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Staff

Executive Director
Administration
Building Management
Communications
Development
Education
Finance
Lifelong Learning
Programming & Membership


Executive Director

 

Maureen Larkins
Executive Director

773-435-1537

maureen@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Maureen Larkins

 

Maureen M. Larkins is an accomplished executive leader with over 25 years of experience across healthcare, higher education, non-profit, and corporate sectors. Her expertise lies in strategic project management, relationship building, government and community relations, and budget oversight. Maureen's inclusive leadership approach fosters respect for human dignity, confidentiality, and appreciation, making her a trusted and respected figure in diverse environments.

Originally from New Orleans, LA, Maureen's compassionate global perspective enables effective collaboration with stakeholders and diverse teams to identify challenges and leverage emerging industry trends. Notably, she managed $42M in post-Hurricane Katrina capital projects, establishing five community health centers, extending healthcare access to over 25,000 individuals. Her advocacy for Medicaid expansion and the Affordable Care Act earned her prestigious accolades, including Businesswoman of the Year (2001) and Healthcare Hero (2012) by New Orleans City Business.

During her tenure as Vice President of Client Services, Senior Director of Executive Special Projects/Solutions, and Vice President of Strategic and Community Affairs at Ascension, a $27B non-profit Catholic healthcare organization, Maureen spearheaded successful enterprise-wide projects and collaborations. These achievements ranged from software deployments to managing services through mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, demonstrating her adeptness in handling diverse strategic initiatives.

Maureen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Loyola University New Orleans and an MBA from the University of New Orleans. Her passion for continuous learning led her to participate in esteemed programs such as the FOCUS St. Louis Executive Leadership program and the Ascension Executive Ministry Leadership Formation program. Beyond her professional pursuits, Maureen actively engages with her communities by serving on various boards, including the Red Cross and Urban League in St. Louis, supporting the Girl Scouts, and fostering a love for the arts. In her personal life, Maureen enjoys photography, capturing the beauty of flowers and architecture. She embraces diverse musical genres, indulging in dance and culinary delights, particularly relishing the art of cooking authentic New Orleans Cajun and Creole dishes, with gumbo being a personal favorite.



Administration

 

Lori Curtis
Administrative Assistant to Rabbi Conover, Senior Rabbi

773- 435-1531

lori@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Lori Curtis

 

Lori is the Assistant to clergy, making sure their calendars tell them where they need to be, which is no easy feat given their busy schedules! She has been with Temple Sholom since 2010 and comes from a background of working with clergy at other temples, previously serving as the rabbi’s secretary for 11 years in the south suburbs. She resides in the Ravenswood Garden neighborhood in Chicago with her husband, and in her spare time enjoys walking, hiking, traveling, and dancing.

 

 

Patrick Graney-Dolan
B'nai Mitzvah Coordinator

773-435-1535

patrick@sholomchicago.org

Patrick Graney-Dolan

 

 

Patrick joined Temple Sholom as the Development Associate in April 2022 and shifted to join the B’nai Mitzvah team in 2023. After graduating from Saint Louis University with a marketing degree, Patrick spent two years volunteering through the AmeriCorps program in St. Louis. In his words, "the experience was life-changing and allowed a fresh prospective on building relationships within diverse communities."

Outside of work, Patrick can be found exploring new ice cream shops, watching a musical downtown or cheering on the White Sox. He is always looking for new travel destinations and the best karaoke bars around!

 

 

Stacy Charnay
Director of Organizational Operations

773-435-1545

stacy@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Stacy Charnay

 

Stacy has been a part of the Temple Sholom staff since 2015 when she supported the Lifelong Learning Department. After two years, she moved into the role of Director of Engagement and Member Services where she supports prospective and current members as they begin and continue their journey with Temple Sholom through programming and connection with the community.

Stacy has her Bachelor's of Fine Arts for Theatre from the University of Central Oklahoma, an Associate degree in Culinary Arts from the Illinois Institute of Art and just recently finished her Master's in Public Policy from Depaul University.

Stacy has been a part of the Temple Sholom community as a congregant for many years. She completed her conversion in 2013 and became a Bat Mitzvah in 2016. She has been a guest presenter at the URJ Biennial (2019) and continues to share her conversion story to adult education classes, religious school students, and at the URJ Shavuot community celebration (2020). She was also accepted into the 2nd Upstart Change Accelerator cohort and completed this program in 2019.

Stacy is originally from Oklahoma and moved to Chicago with her husband Mat in 2009. She has two children, Levi and Abra. When she is not engaging with the Temple Sholom community, she loves being with her family or at the Chicago Public Library roaming the aisles.


Building Management
 

Cornelius Scruggs
Facilities Manager

773-435-1552

cornelius@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Cornelius Scruggs

 

 

Cornelius Scruggs became a part of the Temple Sholom community in 2020. He initially took on the role of Facilities Supervisor, a position in which he adeptly managed the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of the facility. Since then, his exceptional contributions to both the staff and the infrastructure have been acknowledged, leading to his well-deserved promotion to the role of Facilities Manager.

Prior to his tenure at Temple Sholom, Cornelius amassed a wealth of experience in similar roles throughout the Chicagoland area. His robust career, dedicated to the hands-on management of complex facilities, demonstrates a consistent commitment to excellence.

A native of Chicago, Cornelius continues to reside in the city he loves, calling the West Loop his home. Outside of his professional life, he is a dedicated sports enthusiast, with a particular passion for basketball. The Duke Blue Devils, in fact, claim his unwavering support as his team of choice.


Communications
 

Isabel Soble
Manager of Communications

773-435-1562

isabel@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Isabel Soble

 

 

Isabel is the Manager of Communications at Temple Sholom. She works behind the scenes in building and managing the website, designing promotional material for marketing events, and assisting with temple-wide communication.

Isabel graduated from the University of Mary Washington in Virginia where she focused on art and digital communication. She lived in Virginia after college working as a graphic designer, then moved to Israel for a year to freelance design and teach English in Ramle. In the summer of 2019, Isabel moved back to her hometown, Chicago, IL, to settle down. She went on to receive a Master of Science in Communication at Northwestern University and now works for Temple Sholom of Chicago.

When Isabel is not working, she is walking around Roscoe Village, visiting family around Chicago, or creating artwork in her apartment.


Development

 

Tal Rosen

Director of Development

773-435-1551

tal@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Tal Rosen

Tal is the Director of Development at Temple Sholom, where he facilitates transformative opportunities to sustain and grow the congregational community.

Prior to joining the team at Temple Sholom, Tal served as a Major Gifts Officer for the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, as well as the Associate Dean and Director of the Center for Jewish Leadership at Spertus Institute, Executive Director of KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation, and Director of the Hillel at Miami University.

In addition to his professional leadership, Tal has contributed to several institutions through board service or advisory capacities, including: Hazon: The Jewish Lab for Sustainability, Dickinson College, the Jewish Enrichment Center, and Metro Chicago Hillel. He has received recognition for his leadership by the Slingshot Guide, was awarded the Hazon Vision Award, and was listed among JUF’s 36 under 36.

Tal earned an MBA from Miami University, completed graduate studies at HUC-JIR, and holds a BA in Religion and Judaic Studies from Dickinson College. Tal met his wife, Rabbi Anna Levin Rosen, on the first day of rabbinical school in Jerusalem. They live in the Hyde Park neighborhood, where Anna serves as the Rabbi and Executive Director of the University of Chicago Hillel. Tal enjoys cycling on the lakefront path with their four children.


Education
 

Heidi Cooper

Director of Early Childhood Education

773-435-1546

heidi@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Heidi Cooper





 

Heidi Cooper joined Temple Sholom of Chicago in 2012, where she first taught at the temple’s early childhood education program, Gan Shalom. In 2013, she became Early Childhood Education Director.

Heidi and her husband Stuart relocated to Chicago from New York -- where she spent most of her adult life -- working with young children. While teaching full time in New York City, Heidi earned a Master of Arts in Education from Hunter College, New York. After spending 15 wonderful years in the classroom, Heidi decided to bridge her teaching experience with her love for working with parents and children and was accepted at Columbia University, New York, where she earned her Master of Social Work with a clinical concentration.

Heidi has dedicated over 25 years to becoming a strong leader, educator, and advocate for young children and creator of programing, while bringing a positive, nurturing energy to Gan Shalom/Temple Sholom.

The other loves in her life are her husband, Stuart and her son Max.

 
 
 
 

Leah Fotieo

Gan Shalom Administrative Assistant

773-525-4867

leah@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Leah Fotieo

 

 

Leah Fotieo began at Temple Sholom in 2017 as a teacher in the early childhood education program, Gan Shalom. In addition to teaching in the 2 year-old and Parent/Child programs, she now also serves as Gan Shalom’s Administrative Assistant.

Leah graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations & Advertising from DePaul University and went on to complete her Master’s Degree in Childhood Development with a speciality in Infancy & Administration from Erikson Institute. Leah grew up in Michigan and now resides in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. In her free time she loves spending time with family, taking walks along the lakeshore and hearing live music.

 
 
 

Lori Kramer
Director of Education

773-435-1554

lorikramer@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Lori Kramer

 

Lori began her role as Director of Education at Temple Sholom in 2023. She is thrilled to be doing the work she loves! Lori has years of experience teaching all ages – infants to adults -  in a variety of settings and is passionate about Judaism and Jewish Education. In addition to heading up Religious Schools in New York City and the suburbs of Chicago, Lori has led an American Jewish World Service Trip for teens to El Salvador, staffed JUF’s Israel trip for eighth graders, and has spent time at Jewish day and overnight camps throughout the country.

Lori has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Jewish Studies from American University in Washington DC and a master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. She also participated in the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute; a two-year program designed to upgrade the quality of the Jewish educational system in North America. Lori is a published author and her articles have appeared in Lilith and Moment Magazine. She also co-authored the activities in Hineni: Prayerbook Hebrew for Adults [Behrman House].

Lori enjoys being outside, playing sports, hiking, paddleboarding, going to Cubs games, and hanging out with friends and family.

 
 
 

Noa Appelsies 
Family and Youth Engagement Associate 

773-435-1533

noa@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Noa Appelsies

 

Noa began her role as the Family and Youth Engagement Associate at Temple Sholom in 2023. Noa is very excited to help provide a fun, safe, and meaningful Jewish space for everyone! She moved to Chicago this year, and loves it!

Noa graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2022 (go Gophers) with a double major in Jewish Studies and Communication. She was a participant in Cohort seven of The Nachshon Project. After college, she lived in Tel Aviv! She worked as a Projects Intern at KeepOlim through the "Masa Career Israel" program. Noa then moved to Chicago and worked for Chicago Jewish Funerals as an administrative assistant. 

Noa loves going on walks, spending time with her family and friends, and trying iced coffee from new places! 
 

 
 
 

Rachel Lipson
Religious School Operations Manager

773-435-1554

rachel@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Rachel Lipson

 

Rachel began at Temple Sholom as the Religious School Administrator in July 2020. She provides general support for the Religious School Sunday and Midweek Hebrew programs, and works with the Lifelong Learning team on a broad range of programs throughout our Religious School and to support Religious School families and faculty.

Before joining the Temple Sholom team, Rachel worked at Metro Chicago Hillel for five years. She studied Ethics and Public Policy at the University of Iowa, and has a  Master’s degree in Jewish Professional Studies from Spertus.

Rachel lives in Lakeview and enjoys exploring the city and re-watching her favorite sitcoms (it’s a long list!). She is proud to be supporting the local Jewish community in Lakeview and beyond.


Finance
 

Jeremy Bellman

Member Services
Financial Coordinator

 

773-435-1559

jeremyb@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Jeremy Bellman

 

Jeremy joined the Temple Sholom staff in December 2023 as the Member Services Financial Coordinator. He assists the Finance and Membership departments in managing billing and payment needs for members and preschool families. He serves as the primary point of contact for any inquiries related to billing and membership.

Jeremy received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Public Relations from the University of New Haven in Connecticut.

Originally from Los Angeles, California, Jeremy relocated to Chicago in August 2020. In his free time, he enjoys working out to balance his passion for exploring new dining establishments, immersing himself in captivating fantasy or sci-fi novels, watching the latest TV shows and movies, and baking his renowned chocolate chip walnut cookies and red velvet cupcakes.

 

Jodi Morady
Director of Financial Services

773-435-1539

jodim@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Jodi Morady

 

Jodi Morady joined Temple Sholom in 1995 and LakeShore Jewish Funerals in 2008. She serves as the Director of Financial Services for the synagogue and affiliate entities. Jodi feels very fortunate that she can combine her love of Judaism with her profession. She oversees our financial operations while working very closely with the Temple Treasurer, and Finance and Investment Committees.

Prior to working at Temple Sholom, Jodi worked as a CPA at Kesselman and Kesselman in Tel Aviv, Israel, and as an accounting manager for the Alzheimer’s Association. Jodi is very involved in the Jewish community and especially active at Solomon Schechter Day School. Jodi received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and has her CPA license.

Jodi, her husband, Amnon, and children, Sam, Margo and Ethan love being a part of the Temple Sholom family.

 

 

Anna Lederman
Senior Accountant

773-435-1540

anna@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Anna Lederman

 

Anna joined Temple Sholom as the senior accountant in 2023. She works closely with the Director of Financial Services managing the financial operations. She received her Bachelor of Science in accounting from The University of New Orleans, and has several years of experience working in public, government, corporate, and not-for-profit accounting. Anna grew up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and currently resides in Roscoe Village. In her free time, she enjoys doing standup comedy and magic.  


Programming & Membership

 

Jude Kamler

Manager of Strategic Engagement: Membership & Community Programs

773-435-1542

jude@sholomchicago.org

Learn more about Jude Kamler

 

Jude Kamler serves as the Manager of Strategic Engagement: Membership & Community Programs. Jude joined Temple Sholom as a congregant in 2021, where they found meaningful connection through the Or Chadash and Makom community groups. Now, they are grateful to have the opportunity to support the engagement of current and prospective members and help facilitate meaningful experiences for the beautiful and vibrant Temple Sholom community.

Jude has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Missouri State University. Prior to working at Temple Sholom, Jude served as the Residence Hall Director for the Missouri Fine Arts Academy and the National High School Institute, both summer intensive programs for young artists. They also maintained an active freelance career in Los Angeles before moving to Chicago in 2019.

Since moving to Chicago, Jude can't imagine living anywhere else. They live in Rogers Park, but will venture anywhere in the city for good coffee. 

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784