Staff

  • Anita joined the staff of CBI in 2020. With a Bachelor’s in Social Work and a Master’s in Public Administration, Anita has over 30 years of executive director experience leading national and international non-profit organizations. Anita also served on several dozen Boards of Directors and national committees and founded the National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military – a collaborative to help returning service members and veterans – that has continued through Americans for the Arts and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. As a consultant, she provided consultation and training services to non-profit organizations on fundraising, strategic planning, board development, rebranding and promotion, and several other areas related to reorganization and building strong foundations for the future. After 30 years in Northern Virginia, she moved to the Charlottesville area with her husband, George, in 2017.

  • Shelby is the Director of the Religious School as well assistant to Rabbi Tom Gutherz. She is originally from Ohio and received her Bachelor's of Communications Degree from Ohio University and her Master’s Degree in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University. Shelby has worked in Jewish communities in both Virginia and Ohio for over 30 years. She began working at CBI in 2005 as Camp Director and ran Camp CBI for 13 years. She has worked in CBI's Religious School since 2010 and has also planned several multi-generational Israel trips for the congregation (and is looking forward to planning more!). She, her husband Kevin, and their two children, Rachel and Benny, along with their dog Deena, reside over the mountain in Fishersville.

  • Jill is CBI's Director of Education and the founder of CBI Forest School. Jill has over 25 years of experience as an educator, focusing on Jewish education since 2005. Jill also taught upper elementary in Cambridge, MA and at Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville. Before going into administration, she taught 2’s, 3’s, and 4’s at CBI Preschool and Kindergarten. Jill holds a BA in Jewish Studies and Sociology from Tulane University and a Master of Education in special and elementary education from Lesley University. In 2022, she won the prestigious Covenant Award honoring Jewish Educators who stand out for their remarkable leadership, commitment, and passion for their work.

  • Lukas moved to Charlottesville in Spring 2016 from Leipzig, Germany with his wife Katie. Lukas studied American Studies and Art History at the University of Leipzig and worked in a variety of gallery and exhibition projects before moving to the US. From 2013 to 2015, he managed a gallery for contemporary art in Leipzig. In his free time, Lukas enjoys reading, playing music, seeing art exhibitions and exploring his new home country.

    Lukas joined the CBI staff in 2017 and currently directs CBI’s communications, which includes the weekly newsletter, the CBI website, social media accounts, and live-streaming options. He especially enjoys the creative aspects of his work and is planning to add a blog and podcast to CBI’s offerings in the future.

  • Raya has over 20 years of professional experience in Jewish communal organizations. She has a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Studies from Gratz College in Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies from the University of Florida.

    Raya joined CBI in 2014, working in the preschool and religious school. She became CBI’s full-time Office Manager in 2022 to help with the increasing responsibilities that come with a growing congregation and staff.

    She enjoys spending time with family and friends, working on various craft projects, playing the ukulele, and traveling. Her daughter Sophie grew up at CBI, attending Shorashim and camp.

  • Sophie grew up in the lush Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Attending an adventure camp throughout her childhood instilled within her a strong desire to provide others with meaningful experiences in the outdoors.

    Sophie holds a Bachelor of Science in Outdoor Education and a Minor in Environmental Studies. She is a current Wilderness First Responder. For over 15 years, she has coordinated and implemented expeditions and educational experiences across North America, South America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania for a wide range of participants from all ages and cultural backgrounds.

    Sophie enjoys being a part of CBI’s administration team and our unique teaching community. She is excited to continue empowering students to connect with the natural world and pursue learning through curiosity and wonder.

  • Nancy is CBI's Financial Manager, working with the Executive Director and the Finance Committee to conduct the financial functions of the synagogue. Nancy has an MBA in Economics from George Washington University and a BA in Business Economics from Willamette University in Salem, OR. She brings financial management experience from other Charlottesville non-profits. Nancy and her husband Rob moved to Charlottesville in 2010, along with their three (now adult) sons. In her spare time, you can usually find Nancy somewhere with knitting in her hands.

  • Before joining CBI Dana's career was in the education field for over 20 years. She has a master's degree in behavioral science and a teaching license. After Covid, a change of career was in order. The opportunity to work at CBI presented itself as a perfect fit. Dana has been in and around CBI for the past 15 years. Her daughter had her bat mitzvah at CBI (and has now gone off to college at Vassar).  Dana has also worked at CBI summer camp. She has been married to her husband Tom (who taught 1st grade Sunday school) for over two decades. Dana has a son who just graduated college. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, cooking and walking on the beach.

  • Drew grew up right here in Charlottesville and has been a member of the CBI community for his entire life. From an early age, Drew grew an appreciation for his faith and has always looked for ways to share his passion with the local, Jewish community.

    Drew graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland in 2011. He then began a career in print journalism at the Daily Progress in Charlottesville. In addition to the Daily Progress, Drew has had bylines in the Chicago Tribune, the Elite Daily, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and dozens of other publications.

    After spending seven years working for a search engine marketing firm and the Virginia Institute of Autism respectively, Drew arrived at the CBI Forest School in the fall of 2023. He thoroughly enjoys spreading the school’s one-of-a-kind message on social media and other digital media platforms. Drew loves getting to spend every day in the beautiful forest and to play a small role in helping shape the next generation of the Jewish community here in Charlottesville.

    Drew and his wife Kathryn are the proud parents of two children, Anna and Robbie.

  • In 2015, Latifa Berry Kropf became the Senior Connections Manager through a generous grant from the United Jewish Fund for Charlottesville. In this role she meets with seniors one on one and creating Jewish and festival programming. She was trained by the Institute of Jewish Spirituality as a Wise Aging facilitator and presently has three ongoing wise aging groups.

    Latifa is also the co-leader of P’nai Yisrel Chavurah , a Jewish renewal community which has been in Charlottesville for over 30 years. She choreographed and taught Jewish Sacred Dance to adults and children around the country and published teaching materials. She was the first teacher and one of the founders of the CBI preschool and served as a public school elementary school teacher and reading specialist. While teaching at CBI, she wrote a series of Jewish themed books featuring her students. These books were published by Kar-Ben and include "It's Challah Time", "It's Sukkot Time" "It's Chanukah Time," "It's Purim Time", "It's Shofar Time" and "It's Seder Time."

  • Anna's work coordinating the JewC young professionals group at CBI has brought great meaning to her life here in Charlottesville, and has – through funding from the United Jewish Fund of Charlottesville - grown the group to be a home away from home for over 50 young adults who are looking for a strong vibrant Jewish community in which to build their lives. In her spare time you'll find her exploring Charlottesville with the JewC group on the river, climbing a mountain, taking a workshop, seeing a concert, or at a new restaurant in town!

  • Cantor Sharon McCord, B.Mus., M.Mus., serves as Music Specialist and Shaliach Tzibbur - service leader - at Congregation Beth Israel. Ordained in January 2021 through the Aleph Ordination Program after a five year intensive course of study, Cantor Sharon leads services and performs Jewish rituals for individuals and communities throughout the US as well as for the CBI community. She runs a music studio, teaching lessons in several instruments, and composes and arranges Jewish music for liturgy and concert. At CBI, she leads Shabbat services, directs the Chutzpah! Chorus and instrumental groups, teaches music in the religious school, and hopes to add music related beit midrash classes for the adult community. Cantor Sharon co-produced with Liora Laufer (z”l), a CD of Shabbat Hallelu music, which is available in the CBI office.