Leadership
Meet the leaders who guide our work.
Leading with passion and purpose...
Together, our dedicated team of staff, volunteers, board of directors, and partners work to advance our mission.
The success of Skilled Volunteers for Israel (SVFI) and our flagship program, English B'Yachad, is a reflection of the efforts of many hands and hearts.
The success of Skilled Volunteers for Israel (SVFI) and our flagship program, English B'Yachad, is a reflection of the efforts of many hands and hearts.
The success of Skilled Volunteers for Israel (SVFI) and our flagship program, English B'Yachad, is a reflection of the efforts of many hands and hearts.
Leadership
Meet our leadership.
Leading with passion and purpose.
Together, our dedicated volunteers, partners,
and the leadership team advance our mission.
The success of
Skilled Volunteers for Israel
(SVFI) and our flagship program, English B'Yachad,
is a reflection of the efforts
of many hands and hearts.
Our Team
Marla N. Gamoran, MBA
SVFI - Founder & Executive Director
Secretary, SVFI Board of Directors
New York, NY
In 2010, following a career in non-profit management and workforce development, Marla completed the PresenTense Global Fellowship for Social Entrepreneurs. The course ignited her lifelong passion for Israel by establishing Skilled Volunteers for Israel, where she continues to serve as Executive Director. Prior to this role, Marla served as the manager of Business and Industry Services (workforce development) at Madison Area Technical College (now Madison College) and as finance manager for other Madison area nonprofit organizations.
Marla serves on the boards of American Reform Zionist Association (ARZA); Arzenu (the constituency for Reform, Progressive and Liberal Religious Zionists within the World Zionist Organization); and the American Zionist Movement. She serves as co-chair of the budget committee for the World Zionist Organization. Her past volunteer leadership includes ARZA delegate to the World Zionist Congress; member of the Board of Governors of the The Jewish Agency for Israel; president of the Madison Wisconsin chapter of Hadassah; and board member of the University of Wisconsin Madison Hillel.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Illinois, Champaign, and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from DePaul University.
Mariana Antoniuk, MEd, ACC
Volunteer Engagement Specialist
English B'Yachad
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Originally from Brazil, Mariana Antoniuk has more than 15 years of international experience in education, leadership training, and volunteer engagement. She has worked in a variety of roles with less-advantaged communities, harnessing volunteers to accomplish goals. She has served as principal of a São Paolo school for at-risk children and families; trained teachers in Mozambique; and directed field and community development for African refugees at UNITAF, a Tel Aviv-based nonprofit.
In mid-2021, Mariana moved from Israel to the United States. She has continued her work as a trainer, consultant, and faculty member with organizations such as Na’aleh–The Hub for Leadership Learning (Associated Jewish Federation of Baltimore); Leadership Baltimore City; and Masa Israel Journey. In addition to her role as Volunteer Engagement Specialist for English B’Yachad, she also serves as a leadership facilitator with the Kagen Leadership Group.
Mariana holds a bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy and a master’s degree in Education with a concentration in Teacher Training from the Catholic University of São Paulo. She is certified as an Executive Coach in Leadership and Performance through Brown University. Mariana is multilingual, with fluency in Portuguese, Spanish, English and Hebrew.
Our Board of Directors
Judy Kleppel, MD, MPH
Physician
President, SVFI Board of Directors
Philadelphia, PA
As an American-trained physician, Dr. Kleppel has volunteered for more than a decade in Israel in the areas of health and trauma. She works on community-based fundraising for Israeli nonprofits from the United States, fueled by her understanding and unwavering passion for their missions.
As president of the board of directors of Skilled Volunteers for Israel (SVFI), Dr. Kleppel provides first-hand experience by volunteering in diverse initiatives to enhance SVFI’s success.
Dr. Kleppel received her medical training at The Chicago Medical School. She also holds a Master of Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health.
Don Lebowitz, JD
Retired Attorney, Independent Real Estate Professional
Treasurer, SVFI Board of Directors
New York, NY
Don Lebowitz is a lifelong New Yorker. Raised in Brooklyn, he and his wife have made Manhattan their home for 40 years, where they raised their two sons. After law school, Mr. Lebowitz opened a private legal practice specializing in real estate law. He owns and manages residential real estate in New York and Vermont. He has served the New York State Assembly in key legal and advisory roles, including Associate Counsel and consultant to the Speaker's Office. He has provided legal expertise to committees on Housing, Government Operations, and the Task Force on the Handicapped. While now retired from law practice, he maintains and oversees his real estate portfolio.
Since 2022, Mr. Lebowitz has volunteered with Skilled Volunteers for Israel’s (SVFI) English B’Yachad program, tutoring Ethiopian Israeli young adults in English. In addition to the SVFI board, he has served on the boards of directors of the State of New York Mortgage Agency and the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance. He actively supports cultural and social service organizations.
Mr. Lebowitz earned his Juris Doctor from the George Washington University Law School in 1977 and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1978. He holds a Bachelor of Science from New York University, which he earned in 1973.
Rabbi Alan Iser, MA
Adjunct Professor
Member, SVFI Board of Directors
Philadelphia, PA
A former pulpit rabbi and Hillel Director, Rabbi Iser is currently an adjunct professor in the departments of Theology at both St. Joseph’s University and Villanova University. Each summer, he teaches at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem.
Rabbi Iser received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He holds a master’s degree from the Harvard Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. His earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis.
Meryl Glickman, MSEd, MS
Retired - Educator, Marketing Executive
Member, SVFI Board of Directors
Denver, CO
Meryl Glickman began her career in education, serving as a teacher, diagnostician and preschool director. After transitioning to a marketing communications career, she served primarily in the healthcare, technology, manufacturing, association and nonprofitsectors. As a marketing consultant, she worked with clients such as Columbia HCA, Colorado Neurological Institute, CIGNA, SuperShuttle, PeopleSoft, Oracle, McKesson, and Yellow Cab. She received three awards from the Colorado Association of Association Executives for successful year-long marketing campaigns.
Ms. Glickman has been an active board member and chair of the Marketing and Public Relations committees for Seniors Inc., the Denver Birth Center, and Bayaud Enterprises. Her nonprofit volunteer work includes support for Habitat for Humanity, the Rocky Mountain Stroke Center, the Business Marketing Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). In addition to serving on the board, Meryl provides pro bono marketing support for Skilled Volunteers for Israel and English B'Yachad,. She has also been a volunteer tutor with English B;Yachad.
Meryl Glickman holds undergraduate degrees in both the social sciences and business. She earned a master’s degree in special education from the University of Southern California, as well as a master’s degree in marketing from the University of Colorado in Denver.
Richard Lowe, PhD
Retired Clinical Psychologist
Member, SVFI Board of Directors
Philadelphia, PA
Dr. Lowe is a retired clinical psychologist with more than 40 years of experience in public and private practice. Throughout his career, he worked in a variety of mental health settings, addressing a broad spectrum of psychological and emotional challenges with his clients. A primary focus for Dr. Lowe was the area of addiction treatment.
He continues to be actively involved in his community. Dr. Lowe has served on the boards of two synagogues, including a term as president at one of them. Additionally, he has held a board position with the BuxMont region of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.
Dr. Lowe earned both his undergraduate and doctorate degrees in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Howard Mednick, MBA, MA
Retired, Computer Consultant
Member, SVFI Board of Directors
Toronto, Canada
As a computer consultant with more than 45 years of experience. Mr. Mednick has witnessed the evolution of technology from punch cards to mobile applications. He specialized in large-scale database management and report applications.
Mr. Mednick serves on the board as an SVFI alumnus, contributing both his volunteer experience and technical skills. Known as the Classical Music DJ in Toronto, Canada, Howard shares his passion for music through talks on classical music. He gives music talks to community organizations in Toronto and in Israel through SVFI’s original volunteer program.
Mr. Mednick holds a Master of Business Administration from McGill University, a master’s degree in economics from York University, and a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from McGill University.
Marsha Abramovich, MA
English as a Second Language (ESL) Consultant
Member, SVFI Board of Directors
Vienna, VA
Marsha Abramowich has more than five decades of experience in international and adult education. Having worked extensively in community-based programs, her focus has been on cross-cultural communication and workforce readiness.
Marsha currently teaches ESL at George Mason University. She serves as a consultant in both ESL and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) curriculum design, faculty training, and program development. She is also an active volunteer tutor for English B'Yachad (EBY), it students, and its tutors.
Among her many accomplishments, Marsha created the ESL program at the Brooklyn Public Library. She was the Director of the ESL program at Virginia’s Tidewater Community College and has served as an English Language Specialist for the U.S. State Department. Her leadership roles include Project Director for the Academy for Educational Development, Regional Grant Manager for Fairfax County Public Schools, and Education Consultant for National Geographic Learning. Internationally, Marsha has directed and advised educational projects in Israel, Korea, Mexico, Mozambique, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkmenistan.
Marsha holds a Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from New York University.