Meet the Team

JEWISHcolorado Senior Leadership

Renée Rockford

Renée Rockford

President & CEO

Rockford joined JEWISHcolorado in May 2021 as Chief Advancement Officer and assumed the position of President & CEO in July 2023. She brings a wealth of experience as a journalist and communications professional with expertise in crisis management, reputation and brand management, strategic planning, community partnerships, fundraising, donor relations, and stewardship. Most recently, she was assistant head of school for advancement and external affairs at Colorado Academy. Prior to that, Rockford served for seven years as the school’s director of communication and strategic planning. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism at the University of Wisconsin, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

rrockford@jewishcolorado.org

 

John Stilwell

John Stilwell

Chief Business & Finance Officer

Stilwell came to JEWISHcolorado in September 2021, after 30 years serving in various roles, including chief of staff, CFO, and COO, for nonprofit, corporate, and entrepreneurial organizations across the country, where he helped to start, manage, and scale their businesses. Most recently, Stilwell worked for Project Sanctuary, supporting veterans and active-duty military families. Before his move to the nonprofit sector, Stilwell worked with a Wall Street hedge fund.

jstilwell@jewishcolorado.org

 

Dr. Julie Lieber

Dr. Julie Lieber

Chief Jewish Life & Engagement Officer

Dr. Julie Lieber is the Chief Jewish Life and Engagement Officer at JEWISHcolorado. Formerly, she served as the Director of the Pardes-Kevah Teaching Fellowship as well as the Interim Executive Director and Director of Education at Kevah, a national non-profit facilitating home-based Torah study groups. After receiving her PhD in European history with a focus on Jewish women, gender and sexuality, Julie moved to Colorado, where she was a Professor of European History and Jewish Studies for many years. Julie has taught for the Wexner Heritage Program, the Melton program and is a frequent guest lecturer throughout the Colorado Jewish community and beyond. When she’s not teaching, you can find her on the Colorado slopes skiing with her family.

jlieber@jewishcolorado.org

 

Stephanie Geller

Stephanie Geller

Chief Culture Officer

Stephanie Geller is the Chief Culture Officer at JEWISHcolorado. Previously, she was the Director of Events at Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado and Director of Catering for Sage Hospitality, managing the catering sales and service teams at the JW Marriott Denver Cherry Creek. She is a Colorado native and spends her free time at the baseball field with her son and at the dance studio with her daughter. She also enjoys tennis in the summer and the ski slopes in the winter with her family.

sgeller@jewishcolorado.org

 

Willie Recht

Willie Recht

Chief Development Officer

Willie Recht is the Chief Development Officer at JEWISHcolorado. He has worked in development roles at the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and at One Colorado. More than a decade ago, he also worked in community programming and outreach for Keshet, where he was instrumental in the launch of Pride Shabbat and the Queer Seder, two programs that continue today. Recht’s volunteer and community involvement has included the American Leadership Forum’s Class XXIV; the Board of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center; the Children’s Museum of Denver, and as a participant in the Glass Leadership Institute through the Mountain States Region of the Anti-Defamation League. Recht is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he earned a degree in Political Science.

wrecht@jewishcolorado.org

 

JEWISHcolorado Board of Directors

Ben Lusher
Board of Directors Chair

Rob Kaufmann
Immediate Past Board Chair

Elizabeth Barrekette
Boulder Representative

Alan Brandt
IEC Chair

John Chanin

Ross Chotin
Audit Committee Chair

Josh Demby
Public Officials Mission Co-Chair

Joey Friedmann
Secretary/Governanace

Dana Friedman

Kendra Goldstein

 

Adriane Greenberg
Women’s Philanthropy Chair

Rabbi Emily Hyatt
RMRC Representative

Justin Jaffe
Investment Chair

Steve Kaplan
Finance Chair

Carla Kutnick

Adam Laarsen
Young Adult Division Chair

Ruth Malman

Alon Mor

Matt Most
JCRC Chair

Hirsch Neustein

 

Neil Oberfeld
COG Chair/FMC Delegate

Jonathan Perlmutter
Safety & Security Chair

Jessica Pivar

Brandon Rattiner

Brian Ratner

Carly Schlafer

Gil Selinger
Planning & Grant Making

Mark Sidell
Real Estate & Construction Network Chair

Aza Squarer

Diana Zeff Anderson
Planned Giving & Endowment Chair

JEWISHcolorado Departments and Key Contacts

Advancement 

Sadie Christlieb
Content Strategist & Web Manager

Rolando Kahn
Communications Director

Jill Katchen
Director of Donor Engagement

Jason Oruch
Director of Online Marketing & Philanthropy

Jenna Raimist
Director of Annual Campaign

Susan Weinberger
Donor Relations Manager

Roberta Witkow
Director of Women’s Philanthropy 

Finance

Aurora Baca
Staff Accountant

Monica Cox
CRM Database Manager

Zach McAnally
Finance Manager

Krista Nieves
Gift Processing & Donor Services Coordinator

Operations 

Aaron Claflin
Director of IT & Facilities

Hannah Young
Office Administrator 

Martha Zaugg
Executive Assistant to the President & CEO

Events

Evan Narotsky
Events Manager

Jewish Life & Engagement

Nelly Ben Tal
Shlicha, Israeli Emissary

Cindy Coons
Director of Family Engagement & Jewish Explorers

Jillian Feiger
Director of Jewish Student Connection & the Joyce Zeff Israel Study Tour 

Heather Flowers
Jewish Life & Engagement Administrator

Bethany Friedlander
PJ Library Manager

Michael Kahn
Jewish Student Connection Education Coordinator

Dr. Dan Leshem
Director, Jewish Community Relations Council

Michelle Ruby
Director of Israeli Teen Emissaries & Education