Our Makom NY Advisory Council
To connect with any of our advisory council members,
please simply send an email to info@makomny.org or call 516.447.0818.
please simply send an email to info@makomny.org or call 516.447.0818.
Makom NY has a small Advisory Council comprised of a committed group of volunteers who work in true partnership with our community and our Rabbi. The Advisory Council prides itself in maintaining the highest level of integrity while lowering barriers and reaching people where they are. We have a deep commitment to transparency and open communication between and among MAKOM's participants. The Council represents only a small percentage of the many volunteers who give of their time and expertise to establish and enhance Makom NY now and in the future.
Robyn Block is a member of the Advisory Council for Makom NY. She is currently a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher in Port Washington, and also has experience teaching courses in science, health, and personal finance. During the summer Robyn teaches kids’ cooking classes at Camp Kinder Ring, a Jewish sleepaway camp. Robyn graduated with a B.S. in Nutritional Sciences/Dietetics from Cornell University, completed her Dietetic Internship at the National Institutes of Health, and earned her Master’s in Public Health degree from New York University. In addition to holding multiple New York State teaching certifications, Robyn is also a Registered Dietitian and worked at Einstein/Montefiore Hospital before making the career change to education. Robyn lives in Plainview with her husband Corey and her two boys.
Rabbi Deborah Bravo currently serves as a member of the Advisory Council and the spiritual leader and rabbinic mentor for Makom NY: A New Kind of Jewish Community. She also freelances as a community rabbi and teacher, performing life cycle events, teaching and consulting with other clergy, educators and communities. Until June 30, 2015, Rabbi Bravo served as the senior rabbi of North Shore Synagogue in Syosset, NY. Prior to that, she served as rabbi and spiritual leader of Temple EmanuEl in Edison, NJ, associate rabbi and rabbi educator for Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in Short Hills, NJ, and assistant rabbi at Washington Hebrew Congregation in DC. Ordained from HUCJIR in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1998, Rabbi Bravo also holds a Master’s degree in Education from Xavier University and a Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis. She and her husband, David, reside in Woodbury, NY with their two children. For more information about Rabbi Bravo, click here.
Dana Geen serves a member of the Advisory Council for Makom NY. She resides in Syosset, NY and has a Masters of Business Administration degree in finance from New York University. Ms. Geen retired from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York after overseeing and directing the strategic and tactical plans of the Fedwire Funds and Securities business nationwide. Her focus was on providing highly reliable and efficient wholesale payment services for financial institutions, their customers, the United States Treasury Department, and other government sponsored enterprises. She received a President’s Award for Excellence for her outstanding performance in establishing nationwide policy guidelines for the National Book Entry Securities System. Dana resides in Syosset with her husband Peter and their two children.
Dr. Jacqueline Kligerman serves as the Secretary and a member of the Advisory Council for Makom NY. She is a retired special educator who served as a teacher, clinician, administrator and school principal in a variety of public and private educational settings throughout her career including schools, hospitals, clinics, government and private practice. She holds a doctoral degree from Teachers College, Columbia University where she taught courses in psychology and education. She also served as an officer on the boards of several Conservative synagogues on Long island as well as a member of the education advisory board of the Solomon Schechter Day School.
Audra Lewton is Director of Gift and Estate Planning and Assistant General Counsel at Barnard College. Audra earned a B.A. magna cum laude in Political Science and French from Wellesley College and a J.D. cum laude from Cornell Law School. She was an associate in the Private Clients Group (formerly the Trusts and Estates Department) at Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP in New York prior to joining Barnard College’s Office of Planned Giving in 2006. Audra is a member of the Philanthropic Planning Group of Greater New York and a past member of the Non-Profit Organizations Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York. For the past decade, she and her family have led HOWIE’S WALKERS, a “Top Team” in the annual Lustgarten Foundation Long Island Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk. She lives in Plainview with her husband and two children, who are enthusiastic participants in Makom NY’s musical Shabbat services and the Moadon program.
Andrew Posen serves as the Treasurer and a member of the Advisory Council for Makom NY. He is currently Vice President, Head of Investor Relations at Tremor Video, an online Video Advertising company. Over the past 20 years, Andrew has worked in senior finance roles across multiple industries including companies in financial services, financial technology and technology. He has a Masters in Health Administration from the University of British Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from McMaster University. Andrew currently resides in Woodbury, NY with his wife, Michele and their four daughters.
Members of Rabbi Bravo's Rabbinic Advisory Team
Mark Cohon serves as a member of the Makom NY Advisory Council. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Universal Operations Risk Management (UnivOps) since founding the company in 2011. UnivOps owns and operates Redpoint Resolutions and Ripcord Travel Protection, both which Mark serves as CEO. Mark has invested in and founded several companies, two of which he serves on their board of directors. UnivOps also operated and owns several reinsurance companies, all of which Mark is in the Board of Directors. Prior to UnivOps, Mark was a Principal at American Benefits Consulting and served in various executive positions at large companies including MetLife. He has spent 27+ years creating, building and leading winning teams in the benefits, risk management, security and insurance and reinsurance industry; and building strong, trusted relationships that lead to innovative solutions for clients, partners and colleagues. A graduate of Franklin and Marshall College and Wharton School of Business, he enjoys spending quality time with his family.
Marla Sochet serves as a member of the Advisory Council for Makom NY. She is a licensed massage therapist trained at the Swedish Institute and has been in practice for 16 years. She earned her BS in Food and Nutrition from Cornell University. With her background as a food professional at Lipton, Ogilvy & Mather and Parents Magazine, she endeavors to promote wellness in individuals through both good nutrition and proper body work. She resides in Syosset with her husband, Sam, and two teenage daughters.
Dr. Cindy Tobin serves as a member of the Advisory Council for Makom NY. She was born and raised on Long Island. She graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.D. from Albany Medical College, Union University through the combined six year BioMedical program. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. She is board certified and holds a faculty appointment as Assistant Clinical Professor and ICE preceptor at the Hofstra North Shore LIJ School of Medicine. Dr. Tobin practices gynecology at Premiere Women's Health, with offices in Woodbury and Manhasset. She resides in Melville, NY with her two children.
