Leadership Team
Solly Kane
President & CEO
Solly Kane has been the President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle since November 2023.
Solly’s previous experience includes a dozen years at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), including roles as an overnight summer camp Executive Director, and as Director of Events, where he was responsible for the planning and implementation of the URJ’s largest programs and gatherings across North America. In addition to his experience as a Jewish professional, Solly previously worked as a management consultant advising companies on business strategy.
Solly holds an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business and a certificate in nonprofit management from the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. Solly’s wife, Briana Holtzman, is originally from Mercer Island and is also a Jewish professional on the senior leadership team of the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC).
Jerry Kavesh
Chief Operating Officer
Jerry is the Chief Operating Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, leading the organization’s operational and financial teams to strengthen a vibrant Jewish community. A Northwest native who grew up in Bellevue, he brings decades of leadership experience in strategy, operations, and financial stewardship, having previously served as Founder and CEO of 3P Marketplace Solutions and as Vice President of Operations at Blue Wheel, where he led post-merger integration and operational growth. After retiring from his corporate career, Jerry purposefully came out of retirement to transition into the nonprofit sector, leveraging his background in ecommerce, client services, business operations, and non-profit board volunteerism to enhance the Federation’s capacity and sustainability.
A graduate of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, Jerry and his wife, Michelle, live on Mercer Island and enjoy skiing, soccer, travel, volunteering, and time with their two adult children, who also live in the Greater Seattle area.
Joe Albers
Controller
Joe oversees and leads the accounting and finance team and has overall responsibility for all financial reporting and transaction processing at the Federation. He oversees the annual audit, tax filings, budgets, monthly financial reporting, cash receipts and disbursements, and payroll. Joe is a licensed CPA in Washington State and Ohio and has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit organizations.
He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, lived in Tucson, Arizona, and moved to Seattle in 2015. Joe likes to cook and bake, travel, and go to the theatre to enjoy a movie. He is a big Seattle Seawolves (professional rugby) fan and season ticket holder since the team’s inception in 2017.
Solly Kane has been the President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle since November 2023.
Solly’s previous experience includes a dozen years at the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), including roles as an overnight summer camp Executive Director, and as Director of Events, where he was responsible for the planning and implementation of the URJ’s largest programs and gatherings across North America. In addition to his experience as a Jewish professional, Solly previously worked as a management consultant advising companies on business strategy.
Solly holds an MBA from the New York University Stern School of Business and a certificate in nonprofit management from the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. Solly’s wife, Briana Holtzman, is originally from Mercer Island and is also a Jewish professional on the senior leadership team of the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC).
Jerry is the Chief Operating Officer of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, leading the organization’s operational and financial teams to strengthen a vibrant Jewish community. A Northwest native who grew up in Bellevue, he brings decades of leadership experience in strategy, operations, and financial stewardship, having previously served as Founder and CEO of 3P Marketplace Solutions and as Vice President of Operations at Blue Wheel, where he led post-merger integration and operational growth. After retiring from his corporate career, Jerry purposefully came out of retirement to transition into the nonprofit sector, leveraging his background in ecommerce, client services, business operations, and non-profit board volunteerism to enhance the Federation’s capacity and sustainability.
A graduate of the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, Jerry and his wife, Michelle, live on Mercer Island and enjoy skiing, soccer, travel, volunteering, and time with their two adult children, who also live in the Greater Seattle area.
Joe oversees and leads the accounting and finance team and has overall responsibility for all financial reporting and transaction processing at the Federation. He oversees the annual audit, tax filings, budgets, monthly financial reporting, cash receipts and disbursements, and payroll. Joe is a licensed CPA in Washington State and Ohio and has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit organizations.
He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, lived in Tucson, Arizona, and moved to Seattle in 2015. Joe likes to cook and bake, travel, and go to the theatre to enjoy a movie. He is a big Seattle Seawolves (professional rugby) fan and season ticket holder since the team’s inception in 2017.
Max Patashnik
Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and Government Affairs
Andrew Chadick
Director of IT, Cybersecurity & Operations
Andrew Chadick is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience across IT, operations, and disaster response. He currently serves as the Director of IT, Cybersecurity, and Operations for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. A dedicated advocate for public resilience, Andrew holds leadership roles with Washington Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WAVOAD) and previously spent over 17 years as the Communal Security Director for SAFE Washington. From founding Pacific Computer Wizards to managing health care operations, his career has been defined by building secure, scalable operations that protect both data and people.
In 2017, Andrew was honored with the Pamela Waechter z”l Jewish Communal Professional Award. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Paula and his two adult children, engaging in open source projects, kayaking, riding motorcycles, cooking, and reading.
Rabbi Samuel Klein
Director of Jewish Engagement
Rabbi Samuel Klein has built his career around a clear mission: strengthening the Jewish community by creating meaningful, accessible pathways into Jewish life. He believes that curiosity and inquiry are at the heart of Jewish practice. With more than two decades in nonprofit leadership, Samuel has designed, piloted, and scaled programs that provide low-barrier on-ramps to Jewish engagement. Since joining the Federation, he has led strategic initiatives that deepen connection, cultivate leadership, and expand access to Jewish learning across the Puget Sound region, including the Francine R. Loeb Leadership Institute, which develops the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Samuel holds master’s degrees in Theology from the University of Cambridge, History of Art from University College London, and Jewish professional leadership from the Spertus Institute. He has also completed executive training in nonprofit leadership at Harvard Kennedy School and master educator training at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Originally from the United Kingdom, he lives in Seattle with his spouse, Gilah, and is the proud father of four children. Outside of his professional work, he is an avid runner and hiker, often found on the trails of Seward Park or in the Cascades with a good book.
Max Patashnik
Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and Government Affairs
Maxima (Max) Patashnik serves as the Director of the JCRC and Government Affairs. In this role, Max supports numerous Jewish institutions in the Puget Sound region and leads the intergroup relations, coalition building, advocacy, and lobbying work of the JCRC, powered by the Federation. She believes in honoring the diversity of our Jewish communities to build bridges and deepen understanding. Before joining the Federation, Max‘s background was in state government.
Max holds a degree in International Studies and French from Willamette University and a certificate in executive leadership from the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation. In 2020, she received the Pamela Waechter z”l Jewish Communal Professional Award. A fifth-generation Seattleite, Max lives in South Seattle with her husband, two young children, and a cat. In her spare time, Max loves practicing yoga, swimming, reading, and being outside in nature as much as possible.
Andrew Chadick is a seasoned technology leader with over 25 years of experience across IT, operations, and disaster response. He currently serves as the Director of IT, Cybersecurity, and Operations for the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. A dedicated advocate for public resilience, Andrew holds leadership roles with Washington Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WAVOAD) and previously spent over 17 years as the Communal Security Director for SAFE Washington. From founding Pacific Computer Wizards to managing health care operations, his career has been defined by building secure, scalable operations that protect both data and people.
In 2017, Andrew was honored with the Pamela Waechter z”l Jewish Communal Professional Award. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife Paula and his two adult children, engaging in open source projects, kayaking, riding motorcycles, cooking, and reading.
Rabbi Samuel Klein has built his career around a clear mission: strengthening the Jewish community by creating meaningful, accessible pathways into Jewish life. He believes that curiosity and inquiry are at the heart of Jewish practice. With more than two decades in nonprofit leadership, Samuel has designed, piloted, and scaled programs that provide low-barrier on-ramps to Jewish engagement. Since joining the Federation, he has led strategic initiatives that deepen connection, cultivate leadership, and expand access to Jewish learning across the Puget Sound region, including the Francine R. Loeb Leadership Institute, which develops the next generation of Jewish leaders.
Samuel holds master’s degrees in Theology from the University of Cambridge, History of Art from University College London, and Jewish professional leadership from the Spertus Institute. He has also completed executive training in nonprofit leadership at Harvard Kennedy School and master educator training at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Originally from the United Kingdom, he lives in Seattle with his spouse, Gilah, and is the proud father of four children. Outside of his professional work, he is an avid runner and hiker, often found on the trails of Seward Park or in the Cascades with a good book.
Maxima (Max) Patashnik serves as the Director of the JCRC and Government Affairs. In this role, Max supports numerous Jewish institutions in the Puget Sound region and leads the intergroup relations, coalition building, advocacy, and lobbying work of the JCRC, powered by the Federation. She believes in honoring the diversity of our Jewish communities to build bridges and deepen understanding. Before joining the Federation, Max‘s background was in state government.
Max holds a degree in International Studies and French from Willamette University and a certificate in executive leadership from the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation. In 2020, she received the Pamela Waechter z”l Jewish Communal Professional Award. A fifth-generation Seattleite, Max lives in South Seattle with her husband, two young children, and a cat. In her spare time, Max loves practicing yoga, swimming, reading, and being outside in nature as much as possible.
Lee Yates
Regional Security Advisor, Secure Community Network & Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Tori Schwartz
Director of Development
(206) 774-2291
As the Director of Development, Tori leads the strategy and execution of the organization’s annual campaign, growing revenue by more than 10% year over year. Tori also oversees fundraising efforts for the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Seattle, which currently manages over $100 million in assets.
Tori earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute in Chicago. Her lifelong involvement with Jewish Federations across the country reflects her deep, enduring commitment to building strong, vibrant Jewish communities. In her free time, Tori enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling with her husband, Jason. On the weekends, she can often be found baking challah and welcoming friends and family around her Shabbat table.
Katya Turnbow
Director of Marketing and Communications
Katya serves as Director of Marketing and Communications, leading her team in sharing the Federation’s impact across the Jewish community. In this role, she oversees integrated marketing campaigns and supports fundraising, programming, and advocacy initiatives.
Her background spans both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, with marketing and communications roles at Junior Achievement of Washington, Wonderland Child & Family Services, Trupanion, Waterways Cruises & Events, and Activision (formerly Vivendi Universal Games).
Katya holds an MBA in Marketing and a BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California. She serves on the board of Seattle Jewish Community School and volunteers with Olympic Ballet Theatre. Originally from Latvia, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three grown children.
Lee Yates
Regional Security Advisor, Secure Community Network & Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle
Prior to joining the Federation and the Secure Community Network (SCN) in 2025, Lee spent 29 years at the FBI investigating domestic terrorism, global terrorism, hate crimes, and counterintelligence matters.
He administers the Federation’s security program, providing consultations, physical security assessments, training, and threat mitigation to Jewish organizations, including schools, synagogues, and camps.
Lee grew up in the Midwest and has lived in the Seattle area since the mid-1990’s. With his family, he enjoys rooting for the Mariners and exploring the Pacific Northwest. Lee earned his BA in English Literature from William Jewell College.
As the Director of Development, Tori leads the strategy and execution of the organization’s annual campaign, growing revenue by more than 10% year over year. Tori also oversees fundraising efforts for the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Seattle, which currently manages over $100 million in assets.
Tori earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois and a Master’s in Nonprofit Management from the Spertus Institute in Chicago. Her lifelong involvement with Jewish Federations across the country reflects her deep, enduring commitment to building strong, vibrant Jewish communities. In her free time, Tori enjoys cooking, reading, and traveling with her husband, Jason. On the weekends, she can often be found baking challah and welcoming friends and family around her Shabbat table.
Katya serves as Director of Marketing and Communications, leading her team in sharing the Federation’s impact across the Jewish community. In this role, she oversees integrated marketing campaigns and supports fundraising, programming, and advocacy initiatives.
Her background spans both nonprofit and for-profit sectors, with marketing and communications roles at Junior Achievement of Washington, Wonderland Child & Family Services, Trupanion, Waterways Cruises & Events, and Activision (formerly Vivendi Universal Games).
Katya holds an MBA in Marketing and a BA in Psychology from the University of Southern California. She serves on the board of Seattle Jewish Community School and volunteers with Olympic Ballet Theatre. Originally from Latvia, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three grown children.
Prior to joining the Federation and the Secure Community Network (SCN) in 2025, Lee spent 29 years at the FBI investigating domestic terrorism, global terrorism, hate crimes, and counterintelligence matters.
He administers the Federation’s security program, providing consultations, physical security assessments, training, and threat mitigation to Jewish organizations, including schools, synagogues, and camps.
Lee grew up in the Midwest and has lived in the Seattle area since the mid-1990’s. With his family, he enjoys rooting for the Mariners and exploring the Pacific Northwest. Lee earned his BA in English Literature from William Jewell College.
Staff Team
Development
Miriam Diamond
Senior Data Analyst
miriamd@jewishinseattle.org
(206) 774-2212
Lynn Feldhammer
Development Officer
lynnf@jewishinseattle.org
(206) 774-2273
Marika Jaffe
Associate Director of Development
marikaj@jewishinseattle.org
(206) 774-2234
Community Engagement
Sonya Basseri
ElevatED & Leadership Program Manager
Rachel Zell
Senior PJ Library® Program Manager
Finance
Kyle Berry
Senior Accountant
Daniel Duque
Accounts Payable Specialist
Jordan Gonchar
Accounts Receivable Specialist
Foundation & Planned Giving
Alana Gross
Associate Director of Foundation Operations
Tal Hasson
Foundation Operations and Salesforce Administrator
Jewish Community Relations Council & Public Affairs
Rabbi Jason Levine
Jewish Community Relations Council Associate Director
Aliza Mossman
Jewish Community Relations Council Manager
Ann Westby Kolovyansky
K-12 Education Speciaist
Marketing & Communications
Ben Berman
Digital Marketing & Communications Associate
Morgan Hector
Marketing Graphic Designer
