Meet Your Federation Team
President & CEO
Heidi Gantwerk
Heidi Gantwerk is president and CEO of Jewish Federation of San Diego. After acting as a consultant for Federation for a number of years, Heidi joined Federation as interim CEO in June 2021 before taking the reins full-time at the end of that same year. She brings to her role decades of expertise in strategic planning, community and stakeholder relations, and civic engagement.
Heidi has a deep connection to Jewish life in San Diego, having formerly served as the Board Chair of the San Diego Jewish Academy, and on the Boards of the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, San Diego Center for Jewish Culture and Hillel of San Diego. She is also an active member of Congregation Beth Israel, lending her voice each week as part of the Chai Band.
Before joining Federation, Heidi founded HG Consulting Group, LLC, where she provided customized design and facilitation for the public and private sectors, with diverse clients including the San Diego Airport Authority, the Port of San Diego, the United Way of San Diego, the Jewish Community Foundation, Palomar Health, San Diego Grantmakers, Hillel of San Diego, the Municipality of Anchorage, and the Stennis Center for Public Service among many others.
Heidi holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Yale University.
Senior Management
David Fuhriman
Chief Financial Officer
Contact David
Carly Ezell Lobenstein
Chief Operating Officer
Contact Carly
Michael Rabkin
Chief Development Officer
Contact Michael
Darren Schwartz
Chief Planning & Strategy Officer
Contact Darren
Our Staff
Moy Arbitman
Director, Israel & Global Peoplehood
Contact Moy
Ashley Bendas
Sr. Director, Marketing & Public Relations
Contact Ashley
Dustin Biton
Director, Major Gifts
Contact Dustin
Candice Bucky
Sr. Manager, Executive Office, Board and Special Projects
Contact Candice
Janese Cassel
Program Manager, Israel & Global Peoplehood
Contact Janese
Joanna Chiu
Controller
Contact Joanna
Tracey Corea & Olivia Corea
Consultant, Human Resource
Contact Tracey & Olivia
Rabbi Ralph Dalin
Jewish Community Chaplain
Contact Rabbi Ralph
Ronnie Diamond
Development Officer
Contact Ronnie
Robyn Feinberg
Manager, Creative & Content
Contact Robyn
Bill Ganley
Director, Community Security
Contact Bill
Steve Gerard
Sr. Director, Annual Campaign
Contact Steve
Matt Goldberg
Director, Caring & Community Relations
Contact Matt
Julie Gordon
Manager, Community Planning
Contact Julie
Alex Kaufman
Program Manager, Creating a Resilient & Secure Community
Contact Alex
Dana Koenig
Manager, Immersive Travel
Contact Dana
Jessica Kretzer
Manager, Center for Holocaust Education
Contact Jessica
Chelsea Levron
Manager, Women’s Philanthropy
Contact Chelsea
Deena Libman
Development Officer
Contact Deena
Wendy McCreary
Manager, Community Program
Contact Wendy
Jessica McGregor
Donation Coordinator
Contact Jessica
Henri Migala
Director, Research, Evaluation and Innovation
Contact Henri
Hailey Pryce-Shidler
Events & Programs Coordinator
Contact Hailey
Paul Sapiano
Director, Information Systems and Donor Operations
Contact Paul
Debbie Tirouda
Development & Events Specialist
Contact Debbie
Zane Vanderberg
Manager, Creative & Content
Contact Zane
Sharon B. Veksler
Marketing & Operations Coordinator
Contact Sharon
Lee Weinstein
Director, Marketing
Contact Lee
Erica Whinston
Director, Operations & Special Projects - Center for Holocaust Education
Contact Erica
Oded Wilson
Manager, Teen Immersive Experiences
Contact Oded
