President

Amy McKeag is on the Marketing Committee and the Centennial Celebration Event Planning Committee of the Vilna Shul. She first discovered the Vilna when her family began attending the Young Families events as a way to create a Jewish community for them in the city of Boston.

Amy had a fifteen-year career in brand marketing which included leading national and global consumer marketing campaigns for Frito-Lay, Reebok, Tribe Mediterranean Foods and Welch’s, Inc. Her marketing experience also includes developing and launching several consumer packaged goods.

Amy is the immediate past Co-Chair of the Boston Duke Women’s Forum which provides regional programming around current events, social issues and personal and professional development to Duke alumnae and friends. She was awarded the 2020 Forever Duke award which recognizes alumni for excellent recent volunteer service to Duke and its alumni groups. Amy is also a member of CJP’s Women’s Philanthropy Executive Board. Amy is a member of the National Council ofTrustees of National Jewish Health in Denver.

1st Vice President

Dan is a real estate lawyer in Boston (at his law firm Dain Torpy), a Boston historian (his book A History of Boston is due out in September 2023), and restaurateur (he founded an equity fund to help up-and-coming chefs open restaurants, including Douglass Williams at Mida in the South End). In addition to his work on the Vilna Shul's board, Dan is the chair of the arts company White Snake Projects, co-founder and treasurer of the Needham Land Trust, and board member of the Real Estate Bar Association, the Abstract Club, the Needham Golf Club Advisory Committee, and the business advocacy groups A Better City and NAIOP MA. Dan lectures and writes frequently on land use law and urbanism, has done fundraising for the Lymphoma & Leukemia Society, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay, and Heading Home, Inc., and loves giving visitors tours of Boston. He was born in Boston, grew up in Newton, attended Vassar College and Michigan Law School, and lives in Needham with his wife and kids. 

2nd Vice President

Kevin Steinberg is a seasoned executive with 25+ years operating experience founding, leading, and scaling several of the world's most prominent professional services firms and talent-centric organizations. He held CEO/COO/President roles at the World Economic Forum, Purpose, Spencer Stuart, The Brattle Group, and Ascent. He is the Founder & Chairman of Ascent Leadership Networks, an advisory firm and executive talent development company delivering strategy consulting as well as leadership programs which combine talent assessment, immersive multi-day workshops, and mentorship. He was its first Chief Executive Officer, raising its seed funding, hiring the launch team, and establishing operations. Kevin began his career spending ten years with McKinsey & Company. He continues to sit on the Board of Generation, a non-profit founded by McKinsey, as well as several additional boards, including Claridge, Inc., the Jewish Arts Collaborative, and Opportunity Network. Kevin graduated from Harvard College with a BA in economics, and from Stanford University with a JD & MBA.

Treasurer

Dana is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts with more than 15 years of public accounting experience at EY. She has worked with a diverse set of clients on both financial and non-financial audits, and has led teams in digital, innovation and product functions. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University, where she met her husband, and a Master of Science in Accountancy from Bentley University.

Dana grew up in the Boston area and began her career there, then worked abroad in Canada and Switzerland for several years before returning to Boston. She discovered the Vilna through their programming for families with young children and lives with her husband and son in downtown Boston.

Clerk

Robyn Yee is an acting Partner and the Director of Sales and Operations at Catalyst Restaurant in Cambridge, MA, where she brings over 20 years of experience in luxury event planning. She began her career at the prestigious Four Seasons Hotel Boston, where she planned and executed over 300 weddings, ensuring that each couple’s vision became a reality.

 It was through her work with Jewish weddings that Robyn was introduced to the richness of Jewish customs, rituals, and celebrations. Her involvement in these events sparked a deep interest in modern Jewish life, ultimately leading her to convert to Judaism during the 2021 pandemic. During her conversion journey, Robyn discovered the Vilna Shul, whose focus on history and commitment to fostering an inclusive Jewish community resonated deeply with her.

 At Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA, Robyn is an active member, serving on the Membership Experience Committee, the SEA Change Committee, and co-chairing the biannual Fall Harvest Festival. She melds her Jewish values and community with her professional expertise by coordinating life cycle events at Catalyst Restaurant, continuing to create meaningful and memorable experiences for her clients.

Susan Benjamin is a native Bostonian. She attended Hebrew and Religious School and became a Bat Mitzvah and got married at Temple Shalom in Newton, MA.

Susan and her husband, Cary have been married for 40 years and have been active members of Temple Shir Tikva (TST) in Wayland, MA for more than 30 years. At TST, Susan re-established the Kesher caring community, and then served on the Development Committee and was Development Trustee serving on the Board of Trustees for four years. She was responsible for securing an Annual Fund of $750,000.

In addition to serving on The Vilna's board, Susan serves on the Development committee, has been on three CJP missions to Israel in 1978, 1995 and a WP mission in 2012, and is active in CJP Women’s Philanthropy as a Lion of Judah member. 

Jennifer Ende Blecher is an author and attorney based in Boston. She began her legal career at The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, where she specialized in domestic violence prosecution. After moving to Boston, Jennifer turned her attention to creative writing and is now the author of four critically acclaimed middle grade novels for young readers. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a juris doctorate degree from the Northeastern School of Law. 

Jennifer lives in Beacon Hill with her husband and their three daughters. From the moment she stepped into the Vilna for her first high holiday services in the city, she felt an immediate connection to the space and its history. Jennifer is proud to be a part of Vilna's efforts to continue to grow and thrive in the neighborhood she loves.

Jeff Freedman is the founder and CEO of Small Army, one of the top advertising agencies in Boston that became Finn Partners in 2022. He founded Small Army for a Cause, the nonprofit organization behind the national Be Bold, Be Bald! cancer fundraiser that he founded after losing his business partner to cancer. He is also the author of The Moral of the Story: A Storyteller' s Guide to Helping Brands Build Relationships with People and is a regular speaker,panelist, and blogger, sharing his experiences with brand storytelling and relationship-building, business leadership and corporate social responsibility. Jeff lives in Newton, MA, with his wife and two children.

Pam Friedman is a Corporate Real Estate Project Manager at Liberty Mutual Insurance, coming up on her 10-year tenure with the company. Pam started at Liberty Mutual as a co-op while completing her Undergraduate studies at Northeastern University. Pam is also a member of the real estate industry professional organization, Corenet Global, and in 2020 graduated from Corenet’s highly selective Young Leaders Professional Development Program.

Pam is an advocate and lay leader within the young adult Jewish community in Boston, whose focus has always been welcoming new community members. She currently co-chairs both Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ (CJP) Young Adult Engagement and Circle of Excellence Committees. In 2020, Pam was honored with CJP’s Circle of Excellence Young Leadership Award for her contribution to the community. Beyond CJP, Pam has staffed Boston-based Birthright trips and participated in Boston programs and courses with The Chai Center, Hebrew College’s Me’ah Select and Eser, AIPAC, CAMERA, and Fuel for Truth. 

Pam lives in Downtown Boston with her husband and rising toddler, who can be found visiting local synagogues for “Tot Shabbat.” 

Jeffrey co-founded LAZ Parking in 1981 while attending Northeastern University. He graduated from Northeastern with a degree in psychology.

Jeffrey currently is on the board of directors of the Anti-Defamation League, the Save the Harbor Foundation, Club Pivot USA, and the Tulane University Parents Council. He recently was awarded the 2011 Anti-Defamation League’s Torch of Liberty Award

Jeffrey also is a member of the Young Presidents Association, the National Parking Association, and the Northeastern CEO Forum. Jeff and his wife, Jill, recently moved into Boston from the suburbs.  Jeff will be joining the finance and nominating committees.

Dan attended the University of Rhode Island (URI), where he met his fiancé, Elyse, and earned both Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in accounting.

After URI, Dan joined PwC’s assurance practice, specializing in asset & wealth management. Dan services a variety of clients and products, including bank sponsored collective investments funds, money market funds, hedge funds, and mutual funds.

Dan is a licensed CPA in Massachusetts and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Jim is a Sales Advisor for a Boston Luxury Real Estate firm where he can use his design and business experience to guide clients in real estate decisions through multiple phases of life. For over 35 years Jim ran a successful high technology sales firm in the Boston area focused on the needs of growing technology companies while maintaining a strong interest in design, architecture, real estate and contemporary art.

A believer in Jewish community, Jim sees The Vilna as important in creating a Jewish connection in Boston, as well as a physical jewel. He sees the Vilna's historical building as a unique opportunity to connect future generations to a Jewish heritage. He and his wife moved to downtown Boston after raising their family in Andover and are founding members of The Vilna’s Downtown Social Club. Jim received his BA from Washington University in St. Louis and his master’s in architecture from Syracuse University. Jim is also a member of the St. Botolph Neighborhood Association Architectural Review Committee.

Dr. Brian Lester is a graduate of the Yale School of Medicine and is a board certified dermatologist specializing in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology.

After graduating from the Yale School of Medicine in 2001, Dr. Lester completed his residency training at Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital where he served as Chief Resident. He is a past member of the Board of Directors of SkinPAC, the political action committee for the American Academy of Dermatology and has traveled to Washington D.C. to meet with congressmen, senators, and their staffs to lobby on behalf of patients and the specialty. Dr. Lester is also a past member of the American Academy of Dermatology Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA), where he has represented the interests of patients and the specialty to the House of Medicine.

Dr. Lester lectures nationally to resident and attending physicians. He is a member of multiple professional organizations including the American Academy of Dermatology, the American Medical Association, and the Massachusetts State Medical Society.

Brian met his wife, Shirah, at the Vilna’s Havurah on the Hill Chanukah Party. They have three children.

Samuel Mendoza de Fraiman (he/el) is a Mexican-American fashion designer and an educator at the Boston Arts Academy (BAA), the only public visual and performing arts high school in Boston. He was instrumental in the establishment and design of the Fashion Technology program, and currently serves as the Chair of the Visual Arts and Design department. He is currently Chair of the Temple Beth Zion Development Committee where he has expanded giving by 150%. Sam has a passion for placemaking and supporting Jewish innovation and diversity.

With over 37 years of hands on experience in the Boston real estate market, Michael L. Price is now directing Legacy Real Estate Ventures, LLC, allowing him to focus strictly on acquisitions.  Price’s real estate experience began in 1981 as a Property Manager for Codman Company, where he managed their portfolio of Back Bay office properties.  In 1986 he joined National Development as a Development Project Manager and Director of their property management group.  Price gained valuable experience in the development arena and built a property management portfolio of three million square feet over the ten years he was with National.  However, Price’s long-term goals involved owning and operating his own company.  In 1995, in partnership with Mark and Richard Connaughton he founded Eastport Real Estate Services, Inc.  Eastport started out as a management services company but expanded into the acquisition forum.  Over a ten year period, Eastport acquired eighteen properties exceeding $60 million in value.  Currently, Eastport owns two of these properties valuing $6 million and manages approximately 3 million square feet of commercial space.  Price continues to play a management role at Eastport, but Legacy is his own enterprise, and allows him to focus the majority of his efforts on acquisitions.  Since its founding in January, 2008, Legacy has purchased 24 properties valued at over $100 million.

A 1977 graduate of the Roxbury Latin School and 1981 graduate of Middlebury College (B.A. in Economics) Price is a Certified Property Manager, licensed Real Estate Broker in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and a Notary Public. Price is a five time PanMass Rider, a former Board of Director of the BoSox Club, and a former member of the Roxbury Latin Alumni Council and Real Estate Round Table.  He has guest lectured on real estate topics at Lehigh University, Babson College and Brandeis University and is a member of the faculty of Boston University’s Metropolitan College where he teaches a Real Estate Market Analysis course. Price also sits on the Board of Advisors of City North Development, a privately held real estate investment company.

Adam Samansky is a Member of the law firm of Mintz Levin Ferris Cohn Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.  Adam’s practice primarily serves pharmaceutical, medical, high tech, and defense industry clients as litigation counsel in patent and trade secret matters. Adam has a strong record of success in multiparty, highly contested pharmaceutical patent litigation, in addition to other litigations involving advanced biochemistry, polymers, optics, manufacturing processes, and defense technologies. He has tried cases before multiple US district courts, briefed and argued cases before the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and briefed bet-the-company issues before the US Supreme Court.  Leading the firm’s intellectual property practice in Israel, Adam frequently travels to Israel to work with the multiple Israeli clients he represents before U.S. Courts. 

Adam joins our board with a lifelong passion for Judaism, Israel, and celebrating all that the Jewish People and the Jewish Community has to offer.  Adam and his wife, Emily have three children, Galete, Eli and Yael and live in Andover.  They are active members of Temple Emunah in Lexington and the Chabad synagogue in Andover.  

With a background in maritime and municipal security from his time as a Commissioned U.S. Merchant Marine Officer, Adam has taken a leadership role in developing and implementing security programs in the local Jewish Community.  He currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Security Committee at Temple Emunah and the head of security at the Chabad synagogue in Andover.   Adam is also a volunteer instructor with the Community Security Service, and works closely with CJP’s Communal Security Initiative to bring and refine best practices to the communities in which he serves, obtaining extensive training and credentials in security matters on topics ranging from building access control to active assailant response. 

Judy Shapiro is an executive with over 25 years of experience in operations, marketing, strategic planning and consulting roles, both in the for-profit and not-for-profit sectors. Judy served as Senior Vice President of Corporate Branding and Advertising at Staples, Inc., and was most recently at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) as Chief Operating Officer.  As COO Judy focused on building a culture of accountability, strong management, and more efficient operations. In this capacity Judy played a pivotal role in CJP’s search for a new President and CEO.

Judy has been active in her local community, volunteering at Temple Beth Shalom, the Needham Public Schools and the Needham Community Council. She served as a Board Member of the Needham Education Foundation and as a mentor both for the Center for Women’s Leadership MBA Mentor Program at Babson College and with Our Generation Speaks (OGS), a fellowship program and incubator for emerging Israeli and Palestine leaders. 

Today, in addition to serving on the Board of the Vilna Shul, Judy is a Board member of Planned Lifetime Assistance Network (PLAN) of Massachusetts and Rhode Island and volunteers for The Good People Fund. Judy and her husband have two grown sons and live in Needham.

Julie Somers is a marketing communications executive with more than 20 years of expertise developing brand communication strategies and world-class marketing teams in non-profit, healthcare, retail, and restaurant industries.  She is currently the Senior Director of Internal Communications for Fresenius Medical Care North America. Previously she served 8 years as Vice President of Marketing for Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) where she was responsible for the in-house creative agency, digital marketing, public relations and crisis communications, events and loyalty marketing.  

Some of Julie’s most rewarding work has come from volunteer opportunities in the community.  As a member of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, she co-chaired a leadership program and rabbinic search committee, and has volunteered for various projects and fundraisers related to providing meals at Community Servings and other organizations.  She has recently begun cycling for charity, getting a push from her husband and an electric bike.  

Julie has strong ties to the North Shore where she grew up.  She and her husband have two children and live in Wellesley.

Caron is a mixed-media artist who was born in South Africa and raised in Israel where she met her husband and had two children. They moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where they lived for 15 years until moving to Boston. After many years of non-profit management while dabbling in jewelry making, studying fashion and designing interiors, Caron fell in love with painting.

Zach is an investment professional at 1922 Investments and manages an investment holding company, FSC Capital, focused at buying small private companies with the intent to hold forever.

Prior to 1922 Investments and FSC, Zach was a Vice President at TIFF Investment Management in the private equity group. While at TIFF he supported the deployment of $350M of capital across private equity and venture capital investments, predominantly in lower middle market businesses that were seeking capital for growth or to facilitate a management transition. 

Before joining TIFF, Zach was a value investor at Wellington Management where he made $3.8B of investments in small- and mid-cap industrial and services companies. Earlier in his career, he worked as an investment banker, focused on unwinding complex non-core assets and derivative structuring, at the Royal Bank of Scotland after graduating with High Distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

Outside of work, he is actively involved in the Boston Jewish community and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston (CJP), one of Massachusetts largest charities. Zach is currently pursuing his MBA at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management. Zach lives in the Boston-Area with his Chief Advisor and wife, Marissa, their daughter, and their dog.

Mr. Wyett is Co-founder and member of the Investment Committee of Chartwell Holdings LLC, a real estate investment and management company that acquires, owns and operates more than 6,000 multifamily units throughout the southeast United States and New England. Prior to co-founding Chartwell, Mr. Wyett practiced real estate & corporate law at the Boston law firm of Goulston & Storrs, from August 1998 to October 1999, and at the New York law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, from October 1994 to June 1998. Mr. Wyett graduated magna cum laude with an A.B. degree in
economics from Harvard College in 1989 and magna cum laude with a J.D. degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1994. Mr. Wyett is a Trustee of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston (2005-2015, and 2018-present); current board member of the New England Chapter of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation. Mr. Wyett is also past Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the PJ Library of Boston; a founding Board member of the Combined Jewish Philanthropy Real Estate Next Generation Group, which developed affordable housing for mentally disabled adults in Boston; and past board member of Summer Ink. From 2000-2008, Mr. Wyett was also President and Chief Operating Officer of Churchill Forge, Inc., a family-owned real estate management and investment company which owns and manages apartment communities throughout the southeast and southwest United States and New England.