Nevei Kodesh Board of Directors

Contact: board@neveikodesh.org

Ian McPherson, President

Ian has been volunteering regularly at Nevei Kodesh since moving to Boulder in 2015. Though a Colorado native, he first encountered Renewal Judaism at Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley, CA when his wife, Thea, brought him to a brilliant kabbalat shabbat service. They both sought out Jewish Renewal community when deciding to move to Colorado, and were delighted to find a heart-centered, joyful place of practice at Nevei Kodesh.

Ian is a classically trained vocalist and multi-instrumentalist and is active as a lay-leader in the congregation. He regularly leads services with Rav Bracha and lends musical support to other lay leadership.

You are welcome to contact Ian personally at ian@imcpherson.com.

David Brode, Treasurer 

David Brode is the Treasurer of Nevei Kodesh, has been on the board since 2018, and has been a member since 1997. He lives in Boulder with his wife Eleanor. Fun fact: with their large blended family, they have put five kids through the b'nai mitzvah program, with one more to go.

Cassie Goldfine

I moved, along with my husband and children, from Chicago in February of 2018. My husband and I had both spent a fair amount of time in mountain towns and were excited to have the opportunity to move to Colorado when the opportunity arose. We both transferred for work, I in re-insurance and my husband works for an environmental firm.  

We enjoy traveling both near and far.  We spend time in the mountains and we have family in the Chicagoland area and Wisconsin, so we get to spend a lot of time there over the summer. Summer 2020, Stella and Ryder will spend their first week at sleepaway camp – they are so excited!  The kids attend Three Creeks K-8 in West Arvada and are enjoying learning to ski and spend time on the weekends skating, playing soccer, rock climbing gyms...really anything.

We started attending Nevei Kodesh after checking out a few temples in the area.  We liked the sense of community and warmth we encountered and soon signed our kids up for the religious program and have not been disappointed!  So much so that when I was approached to help, I was happy to do so.  
 

Lisa Effress

Despite not having lived there since 2005, Lisa has always felt a draw to her home state of Minnesota and the Jewish community there. But, upon arriving in Boulder, Lisa knew Boulder would become her permanent home. Originally, she migrated here for a career opportunity in Advertising, but she met and married the love of her life, Tim Roper, and had her daughter Eva.  

As soon as Eva could walk, Lisa knew she wanted to find a Jewish community in Boulder where she could instill in her daughter the same Jewish values that she had as a child.

Nevei Kodesh ranked high on the list of suitable synagogue affiliations, and before long, Eva was enrolled in Religious School at NK and the family was enjoying High Holiday services together, among the many other things NK has to offer.  

Lisa finds joy and meaning in being on the Board of Nevei Kodesh. Her parents were board members of the JCC and her hometown synagogue. Lisa was always inspired by their dedication and effortless giving to the community. True to her upbringing and the values of her parents, Lisa has chosen a life of volunteering, giving, and has dedicated herself to the Jewish community in Boulder and beyond.

Wendy Miller

Wendy Miller was born and raised in Los Angeles.  She came to Boulder in 2012 to raise her son Jackson in a sane and peaceful place.  Wendy joined Nevei Kodesh 6 years ago.  She immediately organized the Hannukkah Party, and from there she created (with her friend David Spiro) Jewish Broadway, the annual fundraiser for Nevei Kodesh.  She has been in the show and chaired the event the past several years. Wendy has also been on the board of directors for the past 5 years. She is also on the Fundraising Committee and has helped raise thousands of dollars for Nevei Kodesh. Wendy has also performed in the Broadway Boomers the past 5 years and is currently in a spring show.  Finally, Wendy has written a one woman show and will be performing her show in May. She's a huge theater and musical theater fan, spending most of her life listening to Broadway tunes.

Michael Mittleman