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Board of Directors
The Foundation adheres to the highest standards of governance with a strong commitment to financial security, full transparency and accountability.
The Foundation is led by a volunteer Board of Directors including highly qualified leaders from around the region. The Board oversees a strong committee structure involving a diverse group of volunteers. The Foundation’s Board provides stewardship and management for all contributed funds. Serving without compensation, Board members approve grants, monitor investment performance and the budget, review compensation of senior staff members, and oversee the operations of the Foundation.
The Foundation’s financial statements are audited annually by an independent public accounting firm. The audited financial statements are available on our Web site and for public inspection at the offices of the Foundation. The Foundation’s operating expenses remain efficient compared to other foundations of our size.
The Foundation has established an Ethics Policy, a Conflict of Interest Policy, and a Confidentiality Policy, which adhere to the highest level of best practices.
Individually, the men and women who comprise the Board represent the San Diego Jewish community’s most distinguished and experienced civic and business leaders.
Janet Acheatel
Chair, Board of Directors
JCF Involvement:
- Audit Committee
- Board Advancement Committee
- Charitable Real Estate Fund Committee
- Endowment Leadership Institute Committee
- Executive Committee, Chair
- Finance and Systems Committee
- Foundation Fund Committee
- Human Resources Committee
- Investment Committee
- Jewish Women’s Foundation Leadership Council
- Trusted Charitable Advisor Program Graduate
Other Community Boards:
- Congregation Beth Israel, ALEINU Committee
- Hillel of San Diego
Professional Affiliation:
- HoyleCohen, Senior Wealth Advisor
Leo Spiegel
Immediate Past Chair
JCF Involvement:
- Board Advancement Committee
- Executive Committee, Immediate Past Chair
- Foundation Fund Committee
Other Community Boards:
- Trustee of the UC San Diego Foundation, Chair of Development Committee
- Dean’s Advisory Council, Rady School of Management at UCSD
Professional Affiliation:
- Mission Ventures, Managing Partner
Tina Beranbaum
JCF Involvement:
- Board Advancement Committee
- Jewish Women’s Foundation, Former Chair
Other Community Boards:
- Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, Past Board Member
- The Kroc School for Peace Studies at the University of San Diego, Past Board Member
Professional Affiliation:
- Centauric, Founding Principal and CEO
David Bramzon
Jewish Federation Representative
JCF Involvement:
- Board Advancement Committee
- Executive Committee, Federation Representative
Other Community Boards:
- Jewish Federation of San Diego County,
Board Chair
- Jewish Federations of North America National Young Leadership Cabinet, Member
- AIPAC National Council and AIPAC New Leadership Network, Member
- AIPAC San Diego Council, Past Chair
- Emerging Leaders at Jewish Family Service,
Past Board Co-Chair
- ADL’s Glass Leadership Institute, Past Board
Co-Chair
Professional Affiliation:
Debby Cushman-Parrish
JCF Involvement:
- Finance and Systems Committee
Other Community Boards:
- Girl Scouts of San Diego, Council Board Director
Professional Affiliation:
- Selma Investments and Cush Enterprises, Director
- The Cushman Foundation, Secretary and Treasurer
Paul Datnow
JCF Involvement:
- Charitable Real Estate Fund Committee
Other Community Boards:
- Federation, Past Board Member
Professional Affiliation:
- Qualcomm, Senior Legal Counsel
Theresa Dupuis
JCF Involvement:
- Endowment Leadership Institute Committee
- Previous Foundation Board Member
Other Community Boards:
- Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Board Member, Past Chair, and Women’s Philanthropy Board Member
- San Diego Jewish Academy
- Save a Child’s Heart
Professional Affiliation:
Jessica Effress
JCF Involvement:
- Jewish Women’s Foundation, Chair
Other Community Boards:
- Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Past Young Adult Division Co-Chair, Lion of Judah Endowment Chair, Options Chair, and Leadership Development Chair
- San Diego Jewish Academy, Past Trustee and Development Chair
Professional Affiliation:
- San Diego JDC Impact Network, Co-Founder
Ronald A. Friedman
JCF Involvement:
- Finance and Systems Committee, Chair
Professional Affiliation:
- PKF, CPA Tax Partner – Estates and Trusts Department
- Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS)
Graeme Gabriel
Vice Chair
JCF Involvement:
- Audit Committee, Chair
- Executive Committee, Vice Chair
Other Community Boards:
Professional Affiliation:
- ColRich, Chief Operating Officer
Jerry Gumpel
JCF Involvement:
- Finance and Systems Committee
- Professional Advisor Committee
Other Community Boards:
- San Diego County Bar Association, Member
- State Bar of California, Member
- Regional Board of the Anti-Defamation League, National Commissioner and Former Chairman
Professional Affiliation:
- Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLC, Partner
Steve Hochberg
Secretary
JCF Involvement:
- Executive Committee, Secretary
- Human Resources Committee, Chair
Other Community Boards:
- Congregation Beth Am, Former President
- Scripps Research Institute, Advisory Board
Professional Affiliation:
Roberto Jinich
Other Community Boards:
- San Diego Jewish Academy, Past President
Professional Affiliation:
- Paragon Real Estate Investments, Principal
Shai Kalansky
JCF Involvement:
- Finance and Systems Committee
Other Community Boards:
- Congregation Beth Am Men’s Club
Professional Affiliation:
- Morrison & Foerster LLP, Attorney
Jennifer Levitt
JCF Involvement:
- Jewish Family Service Foundation Member
- Jewish Women’s Foundation
Other Community Boards:
- Jewish Family Service
- The Jewish Federation of San Diego County
- Women Give San Diego, Grants Leadership Team
- Planned Parenthood, Philanthropy Committee
- Francis Parker, Board of Trustees
Professional Affiliation:
- Former Doctoral Candidate in the Department of Sociology at UCSD
Craig Misrach
JCF Involvement:
Other Community Boards:
- Aculief Inc.
- DME Innovations
- Poppy Capital
Professional Affiliation:
- Ampla Holdings, President and CEO
- Poppy Capital, Managing Director
Andy Ratner
Assistant Treasurer
JCF Involvement:
- Board Advancement Committee
- Executive Committee, Assistant Treasurer
- Investment Committee, Chair
Other Community Boards:
- National Conflict Resolution Center
- United Jewish Federation, Finance Committee
Professional Affiliation:
- RKG Wealth Management, Senior Vice President
Lawrence Sherman
General Counsel
JCF Involvement:
- Audit Committee
- Board Advancement Committee
- Charitable Real Estate Fund Committee
- Executive Committee, General Counsel
- 50th Anniversary Committee
- Human Resources Committee
- Past President
Other Community Boards:
- Beth El Foundation, Chair
- Jewish Family Service Foundation
- Jewish Federation of San Diego, Past President
Professional Affiliation:
- Of Counsel to Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith
Russell Silberstein
Other Community Boards:
- San Diego Jewish Academy, Vice President of the Board of Trustees
Professional Affiliation:
- Carmel Capital Partners, LLC, Founder and Principal
Alan Viterbi
Vice Chair
JCF Involvement:
- Beth El Endowment Foundation, President
- Executive Committee, Vice Chair
Other Community Boards:
- San Diego Jewish Academy, Past President
- Congregation Beth El, Past President
- AIPAC, Past San Diego Council Chair
- City of West Hollywood, Former Mayor
Professional Affiliation:
- Liquid Environmental Solutions, CEO
Kevin Wechter
JCF Involvement:
- Foundation Fund Committee
Other Community Boards:
- Jewish Federation of San Diego County, Board Member and Chair of Young Adult Division
- La Jolla Country Day School, Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and Chair of Buildings and Grounds Committee
- La Jolla YMCA, Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Chair of Buildings and Grounds Committee
Professional Affiliation:
- PacVentures, Principal and President