About Ron Gubitz

Ron is an accomplished educator and leader who has dedicated his career to combining his passions for education, music and Jewish life to create meaningful opportunities to build community. Ron is the Executive Director of the Music Artists Coalition and co-owner of Special Solutions, a private learning center. From 2020 to 2024 Ron served as the Executive Director of Tulane Hillel, managing a team of nine staff members and engaging several hundred students daily. Under his leadership Ron grew their fundraising campaign and revamped its nationally renowned leadership program. Ron is a recent participant in the Wexner Field Fellowship, one of the most prestigious leadership programs for professionals in the Jewish community. Ron has an extensive background as a leadership coach, primarily in the education space, working with principals across the United States

Throughout his career, Ron has been a strong advocate for incorporating the arts into education. As a high school teacher in St. Louis, he incorporated the study of hip hop into his classes and hosted a Poetry Jam where students wrote and performed original poetry. Later, as a principal, he ensured that the arts were used as learning strategies in every classroom. One of Ron’s proudest moments as an educator was when his students from ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy in New Orleans were selected to perform at the White House . A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Ron holds a Master of Instructional Leadership from Relay Graduate School of Education and a Masters in Teaching from Lindenwood University. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in English from Indiana University.

Outside of his professional life, Ron is a dedicated husband to Leslie and a loving father to their two young daughters, Nola Bea and Ruby Mo.  In his free time, Ron can be found attending concerts, running, and reading.

About Karen Sher

Karen is the Chief Impact Officer at Jewish Federation of St. Louis and is one of the most respected and admired professionals in the St. Louis Jewish community. Upon returning to Jewish Federation in 2010 she founded Millstone Fellows and led the first eight cohorts. Additionally, Karen created and executed several initiatives through the Millstone Leadership Initiatives and revamped Jewish Federation’s Professional Society.  Karen’s most recent roles at Jewish Federation include VP of Community Leadership and Engagement and VP of Community Impact, however, her career started back in the 1990s at Jewish Federation where she got her start in Development/Fundraising working with Federations Young Professionals Division, staffing and curating Jewish experiences, including missions to Israel and Washington DC and developing and facilitating leadership development cohorts for Young Adults.  Karen also has extensive experience as a lay leader having served on the Boards of The J, WashU Hillel and Jewish Federation.

She is the founding President of Nishmah: The St. Louis Jewish Women’s Project, now a program of The J, and currently serves on the Boards of Barnes Jewish Hospital, The Muny and Westwood Country Club.   Karen is passionate about Jewish peoplehood and Israel and has traveled to Israel close to two dozen times, sharing her love and passion for Israel with hundreds of members of our St. Louis community including Missouri State Legislators.   Karen holds Master’s Degrees in both Social Work and Jewish Studies from University of Maryland School of Social Work and Baltimore Hebrew University, She is alum of JFNA’s National Young Leadership Cabinet, the Mandel Executive Leadership Program and Focus St. Louis’ Leadership St. Louis. Karen is a past recipient of Jewish Federation’s Grosberg Young Adult Volunteer Leadership Award and the Goldstein Award for Professional Excellence.

Karen is married to Howie and they are the proud parents of three adult kids Tamar, Jake and Aden.

About Marci Mayer Eisen

Marci is the Director of Jewish Federation’s Leadership Initiatives and the staff person for JProStL, community-wide opportunities to connect, train, and inspire professionals and volunteer leaders. She previously worked at the JCRC coordinating interfaith volunteerism and spent the majority of her long career at the JCC, where she led a department and developed hundreds of family programs and community special events. A native of Philadelphia, Marci has a BS in Human Development from Penn State, MSW from Yeshiva University and Certificate in Leadership and Non-Profit Management from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Marci is an ICF certified leadership coach and is proud to be the co-founder of Imun, a growing international network of credentialed coaches who serve Jewish communities. Marci often collaborates with colleagues throughout the St. Louis region and across the country and is a graduate of both Women in Leadership and Leadership St. Louis, programs of Focus St. Louis. With a deep commitment to the Jewish community and social work education, Marci has supervised over 30 MSW students and presents on the subject of group dynamics, effective boards and teams and leadership coaching.

All weekday evening sessions open at 6 pm for refreshments and conversations with the program from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. The two Sunday Sessions are 9:30 – 2:00 pm and include lunch.

Opening Reception – Private Home
Tuesday, October 28, 7 – 8:15 pm

Session 1: Opening Retreat
Building Our Fellows Community
Sunday, November 9

Session 2: Getting Clear on Values
Monday, December 1

Session 3: Leadership Presence
Thursday, December 11

Session 4: Jewish Peoplehood
Monday, January 26, 2026

Session 5: Appreciating Difference
Wednesday, February 11

Session 6: Solving Challenges through a Torah Lens
Thursday, March 12

Session 7: Israel 
Sunday, March 22

Session 8: Tzedakah & The Power of Philanthropy
Tuesday, April 21

Session 9: Facilitation Skills for Meetings and Day-to-Day Conversations
Thursday, May 7

Session 10: Activating Your Leadership
Tuesday, May 19

“Before Millstone Fellows I considered myself an active volunteer. After Millstone Fellows I recognized my own leadership skills and ability to have an impact on the community – both the St. Louis Jewish community and the region.” 

 “The Millstone Fellows Leadership program was an enriching experience. I appreciated the opportunity to connect with individuals from various Jewish backgrounds, engage with diverse perspectives and fresh ideas and enhance my leadership skills. It has been a valuable step on my journey of personal and professional growth.”

 “The program has given me the skills to tackle the challenges in my community with confidence. More importantly, it reminded me that although the other Fellows and I may practice our Judaism in different ways and spaces, we are more alike than we are different.”

“Participating in the Millstone Fellows program helped me grow as a leader within the Jewish community. At each month’s meeting, I enjoyed seeing my cohort of Fellows who brought a variety of perspectives and diverse opinions from within the St. Louis Jewish community.”

“I use many of the skills I learned and insights I gathered as a participant in this program. For me, it was life-changing and I am proud to call myself an alum.”

“Being part of the Millstone Fellows was an eye-opening experience and rewarding experience. Our sessions were filled with passionate ideas and good conversations about real issues, both locally and globally.”        

“The learning from Millstone Fellows, and most importantly the relationships, have continued with me today, even more than a decade later.”

Amy Abramson 2017
Seth Albin 2022
Tammy Arnow 2015
Jake Asher 2016
Andrew Babitz 2014
Debbie Banashek-Twist 2016
Naomi Barasch 2016
Jay Baumohl 2017
Hila Ben Abraham 2022
Amy Bender-Levy 2013
Jennifer Bernstein 2017
Patty Bloom 2013
Erica Brasken 2019

Chana Bregman 2024
Mariel Brechner 2022

Daniel Buchalter 2024
Hilary Cedergreen 2012
Jason Cohen 2012
Yosef David 2014
Stephen Davis 2019
Shelley Dean 2013
Autumn Dennis 2022
Beth Deutsch 2016
Rachel Deutsch 2019
Tom Eidelman 2013

Dana Emmenegger 2024
Sarah Falkoff 2015

Carly Ferdman 2024
Alan Fine 2014
Jennifer Fishering 2017
Ted Flom 2013
J J Flotken 2012
Emily Follman 2015

Jada Fox 2024
Shmuel Freedman 2015
Phil Frischer 2012
Laurie Furman 2019
Amy Gage 2017
Burton Garland 2013
Joseph Gerchen 2017
Julie Gibbs 2013
Evan Glantz 2017
Jeffrey Glogower 2013
Jeremy Goldberg 2022
Caroline Goldenberg 2017
Josh Goldman 2012
Alexandra Goldsmith 2012
Abby Goldstein 2015
Adam Goldstein 2017
Traci Goldstein 2019
Jessica Goltzman 2022
Sabrina Gornish 2019
Anthony Granillo 2013
Charles Gross 2012
Geoffrey Gross 2014
Lisa Hirshberg 2019

Jennifer Hoffman-Mentle 2024
Yale Hollander 2014
Ted Houser 2015
Elisa Israel 2015
Marc Jacob 2015
Neil Jaffe 2017
Scott Kaar 2016

Cindy Kalachek 2024
Michael Kass 2013
Elliott Kleiman 2019
Julia Kofkoff Gould 2019
Douglas Kolker 2015
Karen Korn 2016
Lea-Rachel Kosnik 2022
Sarah Kovenock 2013
Daniel Kraus 2019
Brenda Ladin 2017
Amy Lampert 2017
Jennifer Lederman 2022
James Levey 2012
Ken Levine 2016
Jenna Lew-Feit 2022
Elizabeth Lieberman 2019
Kim Lieberman 2013
Kevin Litt 2022
Matthew Litwack 2014
Lauren Lourie 2017
Emily Luten Maltby 2016
Steven Malter 2012
Weston Manley 2016
Abbi Marks-Mazur 2017
Michelle Mills 2014

Jessica Mirowitz 2024
Randi Mozenter 2015
Dimitar Mushkov 2015
Russel Neiss 2014
Brian Newman 2015
Andrew Oberman 2016

Brian Oberman 2024
Stacey Owens 2019
Julia Partin 2013
Rachel Pepe 2012

Simone Picker 2024
Helen Petty 2022
Ron Present 2012
Nicole Rainey 2012
Arza Raviv 2019
Edward Reggi 2012
Sharon Remis 2017
William Remis 2016

Jose Rodriguez Goldstein 2024
Marissa Rosen 2016
Adam Rosenberg 2022
Zev Rosenberg 2017
David Rosenstock 2014
Avigail Rosenzweig 2013
Ryia Ross-Peterson 2019
William Rubenstein 2013

Zachary Rudolph 2024
Jonathan Sachs 2016
Amy Scharff 2014
Lilly Scharff 2013
David Schenberg 2015
Jennifer Schmitz 2012

John Schneider 2024
Christine Schulze 2019
Anna Shabsin 2013
Andrew Sharon 2016
Barbara Sherer 2014
Sherry Shuman 2015
Ian Silberman 2012
Benjamin Singer 2022

Robin Slen 2024
Abbey Small 2013
Bradley Snitzer 2014
Yona Spiegelglass 2022
Daniel Stark 2022
Julie Stern 2015
Amy Stone 2014
Rachel Thimangu 2019

Seth Toybes 2024
Aaron Vickar 2013
Joshua Wallach 2014
Robert Wasserman 2013

Jared Weinstein 2024
Marjorie Weisman 2013

Shoshana Weiss 2024
Stephen Wertman 2014
Laura Whalen 2015
Greg Yawitz 2012
Julie Zuick 2019
Esther Zuravin 2016

Isadore Millstone z”l (1907 – 2009) is remembered as the patriarch of the Jewish community of St. Louis, a visionary, philanthropist, and leader. The Millstone Fellows program, established in 2010 by his grandson, Bob Millstone, past president of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and JCRC, recognizes that an ongoing leadership program, bringing together emerging and established leaders of all backgrounds, is one of the most important ways to honor Isadore’s memory. Honoring Isadore Millstone’s extensive legacy has also been a priority of the Lubin-Green Foundation, a supporting foundation of Jewish Federation, and Mont & Karen Levy.

The legacy of Isadore Millstone

Mr. Millstone explained his charitable activities as a privilege, not as an obligation. His vision, leadership, achievements and selfless philanthropy were legendary and unparalleled at that time. He shaped the future of the Jewish community of St. Louis, across the United States, in Israel, and around the world.

Mr. Millstone is remembered for his countless accomplishments with impact felt today and for generations to come. In the St. Louis Jewish community he is best known for his bold vision to purchase the original 108 acres at Lindbergh Boulevard and Schuetz Road as the location for the JCCA of St. Louis, formerly known as the YMHA or the “Y,” later becoming The J. Millstone called his purchase and donation the best real estate development he ever made. While the majority of the Jewish community felt that it was foolish to purchase land so “far out,” Isadore saw the land as the future nerve center for the entire Jewish community.

Few sites in the St. Louis area have not seen the impact of his work and his involvement. A pioneer in the use of reinforced concrete, he founded Millstone Construction, Inc., at age 22 and went on to build the former Busch Stadium and the Milles Fountain, along with numerous office towers and shopping malls, highways and bridges in St. Louis and across the United States.

Mr. Millstone was among a handful of design and building professionals who traveled to Israel in its first years of independence, helping Israel’s first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, launch a major building projects. He wanted to use sturdy materials that were indigenous to Israel so that the housing units would be well-built rather than temporary stop-gaps. He was committed to investing in both infrastructure and jobs for Israelis. He supported many organizations and schools in Israel including Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the Technion, Israel’s Institute of Technology, and the Israel campus of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Millstone was also a major benefactor of Washington University in St. Louis, his alma mater, supporting numerous student scholarships along with the Millstone Plaza at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Millstone Pool. Millstone was a champion swimmer and diver as a student at the university. He was also a life member of the university’s board of trustees. Washington University honored him with engineering and architecture alumni awards, the Robert S. Brookings Award, the William Greenleaf Eliot Society Search Award, a University Alumni Citation, and an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Marci Mayer Eisen heard Mr. Millstone speak many times when she was a staff person at the JCC. In the mid-90’s Marci coordinated a leadership training program for young adults while planning for the opening of the JCC Fox Building in Chesterfield. The theme was “Past, Present and Future” Mr. Millstone eloquently spoke about the past. Research on successful organizations describes the importance of connecting to the history of that organization and no one could describe the history of St. Louis and the Jewish community as eloquently or as personally as Mr. Millstone. It truly is a privilege for Jewish Federation of St. Louis to help remember Mr. Millstone’s legacy through the Millstone leadership initiatives.