The Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Region is pleased to announce that twelve community members were elected to its Board of Directors at ADL’s annual meeting in June 2019. “We are thrilled to welcome these new members of the Board, each of whom brings considerable skills, experience and talent to ADL,” said Scott Levin, ADL Mountain States Regional Director.
The new members are:
Julia Linder Bell – Julia is a free-lance writer and former ADL New Mexico board member. She is a past president of Hadassah Santa Fe and helped organize “Imagine a World Without Hate” with the Santa Fe non-profit ARTsmart. “I am very passionate about ADL and align with their core beliefs. I would like to be of service continuing programs that educate and help kids while bringing awareness to difficult situations and offering solutions.”
Melyssa Feiler – A former ADL Glass Leadership Institute participant and current co-chair of ADL NextGen, Melyssa feels a great sense of connection to ADL and its mission especially keeping younger leaders engaged in ADL’s work. “My connection to the ADL has grown deeper and I am excited to participate and learn more about how we can secure justice and fair treatment for all.”
Ben Figa – Ben is an attorney with Burns, Figa & Will, P.C. and a member of the University of Denver Law Alumni Club. Returning to the Denver metro area, Ben is pleased to be rejoining the Mountain States Board of Directors. “I would like to rejoin the ADL Board because I believe in its missions and want to spread the principles of civility, respect, justice, and fairness. My connection to ADL grew from seeing how much my parents got out of the organization – not just in advancing civil rights and standing against anti-Semitism but also gaining a warm and welcoming community.”
Zach Frisch – Zach is the Founder/Owner of Raindrop Partners, which invests in creative, sustainable and affordable housing. A fourth generation Coloradoan, Zach wants to create a safe, progressive, tolerant, and inspirational community for his children as well as the rest of the community. “I have admired and appreciated the ADL’s role in Colorado and globally for a long time. I have taken a few years off of my philanthropic and community engagement since my kids were born. It’s no longer fair for us to get a ‘free ride’ and I am eager to donate, lead, recruit, and participate actively.”
Jason Kaplan – As a Principal at Kaplan Companies, LLC, Jason is an entrepreneur in the real estate field. He has been involved with Big Brother Big Sister of Colorado, Step It Up Kids and Reading Is Fundamental. “I would like to become a member of the ADL Mountain States Regional Board to help make a difference in supporting civil rights and equality…. I also expect to have the opportunity to learn and be influenced by opportunities available through the ADL that will make me more aware of current issues.”
Michael Kaplan – Michael is an attorney with Hogan Lovells US LLP. Currently, he is involved with the Downtown Denver Partnership Leadership Program. As a Denver native fortunate to have not experienced direct discrimination, Michael realized during his time as a participant in the ADL Glass Leadership Institute that, “I was naïve, and that hate speech was prevalent and spreading in America….Unfortunately, since I completed that program, the importance of the ADL’s fight against anti-Semitism securing justice and the fair treatment for all has only become more critical. I was reminded of this when I attended the Torch of Liberty dinner, just a few days after the Tree of Life shooting. After hearing about the ADL’s response to that horrific tragedy, I realized supporting the ADL from the sidelines was no longer appropriate and I needed to reengage with the organization in a more meaningful capacity.”
Shane Kleinstein – Shane is a Director of Investor Relations with Liberty Media Corporation. She was a 2017 chair of CHOICES for JEWISHcolorado and served on the 2017-2018 Committee of the JCC Youth Sports Awards. Shane is also a board member of Roundup River Ranch. “Fighting hatred and bigotry is more critical now than ever. Yes, that phrase might be cliché, but the work of the ADL is unique because it fights these causes through education and awareness, and in doing so, can effect long lasting change….I want to be a part of an organization that fights misinformation with real information, encourages fair treatment to all at a time when the country is trying to isolate the ‘other’, and selfishly, I hope to join your board to make me more informed so I can go out and tackle these issues from a position of strength…”
Andrew Kline – Andrew is an attorney. Among other positions, Andrew has been a civil rights lawyer, federal prosecutor and counsel to Joe Biden, both when he was a Senator and when he was Vice President. Andrew serves on the Academy Advisory Committee at the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking. “I’m deeply committed to the mission of ADL. I fought similar battles as a prosecutor in the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section (at DOJ) where I prosecuted hate crimes, excessive use of force under color of law, and human trafficking offences. As a board member, I will leverage my expertise and personal/professional connections to further ADL’s mission in Colorado.”
Jim Miller – Jim is President & CEO of Miller Global Properties and is very active in the Denver Jewish community having served or is currently serving on the boards of JEWISHcolorado, Denver Jewish Day School, National Jewish Health and ADL. “ADL does fantastic work!… I would like to engage once again with ADL and all they are doing and being a Board Member would provide me that opportunity. I would also thoroughly enjoy working closely with Scott Levin, whom I have known and adored since Elementary School!”
Erin Nave – Erin is a real estate attorney at Fox Rothschild LLP. She has served as a volunteer at the Denver Rescue Mission and provided pro bono legal services for several non-profit organizations including the Homeless Veterans Assistance Foundation. Erin is an alumna of the ADL Glass Leadership Institute. “My interest in civil rights developed early on, but it was meeting my husband and marrying into a Jewish family that introduced me to ADL. It would be a privilege to join the Mountain States Regional Board and contribute to ADL’s mission of promoting social justice, civility, and equal rights.”
Gregory Rosenblum – Greg is the Senior Vice President, Director Fiduciary Trust and Investment Management Compliance at BOK Financial. He was a board member of American Jewish Committee and is on the boards of Opera Colorado and Graland Country Day School. “I want to be a board member of the ADL Mountain States Regional Board to be able to learn and to contribute personally and monetarily to enable ADL to continue excellent programming, advocacy and dialogue in the community to minimize anti-Semitism and any defamation of other minorities.”
Ashly Wolf – Ashly is the Co-Executive Director of The Melvin and Elaine Wolf Foundation and the founder of Femme Rising. She is on the regional board of BBYO and a former Sturm Fellow participant. “After being involved with the ADL for some time, I deeply appreciate the work the ADL does. I would like to join the ADL board to help infuse a younger more diverse audience, to bring more contact and community support outside times of crisis.”