Staff and Mentors
Guiding the work of JCamp 180 is a team composed of Director Mark Gold and nine mentors with vast and varied consulting experience in the world of nonprofit organizations.
Mark P. Gold is the Director of JCamp 180. A New England native, Mark has lived and worked in Western Massachusetts for the past 34 years, where he has been an active member of the local Jewish Community. Prior to retiring from the Solutia (formerly Monsanto) Company in 2009, Mark served in management positions in the company's Research and Development and Market Development organizations. Mark has an advanced degree in Engineering as well as an MBA.
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Natasha Dresner is a Mentor for JCamp180. Since joining the Institute in 2005, Natasha has provided consulting services in governance and board development, fundraising, strategic thinking and planning, as well as leadership coaching. Natasha has 20 years' experience working in the Jewish nonprofit world. She cofounded the first Reform synagogue established in Kiev since the Russian Revolution, Congregation HaTikvah. Natasha also worked in various capacities at a Jewish summer camp in Belarus that brought together children from the entire Former Soviet Union. Born in Kiev, Ukraine, Natasha immigrated to the U.S. in 2001 and worked in the for-profit and consulting world in New York City and as Executive Director of Congregation Knesset Israel in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. She holds a BA in management and an MBA in finance from The Ukrainian-Finish University of Business and Management in Kiev, Ukraine.
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Klara Grape is a Mentor with JCamp 180. Klara has 30 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in a wide variety of capacities both professionally and personally. In 2003, she began a consulting practice to non-profit organizations providing organizational and technical services. Klara earned a BA in Environmental Communications from Rutgers University, an MS in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University and a post-graduate Certificate in Organizational Development from Peter Smith Associates.
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Royster Hedgepeth is a Mentor for JCamp 180. He is Principal Consultant with CWC/Hedgepeth Group, an organizational development firm serving universities and other social service organizations. Royster specializes in creating vibrant, performance-based boards of directors and increasing organizational fundraising capacity. He has 26 years' experience in educational fundraising for universities and has helped reposition organizations in the competitive marketplace. Royster received his BA from Wake Forest University, his MEd from the University of Florida, and his PhD in Educational Administration from Cornell University.
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Laurie Herrick is a Mentor for JCamp 180. Laurie has more than 25 years' experience in fundraising, community organizing, board development and strategic planning and has served in a variety of professional and volunteer roles in social profit organizations. She joined the Institute in 2007 and has since worked with numerous camps and day schools. In 2003, she started RAINMAKER Consulting and is currently co-launching an online educational course series, Quantum Jump. The emphasis of her work is empowering organizations to create a culture of resource abundance leading to a breakthrough in fundraising.
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Dan Kirsch is a Mentor for JCamp 180. Dan has devoted his career to increasing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to fulfill their missions through fundraising, planning, recruitment and board development. He is the cofounder of KirschLeuchs, a fundraising consulting firm serving education, arts and culture, healthcare and human services markets. He has also worked with nonprofits to recruit executive talent and has coached private sector professionals transitioning to nonprofit careers. Dan received his BA in Government from Dartmouth College.
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Kevin Martone is the Technology Program Manager for JCamp 180. He focuses on how organizations can effectively use technology for fundraising and outreach. He has more than 15 years' experience helping organizations utilize technology solutions to meet their goals. Kevin holds a BS in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University.
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Michael Miloff is a Mentor for JCamp 180. For 30 years, Michael has been an entrepreneur, executive and consultant to the private, public and nonprofit sectors. He has overseen 200-plus projects in areas such as strategic planning, marketing and governance. Michael also helped to found and lead several major business enterprises. He currently serves as Co-President of the Paul Penna Downtown Jewish Day School in Toronto, Ontario, a consultant to the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) and a co-facilitator of a community of practice for heads of Jewish day schools in Boston. Michael holds a bachelor of Psychology from McGill University and a master's degree in Environmental Studies from York University.
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Jill Paul is a Mentor for JCamp 180. Jill came to the Institute after a successful 25-year career in nonprofit management and fundraising as the CEO of Girl Scouts of Pioneer Valley. During her tenure there, Jill completed a successful capital campaign, with new construction and modernization of the oldest Girl Scout camp in the nation. Before coming to New England, Jill established West Pacific Girl Scouts for military families in Japan, Korea and the Philippines, living in Japan and Korea for five years. Jill holds a BA from Whittier College, an MA in Asian Studies from San Diego State University, and an MBA from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.
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Maddie Ramos is an Administrative Assistant for JCamp 180. Madeline focuses on the day-to-day running of the office as well as provides all necessary support for the Institute's services, conferences, team meetings and events. Since her graduation from Bay Path College in 2001, Madeline has been involved in the nonprofit world and brings over 10 years of Administrative experience to our team.
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Julia Riseman is a Mentor for JCamp 180. Julia is a consultant, executive coach and fundraiser to non-profit organizations. She has co-founded two nonprofit organizations, served as the development director for a private elementary school, and has helped raise more than $200 million for organizations with which she has worked. Julia has a breadth of experience that includes youth leadership and community service-learning programs, international environmental and human health programs, peace and social justice organizations, universities and independent schools. Julia earned a BA in Psychology from Reed College and received her MBA at the Simmons School of Management.
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Joe Ruotolo is a IT Solutions Specialist for JCamp 180. Joe has a wide range of technology experience, including 10 years of web design and web management and a passion for social media. At the Institute, Joe researches new products and services that organizations can utilize to more effectively manage fundraising, alumni outreach, and governance efforts. Joe holds a BS in Information Systems Management from Quinnipiac University.
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David Sharken is a Mentor and Director of the Camp Legacy Initiative for JCamp 180. David has been with the Institute since June 2006, after completing 13 years as Executive Director of The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. David has consulted on organizational development with nonprofits and small businesses for 25 years. He has been a keynote speaker and presenter on topics of nonprofit management, fundraising, board governance, strategic planning and program development. David is the lay chair of the Jewish Community of Amherst, Massachusetts' legacy initiative. David earned a BA in Organizational Development from the University of Michigan and holds a master's degree from Claremont Graduate School in Public Policy Analysis.
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Marcus Simon is the Project Administrator for JCamp 180. Marcus has worked in the nonprofit sector with Beit Ahavah, the Reform Synagogue of Greater Northampton, Massachusetts and with the Safe Schools & Communities Project at Greater Boston PFLAG (Parents, Friends & Families of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people). Marcus has a background in management consulting in the insurance industry; he is a former project manager at 21st Century Management Consulting, Inc. in Waltham, Massachusetts.
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