In May 2022, members of the Pozez JCC voted to elect our new board members who are diverse geographically, and also by age, gender, professional skills, and backgrounds. They also bring extensive Jewish knowledge, former synagogue leadership, young leadership, business acumen, HR, and management experience. You'll find below bios for our Class of fiscal year 2023.

President
Rabbi Brett Isserow was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was a partner in a firm of Chartered Accountants and Auditors until leaving South Africa for Israel in 1986. Ordained in June 1991 from Hebrew Union College's Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati, Ohio, he began his tenure as Assistant Rabbi of The Temple and was named an Associate in May 1994.

For 16 years he served as Senior Rabbi of Beth El Hebrew Congregation in Alexandria. Rabbi Isserow is now Rabbi Emeritus and is also involved in the wider community as a Board Member of the Pozez JCC; as a member of the Ethics Committee of Inova Alexandria Hospital; and in a number of other interfaith and Jewish organizations. Currently, he serves on the Budget and Finance Committee of the CCAR and as Co-Chair of the Audit Committee. In 2016, Rabbi Isserow received an honorary doctorate from Hebrew Union College in honor of his serving 25 years in the active Rabbinate.

Brett is married to Rabbi Jinny Isserow, an artist, and they have two children, Anna and Jesse.

Vice Presidents (4)
Dale Bare was born in Pottsville, PA a small town, where she began her early Jewish studies in the synagogue directly across the street from her house. Most of her early days of growing up were in Port Washington, NY before moving to the DC area to attend college. She and her husband, Mike, have for over thirty years, owned an international mystery shop/customer satisfaction company of which she serves as CEO Emerita.

Dale earned her B.A. in Spanish and her M.A. in Public Relations from American University in Washington, DC. Before beginning her current business, she worked for various PR/Advertising agencies as well as her own business for a short time.

Dale served on the Gesher Board of Directors in the early ‘90s, where her son, Jason attended from kindergarten and was in the first 7th grade graduating class. Jason is now married to Stefanie and their daughter, Brooke loves attending the ECLC program at the J.

In her spare time, Dale is an avid reader and basketball fan. She can often be found cheering on the Wizards during the basketball season!

LaNitra M. Berger is the Senior Director of the Office of Fellowships and associate director of the African and African American Studies Program at George Mason University. Throughout her career, she has worked toward helping underrepresented students gain access to transformational education abroad opportunities and careers in public service. LaNitra received her MA and PhD in art history from Duke University and a bachelor’s degree in art history and international relations from Stanford University. LaNitra is originally from San Bernardino, California. She enjoys traveling with her family, being outdoors, Cub Scouting, and visiting art museums.

David Selden was born in Englewood, NJ, and has lived in Reston since the mid-1980s. He graduated from Clark University and University of Wisconsin - Madison with degrees in geography and cartography. David recently retired from a career as a senior business development professional, providing consultancy and digital services provider for government, private sector, and international clients. David’s involvement with the Jewish community is deep and varied. He is a past president of Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation in Reston and currently a Board member of the JCC of Northern Virginia and past chair of the J’s Community Engagement Task Force. Together, David and his wife, Julie, are actively engaged with and supportive of the Federation, Gesher Jewish Day School, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and Israel causes and non-profits. David and Julie were Virginia co-chairs of the Federation’s Israel@70 celebration. David grew up in a Reform Jewish Zionist household in New Jersey. During the Yom Kippur War, David volunteered on a kibbutz and completed a year of studies at Hebrew University. David has two stepsons and a recent granddaughter, is a 22 year kidney transplant recipient, and a part-time poet.

Edward Weiss practices law with Bregman, Berbet, Schwartz & Gilday, LLC where he concentrates on corporate, intellectual property, and commercial law. He has assumed leadership positions in various Bar associations, is widely published on law-related topics, and has been a frequent lecturer on various IT and corporate law subjects.

Ed earned his B.A. from Dickinson College, his M.A. from the University of Illinois, and his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Ed has served as a member of the Executive Committee and Secretary of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington; as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Food for Others; as a Trustee of Gesher JDS; as President of Congregation Olam Tikvah; as a Member of the Executive Committee and Treasurer of JSSA of Greater Washington; as an Assistant Scout Master for BSA Troop 1533; and he has tutored adults with disabilities at NOVA Community College.

Ed is married to Karen Tovey. They have two adult sons, Josh and Ben.

Secretary
Lisa Miller started her career as a research biologist at the Wistar Institute at the University of Pennsylvania and the Cancer Institute of NIH and wrote for the George Washington University about infertility and medicine.  She changed careers after starting her family, serving in leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and at the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation where she led in the takeover and receivership of failed savings and loans. Most recently, she was president and an owner of Dynaxys, a women-owned technology and accounting contractor in Silver Spring. In addition to its business success, the company achieved substantial local recognition for its effort to achieve workplace excellence and in its promotion of employee health and wellness. Prior to joining Dynaxys, Lisa was a Senior Director in the consulting practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in its Washington D.C. government consulting practice where she was the Account Manager for the Departments of Housing and Urban Development and Education with a focus on strategic planning and process improvement. As a volunteer, Lisa conceived of and developed Elementary Extended Day, school-age child care programs at two separate Montgomery County Public Schools; was President of the Board of Directors of the Westmoreland Early Childhood Program and served as a member of the Board of the Montgomery Child Care Association which operates 10 pre-school and school-aged  child care programs.

Lisa grew up in Bridgeport, CT and in Brooklyn, NY and attended the University of Wisconsin. She has two children and two grandchildren.

Since moving to Virginia, she has heard many heartwarming stories of the herculean efforts and community impact in the birth and growth of the J. Impressed with the wealth of programs offered and reminded of the importance that the JCC programs played in her life, as well as in the lives of her family, she wanted to use her expertise to support J’s efforts to enhance community. She joined the Pozez JCC Board in 2016 and serves now as the Board’s secretary and a member of its Executive Committee. She is also a leader in the Reston Chapter of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom a group of Muslim and Jewish women who want to build understanding and achieve friendship while addressing some of the complex social justice issues of today.

Treasurer
Sam Pozez grew up in Washington D.C. and attended Georgetown Day School from K-12. Sam earned his undergraduate degree with a major in Business Management and a double minor in Spanish and Latin American Studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. Since moving back to D.C in 2016 he graduated from American University Washington College of Law where he enjoyed his work as a pro bono student attorney for the community and economic development law clinic, where he worked with local small businesses and nonprofits. Professionally, Sam works at Uniwest Commercial Realty in the leasing and sales of commercial properties and the expansion of the third party property management and brokerage business.

Sam first got involved in the DMV Jewish community by attending a DC Young Professional Birthright trip in 2014 and has now been serving on the board at the Pozez JCC for the last 5 years. Sam continues to look for opportunities to expand his role and meet new people with similar interests. Sam currently resides in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington D.C. When he is not working, he enjoys volunteering, golfing, grilling, traveling, and spending time with his family, especially his wife Alina, and fluffy golden-doodle Frida.

Assistant Treasurer
David Yaffe is a semi-retired energy lawyer and is Senior Counsel to the Washington, D.C. law firm of Van Ness Feldman LLP. He is an Adjunct Professor of Energy Law at the George Washington University Law School.

David has a long history of involvement in the Northern Virginia and national Jewish communities. He is a past President of the Pozez JCC and remains on its board and executive committee. His wife, Deborah, is a past member of the Pozez JCC board. He is a member of the Board of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and has served on its executive committee. He and Deborah have been longtime members of Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria. He is a past co-president of that congregation and led the extensive renovation of the synagogue. He has been a Board Member of Hillel International for the past fourteen years (and still is) and is a past Treasurer and Vice-Chair and has been a Board Member.

David is Past President of the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Association and was a member of the University’s Board of Trustees through June 2018.

David led the strategic planning efforts for the J that resulted in the strategic repositioning effort that the J is currently undertaking. He will co-chair the board implementation oversight committee. This work has led to the Board’s aspiration that the J serve as a connector for the larger Jewish community in Northern Virginia.

David and Deborah reside in Arlington. Their immediate family includes two grown daughters, a son-in-law, and two grandchildren.

At-Large (2)

Andy Grabel grew up in Atlanta, Ga., and has made his home in the Greater Washington, DC region for the past 15 years. A public relations and communications professional, he currently serves as senior vice president of communications at The NEA Foundation, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting public school educators and public education. During his career in the communications field, Andy has served several different organizations in the social sector and previously worked as a writer and editor at local newspapers in Georgia and the Carolinas.

Andy lives in Fairfax with his wife, Alyssa, and their two young daughters, Elena and Vivien, who are current and former students of the Pozez JCC Early Childhood Learning Center. He enjoys exploring beautiful Northern Virginia and its rich culture and diversity and connecting with the area’s vibrant Jewish community.

Andy is an alumnus of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. Go Dawgs!

Susan Kristol moved to Northern Virginia in 1985. She and her husband Bill are members of Congregation Olam Tikvah, where she served as president. She currently serves on the boards of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington and JCRC of Greater Washington. In the past, Susan has been a volunteer in the Fairfax County school system and with MarineParents.com, a national organization that provides support to Marines and their family members. She has also served on the Gesher Jewish Day School board.

After receiving a Ph.D. in Classical Philology from Harvard University, Susan taught Greek and Latin at the University of Pennsylvania and Brandeis University. She enjoys studying Biblical Hebrew and other topics related to Judaism. She and her husband have three married children and seven grandchildren.

Immediate Past President
Bill Gale grew up in Northern Virginia and, after almost a decade in California, moved back in the early 1990s. He currently serves as a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and as codirector of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, where he researches and writes on tax, fiscal, and retirement policy. Previously, he was an assistant professor at UCLA, a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, Vice President and Director of Economic Studies at Brookings, and President of the National Tax Association. His book “Fiscal Therapy:  Curing America’s Debt Addiction and Investing in the Future” was published by Oxford University Press in 2019. He has held leadership positions in many Jewish organizations, ranging from NFTY at Beth El in Alexandria to Hillel at Stanford University and, most recently, on the Board of the Pozez JCC.

After graduating from Annandale High School, Bill received a bachelor’s degree from Duke University, studied at the London School of Economics, and earned a Ph.D. in Economics from Stanford. As a person who stutters, he is honored to serve on the national Board of Myspeech. An avid tennis player, he now lives in Fairfax with his wife Diane Lim. He is the proud father of two children (both of whom attended preschool at the J) and the proud step-father to Diane’s four children. Diane and Bill also manage a loving gang of small furry critters – Taco, Tammy (dogs), and Chester (cat).

In May 2024, members of the Pozez JCC voted to elect our new board members who are diverse geographically, and also by age, gender, professional skills, and backgrounds. They also bring extensive Jewish knowledge, former synagogue leadership, young leadership, business acumen, HR, and management experience. You'll find below bios for our Class of fiscal year 2025.

Matthew M. Berger is Vice President of Tax and Vice President of Student Housing. In his tax role, Matthew represents the interests of the multifamily industry before Congress and federal agencies on tax issues. Matthew also co-leads NMHC’s student housing efforts to ensure the industry’s information, networking and advocacy needs are represented. Prior to coming to NMHC, Matthew worked on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship under the leadership of former Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME). Before his time on the Hill, Matthew was National Tax Manager for Deloitte Tax LLP in Washington, DC, where he covered the formulation of tax policy in Congress. Matthew graduated from Stanford University.

Linda Blair has generally taken “the road less traveled/and that has made all the difference." When she dropped out of college and married Tex 56 years ago, she thought she was settling into a typical suburban Jewish life in either Philadelphia or Memphis. Instead she found herself on the well-worn path of a military wife and mother, nurturing her growing family of four children while following her husband through the twists and turns of his military career. The family endured two separations because of the Vietnam War, lived on various army bases in Europe and the USA, finally settling in Springfield, Virginia. As time passed, Linda decided to complete the route of her college education, earning a B.A. and M.A. in English from George Mason University and a Ph.D. in American Literature from The George Washington University. The degrees enabled her to chart a career path in Fairfax County Public Schools where she taught English, The Theory of Knowledge (How do we know what we know?), served as an English Department Chair and ultimately as the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Coordinator at Thomas A. Edison High School. Since retiring 11 years ago, Linda and Tex have traveled extensively, creating memorable avenues of enjoyment, with each other and with their grandchildren. Yet the most surprising and fulfilling high road, a symbolic circle back to the Jewish suburban life she once envisioned, has been her involvement with the Pozez J. Almost daily physical fitness training, yoga, and swimming underscore the honor she feels at being a member of the Pozez JCC Board.

Marnie Feinberg - Bio to come

William (Bill) Froehlich grew up in Buffalo, NY and spent his childhood summers at JCC day camp and overnight camp. As a teenager he was a JCC summer camp counselor. Bill received his bachelor’s degree from Harpur College (SUNY @ Binghamton) and earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. In 1975 he moved to Northern Virginia to begin his legal career as an agency trial attorney.  At the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission he rose to a number of senior leadership positions including Director of the Office of Administrative Litigation, Special Counsel to the Office of Enforcement, Assistant General Counsel for Gas and Oil Litigation, and Director of the Office of Enforcement’s Financial Regulation Division. In 2008, he accepted an appointment as an Administrative Judge at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Rockville, MD.

Bill has been a member of Congregation Olam Tikvah for over 40 years and has served on its Board of Directors and was Chairman of OT’s Social Action committee.  He has also served as a Board member, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s fitness center.

Bill is an adjunct professor of administrative law at George Mason University, a position he has held for over 40 years.  He is also a faculty member at the International Law Institute and the National Judicial College. He has lectured throughout Eastern Europe and in China on various legal topics.

Bill and his wife, Jane, live in Fairfax and are the parents of grown twin daughters.

Leonard (Len) Friedman grew up in Los Angeles, CA, moved to Corvallis, OR in 1992 and in 2008, packed up his Toyota Camry and settled in Loudoun County, VA. He currently serves as a Professor of Health Services Management and Leadership in the Department of Health Policy and Management in the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. In his role at GWU, Len teaches masters and doctoral students in the areas of organization theory, organization behavior, human resource management, strategic management and leadership in health sector organizations. In addition, he directs the executive format MHA (MHA@GW) at GWU and serves as the editor of the Journal of Health Administration Education. Prior to his appointment at GWU, Len was on the faculty at Oregon State University for 16 years. He has organized and led three study tours of the healthcare delivery system in Israel.

Prior to joining the Board of the Pozez JCC, Len has served on seven not-for-profit boards and has been the chair of four of those governing boards.

After graduating from Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, Len earned his BA in Biology and Master of Public Health (MPH) from California State University, Northridge. The next stop on the academic highway was the University of Southern California where he earned his Master of Public Administration (MPA) and in 1991, his PhD from what is now the Price School of Public Policy at USC.

Len lives in North Springfield with his loving partner Abby, her cat Bob and his pug Millie. He has two daughters, one of whom lives outside of Portland, OR and the other outside of Richmond, VA. Finally, Len is the proud grandfather to three boys and one girl.

Ryan Gardiner was born in Red Bank, NJ and has lived in Washington, D.C. since 2017. He graduated from Rutgers University and earned his commission as a Naval Officer from Officer Candidate School, Newport Rhode Island. From 2008-2014, Ryan served on two warships and deployed to the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Aden, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, finishing his career in Naples, Italy as an Admiral’s aide. Ryan transitioned to the federal government, focusing on strategic planning for the Department of Homeland Security’s Policy team, hurricane response for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s field operations team, and currently working for the Transportation Security Administration’s policy team where he has been for the past three years.

Ryan has been involved in numerous volunteer programs and efforts, notably as a Leader of Hope Council Member and English and grammar tutor/instructor at the Academy of Hope adult education charter school in Washington, D.C. and a participant in several Jewish Federation programs. He has enjoyed further integrating himself into the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Jewish community, a community he has grown to love and respect.

Outside of these activities, Ryan plays men’s hockey in the Fairfax Men’s Ice Hockey League, loves watching baseball, enjoys outdoor physical fitness, and is always looking for the next adventure.

Fredda Hurwitz: Bio to come soon

Susan Kohn grew up on Long Island with lots of music, singing in her temple choir and playing piano, flute and piccolo. She moved to Northern Virginia in 1987 after she completed her residency in Pediatrics. Susan met her husband Frank at a JCCNV volleyball league event and has been part of the Northern Virginia Jewish community ever since. Susan and Frank joined Temple B’nai Shalom in 1988 when they got married and continue to be active members. Their children attended the J’s Early Childhood Learning Center and summer camps not long after the building opened. At TBS, Susan leads the adult and youth choirs as well as the Tzedek (Justice) Committee.

Susan worked in private practice in Northern Virginia for 34 years and retired from Capital Area Pediatrics in 2021. Currently she serves as the Medical/Dental Community Outreach Coordinator for the Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation (MCCP), organizing events to bring medical and dental information and care directly to uninsured children. She has volunteered as a physician on several medical trips in the Dominican Republic, and at a shelter in Tucson to learn about health care concerns of asylees just released from detention.

In 2015, Susan started one of the first chapters of the Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom in Northern Virginia. She continues to advocate for children, particularly those who have unmet medical and dental needs. By joining the Pozez JCC Board, she hopes to find ways for the J to get more involved in our local community, particularly through social action, creating relationships and thoughtful dialogue with our neighbors.

Susan lives in Fairfax with her husband and 2 pups. Her children are pursuing their dreams in India and Chicago. She recently joined the Fairfax Vocal Arts Ensemble and is thrilled to be part of this amazing group of singers, as they bring joy to the community.

Lisa Kubiske is a recently-retired U.S. Diplomat who enjoyed a career in Latin America, China, and Washington D.C. Starting from coordinating U.S. search teams following a major earthquake in Mexico in 1985; assignments focused on democracy, prosperity, and security; she rose through the ranks to become U.S. Ambassador to Honduras (2011-2014). Her overseas assignments have included Brazil, Dominican Republic, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Shanghai. She served under Secretary of State Shultz in the State Department's Operations Center and Executive Secretariat Staff. She earned State's highest award for her earthquake relief work. Prior to joining State, Lisa was an economist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since retirement, Lisa has been a guest lecturer at universities and think tanks on Honduras development, and diplomacy.

Lisa joined the J while the main building was still under construction. She and her family have attended many of its programs over the years and gained a whole new group of friends! She especially enjoys the J's principles of inclusiveness and community service.

Lisa and her husband reside in Fairfax. Their immediate family includes two grown sons and a daughter and son-in-law, plus a granddaughter.

Yelena Lingel is an Executive with Accenture Federal Services supporting government clients with a focus on change management and system implementation.

She previously served on the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington's Board of Directors and has served on the Pozez JCC Board since 2015. She has served as the Chair of Leadership Development and currently sits as a Vice President on the Executive Committee. In her free time, Yelena enjoys spending time with friends and family. She is well-known as a foodie, and when schedules allow she loves traveling.

Born in Ukraine, raised in Baltimore, Yelena received her Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Maryland, double majoring in Finance and Supply Chain Management. She currently lives in Merrifield with her husband, Derek, and sons, Max and Noah, who love attending the preschool at the Pozez JCC.

Tamir Linhart, a former professional soccer player turned successful entrepreneur, Tamir Linhart was born and raised in Israel and came to the United States to study at George Mason University, where he played for their varsity soccer team and was named two-time All-American, Virginia player of the year and Soccer America magazine’s MVP. After graduating from GMU with a bachelor's degree in communications, he played for Hapoel Tel Aviv (in the Israel Premier League) for seven years, winning a national championship. He was the top goal scorer of the Intertoto European Cup and played against some of the top clubs in Europe. Tamir then returned to the DC area to play professionally for the Washington Warthogs indoor soccer team.

In 1996, Tamir founded Golden Boot Soccer, a year-round soccer training academy, that trains thousands of young soccer players in Northern VA.

Tamir is a member of the Washington Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the George Mason Soccer Hall of Fame, and the Tysons Community Alliance Board of Directors. He and Golden Boot Soccer are proud supporters of The J and the Horizon Day Camp.

Kara Pitek - Bio to come soon

Robert A. (Bob) Shapiro, received a B.S. in Pharmacy and worked as an executive for a regional drug store chain in Michigan. Subsequently, he joined a trade association in Virginia and was an executive at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores. He was appointed to the State Board of Pharmacy by the Governor of Michigan where he served eight years, four as Chairman. He has served on numerous professional committees, including the Wayne State University, College of Pharmacy, and Oakland University, School of Nursing, advisory boards.

Bob was active at the JCC of Metro Detroit, where he served 12 years as a Board member and Officer. Since moving to Arlington, he has spent 10 years as a Board member of our J. He and his wife, Maureen, are members of Agudas Achim Congregation, where he also served as a Board member and Officer. They have two daughters and four grandchildren.

Andrea Stillman - Bio to come soon

Michele Zuckerman was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Plainview, NY and Glenview, IL. She graduated with a B.A. in Political Science from the State University of New York at Binghamton and an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She moved to Arlington, VA in 1984 to work as a Presidential Management Intern in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Michele became a stay-at-home mom with her two sons and worked at a variety of part-time positions including columnist for the Loudoun Times-Mirror and producer for a weekly Loudoun cable show. She became an active volunteer in her children’s schools, serving as PTA President in three different schools and ran unsuccessfully for School Board in 1999.

In 1997, she and her husband Michael joined the newly formed Loudoun Jewish Congregation, now Congregation Sha’are Shalom. Michele’s passion for Jewish education and community led her in 1998 to become the chair of the School Committee, in charge of running the synagogue’s religious school. She went on to serve as the Director of Education and Youth Activities for 22 years, retiring in June of 2020. During that time, she was an active participant in the Greater Washington’s Education Directors’ Council, serving on its Board of Directors and served two terms as the chair of the Northern Virginia’s Education Directors’ Council.

Michele currently serves as Vice President on the Congregation Sha’are Shalom Board of Directors as well as on the synagogue’s Long Range Planning Committee. She is a board member of The Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.

Michele and Michael, a retired federal employee, live in Ashburn, VA. She is an avid foodie and reader, enjoys cooking, travel and visits to the local Loudoun wineries. Her immediate family includes two grown sons and a daughter-in-law.