Board of Directors
Sara Ingber, President
"Being a part of the Suncoast Hillels' Board excites me because it provides an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of Jewish students who will one day be our future leaders assuring continuity and continuance of the Jewish existence."
Cindy Korenvaes, Secretary
"I am a strong supporter of Hillel and proudly serve on the board because I feel every Jewish student should have a "home" on his/her campus to enjoy, practice and explore his/her Jewish identity with other Jewish students ."
Debbie Doliner, Vice President
"Suncoast Hillels have the opportunity to engage young adults at a critical time, when they are deciding who they are and what they believe. Our mission works to ensure a Jewish future for our People and for our students. What we do is vital, and it is my honor to support and serve this highly meaningful organization."
Bruce Goldstein
"There is a great deal of anti-Jewish noise in the world today, especially on college campuses. I'm on the Board of the Suncoast Hillels because I believe it is important that there be a strong Jewish presence to give students the strength to stand up to dangerous ideas that threaten our Jewish way of life and give them the tools to enlighten their classmates to the truths that others try to obscure."
Naomi Brooks, Treasurer
"My Hillel experience changed my life. Many of my dearest friends today, I met at Hillel. We shared Shabbat and holidays together and still do as often as we can. So many years later, I look forward to serving on the Suncoast Hillels Board of Directors and working to promote and contribute to opportunities for students to connect with Judaism through meaningful experiences during their university years."
Jeff Benatar
"I am honored and excited to serve on the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast Board of Directors. I look forward to promoting Jewish culture, identity, awareness, and pride for college students in our region. I am especially proud to represent students, staff, and faculty at Florida Southern College as well as the Lakeland Jewish Community."
Meyer Weitzman
"I am excited to serve on the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast board of directors because I have a passion for helping to build and sustain a welcoming environment for Jewish students on our college campuses. I feel it is so important to nurture young Jewish minds by providing them with a nexus for social, political and cultural activities while they prepare for the rest of their lives."
Deborah Roth
"College is the last real opportunity to reach and engage our young people. Hillel provides them with the experiences of Jewish life, learning and spirituality, to enhance their personal growth and confidence. It is quiet a challenge, but these young people are our future—the future of the Jewish people and community in this country, and I believe it is our responsibility to meet this challenge."
Karen Schilit
"It is my pleasure to serve on the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast Board. When my son, Brad, was at USF, he thoroughly enjoyed the programs offered at USF Hillel and became very active. I knew at that point I wanted to give back and serve on the Board. Students are the next generation to carry on the Jewish philanthropy work, their time in college is one more chance to encourage participation in Jewish activities, and it is so important that Hillel provide a welcoming and fun environment."
Hana Cowart
“I am a University of South Florida alumna and was proud to serve as Vice President of Religious Programming on the USF Hillel Student Board. I am very excited about the opportunity to reconnect members of the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast alumni community back into the current work of Hillel.”
Carol Simon
“L’dor Vador, from generation to generation. I truly believe it is very important to ensure that our students have the tools they need to go into the world, and one of those tools is a strong Jewish identity. I was honored to be asked to be a part of the Suncoast Hillels to be able to make a difference.”
David J. Brunell
"I am a University of South Florida alumnus and am proud to have served as Vice President for Engagement and as President on the USF Hillel Student Board before serving as a Steinhardt Jewish Campus Service Corps Fellow at USF. I also have experience working in nonprofits, and currently serve as Senior Attorney at the American Heart Association. I am eager to share my experiences as a student, Hillel staff member, and nonprofit attorney to give back to the Hillels of the Florida Suncoast community that has given me so much.”
Mitch Drucker
"The future of the Jewish people is predicated upon the engagement of our youth. Hillel provides a nurturing educational environment for the students on our Tampa Bay campuses. These endeavors warrant our support."
Abe Marcadis
“Jewish undergraduate and graduate students represent the future of our people. We need to support them now to ensure they're there to support our people in the future.”
Arnie Ross
“It is an honor to serve as a member of the Suncoast Hillels Board of Directors. Suncoast Hillels is doing so many amazing things for our students and I am proud to be a part of an organization that cares so deeply and works so hard to help ensure the future of the Jewish People.”
Laurie Chane
"As a parent of a child who was very involved in Hillel during her undergraduate career, I saw firsthand the positive impact Hillel had on her and the deeper meaning it brought to her overall college experience. I am proud to serve on the Suncoast Hillels Board of Directors and excited to help ensure a future for students on all of the campuses which we serve."
Merrill Marx
"The college campus environment is becoming more challenging as anti-Semitism and anti-Israel activism rise. As a “home away from home”, Hillel provides support, guidance and an opportunity to socialize for our Jewish students. I strongly believe that Hillel helps to ensure a Jewish future for them and for us."