ALAN KRONOVET (HE/HIM)
CHAIR; TBE BOARD FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
My wife, Cary Bernstein, and I have been married for more than 31 years and we have 2 adult children: Zoë who is 30 and lives in Charlotte with her fiancée Connor and Eli who is 28 and lives in LA. Zoë and Connor will be married next May in a ceremony in our backyard. Cary and I are both lifelong residents of Charlotte (Cary was born in Charlotte and I was born in Statesville NC and moved to Charlotte when I was 2 years old). Cary’s family was early members of Temple Beth El and her father (OBM) and brother are past presidents of the Temple. Cary’s brother’s father-in-law (OBM) is a past Rabbi of Temple Beth El. My family attended Temple Israel, but Cary and I selected Temple Beth El as our shul because of the rabbinic leadership, and religious school education provided to our children.
I am a member of a Temple Beth El Tribe, participated on the search committee for the Director of Life Long Jewish Learning position, am a regular Shabbat Torah study attendee and a member of the TBE Board of Trustees where I serve as first vice president.
Cary and I have a lifelong commitment to and engagement with the Charlotte Jewish community. Cary started her professional career at the Charlotte Jewish Community Center and held various positions which eventually led her to Brandeis University where she received her Masters in Jewish Communal Social Work. After graduation Cary worked at The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore and the Charlotte Jewish Federation. She has remained in the non-profit sector for her entire career and 10 years ago founded and is the Executive Director of Stand for Animals, a low-cost veterinary and spay/neuter practice with 3 clinics providing services to pet owners that could not otherwise afford private veterinary care.
As a kid I was very involved in BBYO serving in both local and state level leadership positions. Upon my return to Charlotte after college I became involved in Jewish communal life. I volunteered as a youth soccer coach at the JCC. I was a member for the first class of the Bernstein Leadership Program sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte. I attended the March on Washington for Soviet Jewry. I have been a board member of the Hebrew Cemetery, foundation of Shalom Park, Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community (where is served as board chair) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte (where Cary and I served as Major Gifts division chair, and I served as campaign chair, chair of the strategic planning, member of the allocations committee and eventually President). I have also been involved with civic organizations serving on the board Crisis Assistances Ministry, Planned Parenthood, and the Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy where I am currently co-chair of the capital campaign.
After working in our family business with my father and brother for 12 years and a 1-year stint at the Charlotte Jewish Federation I attended UNC School of Law graduating in 1997. After graduation I joined First Union National Bank (now Wells Fargo) and with the exception of a 2-year break in service where I joined a startup and then worked at Fannie Mae, I have been with the bank ever since. I currently lead Wells Fargo’s Commercial Mortgage Servicing team. I have authored or co-authored 5 professional articles on various aspects of commercial real estate finance and commercial mortgage servicing.
BENJAMIN BENSON (HE/HIM)
TBE BOARD PRESIDENT
A North Carolina native, Ben has been a congregant at Temple Beth El since 1994. He and his wife Tiz, a Charlotte native, member of Avondale Presbyterian Church and professional pastry chef, have twin children, age 20. Ben grew up in Temple Emanuel of Greensboro, NC where his father was president of the Board and his mother was deeply involved with many committees and affinity groups. Prior to joining the Board at TBE, he served on the TBE Religious School Parents Council and was chair of the Building Expansion and Renovation Committee from 2009 to 2012. Ben joined the board as Vice President of Long Range Planning and led the congregational effort that culminated in 2012’s Strategic Plan, “Chazon Beth El/The Vision for Beth El.” He was elected president of the board in June 2020. Ben has served on the Allocations Committee of the board of the Federation of the Charlotte Jewish Community as well as the board of the Lee Institute since 2016. Ben is a partner in the Charlotte-based architectural firm Jenkins Peer Architects which was named the AIA North Carolina Firm of the Year in November 2021.
CHRIS BISHOP (HE/HIM)
Although I was born and raised in the Mid-Atlantic region, I’ve lived in North Carolina for 32 years. I’ve lived in Charlotte since 2005 and have for the most part been affiliated with TBE since then. I first came to TBE with my wife Caroline Biber and children Eli and Naomi, after having been active at our synagogue in Durham, NC (Judea Reform). We have always felt it was important to be as supportive and active as possible in temple life. Since being at TBE, we’ve added a 3rd child (Aron) to our family. I’ve been involved in different activities over the years, including the Social Action Committee/Tzedek Council, Community Organizing Committee (co-chair), Elements of Judaism class and Choosing Judaism class, the temple gift shop, community events and education series, among others. My three kids – ages 18 (son), 16 (daughter), and 13 (son) – have been part of this community since their early years at Charlotte Jewish Preschool through their religious school studies to become b’nei mitzvah to now working at the religious school on Sundays. Their involvement has kept me busy with other activities through the religious school at TBE, too. When I’m not at TBE, my professional work is in mental health care administration as Chief of Staff for a Medicaid Managed Care Plan. My wife and I have been married for 22 years. I am deeply passionate about social justice issues, including equity, inclusion, and diversity issues. I am eager to find rabbinic candidates who share my enthusiasm for social justice and who want to be part of this community at TBE.
GINGER BROCK (SHE/HER)
Ginger Brock (far right) is a wife of 10 years and a mother of 2 children. Ginger Brock has been the Tot Shabbat chair for 2 years and is actively involved in the Families with Young Children Tribe Temple Beth El. I love to participate in all things in Temple Life and contribute to all people feeling comfortable and happy at Temple! In my professional life, I have worked in Clinical Research for 18 years in drug phases I-IV in multiple therapeutic areas.
ESTHER CHIPPS (SHE/HER)
I am honored to serve on this committee and look forward to meeting all of the candidates and fellow committee members. I am awestruck by the responsibilities of a pulpit rabbi—one must be a teacher and scholar, a spiritual leader, a counselor, an administrator, and a community leader (I am sure there are many more). My husband and I moved to Charlotte from Columbus, Ohio six years ago. It was not an easy move for us as we were simultaneously entering the “empty nester” phase of our lives with our youngest son entering college. Our first stop on our first visit to the city was to Shalom Park. What an amazing place! We immediately went to Temple Beth El (without an appointment) and were greeted with such great warmth. Since we have become members, we have had a wonderful experience with the rabbinic and administrative staff. We have found a very nice community of friends at the synagogue and have enjoyed our experience as Tribe members.
I am the proud mother of 3 young adult sons (they are in NYC, Boston and Washington DC) and 2 Frenchbull dogs. My work takes me out of town for a week per month; I am a nurse and have maintained my position in Ohio as a Professor of Nursing at The Ohio State University where I teach graduate students. In my free time (which is not as much as I would like), I enjoy reading and needlepointing. Most recently, in preparation of a future retirement (to be determined), my husband and I have started playing tennis.
NOAH GRANADE (HE/HIM)
Upon moving to Charlotte in 2019, I found and fell in love with Temple Beth El. I quickly became an active member engaged in social justice initiatives with Rabbi Klass and the Social Justice Outreach Coordinator, Nicole Sidman. I have learned so much through my work with clergy, staff, and other lay leaders in anti-racism work, planning and implementing a Listening Campaign, and am currently co-chairing a committee dedicated to addressing income inequality in Charlotte. I am also a member of Charlotte’s first-ever Black-Jewish alliance cohort, led by Rabbi Schindler. By day, I am a psychotherapist with a background in social work. Through my lived experience as a transgender Jew, my professional background and education, and engagement with social justice work at TBE, I have cultivated a deep passion for the Jewish call-to-action: Tikkun Olam. I am honored to be a part of this committee and look forward to extending a warm welcome to TBE’s future Associate Rabbi.
COURTNEY ROSENTHAL (SHE/HER)
Experienced Surgical-Trauma ICU nurse and nurse educator with a passion for engaging and innovative education. Dual certified in Trauma and Critical Care. Courtney grew up at Temple, is an active adult-Jewish learner, and chair of our Chevrah Kaddisha.
A-J SECRIST (SHE/HER)
Alba-Justina (A-J) Secrist is a New York native; wife to John Jaye and mother to Frida Secrist (13 years old); and a compliance and operational risk executive at Bank of America. She loves podcasts, David Bowie, salsa classics, stand-up comedy, fashion, and Batman. She has been a member of Temple Beth El for approximately 15 years and has served in various lay leadership roles.
SHAYLA SIEGEL (SHE/HER)
Shayla Siegel is a sophomore at Providence High School and is very excited to be the teen representative in Temple Beth El’s search for our new Rabbi. Shayla is serving her third year on Temple Beth El’s teen youth group, LIBERTY, previously as Member at Large and Communications Vice President. Now, she is the LIBERTY Programming Vice President and the subregional event chair for NFTY SAR. She is a Hebrew madricha on Sundays and participates in Hebrew High and confirmation classes on Wednesday evenings. In her free time, Shayla enjoys participating in her school theater and choir departments. Shayla is very passionate about her Jewish identity and plans to continue her Jewish education after high school.
LISA SHPRITZ (SHE/HER)
Lisa Shpritz is a LEED Accredited Professional and a Senior Vice President in the Global Environmental Group (GEG), which is responsible for the bank’s global environmental sustainability strategy, including business activities, operational initiatives, employee programs, public and corporate policy, and philanthropic and other sustainable investments. The GEG works closely with leaders across the company to steward BofA’s industry-leading $1 trillion (2007-2030) Environmental Business Initiative commitment to address climate change and reduce demands on natural resources. As Global Environmental Operations Executive, she is responsible for achieving BofA’s 2030 environmental operations and supply chain goals, including maintaining carbon neutrality and purchasing 100% renewable electricity. The company’s 2030 environmental targets are central to the company’s goal to become net zero before 2050.
Lisa represented BofA on the Board of Directors of US Green Building Council (USGBC) in the Finance seat from 2006 through 2013, including two years as Board Treasurer, then served on the Market Leadership Advisory Board of USGBC North Carolina from 2014 to 2018 and rejoined the Board in 2021. In 2015, she joined the board of Shalom Green, an organization dedicated to environmental education at Charlotte’s Shalom Park, and in 2021, she joined the advisory board of the Center for Energy, Development and the Global Environment (EDGE) at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. In 2013, she was named the inaugural recipient of the Distinguished Alumni in Sustainability Award from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Lisa holds a master’s degree in environmental management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University in the program of chemistry, toxicology and risk assessment, a MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School with concentrations in real estate and sustainable enterprise and a BA in Biology from Cornell University.
Lisa is currently the chair of the Tzedek Council and serves on Temple’s Board of Directors.
BOB WOLF (HE/HIM)
My wife (Sandi) and I moved to Charlotte in 2010 following my retirement from day to day work activities as Executive VP in a highly noted software development tools company. I continue to Chair the company’s Board of Directors and chair its Strategic Planning committee. At Temple Beth El, I served on the Brotherhood Board (2011-2014) and acted as its secretary for three years, serve on the SPICE Committee (Senior group) (2013 to present) and served as its Chair for four years (2017-2021) as well as serving on the Sage planning committee (adult learning) for five years including acting as the committee chair for two years (2016-2021/2017-2018), serve on the Temple Board of Directors (2018 to present) including serving on the Governance and Planning task force as well as acting as coordinator for the past two Annual Meetings of the Congregation. We are Master Builders and Legacy donors to the congregation. The Temple is an integral part of my life and allows me to help fulfill one of my key goals for this time in my life – giving back and paying forward.
