Executive Director: Carolyn Horowitz Amacher, MSW, MSG
As a native Washingtonian, I grew up boating on the Eastern Shore and am happy to now call this home. I spent my formative years immersed in Jewish activities, from MIdrasha Hebrew High, to Habonim Camp Moshava, to Seaboard USY, to cheerleading for the Maccabis, the JCC GW national championship basketball team. This, as well as my year on the WUJS Israel program, prepared me for a career in Jewish communal leadership. As COO for 3 JCCs in Tucson, Richmond, and Orange County, CA, I oversaw personnel and programs, including early childhood, family, older adult, health & fitness, and cultural arts. As Director of Development for several non-profits, I conducted annual, legacy, and capital campaigns. My specialties include community engagement & outreach, Board governance, program outcomes & evaluation, and professional development & recruitment. I hold a dual BA in newspaper and psychology from Syracuse University; an MSW from Yeshiva University; and a Masters in Gerontology from the University of Missouri, where I also earned a graduate certificate in non-profit management and the Chancellor’s Certificate in Neighborhood Leadership. I've done stints as Hadassah and JNF chapter president, and the Hadassah Leadership Fellows and JCC Executive Development Training Program. I have two sons: Sam-a recent UVA grad, age 22, and Ezra- a writer in Las Vegas and U of Arizona alum, age 28. I also have a dog age 12 named Brandy, a Corgi mix.
Office Administrator: Verlisha Taylor
Verlisha earned a BA in Broadcast and Integrated Media from Morgan State University in 2015 and began her career at Baltimore’s NPR member station WEAA 88.9FM in 2012. As a result of Verlisha’s efforts, the station was awarded a $100,000 grant to develop a thought-provoking show “Baltimore: The Rise of Charm City”, creating meaningful conversation surrounding Baltimore City’s underlying community disparities. After spending four years at WEAA, the community advocate brought her talents back to the eastern shore with hopes of making a difference in her hometown of Cambridge, Md. After five years of teaching Interactive Media at the Dorchester Career and Technology Center, Verlisha joined Temple B’nai Israel. She has a passion for engaging people and creating impactful messaging that she brings to Temple communications and congregant relationships. Ms. Taylor has a daughter Oaklynn, 2.