DONATE

Board of Directors

Behind every meal served, every class offered, and every connection made is a dedicated group of leaders who believe in the power of community and dignity at every age.

Together, they guide our vision, steward our resources, and ensure that seniors in our community receive the respect, support, and opportunities they deserve.

Kinneret Council on Aging Board Member

Neal Blaher

President

See Bio
Kinneret Council on Aging Board Member

Geanne Share

Treasurer

Kinneret Council on Aging Board Member

Emily Raji

Secretary

See Bio
Kinneret Council on Aging Board Member

Mollie Savage

Vice President, Onsite Services

Kinneret Council on Aging Board Member

Dick Appelbaum

Board Member

See Bio
Kinneret Council on Aging Board Member

Carol Feuerman

Board Member

Bari Hoffman

Board Member

See Bio

Noreen Levitt

Board Member

See Bio
Mindy Selber Shams Board Member

Mindy Shams

Board Member

See Bio
Jacqui Drazen McGrail

Jacqui Drazen McGrail

Board Member

See Bio
Kinneret Council on Aging Board Member

Alison Polejes

Emeritus Board Member

See Bio

Susan Godorov

Executive Director

See Bio
Senior at Kinneret Council on Aging Thriving and Aging in Place because of donations.

You Can Provide Life-Enriching Services & Programs

Your gift is more than a donation—it’s a lifeline for seniors who rely on KCOA for vital services.

Together, we can ensure that no one has to choose between food, medicine, or companionship.

GIVE TODAY

Subscribe

Sign up to hear from us about all that's happening at the Kinneret Council on Aging.

Neal Blaher

President

Neal Blaher grew up and spent most of his adult life in Central Florida. After graduating from Winter Park High School, Neal spent 10 years in Philadelphia earning a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Juris Doctorate Degree in Law. Upon returning to Florida, he continued to pursue his law practice, consisting of representing victims of investment fraud, handling matters involving trademark and copyright law, and consulting with owners of both franchisors and franchisees. Between 2013 and 2015, Neal transitioned from law to his roots in Psychology, including five years of research through the Psychology Department at UCF; three years of behavior analysis work with autistic and developmentally disabled children; and over 10 years of providing personal support and caregiver services to physically and mentally disabled adults and seniors. He also has performed as an amateur violinist throughout his adult life with community orchestras in Suburban Philadelphia and Orlando.

Neal is a member of Congregation Ohev Shalom in Maitland, after spending most of his younger years at Temple Israel. At both synagogues, Neal served as a Gabai on the Bimah over a period of 35 years. In his younger years, he also participated and held leadership positions in various youth groups, and in educational and cultural programs, at Congregation of Reform Judaism. Along with his wife Genie, Neal is currently an active supporter of, and frequent traveler to, the State of Israel, where their son now lives, thrives, and gives his parents a great deal of pride.

Emily Raij

Secretary

Emily Raij has written 50-plus children’s books and edited dozens of K-12 educational resources and nonfiction books. She is a Jewish Book Council Network Author, speaking at JCCs, synagogues, and other Jewish organizations about her book, Just Say Welcome, published by Kar-Ben. Emily also works as a contributing writer for J Life Magazine and a program director for Jewish Pavilion Senior Services.

She is a native of Chicago, where she earned her journalism degree from Northwestern University and met her husband, Andrew. They live in Winter Park with their two children and have been there since 2015.

In addition to Kinneret Council on Aging, Emily is a board member at Temple Israel and secretary of the Jewish Community Relations Council. She is a graduate of the Bornstein Leadership Development Program.

Dick Applbaum

Board Member

Dick Appelbaum is a prominent figure in the Greater Orlando area, particularly known for his leadership, philanthropy, and long-standing commitment to the Jewish community in Maitland, Florida.

Born in the Bronx, Dick’s father was a salesperson, so it obviously is part of his DNA. Prior to founding the Dick Appelbaum Company, a promotional product, and incentive campaigns company, which he and his wife Dottie ran successfully for more than 30 years, Dick was in the National Guard and worked at an ad agency. He then worked for Tupperware which relocated him to the Orlando area in 1962. Dick was a buyer for Tupperware where he procured the merchandise for the incentive contests which took him all over the country, often in the company Lear jet!

Dick has been deeply involved with the local Jewish community. He has served as President of the board of the Roth Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Maitland in two separate terms (early 1980s and late 1990s) and as Chairperson of the board of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. One of his major contributions: He chaired the committee that oversaw the merger of the JCC and the Federation into what is now known as Shalom Orlando. Initially skeptical, he later embraced the idea when he realized how much more efficient and impactful the combined organization could be.

Dick was previously on the boards of Kinneret I and II as well as has been a long-standing member of the KCOA Board of Director. Dick and his wife Dottie have three daughters and six grandchildren.

Bari Hoffman, PhD, CCC-SLP

Board Member

Bari Hoffman, PhD, CCC-SLP, is the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Healthcare Innovation in the College of Health Professions and Sciences, Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, with a joint appointment in Internal Medicine within the College of Medicine at the University of Central Florida. A nationally recognized academic leader, Dr. Hoffman brings extensive expertise in clinical practice, scientific inquiry, and strategic leadership across health professions education and healthcare innovation.

Internationally regarded for her contributions to voice science, Dr. Hoffman’s work focuses on the acoustic, aerodynamic, and endoscopic analysis of voice and laryngeal function disorders, spanning professional voice users, individuals with head and neck cancer, complex neurologic conditions, and upper airway disorders. Her research includes computational modeling of the upper and lower airway to advance understanding of respiratory and laryngeal physiology and respiratory muscle strength paradigms. She has led and collaborated on interdisciplinary projects funded by private industry, federal agencies, and served as a consultant on voice and speech recognition systems for the Department of Defense. For more than two decades, Dr. Hoffman served as Director of the Center for Voice Care and Swallowing Disorders at the Ear, Nose, Throat and Plastic Surgery Associates. In this role, she provided clinical care while demonstrating administrative and thought leadership, growing the center’s clinical reach and scholarly productivity. Her vision elevated the center as a regional and national destination for patients and a hub for collaborative research and education. Dr. Hoffman is the lead author of 5 textbooks, including a widely adopted graduate-level text in voice disorders used worldwide. She has contributed to more than 25 book chapters and book sections, lead author of numerous peer reviewed publications and is a frequent invited speaker at national and international conferences.

A trailblazer in healthcare technology integration and higher education leadership, Dr. Hoffman has spearheaded efforts in immersive and AI-driven innovations, including extended reality platforms, smart clinical and home environments, and hologram technologies to transform clinical training and interprofessional care. She brings strong business development acumen to her leadership, expanding clinical enterprises and advancing strategic partnerships across academic, industry and healthcare systems. Her work has garnered broad media attention, appearing in over 150 national and international news outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Bloomberg, Axios, Inside Higher Ed, and others, amplifying the reach and relevance of her contributions to science, healthcare, technology and education. She is a Fellow of both the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the National Academies of Practice. Dr. Hoffman’s career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing translational research, pioneering healthcare and education innovation, and shaping the future of clinical practice and leadership.

Noreen Levitt

Board Member

Noreen Levitt has over 25 years of experience in fundraising, including working for Westminster Communities of Florida, Enterprise Florida, Eckerd College and the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. She served on the Board of Directors for the Jewish Pavilion for 15 years and currently serves on the Pavilion Friends Board.

She regards working with the senior population as one of the most meaningful and spiritually and emotionally rewarding investments people can make in their lifetime.

Noreen enjoys dining out, travel and walking with her Golden doodle, Gertrude. She has been married to her husband Mark for almost twenty years and has two step children and four step grandchildren.

Mindy Selber Shams

Board Member

Mindy Selber Shams is a Speech-Language Pathologist and entrepreneur dedicated to serving older adults across home health, assisted living, memory care, and hospice settings. She specializes in supporting individuals with dementia, cognitive-communication challenges, and swallowing disorders, with a strong focus on preserving dignity, safety, and quality of life.

A lifelong member of the Orlando community, Mindy attended Hebrew Day School and grew up participating in classes and services at Temple Israel, where her late father, Byron Selber, served as president. She has traveled to Israel twice—first at 16 through the Alexander Muss High School program, and again in 2019 with Momentum—experiences that deepened her connection to Jewish heritage and values.

Mindy earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Central Florida. She is also the founder of Bear Lake Cottage Retreat, a wellness initiative that provides seniors with nature-based, creative, and therapeutic experiences to enrich daily living.

In addition to her professional work, Mindy is a proud mother of three, including a son with Autism who is graduating from the nonPareil Institute, a milestone that inspires her continued advocacy for inclusion and empowerment. She brings to the Kinneret Council on Aging a deep commitment to aging services, caregiver support, and intergenerational community building.

Jacqui Drazen McGrail

Board Member

Jacqui Drazen McGrail has a decade of experience in Jewish communal engagement, development, and organizational leadership. She currently serves as the Director of Operations at Gotlib Jewish Academy, where she oversees financial operations, admissions, communications, and community engagement for the school’s growing network of families.

Previously, Jacqui held leadership roles with Central Florida Hillel and the Savannah Jewish Federation, where she built strong relationships with donors, alumni, and community partners, helping to strengthen Jewish life and secure critical philanthropic support.

Raised in the Orlando Jewish community, Jacqui is deeply grateful to now live, work, and raise her children in the very community that shaped her. Her commitment to Jewish communal life and her professional expertise make her a dedicated advocate for building a vibrant and sustainable future for local families.

Ali Polejes

Emeritus Board Member

Ali is a lifelong resident of Orlando, graduated from the University of Florida, with a degree in business administration with a focus in finance. After starting her career with Burdines department store as buyer and merchandise liaison, she moved to Security National bank in the commercial lending department.

In 1992, Ali joined the family business of Richard’s Incentives and the Dick Appelbaum Company, which was created I 1972 and continues to sell promotional products across the nation. She began her community stewardship early in her career with a board position at the Jewish Community Center, now Shalom Orlando. She went on to add to her community service with board positions at Kinneret Council on Aging rising to serve as President for a total of 8 years.

Ali has also been a part of the Bornstein Leadership Development Program, SPARK and currently sits on the University of Central Florida, College of Health Professions and Sciences, Deans Advocacy Board.

Ali has traveled extensively, including trips to New Zealand, Morrocco, Japan, and the Canary Islands. She also enjoys hiking and spending time with friends. She has been married to Craig Polejes for over 30 years and is proud of her two daughters Carly and Brea.

Susan Godorov

Executive Director

Susan Godorov is a goal oriented and conscientious professional with over 30 years’ experience in management, strategy, marketing, public relations, community relations, event management and business development. She has consulted with organizations including corporate, non-profit, public/private partnerships, and associations.

A long-time Central Florida resident, she has a wide area network including non-profit, real estate, retail, restaurant, government, tourism, hotel, hospitality, and professional services.

Susan recently served as Chief Operating Officer of GO Transportation and Translation; General Manager, Pointe Orlando, a 17-acre shopping, dining and entertainment complex located on International Drive; and Vice President of Marketing for Brixmor Property Group, a real estate investment trust with over five-hundred properties throughout the US.

Susan has served in leadership positions on Board of Director’s including Visit Orlando, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management, UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media, and the International Drive Master Transit Authority. Her community involvement includes serving on the Track Shack Youth Foundation Board of Directors for over 18 years, volunteering at the Coalition for the Homeless, Give Kids the World, Elevate Orlando and Senior’s First.

Susan grew up in the Central Florida area having graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree Advertising and Public Relations. She enjoys tennis, running, reading, movies, art, and music as well as spending time with her husband and daughter.

MORE THAN A MEAL

Because no senior should have to choose between food and medicine.

LEARN MORE