Camp JCA Shalom > About Us > Year Round Staff

	*Joel Charnick* Camp JCA Shalom Director/ Shalom Institute Asst. Exec Director - Email Joel@shalominstitute.com Starting at Camp JCA Shalom in 1988 as a TASCer, then as a CIT, Counselor, TASC Unit Head, CIT Director, Tiyul (Teen Travel Trip) Director, Etgar (Israel Trip) Director, and Program Coordinator, Joel returned to the Shalom Institute 6 years ago and has been the Director of Camp JCA Shalom for the last four years. Joel graduated from the University of Arizona (go Wildcats!) and went to graduate school at Colorado State University.


	*Bill Kaplan* Shalom Institute Executive Director - Email Bill@shalominstitute.com Beginning his 22nd year at the Shalom Institute, Bill began his camping career at Camp JCA in 1976. Bill received his BA from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT, and his MBA in Nonprofit Management and Jewish Communal Service at the University of Judaism. Bill is married to Rachel and has two children, Noah and Rebecca. Bill looks forward to watching his children grow up at Camp JCA Shalom.


	*Elisa Becker* Shalom Institute Associate Director & Day Camp Director Email Elisa@shalominstitute.com    Elisa has over 20 years of experience working in camps all over Southern California. She received her BA as well as her Teaching Credential from UC Irvine. In addition to being the Associate Director, she also serves as Membership Chair and Site Visitor for the American Camps Association of Southern California. Elisa loves being part of the Shalom Team.


	*Lori Brockman*  Retreat Coordinator - Email Lori@shalominstitute.com Lori Brockman is a graduate of the Rhea Hirsch School of Education at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion. She has a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education. Lori has worked in INFORMAL JEWISH EDUCATION for the past twelve years. She has extensive experience with Youth Groups and Family Education. Lori is married to Eric Grodan and has two children, Gabriel and Ayla. Lori looks forward to sending her children to Camp JCA Shalom.


	*Randy Childs*  Director, Shalom Adventure Center - Email Randy@shalominstitute.com    Randy comes to us with a wealth of experience in outdoor education and is one of the leaders nationally in ropes courses and experiential education. His camp experience is extensive throughout the United States – from being a camper and staff member, to raising his family at camp. Randy has always thrived on being a part of a camp family. He has a degree from Michigan State University in Environmental Education. Randy began his California outdoor experience in 1984 by creating and implementing a curriculum for The Wilderness Institute. Randy has played a major role over the last 16 years in the development of our current ropes course. To discover more about yourself and experience satisfying team work, do the ropes course with Randy!

	*Allison David*  Assistant Director, Camp JCA Shalom - Email Allison@shalominstitute.com Allison David joins us from Toronto, Canada, returning to Camp JCA Shalom after a 5 year hiatus in 2008. She started off with us as the Habonim Unit Head and Camp Teva Program Director in 1999 and 2000 and then spent the next couple of years as our Head Counselor. Allison studied social work at Ryerson University in Toronto, while also working as a children’s entertainer/exotic animal wrangler, leading interactive and educational programs featuring live animals. She is thrilled to return to Camp and join the year round staff as Assistant Camp Director, though at times she misses the animals (but she is excited there are now animals at Shalom Institute!).


	Katya Tebeleva Development Director - Email Katya@shalominstitute.com A former TASCer, CIT (of ‘98), counselor and TASC Unit Head (2002 & 2003), Katya Tebeleva returned to the Shalom Institute and Camp JCA Shalom in 2009! She has a B.A. in Economics from UCLA and extensive non-profit, program management and coordination experience. Focusing on fundraising, public and alumni relations, Katya is excited, once again, to be a part of the magic!


	*Ben Bessner* Program Coordinator Email ben@shalominstitute.com Ben Bessner joined the Camp JCA Shalom team in 2005, first as a lifeguard and program facilitator during the summer, and more recently as the Aquatics Director and year round Program Coordinator. Originally from Toronto, Canada (go Raptors!), he grew up spending most of his summers at Jewish camps (most of it in the water) as both a camper and staff. He has completed his Honors B.A. in English and Communications Studies at York University. Ben loves all things camp and is proud to be a part of the year round staff!


	*Hagit Marciano*  Registrar - Email Hagit@shalominstitute.com Hagit Marciano moved to the country 6 years ago from Ma’alot Israel. Hagit is not new to the camping world, she’s been working as a camp registrar for the last 3 years in Boston Massachusetts and decided to bring her experience to serve the Camp JCA Shalom community. Hagit joined our team in December 2010 and is very excited to be here! Hagit can help with any question about camp registration, enrollment, campership/grants , and more.


	Yoni Chocron Operations Director- Email Yoni@shalominstitute.com Jonathan, also known as Yoni, first came from Israel to camp in the summer of 2006 as the Program Coordinator. After 3 years as the Program Coordinator, Yoni joined the year round staff as the Operations Director. Yoni is now responsible for taking care of the facilities, maintenance and food management at the Shalom Institute. As always, Yoni is determined and dedicated to bringing the Shalom institute to new heights of greatness.