erica abate recht
Chair of the Board
Erica Abate Recht brings her legal expertise and extensive non-profit experience to the Board. As an attorney, she represented companies and individuals in commercial and intellectual property litigation and has extensive pro bono experience representing indigent criminal defendants and civil rights plaintiffs. Most recently, she has worked in the area of voting rights as part of a grassroots effort to establish voter protection infrastructure in underserved communities. Erica is also a member of the Steering Committee of Women Engaged, an organization dedicated to helping to elect women candidates to public office.
Erica has served in leadership roles on numerous non-profit boards, including as the co-President of the Wellesley Education Foundation, the Vice President of Development at Temple Beth Elohim, Chair of the Families With Young Children Committee of Combined Jewish Philanthropies and a member of the Women’s Philanthropy Executive Board of Combined Jewish Philanthropies.
Erica (Daled ‘88) was a CYJ camper from 1986-1989. Her three children, Lily (Daled ‘19), Alex (Daled ‘22) and Jacob (Daled ‘23) all attended or currently attend CYJ. Erica joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2021. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, Marc, and their children.
Andrea Malkin Brenner
Vice Chair of the Board
Andrea Malkin Brenner brings her 25 years of experience as a college professor, academic program designer, and campus administrator at American University to her work with the Board. Her speaking and writing on transitional challenges and the psycho-social development of high school and college students includes topics on brain development, making productive choices, resilience and adaptability, identity development, seeking resources, moving toward independence, and community responsibility. Her skill in these topics has established her as a resource for our older-camper programming and counselor training.
As a sociologist, Andrea has extensive experience facilitating focus groups, creating surveys, and presenting data in an accessible format. As a Board member, she will be applying this experience by helping to evaluate CYJ programs and the experiences of campers, families, and staff. Andrea also brings nonprofit experience to CYJ, serving at the Barker Adoption Foundation, Maryland’s oldest adoption agency, as a member of its board and on the program evaluation committee.
Andrea (Daled ’83) was a CYJ camper from 1979-1984; a counselor from 1985-1988; and a Gadna trip leader in 1990. She is married to Rick (Daled ’81). Their children, Talia (Daled ’12) and Caleb (Daled ’17) attended CYJ, and Caleb is a current counselor. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since the spring of 2020. Andrea and Rick live in Maryland.
Amy Farman Klinger
Secretary of the Board
Amy Farman Klinger’s area of focus on the CYJ Board is development, which she conducted professionally at Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston and at the Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland. Currently, she works directly with a philanthropic family. Amy brings an understanding of relationship-building and fundraising to her connection with Camp as an alumna and CYJ parent.
Amy’s advocacy for children’s wellness is wide-reaching. She serves as a board member at MasonStrong Village, an organization which provides comprehensive support for pediatric oncology patients by facilitating connections to resources, connecting families with similar diagnoses, funding research for cures, and spreading hope.
She also devotes her time to Project Linus, an organization which provides blankets to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need.
Amy (Daled ‘94) was a camper from 1988-1995 and a counselor from 1996-1998. Her children, Jesse (Daled ’23), Annie (Daled ’26), and Joey (Daled ‘29) are all current campers. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since the spring of 2020 and lives in Maryland with her husband, Jordan, and their children.
Dave Gershon
Treasurer of the Board
Dave Gershon brings to the Board more than twenty-five years of strategic and operational experience creating and scaling ecommerce, marketing and professional service organizations. Currently a founding team member and executive at B-Stock Solutions, he leads ecommerce and supply chain initiatives for Fortune 100 clients. Dave is excited to apply his experience in technology, team building and creating exceptional customer experiences to Camp.
Dave is active in several charities, including The American Friends of the National Institute for Psychobiology in Israel (AFNIPI), Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces (FIDF), and The Alzheimer’s Association. He is also a recently retired youth basketball coach.
Dave (Daled ‘86) was a camper from 1981-1987, and a counselor from 1988 to 1992. He is married to Jenn (Platt) Gershon (Daled ‘87). Their children Andrew (Daled ‘16) and Louis (Daled ‘18) attended CYJ as campers and counselors. Dave joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2021. He and Jenn live in Massachusetts.
David Abramson
David Abramson brings his legal expertise to the CYJ Board of Directors and, specifically, to his work with the Human Resources and Governance Committees. Over the years, David has served on a number of advisory committees for Maine’s District Court and the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. He currently chairs a grievance panel for the Maine Board of Overseers of the Bar, evaluating complaints and presiding over attorney disciplinary hearings.
David’s nonprofit board experience benefits the CYJ Board of Directors. He serves on the board of Kids First, an organization dedicated to providing educational programming that brings children together in a supportive environment to learn about separation and divorce and how to manage these challenges in healthy and positive ways. David is also a Major League Baseball certified player agent, working with high school and college athletes considering a career in professional baseball.
His mentorship of teens and young adults through the lens of sports, including his experience serving as a high school varsity hitting coach, will be an asset as CYJ continues to evaluate our athletic offerings.
David was a CYJ camper from 1973-1974 and from 1976-1977; a counselor in 1983 and 1985; Assistant Head of Boys Area in 1984; and Administrative Assistant to Director Charles Rotman in 1985. David joined the Board of Directors in the summer of 2020. He has two children, Ali and Drew, and lives in Maine with his wife, Lynn.
Gregory Curhan
Greg brings more than 35 years of operational, financial, and strategic advisory experience to his work with the Board. He has raised money for public and private companies as a Chief Financial Officer, Investment Banker, President, and in Board of Director capacities. Greg is currently a partner at FLG Partners, where he advises clients on long-term financial planning and analysis practices to support strategy formation and capital raising.
Greg has served our CYJ community in advisory positions on the Ad Hoc committee dealing with the decision to close Camp for the 2020 season as well as on the Finance Committee. As Treasurer of the Board and Chair of the Finance Committee, he partners with the Director of Finance and participates in strategic conversations to further secure Camp’s overall financial health and viability.
Greg (Daled ’76) was a CYJ camper from 1973-1976; a participant of CYJ’s first Gadna trip in 1977; and a counselor from 1978-1980. He is married to Randi. Their children, Evan (Daled ’07), Noah (Daled ’11) and Jake (Daled ’13) all attended CYJ. Three generations of Greg’s family have also attended CYJ, including his aunt Dorothy Halber, sister Julie (Curhan) Cottineau (Daled ’80), cousin Jodie (Markell) Titus, and nieces and nephews Rachael Titus, Chole Cottineau (Daled ’12) and Sacha Cottineau (Daled ’15).
Brigitte Frankel
Brigitte brings over 35 years of experience across academia, the corporate world non-profit leadership roles to the board. She has served on the boards of several Jewish institutions, including serving as former President of her synagogue and serving on the National Commission of the ADL. Brigitte’s lifelong passion for supporting the Jewish people and helping others to achieve their goals has motivated her to serve on the YJ board.
Brigitte currently serves as an independent leadership consultant and as Senior Advisor to TPG, a global private equity firm.
Previously, Brigitte served as a Partner at Spencer Stuart, a global leadership advisory firm, where she led the global Medical Technology practice, as well as the West Coast region across all industries. Her search practice focused on serving clients in the medical technology, life science tools and diagnostics industries, where she placed board directors, CEOs and other C-suite executives in both public and private companies. Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Brigitte’s career spanned management consulting, professional sales and basic scientific research. She served on the Board of Directors of Congregation B’Nai Israel from 2003-2009, serving as the congregation’s President from 2006-2008. She and Craig are National Commissioners with ADL and serve on the ADL Orange County/Long Beach board.
Brigitte was a camper at CYJ from 1976-1981 and was a counselor during the summer of 1983. Brigitte joined the Board in the Fall of 2023 and lives in Orange County, CA with her husband Craig. They have two grown children, Eric and Leslie.
Rebecca cantor goldberg
Rebecca Goldberg Cantor brings expertise in mindfulness-based stress reduction and a deep commitment for service to the Board. With nearly a decade of experience as a Physician Assistant specializing in primary care and women’s health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Rebecca is dedicated to advancing overall health and wellness through patient-centered and trauma-informed care. She empowers her patients with the knowledge and tools to lead healthy, fulfilling lives—a philosophy that will further enrich the Camp YJ community. Rebecca’s main objective on the Board is to uphold Camp YJ as a beacon of growth, joy, and lasting memories for generations to come.
Beyond her clinical endeavors, Rebecca cherishes time with her family and friends, enjoys dancing, and loves exploring new restaurants worldwide. She is equally passionate about philanthropy, actively involved in initiatives within the Jewish community and beyond. She serves as a dedicated member of Yachad, the parent council at The Rashi School, volunteers within the local medical community and plays an active role in her synagogue. Her unwavering commitment to Camp YJ's future is further fueled by the anticipation of her three children joining as campers one day.
Rebecca (Daled ‘04) has a longstanding connection with Camp YJ, having been a camper from 1999-2004, traveling to Israel with Gadna ‘05, and serving as a counselor from 2006-2008, including as Head of Dance in 2008. Her journey at camp also led her to meet her husband, Max (Daled ‘03), on the first night of counselor orientation in 2006. Rebecca and Max now live in Needham, MA, raising their three young children, Devon, Noa, and Nathan.
ted macnow
Dr. Ted Macnow brings a pediatrician’s experience and perspective to the Board. He offers expertise in the evolving safety and medical needs of Camp and is committed to growing awareness and resources to support the mental health needs of campers and staff. Ted is a pediatric emergency physician and the Medical Director for the Pediatric Emergency department at UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, as well as an assistant professor of pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School.
Ted’s professional interests include medical education of students and residents as well as research in injury prevention. He has published studies on carbon monoxide poisoning in youth ice hockey players, management of carbon monoxide in the pediatric emergency department, and the effect of screen time on recovery from concussions. He is also an author and frequent speaker on the subject of how doctors can respond to medical emergencies on commercial airplanes.
Ted (Daled ‘98) attended 13 summers at CYJ as a camper (1992-1999), counselor (2000-2001), Assistant Head of Boys’ Area (2004), camp driver (2005), and Gadna leader (2006). He joined the Board of Directors in the fall of 2021. Ted grew up at YJ with his brother, Alex (Daled ‘01), and cousins, Nikki (Daled ‘08) and Andrew Stone (Daled ‘01) -- all children of alumni. Ted met his wife, former waterfront director Emily (Goldstein) Macnow at CYJ, and his two sons, Carl and Ben, are future campers. Ted and his family reside in Massachusetts.
Natalee Martin
Natalee brings 16 years of advancement experience to the CYJ board, having spent time in healthcare philanthropy, higher education development, and most recently at a local ocean conservation organization. Natalee is now an Enterprise Customer Success Manager at EverTrue, a SaaS company focused on building relationships and enhancing fundraising efforts in the higher education space.
Natalee has extensive experience in major gifts, special-event fundraising, annual giving, and capital campaigns. She’s also served on a variety of boards including as a Trustee at Berwick Academy, the Mothers Milk Bank Northeast, and the New England Association of Healthcare Philanthropy.
A native of New Hampshire and after spending 20 years in Connecticut (Go UConn!) Natalee and her husband Erik, and their two daughters, Abigail (Daled ‘25) and Isabel (Daled ‘28), made the big move back to their beloved Seacoast area of New Hampshire in July 2021. Erik runs the religious school and family programming at their local synagogue, Temple Israel of Portsmouth. When she’s not working or shuttling Abby and Izzy from dance classes to taekwondo, Natalee loves to go to the beach, read as many books as possible, and walk with the family’s golden retriever. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since the winter of 2023.
natalie rosenthal moser
Natalie Moser brings a strong focus on mental health and wellness to the CYJ Board of Directors. As a clinical pediatric psychologist and university educator and administrator, Natalie is passionate about supporting her communities to infuse social emotional principles and practices for children and families at all levels.
From her past board experience at a child development center to currently serving on a mental health advisory committee to the local board of education, Natalie is well positioned to consider programming that can promote community wellness at CYJ, as well as reduce stigma for those seeking support. As an expert in child anxiety and trauma informed practices, Natalie has given numerous talks and trainings across the country. Natalie has her finger on the pulse of child mental health concerns and solutions and will keep the board abreast of the current literature and best practices.
Natalie (Daled ’94) was a camper from 1992-1995 and a counselor from 1996-1997. Natalie is married to Jason, and both of their children, Addy (Daled ’26) and Levi (Daled ’28) are current campers. They live in East Lansing, Michigan. She has been a member of the Board of Directors since the winter of 2023.
Jennifer savner
Jennifer Savner brings a background in elementary education having taught Kindergarten in New York City for several years. After moving to Westchester NY, she served on Rye Brook’s PTA Executive Board for seven years holding positions from Secretary to Co-President. She held events and implemented fundraisers that raised thousands of dollars to support the public school staff and community. Jennifer is a member of Syracuse University’s Parents Council.
Jennifer has a strong passion for YJ and has been part of a multi generational Camp Young Judaea family. Her mother attended YJ in the 1950’s and was instrumental in instilling love for all things YJ. Jennifer was selected to serve on YJ’s Strategic Planning Committee.
Jennifer (Daled ’88) was a YJ camper from 1984-1989 and a counselor for three summers beginning in 1991. Her two daughters, Abby (Daled ’18) and Marissa (Daled ’21) all attended several years of YJ and were also counselors. Jennifer joined the Board in the Fall of 2023 and lives in Rye Brook, NY with her husband Michael and two daughters.
Alison freedman
Alison Freedman brings her twenty years of experience as an executive coach and corporate trainer to the Board. Alison helps leaders increase confidence and improve performance through effective communication. Alison has worked with individuals from diverse industries, including government, consulting, technology, banking, and non-profit management.
Through her professional and personal experience, Alison has learned that communication underpins the success of relationships. This is vital to camp since we connect with such a wide array of stakeholders. Whether we are building ties with campers, caregivers, staff, prospective families, or others in the YJ orbit, we must speak and write in a way that resonates with them. Alison lends her expertise to the Board to help YJ build bonds with whomever we interact.
Alison is chairing YJ’s Deep in the Hills Capital Campaign. She believes that this is the time to invest in YJ and help it evolve into an even better place for campers to explore their Judaism, build independence, create lifelong friendships, and thrive as individuals.
Alison (Daled ’89) was a camper from 1983 to 1989, a Gadna participant in 1990, and a counselor from 1991 to 1993. She is married to Ezra Freedman who she met through a camp friend. Her children Talia (Daled ’28) and Zev (Daled ’29) are happy campers at YJ. Alison and her family live in Roslindale, Massachusetts.