Staff

Harvey Tillipman has been the CEO of health and behavioral health care organizations for more than 30 years, providing the complete continuum of care for the elderly including outpatient, inpatient, day, residential and at-home care management programs. He was the first Mental Health Planner for Hennepin County in Minneapolis, at a time when federal, state and county tax supported services were an innovation. He managed and operated a 250-bed inpatient rehabilitation facility as well as many community-based residential facilities, programs and services in Iowa and Ohio. Moving to the East Coast, Harvey was retained as an internal management consultant for Sheppard Pratt Health System of Baltimore, and was responsible for the Maryland Health Systems strategic business planning and acquisitions. Just prior to coming to the Association of Jewish Aging Services of North America (AJAS), he worked with United Jewish Communities, in their Washington D.C. office, primarily in the area of eldercare service development. He has master’s degrees in social work and business administration. Harvey and his wife Susan, an antique art pottery and print dealer, live in Annapolis, Md. They have two daughters, Hava, a physician in residency at the Maryland Medical Center and Jessica, an attorney in Washington, D.C. He can be reached at harvey@ajas.org.

Rachel Maisler is the director of communications and marketing at the Association of Jewish Aging Services. Before coming to AJAS, Rachel worked as the marketing & public relations associate at Action Systems, Inc., a software company in suburban Washington D.C. She managed a multi-faceted marketing campaign including more than 400 e-mail and direct mail initiatives, dozens of tradeshows and niche advertising. Rachel has a broad background in communications and marketing. She began her career in communications as Public Relations Specialist at Old City Coffee, a specialty coffee retailer in Philadelphia. She helped to expand regional media coverage and promote new products. Rachel has been involved in the Jewish community most of her life as a Hebrew school teacher, camp counselor and volunteer. At AJAS, Rachel is responsible for all written and published materials, including the AJAS website, e-Update, The Scribe and the recently-launched of Journal on Jewish Aging. Rachel has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Temple University in Philadelphia. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys the great outdoors, playing an array of sports and traveling the world. She lives in the newly-revitalized downtown area of Silver Spring, Md. Rachel can be reached at rachel@ajas.org.

Etel Menda is the program director at the Association of Jewish Aging Services. Before joining AJAS in 2007, Etel worked in different Jewish and non-Jewish organizations planning events and seminars. Most recently, Etel worked for the American Jewish Committee where she was part of a team organizing week-long seminars in Israel for high profile journalists. Etel held a second job during this time organizing monthly seminars for the George Washington University Political Psychology Seminar Series Program. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., Etel worked at Haddasah-Brandeis Institute in Waltham, Mass. where she planned staff and board meetings and managed the office. In her position at AJAS, Etel is responsible for planning the Annual Conference, Regional Forums, Webinars and Symposia. Being an enthusiastic event planner, Etel is very happy that she is joining the AJAS team in this position. Etel has an M.A. in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University where she concentrated on political psychology. Her bachelor's degree is from Brandeis University in Economics and International and Global Studies. Etel also studied psychology for a semester as a special student in the prestigious Bosporus University of Istanbul, Turkey. Etel grew up in Turkey and studied abroad in Spain, Germany and Costa Rica and traveled to many more countries. After being on-the-go for years, Etel finally felt at home in Greater Washington and enjoys every day that she spends here. Etel currently lives in Arlington, Va. Etel can be reached at etel@ajas.org.

Interns
Masha Gorelik can be reached at masha@ajas.org.
Lesley Libo can be reached at lesley@ajas.org.
Kevin Nider can be reached at kevin@ajas.org.