Throughout Ali’s career, children and families have been her entire focus.
Ali began her career as a day camp counselor and establishing, managing and teaching in after school enrichment programs for grade-schoolers. She has run successful marketing and branding initiatives for schools, toy companies, internet/media companies, market research companies, and her own family-and-child-focused marketing, market research and innovation consulting firm.
She has spent countless hours talking to and—more importantly—listening to, literally, thousands of parents, and children.
Ali has coached middle and high school girls’ basketball and field hockey. She has worked in kids’ television and was a pioneer in kids’ internet communities. She has developed educational materials for elementary and middle school students. Ali is the author of humor, parenting, children and young adult books.
Ali holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Northwestern University, attended the Eliot Pearson Child Study Program at Tufts University and is a graduate of The Second City Training Program.
She is thrilled to be back, sneakers-on-the-ground as Director of Club Spark at Congregation Beth Shalom.
Josh is excited to be the newest addition to the Congregation Beth Shalom team!
Originally from Deerfield, Josh spent his first year of college living in Israel as a student on the Nativ College Leadership Program, where he studied at the Rothberg International School at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He spent the rest of his time traveling extensively throughout the country and Eastern Europe and volunteering at the Yemin Orde Youth Village just south of Haifa.
Returning to the States, Josh attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois where he obtained a B.A. in Music & Entertainment Industry. Afterwards, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked at a comedy club and pursued multiple career opportunities in film and event coordination.
Josh has since returned home to Buffalo Grove, and he is thrilled to be putting his skills and energy to good use in a wonderful community. His multiple experiences working with children at overnight camps, teaching martial arts, the youth village, and at the comedy club have crafted his abilities to deliver the best experiences and education for children.