recordings
CRC STAFF
Rabbis
Education
Essie Mitchell, Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning
Maggie Duwe, Interfaith/Outreach Coordinator
Cecelia Riebel, Education Assistant
Administration
John Terranova, Executive Director
Jen Bersdale, Director of Advocacy and Communication
Sharalyn Saks, Director of Finance
Joy Lieberman, Membership Secretary and Receptionist
Sharon Brown, Rabbis' Assistant
Connie Joseph, Publications Coordinator
Terrell Wooten, Building Supervisor
Daniel Lieberman, Building Services and Security
Charles McCain, Building Services and Security
John is CRC's Executive Director. Together with CRC's dedicated staff and volunteers, he coordinates the many programs and events happening every week at CRC, as well as managing the day to day activities of the congregation office. He provides support for the Rabbis, Board of Directors and various Circles and Committees.
John is a native St. Louisan, earned his BS degree in Finance from St. Louis University, and has 25 years of experience in not-for-profit environment. He and his wife Diane, an Oncology nurse at Missouri Baptist Hospital Cancer Center, live in the Fenton area of St. Louis County. He has three grown children and three grandchildren.
To contact John, call (314) 361-1564 ext 105 or e-mail him at john@centralreform.org
Jen joined CRC in June 2007 as Director of Advocacy and Communications. In this role, Jen works with the rabbis, Board members, and CRC members to oversee CRC’s wide range of social responsibility and tikkun olam programs, as well as provide oversight of all CRC communications. Some of the programs that Jen works on are CRC’s partnership with the St. Louis Juvenile Detention Center, advocacy work to increase health care access, and programs to educate and empower CRC members to make a difference in combating poverty in St. Louis.
Immediately prior to coming to CRC, Jen worked as the Assistant Director of the Humane Society of Missouri. Jen also worked at Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region for four years, first as a Political Organizer and then as Development Officer, and at NARAL Pro-Choice America in Washington, DC. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in 2001 with a double major in Women’s Studies and Spanish.
In addition to her work at CRC, Jen currently serves on the board of PROMO, Missouri’s statewide organization advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality.
When she’s not busy trying to repair the world, Jen can often be found at her home in South City with her partner Rachael, cooking up vegan food with local produce, drawing, playing board games, or playing with some of their beloved pets. For those of you counting, Jen and Rachael’s menagerie currently comes to nine: five parrots, three cats, and a dog. Things are rarely dull or quiet in the Bersdale home!
To contact Jen, call (314) 361-1564 ext 116 or e-mail her at jennifer@centralreform.org
Sharalyn grew up Presbyterian in Jackson, Michigan and received her BBA and MBA from The University of Michigan (GO BLUE!). Her husband, Ron, is a native St. Louisan and grew up at B’nai Amoona and attended MIT and Washington U. They are both CPAs by education. Ron moved on to industry in the mid-seventies. After 15 years of public practice, Sharalyn took on the challenging job of being a full-time mom.
Between Sharalyn and Ron, they have five lovely children—Jocelin, April, Emily, Aaron and Katie. The three older girls are married to three very special guys and have produced five very special grandchildren. Jocelin and April live south of San Francisco; Emily, Aaron and Katie are in St. Louis.
Their family joined CRC in 1986 and their youngest children, Aaron and Katie, were B’nai Mitzvahed at CRC. Rabbi Susan and Rabbi Jim (Goodman) had confirmed the older girls at Shaare Emeth. Through the “CRC” experience, Sharalyn realized she really was a Jew at heart and converted. “Henani, here I am.”
In 1998 Sharalyn agreed to help out temporarily in the CRC office until a full-time Executive Director could be hired. She stayed on as the Director of Finance. Sharalyn has so much enjoyed guarding and guiding the temple finances, working with the Rabbis, lay board, staff and, most rewarding, the congregants. She is always available to discuss financial problems in a confidential and “CRC” way.
Besides her fabulous husband and children, Sharalyn has three Parrot Cichleds (fish), two Cockatiels, and one Bearded Collie. She also has four grand dogs that love to sleep over. They have a family cottage on Cape Cod, so Sharalyn may be hard to get a hold of during August. For fun, she likes playing Scrabble Blast, knitting and quilting, reading, swimming and watching the newest hot series on HBO or Showtime.
To contact Sharalyn, call (314) 361-1564 ext 104 or e-mail her at sharalyn@centralreform.org
Joy has been at CRC since 1988, serving in most administrative capacities. For many years she has been CRC’s Membership Secretary, contacting congregants and prospective members and keeping all membership files current. Joy is the face you see and usually the voice you hear when you contact CRC as she is our Receptionist. Joy is a major help in all our mailings, maintains our database, and supports our Finance Director as well.
Joy, a University City native, met her husband Larry at the University of Illinois in Champaign. Together they have raised five children. Their son, Dan, also works at CRC. For twenty-four years Joy was an elected member of the University City School Board and when she retired, one school was renamed the Joy Lieberman Learning Center. Joy has also served on the Board of Directors of the Missouri School Boards’ Associa-tion, The National School Boards Federal Relations Network, the Special School District Governing Council, and the Missouri Commission on Human Rights. She currently serves on the University City Library Board and the Board of U. City in Bloom.
Joy and Larry spend a lot of time enjoying their youngest grandchild, Devin (Dan’s son) and their shih tzu, Mazel. Joy is our expert on Chinese food—especially potstickers.
To contact Joy, call (314) 361-1564 ext 109 or e-mail her at joy@centralreform.org
Sharon came to CRC in 2003. As our Rabbi’s Assistant, she would do absolutely anything for the dynamic duo. She makes (and reschedules) our Rabbis’ appointments and contacts members and others on their behalf. Sharon keeps our tikkun closet stocked with food and clothing donations, organizes the onegs following Shabbat Services, and maintains our indoor plants and our vegetable garden. Sharon especially enjoys her work with b’nai mitzvah students and their families.
A world traveler, avid gardener, voracious reader and life-long volunteer (Springboard Arts Council, Cinema St. Louis, Arts Commandos, Central Institute for the Deaf, First Night, and MO Botanical Garden), Sharon often has wrinkly fingers from aquacize. She is our go-to person if we want to know about books, movies and restaurants as she has read, viewed, and dined at them all!
Sharon is looking forward to joining the Peace Corps when she retires.
To contact Sharon, call (314) 361-1564 ext 101 or e-mail her at sharon@centralreform.org
Connie, our Publications Coordinator, joined CRC in 2005. She maintains and updates our website, prepares and publishes our monthly newsletter (memo), our weekly e-announcements (This Week at CRC), and our Shabbat bulletin. Connie formatted our Shabbat siddur and High Holidays machzor, plus all the beautiful b’nai mitzvah siddurim prepared by our families. You’ll find her updating our calendar, answering our members’ questions and aiding other staff members with their computer and copier problems. Recently, Connie completed the two-year Florence Melton course on Judaism.
Connie is a graduate of Kirkwood High (a must know if you are from St. Louis), graduated from Washington University and spent a year at Claremont Graduate School in California. She worked in the Golden State for twenty-six years, many of these in high tech executive search and human resources management. She returned to the Midwest in 1992, settling in southern Illinois as an HR Director for a manufacturing company. She was elected an officer in the Carlyle Lake Audubon Society and the Southern Illinois Audubon Society.
Connie now lives in the Central West End—walking distance from CRC—with her four dogs. You can see her at the CWE Dog Park twice daily socializing with the members as well as the dogs. Connie’s daughter, Anne, and grandson, Alex, live in Kirkwood (and also have four dogs)! A reader, Connie also watches television with Whale Wars (Animal Planet) and So You Think You Can Dance being her favorites. Connie is returning to birding and on weekends, you can see her packing her car with binoculars, spotting scope, and eat-while-driving food.
To contact Connie, call (314) 361-1564 ext 100 or e-mail her at connie@centralreform.org
Terrell is CRC’s Building Supervisor and the person to see for everything CRC. His goal is to make sure our building is clean, maintained and that all facility events run smoothly for our wonderful members and guests. Terrell loves being with the kids on Saturday mornings!
On snowy mornings, Terrell is here early to shovel and salt the walkways. He gathers the bamboo to decorate our sukkah, which he helps to erect each year. He takes care of the office staff needs and makes himself irreplaceable. A former cook, Terrell is our master griller and chef for staff birthday celebrations.
Terrell is the proud father of little Terrell (who attends middle school in University City). They are looking forward to becoming B’nai Mitzvah together in October 2010.
Terrell is an avid sports fan – “Go Cards!”
To contact Terrell, call (314) 361-1564 ext 108 or e-mail him at terrell@centralreform.org
Daniel has been working in building services at CRC since 2003. If you need something done in our facility, Daniel is there. He works with organizations who rent our building and sets up our equipment per their requests. Daniel also provides ongoing security for CRC and its members.
Daniel attended Forest Park Community College and Central Missouri State University, majoring in Criminal Justice. He previously held security officer positions and was an EMT with the University City Fire Department.
A workout enthusiast, Daniel and his wife Shavon live in the Normandy area with their young son, Devin, who may be found at CRC looking for a ball or hugging his grandmother, Joy.
Charles works in Building Services. He is
at CRC for Friday services to allow entry
and to set up the oneg.
More information coming soon.
