Staff

John Terranova

Executive Director

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 the 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.

Sharalyn Saks

Director of Finance

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 granddogs that love to sleep over. They have a family cottage on Cape Cod, so Sharalyn may be hard to reach 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.

Jennifer Bersdale

Director of Advocacy and Communications

Jen joined CRC in June 2007 and 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 Development at 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 many pets.

To contact Jen, call (314) 361-1564 ext 116 or e-mail her at jennifer@centralreform.org.

Essie Mitchell

Religious School Director

Essie grew up in St. Louis and was educated in the Parkway School District. After graduating from Mizzou with a certification to teach high school English, she went to Botswana with the Peace Corps. From Africa, she moved to upper Maine and with Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), she spent a year creating recreational opportunities for a small rural community. And from coastal Maine, Essie returned to St. Louis, where she taught English at Clayton High School.

Essie loved teaching and the process of facilitating growth and self-esteem in her students. She then attended Washington University where she earned her MSW. She intended to return to teaching, but from there she explored the ins and outs of programming, non-traditional learning and group dynamics, working with the National Council on Alcoholsim and Drug Abuse (NCADA), Lion's Den Outdoor Learning Center, and Fort Zumwalt School District. Essie served as the part-time Director of Education at B'nai El Congregation and has also taught adult English as a Second Language. Essie is a graduate of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School.

Essie and her husband, Gary have two sons, Mayer, who is 10, and Solomon, who is 6. The family enjoys hiking at various county parks, frequenting open fields to toss a Frisbee or a baseball, reading, watching movies, and playing Parcheesi.

To contact Essie, call (314) 361-1564 ext. 118 or e-mail essie@centralreform.org.

Maggie Duwe

Interfaith/Outreach Coordinator

Maggie Duwe was born and raised right here in St. Louis. And she did go to high school here! She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Tulsa in physical education. After living in Colorado, Arkansas, and Florida, she returned to St. Louis to attend Logan College of Chiropractic. Maggie received her doctorate in 1985.

Maggie began her studies and journey with Judaism in 1995, attending Introduction to Judaism, the original Ruth Group, and Melton. In 1996 she converted to Judaism.

Maggie continued her chiropractic practice until 1999, when she moved to New York City. There she began her studies at Hebrew Union College. She was awarded a Masters Degree in Jewish Education.

She currently holds the position of Interfaith and Outreach Coordinator and Adult Educator at CRC. (And works as a chiropractor again too!)

To contact Maggie call (314) 361-1564 ext 112 or e-mail maggie@centralreform.org..

Joy Lieberman

Membership Secretary & Receptionist

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’ Association, 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.

Jennifer Fishering

Assistant to the Rabbis

Jennifer is a native St. Louisan, who went away to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies at Syracuse University, with minors in Geography and Hospitality Management. Jennifer returned to St. Louis to intern with one of CRC’s own - Allison Collinger - at the St. Louis Rams. After some freelance work, Jennifer made her way into the non-profit sector. Directly prior to starting at CRC, Jennifer served as the Director of Community Relations at HavenHouse St. Louis for 3 years. At HavenHouse, Jennifer was responsible for fundraising, special events, public relations, community involvement and volunteers. During her time there, she started the Young Professionals Board, now a thriving arm of HavenHouse St. Louis. Jennifer lives in O’Fallon, Missouri with her husband, Derrick, daughter, Eleanor, and chocolate lab, Trout. Jennifer is thrilled to join the CRC team to help support the people that CRC adores – the Rabbis!

Connie Joseph

Publications Coordinator

Connie, our Publications Coordinator, joined CRC in 2005. She maintains and updates our website, prepares and publishes our monthly newsletter, our weekly e-announcements, 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 socializing with the members and their dogs. Connie’s daughter, Anne, and grandson, Alex, live in Kirkwood with their three dogs. A reader, Connie also watches television with Whale Wars (Animal Planet) and So You Think You Can Dance being her favorites. Connie enjoys 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 Wooten

Building Supervisor

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). Little Terrell celebrated his bar mitzvah in November 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 Lieberman

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.

Cecelia Riebel

Education Assistant

Cecelia, our Education Assistant, works part-time doing whatever needs to be done to keep our youth education programs running smoothly. Whether maintaining the resource rooms, shopping for supplies, or helping with a mailing, Cecelia is always happy to pitch in and is an invaluable help to both CRC’s Education Department and our administrative staff.

Cecelia is proud to be entering her seventh decade on Mother Earth this year. She counts as her biggest accomplishments her three stupendous adult children and one spectacular granddaughter. Two of her children live out of state and one, happily, is in St. Louis.

Cecelia has lived in North St. Louis City and County her entire life, and says “Isn’t the “North” where it’s at?” Cecelia started working at age 13 and has now been in the work force both full and part-time for 43 years.

Cecelia came to CRC through her daughter, Sarah (Taucher Wright), who used to work at CRC. She says this position has been especially interesting, since she is not Jewish and sometimes needs guidance on how to pronounce and find the various items – though she now knows quite a lot. Cecelia says, “This is my first experience working with the Jewish community. I want everyone to know the patience shown to me is greatly appreciated.”

Charles McCain

Charles works in Building Services. He is at CRC for Friday services to allow entry and to set up the oneg.