Rabbi Ilana Mills
Director
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Rabbi Ilana Mills joined the Kalsman team after spending three summers in senior leadership roles at Kalsman. She brings a passion for camp and learning everywhere she goes. Rabbi Ilana is a true product of the Union for Reform Judaism.
Kim Press
Registrar
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Kim Press joined the Kalsman team as the West Coast Registrar in 2021 having worked for URJ Camp Newman since 2016. Kim and her husband Marc live in San Rafael and are very active members of Congregation Rodef Sholom. When Kim isn’t busy answering parent questions about registration, scholarships, and all things camp-related, she likes to run, row, bake, and read.
Jessica Brumer
Assistant Director
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Jessica is very excited to be joining the full time Camp Kalsman staff as an Assistant Director. She has attended camp each summer since its inaugural summer of 2007, first as a camper, then as staff member and most recently on the leadership team. Camp has shaped her into the person she is today, and she could not be more excited to be able to show her love and passion for camp all year long.
Jena Whitesman
Assistant Director
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Jena is no stranger to URJ camps having grown up at URJ Camp Coleman in Georgia each summer since she was eight years old! After many years as a camper and staff member, she is thrilled to join the Kalsman team in the Pacific Northwest.
Ariel Kurland
Director of Development
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Originally from the Bay Area, Ariel is thrilled to be back home and joining the URJ West Prior to this role, she worked a fundraising and marketing consultant for organizations focused on social impact, including non-profits, tech companies, and think tanks. Before that, she spent 5 years at BBYO working in fundraising and community engagement throughout the West Coast. She continue to be inspired by the URJ West Camp community.
Ben Stolberg
Development Manager
(Pronouns: He/Him/His)
Ben grew up attending URJ Camp Newman for 13 summers as a camper and staff member. Since graduating from the University of Oregon he has worked in the Jewish community at various organizations including Hillel, JCC, and Jewish National Fund. Ben knows first hand how important overnight camp is in building Jewish identity, community, and lasting friendships for campers. He is thrilled to join the Camp Kalsman team and working with the Kalsman community to ensure that Camp can continue being a home for Jewish campers in the Pacific Northwest
Rachel Slaton
Director, Marketing & Communications
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Rachel joined the Newman team in 2020 as the Associate Camp Director and is now excited to be in this expanded role, supporting both West Coast camps: Newman and Camp Kalsman. Rachel earned Masters in Jewish Non-Profit Management along with a Masters in Public Administration from USC and following graduate school, worked for BJE: Builders of Jewish Education and American Jewish Committee (AJC) in Los Angeles.
Rachel Mellman
Marketing Associate
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
After a few years away, Rachel is excited to be returning to the world of Jewish summer camps as the URJ West Camp’s Marketing Associate. Rachel began attending Camp Newman in 2007 and continued on through Avodah 2015 and CIT 2016. Owing to the transformative experience she had as a camper, Rachel continued her camp journey as a staff member in 2017-18 and an Avodah advisor in 2019. Rachel is thrilled to be supporting Camp Newman and Camp Kalsman in creating the camp magic they are known for.
Lisa Kama
Administrator
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
Lisa Kama began her journey with the URJ West Camps at Camp Newman in the summer of 2015, when she first came to camp to volunteer for a few weeks in the Welcome Center. As the years went by, she began spending more and more time at camp, until she joined the year-round team in the fall of 2021 as Administrator. Lisa grew up attending Jewish summer camps and never quite got enough of it, so being back at camp feels like the perfect fit.
Casey Gore
Business Manager
(Pronouns: She/Her/Hers)
A former camper and counselor at Camp Newman, Casey is thrilled to be joining the West Coast team to support both Camp Newman and Camp Kalsman as the Business Manager. Prior to this role, Casey was a high school counselor and math teacher. She is passionate about building confidence and resilience in young adults – something that so many campers gain from their summer experiences.