjoys following DC sports teams.  He is passionate about politics, enjoys movies, live theater, museum and travel as well as non-fiction books. 

I currently provide consulting services to the Federal government and Industry clients for effective implementation and navigation of national personnel security reform and policies. For the past 35 years, I proudly and honorably served the Federal government and last held the position as Chief, Policy and Collaboration for the Special Security Directorate at the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), with the Office of the Director for National Intelligence (ODNI).

My most recent and enriching employment was with the ODNI at the Intelligence Community Campus in Bethesda. I regularly collaborated with the intelligence community and the executive branch partners on national security reform efforts to develop and integrate joint security and suitability initiatives for a U.S. workforce. I spent eleven years working at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) located in Rockville as Chief of Personnel Security and was responsible for the operations and management of the centralized personnel security and Drug-Free Workplace programs.

Before that, I worked for the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service (DOJ/INS), as a Personnel Security Specialist responsible for writing policy and training on all adjudicative case functions. I was recruited by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Washington Federal Investigative Services (OPM/FIS) right after college graduation. I served as a Federal Investigator conducting full-field background investigations for a myriad of Executive branch agencies and for high-ranking positions within the White House and on Capitol Hill.

In addition to my work as Chairperson of the Bender JCC Safety and Security Committee, I am an active volunteer for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).

I live in Rockville with my husband and two adult daughters. In my spare time, I enjoy traveling and experiencing new restaurants in DC area.

ERIC KLEIN was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan where he attended Hillel Day School. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1990 and moved to Chicago. Eric moved to Montgomery County in 1995 as his wife Vicki, also a Michigan alum, grew up in Potomac. Eric is a CPA and an Assurance Partner with EY. Eric is board member of the Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless where he actively volunteers. They belong to Congregation Har Shalom and have two daughters (a recent graduate of Michigan and a sophomore at Michigan) 

CHARLES LEVINGSTON, has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of EagleBank since April 2017. Mr. Levingston, a Certified Public Accountant, served in various financial and senior management roles at the Bank prior to his current role. Mr. Levingston joined the EagleBank in January 2012, and previously worked at The Federal Reserve Banks of Atlanta and Philadelphia as a Bank Examiner, and at PwC as a Manager in the Advisory practice. He has over 24 years of experience in the banking industry. Charles and his wife Ali, have two children, Jonah and Maya who have been through the JCC preschool. They now attend Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Jonah and Maya have been campers at Camp JCC. 

Elyse Lipan-Lash retired after a 34-year career at Accenture.  Elyse was an HR executive focused on helping people achieve  their best, personally and professionally. She believes the best outcomes result from working collaboratively and supporting each person’s unique contributions. Elyse met her husband, Steve, when they were undergraduates at Northwestern University. She is the proud parent of two young adults. Elyse has been a member of the Bender JCC for 20+ years.  She joined for the inclusion program and stayed for the people. Elyse can often be found attending exercise classes or swimming at the JCC.  

AYELET MASICA has a passion for designing spaces that are both beautiful and functional. Having worked on restaurant designs for the majority of her career she has developed a skillset and passion for creating inviting spaces that work. She works with the mindset that the ultimate design should be one that you love and enjoys working with clients to bring their design goals to life. She has worked in Washington DC for the award-winning design firm, HapstakDemetriou+ with a focus on fine dining restaurants, fast casual and concept prototype design. Ayelet holds an MFA in Interior Design from George Washington University.

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. 

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. 

I blend robust financial models and analytics with compelling storytelling, making complex finance concepts accessible and actionable for my business partners.

An early adopter of the Internet, I helped launch a tech start-up while earning my undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania. I leveraged my technical expertise to modernize the Electronic Residency Application Service® at the AAMC, earning the prestigious Spirit of Excellence Award for bringing the residency application process online. During that time, I earned my MBA and discovered my passion for numbers.

Over the past 15 years, I’ve had a breadth of finance, accounting, and analytics experiences across multiple disciplines, including Sales & Marketing, Hotel and Market Finance, G&A Budgeting and Forecasting, and Corporate Finance. I have been a subject matter expert in fintech such as Hyperion, Essbase/SmartView, and PeopleSoft and have leveraged Tableau and Power BI to create tools that drive business insights.

Beyond finance, I have a passion for teaching and professional development. I’ve helped design and deliver training programs, mentor colleagues, and facilitate networking and relationship-building opportunities. Helping others grow and succeed is at the core of my leadership style.

Committed to continuous learning, I passed both steps of the FP&A certification in 2020 and actively maintain my credentials. When I’m not refining my skills through platforms like LinkedIn, Udemy, Wall Street Prep, or Maven Analytics – I am focused on financial literacy education. I am currently developing a curriculum for the PINK BULLS Investing Club, an initiative dedicated to empowering teenage girls through financial knowledge.

John Schmelzer grew up in Miami Beach, Florida, and went to college at Emory University in Atlanta. He married Naomi, his college girlfriend, and they have lived in the DC area for over 40 years, 35 of them in Potomac. Their older son Jeffrey lives in Austin, Texas, and works for a company that provides virtual mental health services. Their younger son, Michael, lives in Bethesda with his wife, Amanda, and their two sons. Michael works for Abramson Construction Company. John has been retired for six years, but had a rewarding professional life. He was a civil rights attorney/manager for the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for 42 years. He began as an appellate attorney in 1974, arguing cases before federal courts of appeal across the country. John sued employers for refusing to hire individuals because of their race, sex, or national origin. Later, John served in several management positions. During his career, John recovered millions of dollars for the victims of employment discrimination, won several precedent setting cases, including one before the US Supreme Court, and developed and built the largest nationwide mediation program in the country. John has always enjoyed serving the community. He became a volunteer listener for the Northern Virginia Hotline in Arlington when he first moved to the DC area. He served as a board member of his community pool and was a volunteer for his son’s cub scout pack. He has always had an interest in community mental health and therefore volunteered with the Jewish Social Service Agency, which provides counselling and other services to individuals and families. At JSSA, John has served in various capacities, including as a board member, on the Executive Board of Directors, and currently as co-chair of JSSA’s Ambassadors’ Council. At the Bender JCC, John has been a volunteer teacher for the last six years. One day a week, he teaches citizenship and civics to immigrants so they can pass their citizenship test and interview. Another day a week, he teaches conversational English to immigrants. He also volunteers at JCC special events, including the Health Fair, Celebration of Israel, the Hanukah concert, and movie nights. John looks forward to further assisting the Bender JCC. 

JERMAINE STANLEY is 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. 

STACEY WATSON is the Director of the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Division of the Marfan Foundation. A graduate of Syracuse University, Stacey went on to receive her MSW with a focus on Management and Community Organizing from the University of Maryland. With a passion for helping to create and support inclusive communities, Stacey’s dedication stems from her experiences as a Bender JCCGW camper and later as an inclusion counselor. A third-generation Bender JCCGW member, Stacey has a deep-rooted connection to the community. She lives in Kensington, MD, with her husband, two children, who love the JCC, especially camp. Stacey is committed to continuing the legacy of engagement and support for the Bender JCCGW community.

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 established Wiener Financial Management, an independent financial advisor business, in 1998.  Bruce joined MAI Capital Management LLC in 2023 as a Senior Wealth Advisor.  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 three children) and Ari (who lives in Potomac with his wife Francesca and three children).