JEWISHcolorado Senior Leadership

Renée Rockford
President & CEO
Rockford, who joined JEWISHcolorado in May 2021 as Chief Advancement Officer, 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 7 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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
Sheila Abrahamsson
Independent Contractor | Real Estate & Construction Network
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
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 Schwartz
Director of Israeli Teen Emissaries & Education
Edina Segal
Director of the Israel & Overseas Center