Synagogue Leadership Was Part of Everyday Life.
WHERE IT STARTED
I grew up in a house where the synagogue was the center of our communal world. My father served as President, my mother led the Sisterhood, and discussions about the budget, the building, and the future of the congregation weren't just board meetings—they were dinner table conversations. I learned early that a synagogue doesn't just happen. It is built and sustained by people who care enough to show up.
“I realized that the synagogue doesn't run because 'someone else' takes care of it. It runs because we take care of it.”
Before I Ever Worked in Marketing, I Was Learning How Communities Work.
As a Teenager
Synagogue life was just what we did. I saw firsthand that for a community to feel like home, the details—how we welcomed people, how we shared information—mattered as much as the service itself.
As an Adult
Serving in leadership across religious life, facilities, and governance taught me that every shul has a unique culture. Marketing isn't about changing that culture; it's about honoring it while making it accessible to others.
As a Committee Chair
Chairing a Synagogue Marketing Committee Changed the Way I Thought About This Work.
I realized that most synagogues are using corporate marketing tactics that don't fit the sacred nature of our work. We need a different approach—one that combines professional strategy with a deep understanding of communal life.
I Understand the Marketing Question.
But I Also Understand the Synagogue Question.
The most effective solution has to make sense in both worlds.
More Than 20 Years of Professional Marketing Experience
I bring more than two decades of experience in marketing, communications, and business strategy to every congregation I serve. My background includes leadership roles in agency environments, corporate marketing departments, and independent consulting, with a focus on helping organizations communicate their purpose clearly and effectively.
My experience covers a broad range of professional areas, including:
- Strategic Marketing & Communications Planning
- Brand Development & Messaging
- Media Relations & Crisis Management
- Leadership Development & Board Coaching
- Digital Strategy & Engagement
When we work together, I am constantly asking the professional marketing questions that matter: Who are we trying to reach? What is the most important thing we need them to know? What is the specific action we want them to take? And how will we know if we have succeeded?
20+ YEARS
Marketing, communications, and business strategy
600+
Television appearances and media segments
200+
Podcast interviews and professional conversations
Two Types of Experience. One Perspective.
PROFESSIONAL MARKETING EXPERIENCE
SYNAGOGUE LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
- Strategic Planning & Governance
- Engagement & Membership Development
- Religious Life & Community Enrichment
- Facility & Asset Stewardship
What will actually work inside this congregation?
- Brand Strategy & Positioning
- Communications & Messaging
- Media Relations & Public Visibility
- Marketing Leadership & Team Development
What should we be doing—and why?
Shul Marketing sits at the intersection of those two questions.
Synagogue Leadership Has Taught Me a Few Things.
01
02
03
Culture eats strategy for breakfast (especially in a shul).
Clarity is a form of kindness.
Engagement isn’t an accident.
You can have the best marketing plan in the world, but if it doesn’t respect the unique history and DNA of your congregation, it will never take root.
When people don’t know what to do next, they do nothing. Eliminating confusion is the fastest way to increase engagement.
Participation happens because someone designed a pathway for it. We have to be as intentional about the process as we are about the programming.
Those lessons shape how I approach every Shul Marketing engagement.
Those lessons shape how I approach every Shul Marketing engagement.
Those lessons shape how I approach every Shul Marketing engagement.
04
The ‘synagogue schedule’ is the enemy of strategy.
Reactive marketing—promoting whatever is happening next week—prevents us from building the long-term connections that actually sustain a synagogue.
Those lessons shape how I approach every Shul Marketing engagement.
05
Leadership alignment is the secret sauce.
When the Rabbi, the Board, and the staff are speaking the same language about what engagement looks like, the community feels the difference immediately.
Those lessons shape how I approach every Shul Marketing engagement.
WHY SHUL MARKETING EXISTS
I Saw a Gap.
I saw synagogues spending precious resources on marketing that felt like an afterthought to the real work of community. I saw professional marketers who didn’t understand the sacred nature of a congregation, and I saw synagogue leaders who felt overwhelmed by the technical demands of modern communication. I created Shul Marketing to be the partner I wish I had when I was sitting in those leadership meetings—someone who understands that marketing is not an end in itself, but a tool for connection.
“Before you spend more money marketing your synagogue, understand what is already happening.”
What You Can Expect From Me
I LISTEN FIRST
Great marketing starts with understanding, not talking. I want to hear the history, the hurdles, and the hopes before I offer a single recommendation.
I ASK QUESTIONS
I am not there to confirm what you already believe. I’m there to ask the hard questions that help your leadership see new possibilities.
I RESPECT THE CULTURE
Every synagogue has its own unique 'minhag' or way of doing things. I respect that culture and look for solutions that fit within it, not against it.
I LOOK FOR PRACTICAL CHANGE
Transformation is good, but practical progress is better. I focus on changes that can actually be implemented by busy staff and volunteers.
I WILL TELL YOU WHAT I THINK
You are not paying for a 'yes' man. You are paying for a perspective shaped by decades of marketing strategy and synagogue leadership.
A Synagogue Is Not an Ordinary Business.
While professional strategy is essential, a synagogue operates under a sacred covenant, not just a service contract. We are dealing with identity, community, and belonging.
Marketing should never make a synagogue feel more commercial. It should help the synagogue communicate its purpose more clearly.
A Little More About Me
I live in Jacksonville, Florida with my family, where I continue to be an active member of my local congregation. When I’m not working with shul leaders, you might find me discussing media trends, sales systems, parenting, or the intersection of tradition and modern life.
Location
Jacksonville, FL
Experience That Supports the Work
Synagogue Leadership
- Marketing Committee Chair
- Board of Trustees Member
- Religious Life Committee
- Facilities & Strategic Planning
- Cemetery Operations Service
Professional Experience
- 20+ Years Marketing Strategy
- Communications & Public Relations
- Business Development Leadership
- Media & Broadcasting Experience
- Podcast Host & Interviewer
Education & Development
- Leadership Development Training
- Executive Coaching Coaching
- Advanced Crisis Communications
- Strategic Planning Methodologies
- Non-Profit Governance Studies
LET’S TALK
Tell Me What Your Congregation Is Trying to Solve.
Whether you need a full engagement audit or just a sounding board for a specific marketing challenge, I start by listening. Together, we can find a strategy that respects your synagogue’s culture while driving practical results.
A conversation first. No predetermined solution.