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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.

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.