VICE PRESIDENT/PRESIDENT ELECT
Denise Joy Freedman:
Denise joined Congregation Kol Ami with her husband Steve in 1998 after 18 years in the Gainesville, Florida community. She has served on various Kol Ami ad hoc and board committees throughout the years, including Board Orientation, Holiday, and Fundraising. Most recently, Denise has served on the Executive Board as Vice President of Member Services. Denise also leads services, and is a regular Torah and Haftorah reader. Denise was born and raised in Chicago, graduated from University of Illinois, and is a camper and staff alumnus of Camp Ramah b’Wisconsin.
VICE PRESIDENT
Jeff Hinds: Jeff moved to the Tampa Bay area from Trotwood, Ohio (Pop. 7,802) in 1979. Following graduation from the University of Florida, Jeff returned to Tampa, where he met his wife, Terri. Terri and Jeff are blessed with two riant children, Ethan (7) and Miriam (3). Jeff is an attorney with a practice devoted exclusively to eminent domain and condemnation. He has served on the Kol Ami Board in various capacities for eight years
VICE PRESIDENT
Craig Kalter: : Craig and his lovely family have been members of Kol Ami since 1987. His daughter, Becky, had her Simchat Bat and Bat Mitzvah at Kol Ami and son, Daniel is “on deck” for his Bar Mitzvah in August. Craig completed undergraduate education at Emory University where he met his wife, Ann and completed Medical School, OB-GYN Residency, and Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at USF College of Medicine. Over the past several years he has become involved at Kol Ami as Fair Share Dues Committee chairman, a regular Torah reader, traveled with the Rabbi to Israel, played camp Doctor at Ramah Darom, and volunteered for assorted jobs at the synagogue. He is, in his own words, “anxious to become more involved as a member of the Kol Ami Executive Board.”
VICE PRESIDENT
Rita Schonwetter: : Rita is originally from Kansas City, Missouri. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Florida and her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Texas. She has called Tampa home since 1989. Over the years, she has been involved as an active parent volunteer at her children’s schools, life member of Hadassah, member of Chesed Shel Emes and a member at Kol Ami. Her participation in synagogue life includes serving on the Sisterhood Board in a variety of positions, being a member of the Kol Yeladim School Board, serving as the School Board Chairperson, and Vice President of Education/Youth. Rita and her spouse, Ron have 3 wonderful children; Sara, Rachel, and Jonathan.
VICE PRESIDENT
Lynn Chernin: : Lynn was born and raised in St. Paul Minnesota. While living in the Twin Cities, she was involved in the St. Paul United Jewish Fund and the Minnesota AIDS Project. Lynn and her husband, Adam, moved to Tampa 7 years ago when their family purchased the last remaining meat packing plant in the state of Florida. They became members of Kol Ami a year later. Since joining Kol Ami, Lynn has served on the Sisterhood board, and, while a member of the Fundraising Committee, chaired the Joe Black concert and the Las Vegas Night Auction. She has served on the Board of Trustees for the past three years as Publicity Chair. Lynn is also involved in the community, serving on the JCC Programming Board, the JCC Preschool Fundraising Committee and is currently the President of the Preschool Parents Association. Lynn and Adam are the proud parents of Alissa (6), Devin (4) and Jacob (1 ½) and look forward to watching their children grow up at Kol Ami.
<Back to
top of this page>
TREASURER
Trudy Novak: : Trudy grew up in Potomac, Maryland and earned a BS degree from the University of Maryland. She is a non-practicing CPA. Almost twenty-five years ago, Trudy moved to Tampa to accept a position at Seminole Electric Cooperative, a wholesale provider of electricity to distribution cooperatives located throughout Florida. Trudy still works at Seminole and is currently the Director of Pricing and Bulk Power Contracts. Trudy and her husband, Ken have been members of Kol Ami since 1983. Trudy has served two terms at Kol Ami as the Recording Secretary. Trudy also served on the Board of the Hillel School of Tampa for 9 years. While on the Hillel Board, she served as Treasurer and Financial Secretary. Trudy and Ken have two children, Erica and Courtney.
RECORDING SECRETARY
Lisa Teblum: : Lisa grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia with a BS in Medical Technology. She and her husband Gary have been active members of Kol Ami since their arrival in Tampa in 1979. Lisa has held a variety of volunteer positions in the Jewish as well as secular community. As a member of Kol Ami for 27 years, she has served on the synagogue board as membership chair and has had various roles, including President of the Sisterhood board. Lisa is the proud mother of Corey (23) and Jeremy (20).
FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Brian Pearlman: : Brian is a graduate of the University of Tennessee where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and his Master of Accountancy with an emphasis in Taxation. After 18 years in public accounting, Brian now runs CJ Pallet Co., Inc., a pallet repair business in Lakeland, with a longtime friend and client. Brian, his wife Julie, and their children, Erin and Adam, joined Kol Ami in 1996 and have been active congregants. Brian has served on a variety of committees, including a past board position as a Senior Advisory Member and the continued chairmanship of the Long Range Planning Committee. Outside Kol Ami, Brian has been the treasurer of Mary Walker Apartments; a HUD regulated independent living facility sponsored by the Tampa Jewish Federation since 1988. He has served on the boards of several community organizations including service as the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer for Florida Pro Musica, a newly organized tax exempt entity, and is a past Co-Chairman of the Finance Committee for Paint Your Heart Out Tampa! Brian is also a graduate of Tampa Connection, a local leadership development program, and served on its Board of Directors from 1998 to 2001.
