Michael Garlin
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 121
Michael Garlin was the Executive Director from 2014-2020 and returned to this role in December 2021.
Michael was originally from Morton Grove, moved to Plantation, Florida as a child and back to the Chicago area in the early 90’s. Michael graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science in Urban Recreation, received his Master Degree from Nova University in Human Services and received his CPCC as a life coach in 2008 from the Coaches Training Institute.
Michael’s career has been in the Jewish Community of Chicago. Over the past 30 years, Michael has worked for the JCC’s of Chicago, Jewish Council for Youth Services, Temple Jeremiah, AIPAC and most recently The Ark. Michael is a member of NAASE (North American Association of Synagogue Administrators) and a member and past president of CASA (Chicago Association of Synagogue Administrators).
Michael’s hobbies include comedic writing, radio personality, author and an avid Chicago Sports Fan.
Michael resides in Northbrook with his wife Mindy. Michael and Mindy have two children, Marisa, a recent graduate of Michigan State University and Bradley, who reside in Chicago.
Deanne Friedman
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 148
Deanne began working for Congregation Beth Shalom in 2011 as the Programming and Communications Assistant. In her role in communications, she managed the website as well as prepared the weekly e-newsletters, The Shalom Byte and The Shabbat Byte. She also helped in many other areas of CBS communications. In Deanne’s other role with programming, she assisted Leann, the Director of Jewish Life and Learning, in all areas of coordinating classes and programs for CBS University and Adult Education. On March 1, 2017, Deanne began in her role as CBS Communications Manager.
In her current role as the CBS Director of Communications, she is responsible for all areas of communication, social media, the Congregation Beth Shalom website, CBS bulletin and much more.
Deanne has a Master’s of Science in Public Service Management from DePaul University. She served on the Board of Directors of Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute for more than 20 years where she was once employed, and where she met her husband.
She and her husband Jeff, an attorney, love to travel with and without their three daughters. Deanne also loves to read, shop, laugh with her family and friends and play with her dog!
Lauri Holmes
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 122
Lauri Holmes joined Congregation Beth Shalom in September, 2023 as the Controller, handling all things financial.
Lauri found her niche working in non-profits more than 18 years ago and spent ten years working in various financial positions at Congregation Or Shalom in Vernon Hills before joining the staff at CBS.
Lauri was born in Evanston. She currently lives in Wilmette with her husband and two youngest children, Mason (16) and Evan (14). She also has two older daughters and two wonderful grandchildren. In her “free” time, you can find her at a hockey rink or on the football field with her boys. She also enjoys working on the restoration of her 1896 Victorian home and hosting friends and family for dinner.
Anat Pissetzky
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 125
Anat began as the Director of Youth in July 2024. A native of Deerfield, Illinois, Anat is an alum of Deerfield High School and earned her bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Jewish Studies from Michigan State University.
Before going away to college, Anat was an active member here at Beth Shalom. Anat was a Madrichol, working in the religious school, and a devoted USYer. She was a committed member of chapter, regional, and international boards during her time in USY. As a senior in high school, Anat received the honor of Beth Shalom’s Youth of the Year award.
Anat will oversee programming from 3rd through 12th grade, as well as engage with younger children aged birth to second grade. She is eager to introduce innovative programming to Chaverim, Gesher, and USY, aiming to inspire and mentor youth toward achieving their goals.
Ali Pohn
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 144
Throughout Ali’s entire career, children and families have been her primary focus.
Ali began her career as a day camp counselor and establishing, managing and marketing after school enrichment programs for grade-schoolers. She has run successful marketing and branding initiatives for schools, toy companies, Internet/media companies, market research companies, marketing agencies and her own family-and-child-focused marketing, market research and innovation consulting firm. She has spent countless hours talking to and—more importantly— listening to thousands of parents, children and teens.
Ali has worked in kids’ television and was a pioneer in kids’ internet communities. She has developed educational materials for elementary and middle school students. She is the author of humor, parenting, children, and young adult books.
Ali holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Northwestern University, attended the Eliot Pearson Child Study Program at Tufts University and is a graduate of The Second City Training Program.
Ali lives in Chicago with her husband, Jack and their dog, Knox.
Stacy Ybarra
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 115
Stacy Ybarra was born in Highland Park but at the age of five moved to Tucson, Arizona where she spent her childhood. Stacy graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor in Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a Latin American Emphasis. She received her Masters in Social Work from Boston University where in addition to individual, family and group clinical work her degree focused on management, program development and community organizing. Her social work career began with working for Early Head Start and then moving into work with teen parents and at-risk teens.
Stacy’s Mom was an educator and began working in the Jewish community when Stacy was nine. Stacy grew up helping her Mom and began teaching in the Jewish Community at age 15. Since then, Stacy has taught in synagogues and Jewish camps in three states in Reform, Conservative and Chabad communities. Stacy has taught every grade from Mommy & Me through adult education; there is not a grade she has missed. Stacy has been on a curriculum committee and served on a synagogue board. She has also been a Religious School Director for a Conservative synagogue in Arizona.
Stacy moved to Deerfield in September of 2016 where she currently lives with her two sons when they are home from college. When she is not working she is cooking, reading or wandering through farmers markets and art fairs.
Maria Catezone
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 126
Maria has been with CBS since September, 2001. She manages the office as well as catering, holiday Kiddushim and the kitchen and outside events. Additional responsibilities include overseeing donation opportunities (memorial plaques, leaves, bricks), various High Holiday duties, ordering office supplies and paper goods, and day to day happenings at the synagogue and so much more.
Maria lives in Glenview. She enjoys going to dinner, the movies, travelling and spending time with her family and friends, especially her two grandsons!
Mara Bernstein
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 110
Mara is the CBS administrative assistant loves meeting all the CBS members! It is usually her friendly voice you hear when calling Congregation Beth Shalom.
Mara grew up in Skokie and attended Niles North High School. Mara attended The University of Kansas and then graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in Recreational Studies.
Mara spent over 25 years working at JCC Chicago beginning her career at Camp Chi, where all three of her children attended, as well. She went on to become the Day Camp Director at the Mayer Kaplan JCC Day Camp as well as Apachi Village.
Mara lives in Deerfield with her husband Richard, whom she married a few years ago combining their five children. Mara has three children, Lev, Lily, and Eli and Richard’s has two children, Emma and Lily (yes two Lily’s!). To say there is never a dull moment, might be an understatement.
Edgar Chavez
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 117
David Harris
Email
847.498.5352
David joined our teaching staff in 2022 as a 4th grade, 6th grade, and CBS High teacher and began his role as Religious School Assistant in September, 2023. Born and raised in Chicago, he has been an active member of the Jewish community his entire life. Since 1975 he has worked as a B’nai Mitzvah tutor, religious school, Hebrew, and Jewish music teacher for several Chicago area congregations. His love of Jewish music, both liturgical and “modern”, and years of singing in Jewish choirs led him to a position of Cantorial soloist and music specialist at Congregation Am Echod in Lindenhurst for several years. His experience also includes working as a tech support specialist at Solomon Schechter Day School and the Board of Jewish Education in Northbrook.
In 1975, David participated in the Ma’ayan (Wellsprings), a five month intensive Judaic studies program through the Union for Reform Judaism. He studied toward his business management degree and took music theory and performance classes at Northeastern Illinois University, and took classes at Spertus College to further his knowledge of Judaism.
David lives in Mundelein with his wife, Michele and their dog, Molly. They enjoy spending time with their two children and three grandchildren who live in the Chicago area, their daughter and two grandchildren in California, and their son in New Mexico.
Susan Stoehr
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 135
Susan grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada attending Congregation Beth Sholom with her family. While working towards receiving her undergraduate degree at UCLA Susan was a senior staff member at Camp Alonim in California and attended Brandeis Bardin Institute for adult Jewish learning where she was inspired by Dennis Prager and Rabbi Joseph Telushkin. She went on to gain her Masters in Jewish Education from the University of Judaism. Her love of the Hebrew language has found her teaching students, adolescents and adults, privately and in class settings for CBS as well as in the Chicago area.
Susan is a vibrant and cherished teacher to our Bnai Mitzvah students as well as our adult learners of all levels.
Audrey Taxer
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 145
Audrey supports Leann Blue and Michael Garlin in her role as CBS Membership & Programming Assistant.
Audrey was born in Chicago, and grew up in West Rogers Park. Audrey lives in Buffalo Grove and is the mother to two children, Ron and Gabby. She loves spending her free time cruising, reading, and spending time with family and friends. Audrey is a big Cubs fan.
Lisa Weisner
Email
847.498.4100, ext. 129
Lisa supports the CBS Clergy and is the CBS IT specialist.
Lisa was born in New York, grew up in West Bloomfield, MI, and attended college in California before moving to Illinois 30 years ago. She earned a double major in history and communications from the University of California, San Diego. Lisa lives in Northbrook and is the mother to twin sons that are grown and have flown. She loves spending her free time seeing theatre, watching movies, reading, traveling, and being outdoors
3433 Walters Avenue, Northbrook, IL 60062
(847) 498-4100 |
Monday – Thursday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
