Speaker Bios

Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL-22)

Congressman Ted Deutch represents Florida's 22nd district, home to communities throughout Broward County and southeastern Palm Beach County in sunny South Florida. Now serving his fifth term in the 115th Congress, he is the Ranking Democrat of the House Ethics Committee and a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as the Ranking Democrat on the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.

Ted has been described as a rising voice in the House Democratic Caucus by the Washington newspaper Roll Call and was previously named one of the Forward newspaper's top Jewish politicians to watch. Ted and his wife of 25 years, Jill, have lived and worked in South Florida since 1997. They live with their three children in Boca Raton and are members of the B'nai Torah Congregation.

Prior to holding public office, Ted enjoyed a successful career as a commercial real estate attorney, and today Jill continues her work as Director of Development at Hillel of Broward and Palm Beach. A graduate of the University of Michigan and the University of Michigan Law School, Ted earned the prestigious Harry S. Truman Scholarship. His passion for serving the community inspired him to run for the Florida State Senate in 2006. Congressman Ted Deutch represents Florida's 22nd district, home to communities throughout Broward County and southeastern Palm Beach County in sunny South Florida. Now serving his fifth term in the 115th Congress, he is the Ranking Democrat of the House Ethics Committee and a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as the Ranking Democrat on the Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee.

William Daroff

As the Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Washington Office of The Jewish Federations of North America, William Daroff is the chief lobbyist and principal spokesperson on public policy and international affairs for the 148 Jewish Federations and more than 300 independent communities represented by JFNA, Daroff ensures that the voice of Jewish Federations is a prominent force in the Nation's Capital. Named by the Forward newspaper as being among the fifty most influential Jews in America, Daroff guides the Jewish community’s advocacy efforts on the Federation movement’s key domestic policy issues, principally on health and human services, such as Medicare and Medicaid, long-term care, and policies affecting older Americans, including Holocaust Survivors, as well as homeland security programs and strengthening the capacity of charities to care for those in need.

In addition to his focus on domestic policy, Daroff is a key player in foreign policy circles – advising policymakers and elected officials on Jewish communal concerns, namely those related to the US-Israel relationship, the Middle East conflict, and efforts to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. He is also a leader in the worldwide fight to combat the assault on Israel’s legitimacy, creating and overseeing the Federation movement’s Israel Action Network, and serving on both the steering committee of the Prime Minister of Israel’s global task force and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organization’s working group. Daroff received his bachelor’s degree (summa cum laude) in Political Science & History, master’s degree in Political Science, and juris doctorate from Case Western Reserve University in his hometown of Cleveland, OH.

Robert Goldberg

Rob Goldberg has been a professional staff member of The Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA) legislative and public policy arm since 2000. His areas of responsibility include advocating on range of aging, health, homeland security, and social services policy and spending priorities before Congress and the Executive Branch; formulating strategies for JFNA’s overall legislative agenda; and providing technical assistance to state government affairs and program professionals affiliated with JFNA on federal legislative, regulatory, and program compliance matters. He is a prolific researcher and technical writer. During his tenure at JFNA, Rob has secured more than $600 million in new funding for priority programs of the Jewish Federations, including the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, the Administration on Aging’s NORC-Supportive Services Program, the Administration for Community Living’s Holocaust Survivor Assistance Program, and FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

Heidi Kon

Heidi Kon is the Director of the Dina and Eli Field EZRA Multi-Service Center in Chicago. EZRA means help in Hebrew and its mission is to help community members who are living in isolation or experiencing a crisis live with dignity through advocacy and compassionate care. Its programs include a restaurant style kosher cafe, a food and hygiene pantry, wellness and skills building classes, case management and emergency financial services, and Jewish and Russian cultural programming. Over 60 % of EZRA’s clients receive some SNAP assistance.

A licensed clinical social worker, Ms. Kon is also an educator and was Director of Education at Chicago Sinai Congregation for many years. In addition, she directed rape crisis and domestic violence programs in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, where EZRA is based.

Greg Link

Greg Link is the Director of the Office of Supportive and Caregiver Services with the Administration for Community Living/U.S. Administration on Aging, which oversees programs funded under the Older Americans Act (OAA), including Title III-B in-home supportive services, Title III-E National Family Caregiver Support Program as well as ACL’s Alzheimer’s disease programs. Greg and his team also provide general oversight and technical assistance to the aging network on a range of program areas, including Information and Referral, family caregiver support programs and policies, housing, employment, transportation, LGBT aging, and Holocaust Survivors.

Before coming to ACL/AoA, Greg worked at the National Association of State Units on Aging where he provided technical assistance and training to states on family care giving, consumer direction, and transportation. Greg has also worked at the community level as a case manager and social services manager at Senior Friendship Centers in Fort Myers Florida. There, he oversaw the social services staff and the delivery of services funded by the Older Americans Act, state funds and Medicaid waivers. Greg holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University.

Laura Prohov

Laura Prohov, Vice President of Community Services, has been with CJE SeniorLife since October 2004. In her first position as the Director of Planning and Government Affairs, Laura was involved in the development of a new strategic plan for the agency, program review of existing services and due diligence and market research for new program development. Additionally, Laura worked with agency staff, in conjunction with Jewish Federation lobbyists, tracking and responding to key governmental issues that impact older adult services at the state and Federal level.

Since her promotion in 2006, Laura has overall operational, financial and planning responsibility for the full range of home and community-based services available to older adults and their families through CJE. In alignment with CJE’s strategic plan, Laura has a leadership role in expanding community-based initiatives into new markets including the development and implementation of a transitional care program through CMS, negotiation of Managed Care contracts, expanding and coordinating dementia services at CJE and onboarding and providing oversight for Holocaust Community Services. She continues to be involved with governmental issues that impact CJE and its clients.

Laura has more than 25 years’ experience in the health care and social service field in social work, home health care administration, consulting and program development and implementation. Laura has an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She also holds an MSW and BS in Psychology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Jody Rabhan

Jody Rabhan serves as the Director of Washington Operations for the National Council of Jewish Women. As head of the organization’s Washington, DC, office, Ms. Rabhan not only helps lead the organization’s advocacy efforts in Washington but plays a key role in mobilizing effective grassroots work on the organization’s issues and campaigns around the country.

During her tenure in the Washington office, Ms. Rabhan has represented NCJW on national coalitions concerned with civil rights, economic justice issues, intimate partner violence, gun violence, and human trafficking among other issues. She speaks and trains on public policy and legislative issues to groups throughout the country, including Jewish communal organizations and other faith groups, youth groups, and advocacy groups in the general community.

Jody began her career at NCJW in 1994 as a Graduate Fellow in the Washington office. Following graduate school, Ms. Rabhan worked at the Jewish Community Council of Greater Washington, the political arm of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Ms. Rabhan then worked at the National Council of Jewish Women’s Washington office where she remained for 6 years ultimately rising to Associate Director.

After taking time off to start a family, Jody returned to the workforce as an Independent Consultant, shepherding issue - based and development related projects for Jewish organizations in Washington, DC. In 2012 Jody returned full - time to NCJW as Deputy Director of Washington Operations.

Jody graduated from the Baltimore Institute for Jewish Communal Service with an M.A. in Social Work, an M.A. in Jewish Studies and a Certificate in Jewish Communal Service. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Boston University. Jody currently lives with her husband and two sons in Bethesda, Maryland.

Roberta Rakove

Roberta Rakove oversees government affairs and grants, strategy, marketing, and public relations for Sinai Health System. Roberta has over 35 years of experience in health care and government affairs. Prior to joining Sinai Health System, she was Director of Research for the Chicago City Council Committee on Finance and Director of Government Affairs for the Metropolitan Chicago Healthcare Council. Roberta has served as chair of the Advocacy Committee of the National Association of Public Hospitals and as a member of the policy council of the Premier Hospital Alliance. She was the Illinois recipient of the Grassroots Champion Award from the American Hospital Association and the Partner in Social Justice Award from Avodah Chicago.

Roberta currently serves as a member of the Advocacy Outreach Team for the Illinois Hospital Association and the Steering Committee of the Alliance for Health Equity. She lives in Evanston, Illinois with her husband Michael Plumpton.

Liz Schrayer

Liz Schrayer serves as President & CEO of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC), a broad based coalition of over 500 businesses and NGOs that advocates for strong U.S. global leadership through development and diplomacy. Under her leadership, the USGLC has grown to a nationwide network of advocates in all 50 states and boasts a bipartisan Advisory Council, chaired by General Colin Powell which includes every living former Secretary of State, and a National Security Advisory Council consisting of nearly 200 retired three and four-star generals and admirals. In addition to running the USGLC, Ms. Schrayer serves as President of Schrayer & Associates, Inc., a nationwide political consulting firm founded in 1994, which works on a wide range of domestic and international issues.

Ms. Schrayer serves on the Secretary of State’s Committee on Public-Private Partnerships, USAID’s Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid (ACFVA), and several advisory boards for the University of Michigan, including the Ford School of Public Policy. Prior to starting her own firm, Ms. Schrayer served as the national Political Director of AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) for more than a decade. She worked on Capitol Hill, founding the Congressional Human Rights Caucus and in state government. She has traveled across the country organizing citizen advocates in every state. Ms. Schrayer has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and resides in Maryland with her husband Jeff Schwaber, an attorney who helped launch the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.

Howard Sitron

Howard Sitron has served as CEO of Jewish Child & Family Services since November 2009. He has more than thirty years of nonprofit leadership and project management experience. Prior to joining JCFS, he served as Executive Vice President and COO for Jewish Family and Children's Services of Greater Philadelphia. Howard previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Breast Cancer 3-Day, producing and managing a national series of events raising funds for breast cancer research and treatment. He also served as Assistant Vice President of MossRehab, a nationally renowned rehabilitation hospital based in Philadelphia.

As a volunteer, Howard currently serves on the national board of directors of the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies, and the advisory council of the Institute for Therapy through the Arts. He holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Master of Health Administration from Saint Joseph's University.

Ellen S. Teller

Ellen Teller is the Director of Government Affairs at the Food Research & Action Center, FRAC. Ellen directs the development and implementation of FRAC’s legislative agenda, working with the Congress, national organizations, and FRAC’s diverse state and local grassroots network. Paramount to this agenda is improved access and participation for low- income individuals and families to the domestic food and nutrition programs - SNAP, formerly Food Stamps, School Lunch and Breakfast, Summer Food, WIC, Child and Adult Care Feeding Program (CACFP), commodity programs (TEFAP & CSFP) - and anti-poverty programs. Ellen joined FRAC in 1986 as a Staff Attorney where she provided technical support to legal services attorneys on food law issues. She previously worked at the American Bar Association’s Section on Individual Rights and Responsibilities, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), and Consumer Federation of America (CFA).

Ellen has a B.A. in Political Science and English Literature from the State University of New York at Oneonta, and a J.D. from Western New England University School of Law. She is a Member of the DC Bar and is the Board Chair of the Coalition on Human Needs. Ellen has been honored by the National WIC Association, National Commodity Supplemental Food Program Association, Congressional Hunger Center Emerson Fellows’ Fairy Godmother Award, Manna Food Center Hero Against Hunger Award, and the State University of New York at Oneonta Alumni of Distinction.

Jonathan Westin

Jonathan S. Westin is the Senior Director of Health Initiatives with The Jewish Federations of North America based in Washington, D.C. JFNA is the umbrella organization of the 148 Jewish federations across the continent. Its network of 225 health and human service providers transact over $7.5 Billion in revenue throughout its hospitals, aging facilities, mental health centers, home health and vocational agencies.

Jon’s areas of expertise are legislative strategy and advocacy related to health delivery, long-term care, and aging. This includes key programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, Jon concentrates on the intersection of private/public initiatives that will prepare the nation for the health needs of the Baby Boom generation, the first wave of which began turning 70 in 2016. During his tenure with JFNA, Jon has played an integral role in securing reimbursement rates for agencies specializing in services for those needing long-term supports and services. In addition, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Medicaid program continues to adequately serve the most vulnerable regardless of age or disability.

Jon received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and his Master’s in Public Administration from American University in Washington. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Charles E. Smith Life Communities, one of the nation’s largest non-profit long-term care providers.