Brooke Amo –
Executive Director
Brooke joins Temple Israel from the Charlotte Jewish Preschool (CJP), where she served as the Executive Director for the past nine years (13 years in total), achieving remarkable success in various key areas and initiatives. Throughout her tenure at CJP, Brooke demonstrated an unwavering commitment to organizational growth, staff recruitment/retention (overseeing more than 60 staff members), board development, capital improvements, curriculum/programmatic development, financial strength and strategic planning. Brooke will bring to Temple Israel her strong leadership, coaching skills, operational acumen, knowledge in human capital, experience in increasing enrollment, and a proven ability to work in concert with a Board of Directors on strategic initiatives and long term planning. She also has cultivated strong relationships within Shalom Park leadership, and most importantly, a deep passion for Jewish learning, life, and community. We feel confident that Brooke will undoubtedly contribute significantly to our congregations continued growth and vibrancy. In addition to her nine years of Executive Leadership experience, Brooke holds a Master’s degree in Education, a Bachelor’s degree in Education/Multiculturalism, and a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from Duke University. She is also near completion of her Certificate in Executive Coaching from the Center for Creative Leadership.
Glenna Alcerro –
Director of Finance
Glenna is an accounting professional with extensive experience helping organizations maintain accurate and timely financial reporting. She comes from a long line of accounting professionals and has even passed her love for the field down to her eldest daughter who is a CPA. She is a proud mother of three beautiful children and enjoy spending my weekends being the grandmother to the rambunctious three-year-old superstar Ms. Nova. If you ever want to find her during vacation time it’s best to look for her on a beach in Latin America, some of her favorite countries: Mexico, Honduras, Dominican Republic, and her 2nd home Cuba. She is a proud member of Temple Israel staff and is so excited to lend her expertise alongside her amazing professional family here. It is her mission to help maintain precise and transparent reporting of all Temple Israel’s financial data.
Samantha Fultz –
Director of Membership & Engagement
Samantha was born and raised in Far Hills, New Jersey. She left the Northeast to attend the University of South Carolina where she earned her Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management. Upon graduation, she moved straight to Charlotte in 2015 to begin her career. Her background is in club management. Samantha brings with her a wealth of experience and a proven track record in Marketing, Membership Development, and fostering strong community engagement. Prior to TI, she was the Director of Membership and Marketing at Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, NC. Samantha will be instrumental in our Temple Community, fostering meaningful connections among members and other stakeholders, as well as elevating the overall membership experience. She is married to her very Southern husband, Chad, and they have two rescue dogs who keep them on our toes. As far as her religious background goes, she was raised culturally Jewish. She celebrated the holidays here and there, but Judaism was never a huge part of her upbringing. After she graduated college, she attended Birthright in 2016 which was a life changing experience for her. She had her "express" Bat Mitzvah in Jerusalem and has felt so connected to Israel and the Jewish people ever since. She cannot begin to express how excited she is to become more involved with our Charlotte Jewish community now that she is here at Temple Israel.
Alan Johnathan - Assistant Director of Temple Israel Religious School and Family Engagement
Alan is a New Yorker born and raised on Long Island and attended American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, where he graduated with a BA in History. He moved to Charlotte in 2013 to teach 8th-grade social studies, where he would meet his future wife, Michelle, during teacher orientation. Over the years, Alan has worked as a Medicaid Service Coordinator, an assistant pre-k teacher, a paraprofessional in various classroom settings, including a self-contained life skills classroom, a courier for FedEx Express, JTeam staff, a life coach for a young adult with Aspergers Syndrome, a handyman, and a landscaper. Alan has worked at Temple Israel since 2018, wearing many different kippot, usually involving our youth. Alan works alongside Naomi as the Assistant Director of TIRS and Family Engagement. Alan loves gardening, tending to his koi pond, writing, exploring thrift shops with Michelle, cooking, and baking. Alan and Michelle are empty nesters, with both daughters living in Charlotte and their son living in New York. Currently, they have a dog named Charlie, thier youngest daughter's cats Ziggy and Moose, and frequently foster kittens.
Bill Grish –
Clergy Assistant
Bill enjoyed a celebrated career as a Senior Human Resources Manager for a Global IT company prior to joining Shalom Park. Coming from an environment of 300,000+ employees to the small but extremely talented workforce at Temple Israel has proven to be a great move for him. His history of supporting employees in the HR space has prepared him very well for being productive as the Temple Israel Clergy Assistant. His 30 years of working within HR included employee engagement, employee relations, recruiting, on-boarding, policy creation/enforcement, etc. These skills carry over to his current role allowing him to support many areas of our business. His primary focus at the Temple is to support both the Rabbi and Cantor in their pursuits regarding Congregant Engagement in addition to providing scheduling support, admin support, tech support, etc. He is thrilled to apply his years of business acumen to this strong team at Temple Israel. He has been a resident of Charlotte for the past 16 years having moved from the town of Boonton, NJ where he grew up. He is a graduate of Rutgers University’s main campus in New Brunswick NJ where he majored in Communications/Journalism & Mass Media while achieving a minor in Psychology. Throughout his HR career, and to this current day, he possesses the PHR (Professional of HR certificate). He resides near Sardis Road in Charlotte and he love's the community of Temple Israel. He appreciate you embracing him into the community and he's happy to be here.
Naomi Fabes –
Director of Temple Israel Religious School & Family Engagement
Naomi is thrilled to join the team at Temple Israel as the Director of the Religious School and Family Education. She is passionate about crafting meaningful experiences that allow children and families of all ages to find their connection to Judaism in a personal and authentic way. Originally from El Paso, Texas, Naomi acquired her love for Judaism from her nine years at the El Paso Hebrew Day School and leadership roles in USY. She earned her BS in Early Childhood and Elementary Education at the University of Texas at Austin where she was also involved in Jewish campus life and Israel activism. She continued on to earn an MA in Jewish Education from The Jewish Theological Seminary. While in school, Naomi taught in Jewish preschools and religious schools and spent her summers as a ropes course instructor at Ramah Day Camp in Nyack. Naomi was instrumental in the expansion of the Youth & Family Education department at Central Synagogue where she redesigned the religious school's K-2nd grade curriculum, staffed teen trips, planned community-wide holiday celebrations, and founded Camp Central, the synagogue's early childhood summer camp. Naomi also served as the Director of Education at Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester where she ushered the community through COVID-19 while co-leading the Women's Study Group. Most recently, Naomi served as the Director of Programming at the Moise Safra Center, a JCC in the heart of the Upper East Side, while participating in the fourth cohort of UJA's Ruskay Institute for Jewish Professional Leadership. During her free time, Naomi enjoys watching Bravo, rooting for the Texas Longhorns, and hiking and kayaking in the great outdoors. She and her husband, Sherman, have a daughter, Chaviva, and a dog named Mallomar.
Alyson Kalik –
Events & Engagement Coordinator
Alyson was born in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles when she was 16 & then moved to Charlotte 20 years later. Alyson brings over 25 years of expertise in office management, bookkeeping, and customer service, most recently honed at the Charlotte Jewish Preschool. Her deep roots in the Jewish community and her extensive experience make her an invaluable addition to our staff. Alyson will oversee the planning and execution of Temple Israel’s events, from holiday celebrations to community gatherings and special programs. She will manage all aspects of event logistics, including timelines, budgets, vendors, security, and custodial needs, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all attendees. Alyson will also handle Kiddush coordination, maintaining the calendar, confirming sponsorships, and working with caterers to finalize details. Additionally, she will serve as the primary liaison for auxiliary groups providing guidance on event planning, communications, and alignment with Temple Israel’s goals and policies.
Throughout her career, Alyson has built strong relationships within Shalom Park and beyond, earning a reputation for her dedication, attention to detail, and an organized approach in event coordination. Her passion for fostering community and her ability to manage events of all sizes align seamlessly with Temple Israel’s mission to create meaningful and engaging experiences for our congregants. "I have 2 sons: Mitchell and Jake & a grand-daughter, Arabella. I love to read & play cards (3-13 is my favorite) and spend time with my family; I am just learning to play pickleball!"
Amy Rosemond-Hatch –
Office Manager & Administrative Assistant
Amy brings with her a wealth of experience and a proven track record in office management, administrative support, and organizational leadership. In her previous roles, including as Office Manager at Charlotte Plantscapes, Inc., and as an Executive Assistant, Amy demonstrated exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills. She successfully managed daily office operations, streamlined processes, coordinated communications, and oversaw facility and calendar management. Her ability to create efficient and welcoming environments has been a strength in previous roles. Amy plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of our administrative office, enhancing efficiency, and fostering a welcoming atmosphere for all who interact with Temple Israel.
