Habonim Board of Directors - Congregation Habonim of Toronto

YOUR HABONIM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR BIOGRAPHIES

Anita Auerback (Director since 2018)

Anita is a Certified Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator (“CBV”) with over 15 years full time valuation and litigation support experience and over 30 years of accounting experience. She is currently a Director at RSM Canada, a mid-sized public accounting firm, specializing in complex matrimonial litigation and personal injury damage quantification. She has also taken financial mediation courses to assist in dispute litigation. Prior to obtaining her CBV designation, she spent 14 years as a Canadian and US tax practitioner and operated her own business, specializing in computer training for children. Her passion project is teaching courses in Generational training, which focuses on identifying generational differences in the workforce and how to leverage different skill sets from different age groups to work more effectively. Her varied business background, along with her mediation and training background, makes her uniquely qualified to assist in the Board's financial matters in her role as Treasurer.

Gary Gluckman (Director since 2022)

Gary Gluckman is a Certified Professional Accountant and has focused in Taxation and Mergers and Acquisitions over his 30 year career. He is currently a senior partner at Deloitte where he has held many leadership roles including leading the Ontario Tax Practice and Deloitte’s Canadian Private Equity practice. Gary works with leading Canadian insurance companies, pension, private equity, infrastructure and venture funds and the businesses into which they invest. He also leads the overall Deloitte relationship with many significant clients, including clients in the asset management industry. Gary is a trusted adviser who brings a broad perspective and experience to his clients’ issues. Gary, his wife Liz and their three children Emily, Rachel and Michael joined Habonim in 2017. Emily, Rachel and Michael had their B'nei Mitzvahs at the synagogue. Gary brings his financial and leadership skills along with his strategic perspective and experience to Board.

Sonny Goldstein (Director Since 2016)

Sonny has been in the Financial Services Industry since 1966. He began as a licensed life insurance agent and he obtained his Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1977. He obtained his Chartered Financial Consultant designation in 1989 and became a Certified Financial Planner in 1996. Mr. Goldstein owns and operates Goldstein Financial Investments Inc., a mutual fund dealership, and Goldstein Financial Consultants, an incorporated insurance agency. He is Past President of the Life Underwriters’ Association of Toronto (now Advocis). He writes a monthly column in a community newspaper (HI-RISE) and does a radio show “Managing Your Money” six days a week on CHIN Radio in Toronto. Mr. Goldstein previously served on the Board of Directors of the MFDA from March 2010 to December 2013. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the MFDA Investor Protection Corporation. Goldstein Financial Investments Inc. is a member of the Federation of Mutual Fund Dealers. Mr. Goldstein is also the Founder and Chairman of “Care For Kids (Toronto)”, which raises funds for the Pediatric Advanced Care Team at The Hospital For Sick Children, Emily’s House and other charitable organizations for children with life limiting illnesses.

Cary Greenberg (Director since 2023)

Cary is a Research Project Manager with over 30 years of experience leading the implementation, operation and quality control of studies related to cancer prevention and treatment at Princess Margaret and Mount Sinai hospitals. She is currently managing the Ontario Familial Colorectal Cancer Registry. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nutrition from the University of Guelph and a Master of Science from University of Toronto. Throughout her career Cary has served on many committees for the Canadian Cancer Society, Ontario Dietetic Association and the Jackman Institute of Child Study. She is currently a member of the Research Ethics Board at Mount Sinai Hospital and volunteers with the Leading to Reading program at the Toronto Public Library. Cary has been a lifelong member of Habonim. Her parents, Henry and Kathe Ritter were among the first members and showed their support by donating a Torah scroll and cleaning the tallitot and ceremonial materials while they had their dry-cleaning business. Eli and Esther officiated at her daughter’s baby naming and Bat Mitzvah and Eli and Aviva conducted the funerals for her immediate family. Cary brings her administrative and data management skills, and her lifelong experience as a Habonim member, to the Board to honour her parents’ legacy and serve the Habonim community.

Jonathan Finkelstein (Director Since 2021)

Jonathan is a Principal at Alignvest Management Corporation, where he helps evaluate and execute investments in portfolio companies. In that capacity, he serves on Board of Directors of Sagicor Financial Company, an Alignvest portfolio company traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Prior to joining Alignvest, Jonathan worked as an investment banker at Lazard Freres and Co in NYC, an attorney at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in NYC, and as the Tax Policy Advisor to Finance Minister Jim Flaherty in Ottawa. Jonathan holds a BA from McGill University, a JD from Osgoode Hall Law School, an LL.M. from NYU Law School and an MBA from the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. Jonathan is a long-time member of Habonim. He celebrated his Bar Mitzvah at Habonim in 1996, was married by Eli in 2017, and now attends services with his wife and two small children.

Charissa Levy (Director since 2017)

Charissa has a health care background as an Occupational Therapist. She is Executive Director of one provincial organization and two regional organizations that work with the Ministry of Health and health care executives in hospitals and community organizations to plan for and enhance publicly-funded rehabilitation services. Charissa has been invited to participate on a variety of provincial & regional expert panels and committees to inform policy directions & clinical services planning, providing perspectives from the rehabilitation and acquired brain injury sectors. Charissa is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and has published in the areas of rehabilitation health systems, acquired brain injury, hip fracture, stroke and total joint replacement. Charissa and her husband, Ari have been long-standing members of Habonim. Ari’s family joined Habonim in the 1980s. Ari had his Bar Mitzvah at Habonim, Charissa and Ari were married by Eli, and Eli also recently officiated the Bat Mitzvahs for each of their daughters, Erynn and Noa. Charissa’s skills in strategic leadership and operational management, along with her long-standing membership at Habonim make her a great asset to the Board and Habonim community.

Daniel Libman (Director since 2017)

Daniel is a Partner at Damien Frost & Associates LLP. He specializes in criminal, regulatory, and administrative law trials and appeals. As an experienced litigator, Daniel has argued complex criminal and regulatory cases on behalf of both the Crown and defendants. Daniel maintains a diverse practice, from white collar criminal matters to judicial reviews and professional discipline hearings for health care professionals such as Pharmacists, Chiropractors, Nurses, Veterinarians and others. Daniel also defends other regulated professionals such as lawyers, paralegals, real estate agents, brokers. He is often called upon by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada to prosecute serious criminal and regulatory matters. Daniel completed his Juris Doctor at the University of Windsor in 2012. Daniel has been actively involved in continuing legal education, having written numerous legal articles and taught at various law schools in Ontario. Most recently, Daniel co-authored "Handling Summary Conviction Offences, 2020 Edition". Daniel brings his legal expertise, his tireless effort, and his ability to resolve complex disputes to Habonim's Board of Directors. He is pleased to continue to serve and advocate on behalf of Habonim and its Members.

Ron Perlmutter (Director since 2022)

Ron is Chief Operating Officer at Bayfield Realty Advisors Inc. with overall responsibility for Bayfield’s operating platform, asset management and development activities. As a Principal of the firm, Ron establishes and executes Bayfield’s corporate strategy in conjunction with the other senior management. Ron has extensive experience in domestic and international real estate investment, capital funding and asset management. Ron served on the real estate cabinet of UJA for several years and has been a repeat guest lecturer at Schulich School of Business. He is a graduate of Richard Ivey School of Business (MBA) and Western University (B. Engineering Science – Civil) and holds designations of Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) and licensed Real Estate Broker (RECO). Ron, his wife Robin and their three daughters have been members of Habonim since 2018.

Jackie Ruderman (Director since 2023)

Jackie is a Financial Planner at TD Wealth where she is responsible for providing customized guidance and recommendations on retirement, tax, estate and overall wealth planning to high-net-worth clients of TD. She is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) and Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP). Prior to joining TD, Jackie worked in a variety of business roles including business development, strategic initiatives, and investment banking. She is a graduate of the Ivey Business School at Western University where she attended the Honours Business Administration (HBA)program. Jackie has been a member of Habonim since she was a child; she had her Bat Mitzvah lessons with Eli, and later in 2011 Eli married Jackie and her husband. She has been the volunteer Director of Operations for Habonim’s Jewish Heritage School since 2019, where her three children enjoy attending Hebrew school.

Jake Salsburg (Director since 2023)

Jake is a Digital Strategy Consultant at Accenture where he specializes in helping businesses leverage technology and data to transform their operations. Prior to joining Accenture, Jake completed his studies at the University of Western Ontario where he earned an Honours Business Administration and Masters of Science in Business Analytics from the Richard Ivey Business School. Jake, and his parents Michael Salsburg and Iva Vranic, are long-standing members of Habonim having joined Habonim in 2004. Jake attended Hebrew School at Habonim and had his Bar Mitzvah at Habonim in 2008. He is looking forward to his fiancé, Amanda, joining as a full-time member in the near future. Jake looks forward to bringing a fresh perspective to the Habonim Board and leadership team and enhancing outreach for the younger generations amongst other key initiatives.

Naomi Shawn (Director since 2022)

Naomi is currently Senior Counsel at the Royal Bank of Canada. In this role, Naomi is responsible for providing advice and counsel related to all aspects of the employment relationship, as well as human rights and accessibility. Prior to joining RBC, Naomi worked as an employment lawyer both in private practice and as in-house counsel at Toronto Hydro. Naomi earned an Honours Bachelor of Management Studies at the University of Western Ontario, then graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School and is a member of the Law Society of Ontario. Naomi’s family have been members of Habonim for as long as she can remember, and she is thrilled that her husband, Peter, has joined Habonim as well. Naomi, Peter and their two children participated in Zoom and outdoor services throughout the pandemic and are now spending more time in person at Habonim.

Alexis Slatt (Director since 2017)

Alexis is a corporate lawyer with over 15 years experience of providing counsel to Canadian and international businesses on corporate and securities law matters. Alexis has senior level expertise in domestic and international securities offerings, corporate governance, and securities regulatory compliance. Alexis has advised clients on a wide range of capital markets transactions, infrastructure and compliance, including boards of directors, management teams, and public and private companies. Alexis is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the New York Bar Association. Alexis was most recently Counsel in the Corporate Department of a top Toronto law firm and previously practiced in the Securities and Capital Markets Group of a leading New York law firm. Alexis is a life-long member of Habonim, having celebrated many family simchas with the Congregation.

Alexis has been on the Board since 2017, having previously served in the roles of Corporate Secretary to the Board, Chair of the Board's Governance Committee, and Vice-President. Alexis brings her legal experience, leadership and strategic skills, and her commitment to Habonim, to her position as a director.

Jordan Slatt (Director since 2022)

Trained as a Chartered Accountant at McGill University, Jordan has a successful career in roles related to senior finance, real estate management, development, and investment. He writes, teaches, and consults on topics related to his expertise. Over the last thirty years he has helped to build the Metro Supply Chain Group. Metro had three hundred people when he joined, to over eight thousand people on three continents today. Jordan’s focus at Metro has been real estate, finance, acquisitions, and investments. Jordan has been the chairman of the Habonim Building Committee since 2017. Working with a great group of people on the building committee, our new synagogue became a beautiful reality. Jordan continues to be directly involved in facility issues. He is married to Alexis Slatt, also a Habonim board member, and has four incredible children.