Meet Our Team

Staff

Nancy Weissmann

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Stephanie Gewirtz

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR

Elizabeth Schoen

LOAN INTAKE & ACCOUNTS MANAGER

Board of Directors

Daniel Frank

BOARD CHAIR & PRESIDENT

Avi Binstock

TREASURER

Debbie Kalwerisky

SECRETARY

Adrienne Litt Bishko

ENGAGEMENT CHAIR

Jonny Newburgh

LOAN COMMITTEE CHAIR

Laura Kahn Travis

IMMEDIATE PAST PRES

Jay Kessler

TRUSTEE EMERITUS

Learn about our interest-free loans

Impact
Nancy Weissmann
Executive Director

Nancy joined JIFLA as the Executive Director in 2016. She manages operations, including borrower, donor and community relations. She works with the board and committee volunteers to continually raise awareness of JIFLA’s important work and identify opportunities for organizational partnerships throughout Georgia.

Stephanie Gewirtz
Associate Director

Stephanie joined our team in 2020. Her background in event planning, administration and communication has proven to be a perfect fit for JIFLA’s growing needs.

A New York native, with a degree in Mass Communication from Boston University, Stephanie is no stranger to the Atlanta Jewish community. From her days as a parent of a Beth Jacob preschooler to working for the Jewish Fertility Foundation and volunteering at Congregation Bet Haverim’s Community School many of you may already know her!

Elizabeth Schoen
Loan Intake and Accounts Manager

Elizabeth Joined JIFLA as Loan Intake and Accounts Manager in 2020. She brings experience in community engagement as well as school administration to her role, working with JIFLA staff and committee members to put our borrowers first and assist in making the loan process straightforward and efficient. Elizabeth holds degrees from McGill University and NYU and loves to meet new challenges and develop new skills. Through the years, Elizabeth has been active in a number of Jewish Day school communities and has sat on the board of Beth Jacob and Yeshiva Atlanta.

Daniel Frank
Board Chair and President

Danny is a first generation American born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Danny moved to Atlanta in 1997 upon graduating Summa Cum Laude from The Ohio State University Honors Accounting Program to work at Ernst & Young. Danny joined his family’s mortgage business in 2006 with a niche in working with Physicians. Danny has a passion for financial literacy and has traveled around the country resenting home financing to graduating medical school students and residents. Danny also currently serves on the Board of Torah Day School of Atlanta where his children attend.

Avi Binstock
Treasurer

Avi Binstock is the Managing Director of Fund Accounting for Balbec Capital and is responsible for accounting and reporting for the firm’s funds. He joined Balbec in 2023 bringing 16 years of experience in the asset management industry. Avi was a Managing Director at Ernst & Young in the assurance practice specializing in asset management clients, with a focus on private equity, credit fund, hedge fund, real estate, timberland, and business development companies. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Accounting and Finance. Avi is married and has four children.

Debbie Kalwerisky
Secretary

Debbie has a background in human resources and financial management and has worked professionally for many years in the synagogue world, most recently as Executive Director at Congregation Ariel, and previously as Executive Director at Congregation Beth Tefillah. She was an active volunteer at the former Greenfield Hebrew Academy and Yeshiva Atlanta schools (now AJA) when her children were younger, as well as serving in many volunteer capacities at her synagogue, Congregation Beth Tefillah. She also served on the Boards of both Yeshiva Atlanta and Beth Tefillah. Debbie recently retired and is enjoying having time to spend with her family. She and her husband have five children and many beautiful grandchildren scattered around the country!

Adrienne Litt Bishko
Community Engagement Chair

Adrienne began her engagement with JIFLA as a volunteer on the loan committee. Adrienne graduated with a BA from The University of Michigan. She has been widely involved as a board member of numerous synagogues and community volunteer wherever she has lived. Prior to joining JIFLA, Ms. Bishko has served as VP of Administration at Temple Emanu-El, Executive Director at Temple Emanu-El, and Executive Director at Congregation Beth Tefillah. Following these engagements, Adrienne formed Adrienne C Bishko Consulting, LLC, specializing in small Jewish non-profits. In addition to her duties at JIFLA, Adrienne currently serves as an Administrative Volunteer at Weinstein Hospice. Adrienne has two married children and five wonderful grandchildren.

Jonny Newburgh
Loan Committee Co-Chair

Jonny joined the Low Income Investment Fund as a Loan Officer, Community Facilities in May 2023. He previously worked for Habitat for Humanity International as Associate Director, Impact Investments and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta’s GoATL Fund as Impact Investment Associate. Jonny started his career in the public sector and spent time working with the Brookings Institution and the US Department of Agriculture. Originally from New York, Jonny grew up in Toronto, Canada. He received a B.A. from McGill University and an M.P.A. from American University. 

Laura Kahn Travis
Immediate Past President

Laura became involved with JIFLA at its inception and was a founding Board and Loan Committee member. She became Board Chair and President in 2015. Under her leadership, the number of loans per year and dollar loan volume have grown more than five-fold, a Board committee structure was created, and our organizational partnership strategy was implemented. Laura was a Big Sister under the auspices of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlanta for 10 years and is a former member of the Executive Board of Yeshiva Atlanta High School (now Atlanta Jewish Academy).

Laura is a Senior Vice President in the Commercial Banking Group of Bank of America. She earned a BBA at the University of Georgia & an MBA from Columbia University in New York. She has enjoyed a lifelong career in Corporate & Investment Banking, having previously worked for Truist Banks.

Laura has three grown children, Rachel, Dahlia and Micah, (all of whom live in Atlanta) and four delicious grandchildren. She has been married to her high school and life-long sweetheart, Reed Travis, for 41 years.

Jay Kessler
Trustee Emeritus

Jay is president of Lib Properties, a mortgage brokerage firm. He is a native of Atlanta, married with 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren. His many volunteer activities include serving on the Executive Board of the Atlanta Community Jewish Center, the Jewish Federation Board, the Executive Board of Torah Day School, and President of Temina High School. He greatly enjoys volunteering in the disabilities department of the Marcus Jewish Community Center.