Our Board
The Efshar Project Board is composed of invested stakeholders and community leaders that represent the various perspectives of our diverse community and bring expertise in key areas to strengthen and partner with our professional team.Amalia Adiv
Amalia is a writer, performer, and educator originally from Denver. She holds a Master’s degree from NYU in Educational Theatre with an emphasis on applied theatre, and a BA in Jewish Studies and Theatre from City College of New York. As an actor, Amalia performs across Colorado, and was recently seen at the Ellie Caulkins Studio Loft and with the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s Violence Prevention Tour. Amalia spent five years teaching in a preschool classroom, and has developed classes for little ones that use process drama, imaginative play, and storytelling to aid social and emotional growth. She is also a newly certified pre and post-natal fitness coach and is currently pursuing a childbirth educator certification. Amalia has one son at home who is almost two, and she is excited to bring her expertise in early childhood and the creative arts to the Efshar Project!
Amalia Adiv
Early Childhood Educator and Performer
Beverly Buck
Trustee, Aloha Foundation
Beverly Buck
Beverly Buck brings over 40 years of experience in law, public policy, and philanthropy focused on children, families, and communities. She holds a JD and MPA from Syracuse University and a BA from Beloit College. Her expertise spans strategic planning, evaluation, systems design, and nonprofit capacity building.
She is a trustee of the Aloha Foundation, supporting early childhood education and environmental stewardship in Colorado, New York, California, and Hawai’i. In Denver, she serves on the Rose Community Foundation’s Advocacy and Policy Committee and the Advisory Board of the Children, Youth & Families Funders Roundtable. Beverly also teaches public policy and law as an adjunct at the University of Colorado Denver.
She lives in Denver with her husband, David M. Sherman, and is the proud mother of two and “Baba” to three grandchildren.
Tricia Bonman
Tricia Bonman is the Impact Funds Director at Early Milestones Colorado, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight of Early Milestones’ special funds. Previously, she oversaw the Community Innovation and Resilience for Care and Learning Equity (CIRCLE) Grant Program at Early Milestones. Before joining Milestones, Tricia was a program officer at Rose Community Foundation. She began her work there focused on child and family development and spearheaded the organization’s grantmaking in the Community Action Fund, which focused on immigrants, refugees, anti-hate, and anti-discrimination.
Tricia holds a master’s degree in international human rights from the University of Denver, and dual bachelor’s degrees in international studies and Hispanic studies from Washington College in Maryland. Originally hailing from the Philippines, she has also lived in Japan, Delaware, Maryland, and Idaho, and is happy to call Denver home. She lives in the Cole neighborhood with her husband.
Tricia Bonman
Impact Funds Director, Early Milestones Colorado
Shayna Friedman
Director of admission at Denver Jewish Day School
Shayna Friedman
Shayna Friedman joined The Efshar Project board in the spring of 2020. She has worked in the field of Jewish education for over 20 years. Shayna currently serves as director of admission at Denver Jewish Day School overseeing the school’s recruitment and retention of families and administering the school’s financial aid program. She has worked in synagogues, camps, central agencies, and JCC’s serving learners of all ages from early childhood to adults. Shayna is passionate about inviting learners to find their connection to Judaism. She holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.
Karla Hanlon
Karla Hanlon has been a financial and operational leader with nonprofit organizations in Colorado for over a decade, after gaining experience from the public accounting and for-profit sectors. She currently serves as the COO for Rocky Mountain Public Media (home of RMPBS, KUVO Jazz, and THE DROP), where she focuses on driving financial sustainability and efficient, adaptive operations. Karla’s approach to financial and operational strategies is grounded in values-based decision making and a dedication to serving communities. Previously, Karla served as the CFO/COO and Interim CEO for Jewish Community Centers of Denver and the VP of Finance and Operations for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University and received her CPA certification from the State of Illinois. Karla resides in the Central Park neighborhood with her husband (Sean) and three children (Emma – 18, Jacob – 15, and Olivia – 11).
Karla Hanlon
COO, Rocky Mountain Public Media
Rabbi Avraham Mintz
CEO, Chabad Jewish Center
Rabbi Avraham Mintz
Rabbi Avraham Mintz is a renowned communal leader and spiritual guide. Born in Brooklyn, NY, he studied in prestigious Rabbinical Colleges in Israel and Los Angeles before receiving his Rabbinical Ordination with honors.
Rabbi Mintz moved to Colorado in 2003 and established the Chabad Jewish Center of South Metro Denver which quickly grew into one of the largest Jewish Centers of its kind in the area where he serves as CEO and Rabbi. He oversees The Garden School, Camp Gan Izzy, Chabad Hebrew School and the Jewish Learning Institute which attracts hundreds of families from all backgrounds and affiliations. Rabbi Mintz lives in Lone Tree, CO with his wife Hindy and their children.
Charlie Ruda
Charlie Ruda is a Denver Native and has worked in the Early childhood field for over 10 years. Currently, Charlie works at the Colorado Dept of Early Childhood as a Quality Ratings Improvement Systems (QRIS) coordinator. Charlie currently lives in Aurora, CO with his husband, two middle school boys, and two dogs. In his free time, you can find Charlie on the hiking or biking trails around town.
Charlie Ruda
Quality Ratings Improvement Systems (QRIS) coordinator
Cathy Rolland
Founding Board Chair of The Efshar Project
Cathy M. Rolland
Cathy Rolland is the URJ’s Senior Director of Emerging Networks, which includes bringing innovated approaches focused on engaging individuals and families from diverse backgrounds with a focus on families with young children, youth/teens and 20/30s adults. Cathy is also the inaugural president of the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ), an affiliate of the URJ. Cathy recently earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She also has a certification in Jewish Early Childhood leadership from Gratz college. Cathy and her husband reside in Denver, CO where she is honored to serve as the chair of the Efshar Project, previously known as the Colorado Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative.
Jennifer Dinn Korman
Jennifer Dinn Korman Jennifer most recently served as Chair of the Strategic Planning Task Force for Efshar and helped to develop our 2025 Strategic Plan. Beginning in 2008, Jennifer was on the Board of the original predecessor of Efshar when it was known as JECEI.
Jennifer has served on the boards of The JCC, MAAC, CAJE, Allied Jewish Federation and Rose Jewish Life Committee. She worked for JewishColorado from 2015-2018 as the Vice President of Strategy and Programming running $7million of programs and grants.
Jennifer has three adult children who all went to Temple Emanuel Preschool. She and her husband met most of their friends through Temple Preschool and believe that Jewish ECE is critical to building a strong Jewish community.
Jennifer Dinn Korman
Strategic Planning Advisor, The Efshar Project
Jo Schaalman
Board Member
Jo Schaalman
Jo Schaalman is the CEO, co-founder, and co-author of The Conscious Cleanse and The Conscious Cleanse Cookbook. She was a state champion gymnast and a nationally ranked diver before a bike accident left her seriously injured. Through her own healing, Jo unlocked some universal healing principles that have become foundational to the Conscious Cleanse. Her role at the Conscious Cleanse is to lead the live programs, help develop new content, run daily operations, and lead business development and outreach. Jo studied at the Nutrition Therapy Institute and has been a yoga teacher for more than 15 years. She lives in Boulder, Colorado, with her husband and two kids.
Simon Schwartz
Simon Schwartz is the Chief Operating Officer at Strategic Resources Group Colorado, a boutique, Denver-based consulting firm specializing in association management and strategic planning. With over two decades of expertise, Schwartz is instrumental in guiding clients towards a unique identity that accentuates their strengths and capabilities. His extensive background encompasses networking, event coordination, business development, fundraising, and strategic planning.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Schwartz has garnered recognition from various organizations nationwide for his philanthropic contributions and outstanding professional achievements.
Simon Schwartz
COO, Strategic Resources Group Colorado
Dawn Spector
Director of Early Childhood Education and Young Family Programs at Rodef Shalom
Dawn Spector
Dawn Spector, a New York native, attended college in Jerusalem and at Queens College in Flushing, N.Y. where she obtained a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing with an emphasis on education. She obtained her Preschool Director’s Certification from Aurora Community College and has been involved with Jewish Education for over 20 years. She loves being able to reach children at a young age and help instill a passion for learning and Judaism that will hopefully last a lifetime.
As director of Early Childhood Education and Young Family Programs at Rodef Shalom, Dawn’s responsibilities include the ECEC (Early Childhood Education Center), Shabbat, Holiday, and young family programming.
Adriane Greenberg
Adriane Greenberg is currently the Women’s Philanthropy Chair of JEWISHcolorado. She is the co-CEO and co-Founder of a Jewish matchmaking company, BeShareIt Match. She is honored to serve her community in varying capacities. She serves on the board of JEWISHcolorado, Bender West Foundation and on the Parent Association Executive Committee at Colorado Academy. Adriane has designed, launched and co-facilitated the first Parent Leadership Community of Practice for The Efshar Project.
She is also a Wexner Heritage Program Fellow. Previously, Adriane was the Young Adult Division Chair as well as the Jewish Life and Engagement Chair at JEWISHcolorado. She was honored with the Charlotte B. Tucker Young Leadership Award in 2016. She is passionate about building and maintaining a strong Jewish community. Adriane graduated from the University of Colorado–Boulder with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Management. Adriane enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
Adriane Greenberg
Co-CEO & Co-Founder, BeShareIt Match.
Mary Ann Weiss
Philanthropy Advisor, Walton Enterprises
Mary Ann Weiss
Mary Ann has spent over a decade working in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves as a philanthropy advisor at Walton Enterprises, where she develops and executes diverse impact strategies. Previously, she worked at Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, where she managed a grants portfolio focused on Jewish community and Israel engagement. Mary Ann holds a master’s in Public Administration from George Washington University and a bachelor’s in American Studies from Skidmore College.
Passionate about building a joyful and inclusive Jewish community, Mary Ann has served as a resident of the Denver Moishe House, currently serves as a PJ Library Parent Connector, and is honored to support Efshar’s work to ensure quality Jewish early education. In her free time, Mary Ann finds deep joy in the outdoors with her family and two young daughters.
Ed Victor
Ed Victor recently transitioned from a 32-year career in engineering at Qualcomm—where he specialized in wireless communications—to focus on strategic volunteerism and nonprofit leadership. A longtime community advocate, Ed has served as treasurer and president of the Boulder Jewish Day School and is an active partner with Social Venture Partners (SVP) of Boulder County, where he supports nonprofit capacity building through board development and leadership cohorts.
His recent work with SVP includes initiatives addressing food insecurity, housing, and early childhood education. He is currently part of a regional coalition advancing a ballot initiative to increase education funding in Boulder and Weld counties, collaborating with stakeholders such as county commissioners, the Boulder Chamber, Colorado’s Attorney General’s Office, and Early Childhood Councils.
Ed is deeply committed to learning, systems change, and increasing impact in the human services sector—especially in early childhood. He is excited to bring this passion to his work with The Efshar Project, supporting Jewish early childhood education across Colorado.
Ed Victor
Strategic Volunteer Leader, The Efshar Project
