PJA Board Members

The PJA Board sets strategy and policy for Portland’s Jewish community day school and ensures that the school has the resources it needs.  The Board oversees the school’s finances and sets policy to ensure that the school thrives not only today but also for future generations. The Board works closely with the school’s administration, which is responsible for the day-to-day management and oversight of the school.

Many Board members are parents or grandparents at the school; others are community members with a deep interest in our Jewish community day school. All share an abiding commitment to our school and participate actively not only on committees but also as donors to the school. We are proud to have 100% board participation in our fundraising activities.

The Board welcomes parents to become involved as volunteers at PJA, including serving on a Board committee such as development (fundraising), finance or marketing. If you would like to serve on a committee, please contact PJA Principal Merrill Hendin, Executive Director Lisa Horowitz or Board President Edith Dorsen.  Board President Edith Dorsen can be reached at boardpresident@portlandjewishacademy.org

Jordan D. Schnitzer - Chairman
Jordan Schnitzer is President of Harsch Investment Properties, the largest privately held real estate development and investment company based in the Pacific Northwest. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, it has regional offices in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Diego and soon Phoenix.  He serves as Chairman of the combined Mittleman Jewish Community Center and Portland Jewish Academy campus facility, after having served the past five years as President of the MJCC.  Jordan has dedicated significant time and funding to support Portland’s Jewish community over the past 30 years, serving in a leadership capacity on a variety of boards and projects including as Co-Chair of the development of the Rose Schnitzer Manor Assisted Living Center; as a Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland; as President of the Robison Jewish Home; and as trustee of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and Temple Beth Israel.  In addition to his dedication to Portland’s Jewish community, Jordan has served over the years on over 30 local, regional and national civic and cultural boards.

Edith Dorsen - Board President
Edith Dorsen is a business development and marketing strategist who brings her experience as a senior executive and consultant in the private and nonprofit sectors to the boards of MJCC and Portland Jewish Academy.  Currently, she is Managing Director of The Women’s Venture Capital Fund. Since relocating to Portland in 2001, Edith led a successful marketing effort for the Pearl District and strategic assignments for The Standard and Samaritan Health Systems. In NYC, she served in senior management roles at Children's Television Workshop, Physicians' Online and a community based organization. Earlier in her career, she was an investment banker at Salomon Brothers and management consultant at McKinsey & Company. 

In addition, Edith has served in board and other voluntary capacities for The Educational Alliance, Jewish Federation in NY and Save the Children. Edith is a graduate of Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government. She is married to Dr. Michael Dorsen and is the step mom of Marcus Dorsen.

Jerry Sadis - Executive Vice President
Jerry Sadis was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting.  He started his career as a Certified Public Accountant with the firm that is now Delloitte and Touche.  In 1972, he joined Fred Meyer Inc., as Assistant Controller and worked there until 1987, leaving as Executive Vice President.  Jerry and his wife, Bunny, have two grown daughters, both living out of town.  Jerry has served on the boards of Robison Home, Congregation Beth Israel, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, and was President of Congregation Beth Israel and the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation.

Stacy Barna
Stacy Barna is the National Sales Manger for a Portland based Promotional Products Company.  Stacy moved to Portland in August of 2004 from Scottsdale Arizona in need of cooler weather, a smaller landscape and a solid place to raise her children.  With a sense of adventure she sold her house, packed her kids, the dogs, the cat and the fish into her van and headed off to search for a more peaceful way of life.

Stacy’s son Ben is in high school in Lake Oswego after graduating from PJA. He plays classic soccer for Lake Oswego and hopes to study medicine someday.  Lily is in 6th grade at PJA, also plays soccer and hopes to be a Super Star someday (she will probably make it).

Stacy graduated from Arizona State University with a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Management from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a minor in communication.   Along with running a progressive ad specialties company Stacy has over 20 years experience as a Make-up Artist working in films, television and runway, manages Ben’s soccer team and moonlights in the food and wine industry.

Stacy currently resides in Lake Oswego Oregon; is a member of the Oregon Media Production Association, licensed airbrush artist, member of the PJA /MJCC Marketing committee and club manager for the Lake Oswego Soccer Club.

Barry Benson - Co-President Elect
Barry Benson is originally from Massachusetts has been a Portland resident for the last 15 years.  He received his BBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and MBA from Indiana University, Bloomington.  Barry is a Senior National Account Executive with Merck & Co., Inc.  He is the immediate past president of Congregation Shaarie Torah.  Barry and wife, Karla, are the proud parents of PJA middle school student, Molly.

Brian Carleton - Bio coming soon.




Jonathan Glass, Treasurer
Jonathan Glass is currently Vice President and CFO of Council Tree Investors, a private equity firm focused on investments in the media and communications sectors.  Prior to joining Council Tree, he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Toronto Dominion Securities in New York City.  Mr. Glass received his Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University in Montreal and his MBA from Columbia University specializing in finance.

Mr. Glass currently serves on the board and investment committee of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation and is the Co-Chair of the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of Portland, OR.  Previous volunteer work included the Finance Committee of the Hannah Senesh Community Day School in Brooklyn, NY and Financial Secretary of the Park Slope Jewish Center in Brooklyn, NY. Jonathan grew up in Toronto, Canada and resided in New York City for 16 years prior to moving to Portland, Oregon in 2010.  Jonathan is married to Sarah Kahn Glass and they have three children ages 8, 11 and 14 who are students/alumni of the Portland Jewish Academy.

Eric Kodesch and wife, Anna, at the PJA Auction in 2010

Eric Kodesch
Eric Kodesch is an attorney at Stoel Rives in the firm’s Tax Section. His practice encompasses a wide array of federal income tax and state and local tax issues in both transactional and litigation matters, including general business planning, financial transactions, trust taxation, executive compensation, and choice of entity issues. Eric specializes in international tax aspects of federal income tax law. He also regularly represents clients in the Oregon Tax Court in controversies involving Oregon corporation excise tax and property tax.

Shirlee Lenske
Shirlee was born in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota.  She married Marvin Snyder and they had three sons.  She went to watch repair school and worked in the jewelry and pawn business.  Shirlee also designed ladies swim wear and sports wear.  The White Stag Co. relocated the family to New York City, where we lived for 12 years.  In 1968, the family moved to Portland.  Marvin passed away in 1972.  Shirlee married Reuben Lenske in 1998, having worked for him since 1981.  Reuben passed away in 2001.  Shirlee is a principle in Lenske Properties and Chinook Mini Storage & Landscaping.

Ellen Lippman
Ellen has lived in Portland for over 30 years. She has a PhD. in accounting and works as an accounting professor at the University of Portland. Prior to that she worked as a CPA for a large international accounting firm.  A past board member and Treasurer of the MJCC, she also has served on the boards or finance committees at Portland Jewish Academy, Portland Hillel, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland. Ellen is a Wexner Fellow. She and her husband have twin daughters, both graduates of PJA.

Mark S. Meyer
Mark S. Meyer has been the President of Northwest Paramedical Inc. for 19 years.  Its primary business is providing medical examination services to the life and disability insurance industries under the name of APPS Paramedical.  Northwest Paramedical also completes direct-to-consumer lab testing and drug screens.  Mark has also been involved in the Portland Jewish community for over 20 years, having served on the boards of the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland and as a past chair of Federation’s Super Sunday.  Mark has served on the board of Portland Jewish Academy for 17 years including three years as Treasurer and two years as President.  In his free time, he enjoys coaching his children in sports, running, biking, tennis, photography and spending time on the Oregon Coast.  Mark is married to Marcia Meyer.  Their daughter, Shana, is a senior at Skidmore College and son, Alex, is a freshman at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Joel Mullin - Photo and Bio coming soon.

Bob Philip - Co-President Elect
Bob Philip served on the boards of the MJCC and Jewish Federation of Greater Portland in the 1980’s. Recently, Bob was the President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland board. Currently he is Chairman of Schnitzer Investment and a retired Chairman and CEO of Schnitzer Steel Products. He has also been an active member on the boards of Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Waverly Children’s Home, Portland State Foundation, and Boys and Girls Club. Bob received his MS in Engineering from San Jose State University. He is involved with the development of PSU’s Jewish Studies program and the Portland Hillel. Bob has been supportive of many Jewish and secular initiatives in both Portland and Palm Desert, CA. Bob’s wife, Rita is a longtime Portland volunteer, having served on many boards in the city. Bob and Rita’s son, Josh lives in Portland. Their daughter lives in New York and is very involved in New York philanthropy, currently serving on the Young Leadership National Board of the Jewish Federation of New York.

Gayle Schnitzer Romain - Secretary
Gayle Schnitzer Romain is a third generation Portland native.   She grew up at the Jewish Community Center as preschooler and teacher, camper and counselor, member and board member.  She has served on the MJCC board twice and most recently has co-chaired the campaign to renovate the campus.  She has served on the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland as campaign chair, allocations chair, and Women’s Division campaign chair. Gayle has served on the board of the United Jewish Communities National Women’s Philanthropy and in 2006 she received a national leadership award.  She is a member of the Metropolitan Leadership Council of the Oregon Community Foundation.  Gayle attended Scripps College and graduated with a B.A. from Lewis and Clark College in 1971.  She is married to Paul Romain and they have raised four children, Bryan Rosencrantz, Laura Rosencrantz, Danielle Romain and Mikhael Romain.

Steve "Rosy" Rosenberg and Ellen Lippman show off some KEEN shoes at the PJA Auction in 2010.

Steve Rosenberg
Steve Rosenberg was born in Chicago and received his B.A. from Colorado College and his MS in Real Estate and Urban Land Economics from the University of Wisconsin.  He is a graduate of Wexner Heritage Foundation.  He has been the principal of Aspen Investment Group for the last 20 years, involved in the acquisition, development or financing of real estate, with development emphasis in hotels, industrial and condominiums.  Steve has served on the boards or been the president of numerous organizations including Portland Jewish Academy (1985 – present), Mittleman Jewish Community Center, Chamber Music Northwest, Jewish Federation of Greater Portland (past president), TV Channel 32, Oregon Jewish Community Foundation,  Foundation for Ilan Sport Center for the Disabled in Israel, Oregon DEQ Task Force,  and Maxus Real Estate Investment Trust.  Steve is an active triathlon participant.  He and his wife, Ellen Lippman, have two daughters who are graduates of Portland Jewish Academy.

Alison Rosenfeld
Alison Rosenfeld was born and raised in Portland, OR.  She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Pitzer College in Claremont, CA and her Master in Public Health from Portland State University.  Prior to moving to Israel with her husband, Alison worked for Oregon Human Development in Hillsboro as a social worker with teen parents.  She and her husband, Justin, lived in Israel, Virginia and Salem, before returning to their hometown to raise their children.  Alison is the co-chair of the PJA used book sale and volunteers extensively with PJA..

Andrea Sanchez
Andrea K. Sanchez holds a Master of Public Health and a Master of City and Regional Planning degree(s) from the University of California at Berkeley. She is the Development Manager at the Clackamas County Housing Authority where her work focuses on the development of affordable housing for low-income households. In addition to her professional career, Andrea is passionate about spending time outdoors and running. One of her favorite pastimes is running with other mother runners and with her daughter, Sadie. Andrea and her husband, Ben Drucker, have called Portland home for nearly 20 years. They have two children, Sadie and Saul, who are students at Portland Jewish Academy. Additionally, Andrea and her family are members of Havurah Shalom where she served on the Board from 2007-11 and as the Treasurer between 2009-11.

Jay Zidell
Jay Zidell has been serving on the PJA and MJCC campus board since 2004 and the PJA board since 1995. Jay is the President of the Zidell Companies. Along with his various business concerns, Jay has been an active supporter of education and the arts, especially within the Jewish community. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Jay continues a long-standing Zidell family tradition of philanthropy. He attended Oregon State University, majoring in business administration until he stepped into his role as vice president of Tube Forgings of America in 1971. Although connected with, and supportive of a number of charitable organizations, his involvement with PJA is of special importance to him. Jay has one grown son, Jason, and lives with his wife Diane, in Vancouver, Washington.

Jason Zidell - Photo and Bio coming soon.