Join the Honorable Greg Buzzard (member and ECE father) for an important conversation on observations on the political realities and ethics compliance of government leadership. As both a law professor and judge he will offer insights as to some of the sources this stems from and why it is important for us to understand and address. Ethical leadership is about more than just following rules, it is the foundation of justice. It informs our individual and collective rights.
Program will include:
Election of Officers and Trustees | Year-in-Review & Financial Report | World Premiere of MLRT videos
And a delicious brunch!
RSVP by March 5 HERE or call 610-649-7800
MLRT Officer and Trustee Nominees 2023-2024
Short Biographical Information (In their own words…)
President: Lori Robbins
I am a long-time member having been Bat Mitzvah-ed, confirmed, and married at Main Line Reform Temple. While already having strong connection to the Temple, I found community and engagement while my three children were in MLRT ECE and have continued to be engaged in leadership ever since. One thing I love about MLRT is finding connections with people, both new and old.
My professional career includes experiences in both social and political research, as well as marketing and advertising. The through line of my professional work is in my team leadership, strong problem-solving skills and creativity.
I can often be found waiting in car lines, doodling cartoons for school lunches, cheering on the sidelines at various youth sporting events, or running the streets of Wynnewood with a friend.
Vice President: Hugh Ehrenberg
Hugh Ehrenberg has been a member of the Temple Beth Elohim congregation since moving to the area with his wife Celeste and Daughters, Sophia and Charlotte in 2011. Originally drawn in by ECE, and now with Sophia through the religious school and on to Tribe, he and Celeste await Charlotte to be called to Torah in 2024.
A physician trained in the care of complicated pregnancies, Hugh is an avid sailor, loves to ski, and aspires to sing backup for Ross and the Levites.
Vice President: Mary Kamplain
I have been a member at MLRT for about 18 years, since my oldest started preschool. My three kids have grown up at MLRT; two are still Tribe participants. I have served on various committees, including the ECE Parents’ Committee, RS Committee, Membership, Nominating, Associate Rabbi Search Committee, Racial Justice, and Adult Education. I have been active in Sisterhood for 10 years and am a past President and current Treasurer. Prior to moving back to this area, I practiced law, specializing in Estate Planning and Estate Administration. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, reading, hiking, and being at the beach.
Vice President: Amy Kopelman
Amy Kopelman joined MLRT ~10 years ago with her family (Michael, Ethan & Samantha) when they were seeking a warm, vibrant community. Over the last few years, she has become increasingly involved in Member Engagement, the Religious School Task Force/Committee, the Covid-19 Campaign, Nominating Committee, and the Executive Committee/Board of Trustees. She has a background in Product Management for technology companies (Relay, Ecount/Citi, Travelocity, Netcentives, American Express), and is currently creating a technology solution to help guide students with learning differences on their post-secondary plans. Originally from LA (her grandparents were Holocaust survivors and settled there following the war), Amy is passionate about MLRT and helping Jewish communities continue to thrive.
Treasurer: Michael Kopelman
Michael Kopelman joined MLRT ~10 years ago with his wife, Amy, and two kids. Their son, Ethan, became a Bar Mitzvah in 2019 and daughter, Samantha, recently celebrated her Bat Mitzvah this fall. Both kids participate in the Tribe and the entire family enjoys the warm sense of community found at MLRT. Over the last few years, Michael has been a member of the Finance Committee and more recently served on the Speaker Series Committee. Michael began his career as an investment banker (Credit Suisse in New York, launching E*TRADE’s online investment bank in San Francisco). He returned to the Philadelphia area in 2003 to pursue an MBA at Wharton and, for the last 18 years, served as General Partner of Edison Partners, a Princeton-based growth equity investment firm which invests in high-growth technology companies. During that period, Michael led investments and served on the Board of Directors with over two dozen technology companies where he advises companies on strategy, key priorities, and organizational design. Michael is Past President of Wharton’s alumni association for Venture Capital and Private Equity and remains active with American Heart Association.
Financial Secretary: Josh Bobrin
Josh Bobrin, his wife Jackie and their three children, joined MLRT approximately 8 years ago after having been members at Har Zion Temple for the prior 10 years. At the time, we were looking for a reform congregation that was both engaging and more involved in supporting progressive causes consistent with our family values. 8 years and three B’nai Mitzvah later, we could not be happier with our move and being members at MLRT. Our three children, Ethan, Gabe, and Sophie, have had their B’nai Mitzvahs at MLRT with Rabbi Newburge. Ethan and Gabe have been confirmed and Sophie attends the Tribe and serves as a Madrichim during Sunday religious school. Our family joined the MLRT trip to Israel in 2018 and the journey created an even stronger bond for us with the families from MLRT that made the trip, along with Rabbi Newburge and her family. I have served on the Finance, Nominating and Israel committees and have served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the past year and a half and have enjoyed the opportunity to meet new members and work with a collegial and friendly group of individuals in service to our community.
I have been a practicing attorney for the past 15 years and currently work in-house as Vice President, Associate General Counsel for Globus Medical, Inc., a medical device manufacturer based in Audubon, PA. Before Globus, I worked in-house at C&D Technologies, Inc., an energy storage manufacturing company as well as for The Vanguard Group, Inc., at the law firm of Ballard Spahr, LLP and the public accounting firm of PwC. At a practical level, I help my clients by identifying potential problems and opportunities, mitigate their risk where possible, while providing easy to understand, business focused legal advice.
Recording Secretary: Hayley Ornstein
My family and I moved to Bryn Mawr at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year, after my husband, Randy, took a job with the Philadelphia-based company GoPuff. We immediately joined MLRT, with my daughter, Ila, at ECE and my son, Reed, in Religious School. I have my Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. However, since moving to PA my professional focus has been co-authoring the book Grow: The Essential Guide to Getting Promoted with my husband. I personally enjoy working behind the scenes to help others shine and tend to put in my two cents when I see a process that can be improved. I currently serve as the Chair of the MLRT Religious School Parent Committee, pulling from experiences at our own ECE and multiple congregations across the country to help increase engagement and feelings of community among MLRT Religious School Parents. It is an honor to be nominated to serve as Recording Secretary.
Board of Trustees: Bruce Greenblatt
Bruce Greenblatt has lived in Wynnewood for 22 years and has been a member of MLRT for over 10 years. His wife, Lisa, and two children, Alex (19) and Sam (17), have been engaged members of the temple. Lisa is active in Sisterhood, having led the Shalach Manot fundraiser for the past few years, and the Social Action Committee. Lisa also was a member of the Nominating Committee for several years. Alex was a Bat Mitzvah at the temple, having attended Religious School, plus was a member of Junior Jammers. Sam was a Bar Mitzvah at MLRT, having attended the Religious School, and volunteered at the Temple last summer.
Professionally, Bruce is a Managing Director at SullivanCotter, Inc., where he advises not for profit health systems and other organizations on executive compensation and governance. Bruce has been with SullivanCotter for 12 years. Prior to joining SullivanCotter he was a Partner at Mercer, also specializing in executive compensation within publicly traded and nonprofit organizations and worked as an attorney in Philadelphia for a short period of time after graduating from law school. Bruce attended the University of Pennsylvania, obtaining undergraduate and law degrees. In his spare time, Bruce likes to spend time with family, bake and cook, and enjoys hiking and travel.
Board of Trustees: Dave Heppen
Dave and Kerry Heppen joined MLRT in 2006. Their children, Sarah and Josh, are both graduates of MLRT’s ECE and Religious School and became B’nai Mitzvot here. Dave has served on the board since 2016 and has served on the executive committee as a vice president since 2018.
Board of Trustees: Amy Katzeff
My name is Amy Katzeff. I live in Villanova with my husband, James and son, Reid. Reid is in 6th grade at Black Rock Middle School and will be Bar Mitzvah’ed in June 2024. We have lived in the area for over 10 years. I design custom closets…. maybe I’ve designed yours?? 😊
We have been members at MLRT for 6 years. I served on the Nominating Committee during Covid, and I was on the Rabbi’s Installation Committee most recently. I enjoy meeting new people and making friends, especially with total strangers of all ages. I look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone and can’t wait to see what this position holds!
Board of Trustees: Rachel Lester
Rachel has been a member of MLRT since 2006 and has served on the Board for over a decade. She has served as a Vice President, Recording Secretary, Financial Secretary, Search Committee Chair and is currently Philanthropy Chair. In that capacity, she partnered with Rabbi Straus and Rabbi Newburge to raise over $700,000 for Temple operations during Covid. Her husband, Rich, is co-chair of the Speaker Series Committee. Her three children went through ECE, Religious School and the Tribe. She has one high schooler and two college students.
She has served as President of the Home & School Association at two schools in Lower Merion and is also on the Women’s Philanthropy Board at Jewish Federation. She began her career in public accounting and worked in NY as a Marketing Director at American Express. Rachel is a real estate professional; she is a licensed agent specializing in helping clients relocate to Philadelphia and the Main Line as well as an active investor and developer. She is a graduate of Bucknell University and received an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania.
Board of Trustees: Sam Nemroff
I have been a member of MLRT for almost 30 years. Over the years I served on the budget committee (co-chairing it for 2 years) and the building & grounds committee (which I currently co-chair). I have also served on an executive director search committee, the bylaws committee, and various other committees from time to time. If elected, this would be my third stint on the Board.
In my “spare time” I have been self-employed as a real estate developer and construction manager for over 25 years. I have developed residential lots, and built homes and apartments in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. I am currently building apartments in East Stroudsburg and developing single-family lots in Chester County.
Most people know me by way of my beautiful wife, Jennie, who has served multiple terms as a Board member and chaired the ECE, among other committees. Our three grown children, Stephen, Andrew and Daniel, all attended ECE (formerly the “nursery school”), Hebrew School, and became B’nai Mitzvot at MLRT. Stephen and his wife Jenna gave birth to our first grandson, Hayden, on November 3rd, making us the youngest grandparents in history, at least that’s what I keep telling myself!
Board of Trustees: Jamie Sandler
Hi! My name is Jamie Sandler. I live in Merion Station with my husband Brett, our two kids Noa (9) and Jack (6), and our two dogs, Biggie and Smalls. Both Jack and Noa are proud ECE graduates and still love visiting the bike room in the circular, playground, and the sanctuary. I have loved being on the board at MLRT and look forward to continuing to support our awesome community. During the week I am a second-grade teacher at Penn Valley Elementary School. In my free time, I love to try new restaurants, read, and spend time with my family! I am also very involved with JAFCO/Family Matters, a special organization that helps local families in a variety of ways.
Board of Trustees: Heather Stecker
My name is Heather Stecker. I’m 44 years old and I have been married almost 20 years and we have two daughters, Belle (14) and Leila (10). Belle was Bat Mitzvah’d at MLRT last November and currently participates in MLRT TRIBE and Leila’s Bat Mitzvah will be in 2025. We live in Bryn Mawr PA, in Radnor Township. I grew up in Lower Merion, and as a teen, I would often attend Bar and Bat mitzvahs at MLRT where I, too, tried to count the number of circles on the ceiling (does anyone know this answer??)
I went to UPenn where I focused in Health Care Management, and I work part time as a medical coding and billing consultant for a large cardiology practice. My hobbies include rock climbing, yoga, anything peloton, crossword puzzles (I’m addicted) and cooking.
