Featured Speakers
Clay Ballantine, Chief Advancement Officer, Hampshire College
Clay Ballantine is the Chief Advancement Officer at Hampshire College. During his seven-year tenure he has held a variety of positions including Director of Major Gifts. In his current capacity he oversees all fundraising and alumni and parent relations. Prior to Hampshire College, Clay worked at Amherst College as Assistant Director of Alumni and Parent Programs, and earlier held positions in student affairs at the University of Maryland, San Francisco State University, and Menlo College. Clay holds a master’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park and a bachelor’s degree from Pitzer College.
Lou Cove, Reboot Executive Director
Lou Cove is the Executive Director of Reboot, a think tank and incubator spearheading a Jewish generational and cultural renaissance. Lou previously served as Vice President for the National Yiddish Book Center where he helped grow the Center’s membership to 30,000 and led a successful $32 million campaign. He also spearheaded a number of forward-looking programmatic initiatives, including the Steven Spielberg Digital Yiddish Library and the joint initiative between the Center, Apple’s iTunesU and the Open Content Alliance. Lou is a former Senior Producer at Advance Internet; Associate Publisher of the American News Service; and Editor-in-Chief of Optimist Publications, an alternative-weekly newspaper chain.
Pam Hess, Directory of Education, The Appalachian Mountain Club
Pam Hess areas of expertise include Outdoor leadership, education and skills (K-12, urban youth programs), No Child Left Inside campaign (getting outdoors with families, health and educational benefits of outdoor play for kids, state and local initiatives in the Northeast), volunteerism, and outdoor recreation trends. She holds a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from the University of Vermont, an Masters in Natural Resources in Environmental Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and worked formerly with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as Deputy Project leader at several National Wildlife Refuges.
Gail Littman, Directory of Endowments, Jewish Community Foundation
Drawing upon her experience as a Jewish educator and community volunteer, Gail directs the Create a Jewish Legacy© program, the Endowment Leadership Institute (ELI) and the Governance Leadership Institute (GLI) at the Foundation. Through these programs she works with families, organizations and synagogues to help build endowments to support a strong Jewish future. Gail served as director of adult education at the Agency for Jewish Education in San Diego before joining the Foundation in 2000. She is a graduate of Hussian School of Art where she received a degree in fine arts.
Rob Peck, Public Speaker, Juggler, Founder of Zestworks
After graduating the University Of Pennsylvania (Phi Beta Kappa) and doing post-graduate studies at Harvard and The Sorbonne University in Paris, France, Rob ran away with the circus! He enrolled in the Antic Arts Academy, founded by 4 former Ringling Brothers Clown College “professors”- including MacArthur Genius Grant recipient Michael Moschen, (graduating Magna Cum Looney!). After a 20 year career as a touring performing artist- including a long running one man show, commissioned by and performed at the Smithsonian Institute, as well as feature slots on cable and network television programs such as Donahue, Evening Magazine, and Amazing America- the International Jugglers Association chose Rob for its 1999 Excellence in Education award. Rob is the founder and C.E. A. (Creative Education Advocate) of Zestworks- a speaking, training, and consulting firm. He is the recipient of numerous public speaking awards, and three time winner of Toastmaster International’s humorous speech contest. From Harvard to Hewlett Packard, Rob’s expertise in “juggling” has helped thousands of multi-tasking professionals reduce burnout, regain a better life balance, and combine a sense of purpose… with a spirit of fun.
John Porcino, Storyteller-Musician, Director of Family Camp at Farm and Wilderness
It’s been almost 30 years since John accidentally stumbled into a class on storytelling. Thousands of performances and workshops later and John’s still learning and still in love with this simple art form. As a full time storyteller and musician he now spins some 200 performances and workshops each year from “California to the New York Island.” Performances are a tapestry of story, song, and music that celebrates the zany and touching moments of life. Workshops are playful, clear, hands on journeys from which participants leave with the skills needed to weave the art of storytelling into their work/lives. Publications include, the audio recording A Heck of a Way to Stay Warm and the book Spinning Tales Weaving Hope: Stories of Peace, Justice and the Environment
Amy Sales, PH.D., Director, Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership, Brandeis University
Amy Sales is the associate director of the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies at Brandeis University, the director of the Fisher-Bernstein Institute for Jewish Philanthropy and Leadership, and Associate Professor in Hornstein: The Jewish Professional Leadership Program. Trained as a social psychologist, she conducts research on Jewish institutions and their role in creating Jewish life and community. She holds her Ph.D. in social psychology from Boston University.
Her most recent studies have centered on the fundraising profession, Jewish education, synagogues, Jewish summer camps, and Jewish life on college campuses. In addition to her research activities, she has provided training, consultation, and technical assistance on long-term planning, evaluation research, and leadership development in Jewish communal agencies, organizations, and federations.
She is the co-author of How Goodly Are Thy Tents: Summer Camps as Jewish Socializing Experiences, the co-editor of Church and Synagogue Affiliation: Theory, Research and Practice, and the author of numerous articles and reports related to the American Jewish community.
Guest Speakers
Adam Weisberg
Adam Weisberg is Camp Tawonga’s executive director. Prior to joining the Tawonga community, Adam served as Berkeley Hillel’s executive director from 2000-2008. Additionally, Adam has worked in a variety of roles in the Jewish community including work with the Council of Jewish Federations in New York, the Jewish Agency in Israel and two years working with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Bulgaria. Prior to all that, Adam worked for seven summers as a counselor, kitchen steward, CIT advisor, and unit head at, you guessed it, Camp Tawonga. What goes around comes around, and in this case that has made Adam feel like one very lucky guy. Adam is married to Rachel Brodie. They have two daughters, Sophia and Ariella, truly lovely girls in just about every way.
Pam Hass: Julia needs to do this!
Grinspoon Staff Speakers
Eric Phelps – Director
Eric has more than 20 years nonprofit experience, including executive leadership, fundraising, board governance, operations and program development. Prior to joining the Institute as a full-time mentor and later its Director, Eric served as the Executive Director of the New Art Center in Newton, MA. He has also served as Executive Director of VSA arts of Georgia, a nonprofit organization working to make the arts accessible to people with disabilities, and as Development Director of IMAGE Film & Video Center in Atlanta. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts – Amherst and holds a Certificate in American Sign Language Interpreting from Georgia Perimeter College.
Natasha Dresner – Mentor
Natasha has 20 years experience working in the Jewish nonprofit world. She cofounded the first Reform synagogue established in Kiev since the Russian Revolution, Congregation Ha Tikvah. Natasha also worked in various capacities at a Jewish summer camp in Belarus that brought children together from the entire Former Soviet Union. Born in Kiev Ukraine, Natasha emigrated to the US in 2001 and worked in the for-profit and consulting world in New York City and as Executive Director of Congregation Knesset Israel in Pittsfield, MA. She holds a BA in management and MBA in finance form The Ukrainian-Finish University of Business and Management in Kiev, Ukraine. After joining the Institute in 2005, Natasha has provided consulting services in Governance and Board Development, Fundraising, Strategic Thinking and Planning, as well as Leadership Coaching.
Royster Hedgepeth – Mentor
Royster is Principal Consultant with CWC/Hedgepeth Group, an organizational development firm serving universities and other social service organizations. Royster specializes in creating vibrant, performance-based boards of directors and increasing organizational fund-raising capacity. He has 26 years’ experience in educational fundraising for universities, and has helped to reposition organizations in the competitive marketplace. Royster received his BA from Wake Forest University, his MEd from the University of Florida, and his PhD in Educational Administration from Cornell University.
Laurie Herrick – Mentor
Laurie has more than 25 years of experience in fundraising, community organizing, board development and strategic planning and has served in a variety of professional and volunteer roles in social profit organizations. She joined the Institute in 2007 and has since worked with numerous camps and days schools. In 2003 she started RAINMAKER Consulting and is currently co-launching an online educational series of courses called Quantum Jump. The emphasis of her work is empowering organizations to create a culture of resource abundance leading to a breakthrough in fundraising.
Dan Kirsch – Mentor
As director, consultant and volunteer, Dan has devoted his career to increasing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to fulfill their missions through fundraising, planning, recruitment and board development. He is the co-founder of KirschLeuchs, a fundraising consulting firm serving education, culture, healthcare and human services markets. He has also worked with nonprofits to recruit executive talent and coached private sector professionals transitioning to new careers with nonprofits. Dan received his Bachelors degree in Government from Dartmouth College.
Kevin Martone – Technology Program Manager
Kevin has more than 15 years experience helping organizations utilize technology solutions to meet their goals. At the Grinspoon Institute, Kevin focuses on how organizations can effectively use technology for fundraising and outreach. Kevin holds a B.S. in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University.
Jill Paul – Mentor
Jill has had a successful 25 year career in nonprofit management and fundraising as the CEO of Girl Scouts of Pioneer Valley. During her tenure she completed a successful capital campaign, with new construction and modernization of the oldest Girl Scout camp in the nation. Before coming to New England, she established West Pacific Girl Scouts for military families in Japan, Korea and the Philippines, living in Japan and Korea for five years. Jill holds a B.A. from Whittier College, M.A. in Asian Studies from San Diego State University, and an M.B.A. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Julia Riseman – Mentor
Julia is a consultant, executive coach and fundraiser to non-profit organizations. She co-founded two nonprofit organizations, served as the development director of a private elementary school, and has helped raise more than $200 million for organizations that she has worked with. Julia has a breadth of organizational experience that includes youth leadership and community service-learning programs, international environmental and human health programs, peace and social justice organizations, universities and independent schools.
David Sharken – Mentor & Director of the Camp Legacy Program
David has been with the HGF since June 2006 after completing a 13-year tenure as the Executive Director of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. David has been doing organizational development consulting with nonprofits and small businesses for 25 years. He has been a keynote speaker and presenter on topics of nonprofit management, fundraising, board governance, strategic planning and program development. David is a graduate of the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Organizational Development and holds a Master’s degree from Claremont Graduate School in Public Policy Analysis. David is also currently the lay chair of the Jewish Community of Amherst, MA synagogue’s endowment and legacy campaign.
Herb Tobin – Mentor
In addition to his work as a GIJP camp mentor, Herb is the founder of Herb Tobin Consulting, a Boston-based firm dedicated to helping non-profit organizations reach their potential capacity and maximize their financial resource base. He currently serves a number of start-up philanthropic organizations, as well as those undertaking significantly new projects. He also serves as senior consultant to Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life, where he was the architect of a successful $200 million comprehensive campaign addressing capital, endowment and current-use funds on a local, regional and national basis. Prior to his work with Hillel, Herb was an executive with two Boston-area medical centers, and with several Jewish federations. A Reconstructionist rabbi by training, Herb also holds a doctorate in theology from Boston University.