Mishkan’s Board of Directors
Our rocking Board of Directors is leading our organization as we grow and realize our vision.
Meet the incredible group of smart folks who love this organization and are going above and beyond to put their time, talents, and treasure to ensuring our long-term sustainability. Our Board’s primary role is to help envision Mishkan for the present and future and ensure our financial sustainability and stability. They keep us motivated and grounded as we continue to pioneer new entryways into Jewish life.
Learn More
If you’re interested in learning more about the Mishkan Board, we’d love to talk to you.
Adam Case
Board Chair
Adam Case (he/him) was drawn to Mishkan for its vibrant vision of Judaism, and is thrilled to support this community by serving on the Board. He lives in Lincoln Square with his wife Alicia and children Elsa and Ben, who both attend the Mensch Academy. Adam is the Executive Director of the Academy for Urban School Leadership, a non-profit focused on improving educational outcomes for students in underserved schools.
Josh Turnbull
Treasurer
Josh (he/him) is a vice president at TransUnion, responsible for the company’s business with 5,000 banks and credit unions in the United States. Recognized as an industry innovator and a frequent speaker, his career in financial services technology and data has focused on business management, strategy, and marketing roles. Josh lives in Portage Park and has a passion for travel and the culinary adventures that come with it.
Katherine Linzer
Secretary
Katherine Linzer (she/her) is originally from Pittsburgh and moved to Chicago in 2013 by way of San Francisco and London, and attended a Mishkan service on her first Saturday in Chicago. She has been an enthusiastic and devoted community member ever since then. Katherine is a partner at the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, where she focuses on health and human services with an emphasis on Medicaid. Katherine is a member of Mishkan’s finance committee and also serves on the board of Junior Achievement Chicago. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, travel, writing, and meditation
Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann
Board Member
As the founding Rabbi of Mishkan, Rabbi Lizzi (she/her) is also on the board. Read more about her here.
Antonio García
Board Member
Antonio García (he/him) is Head of Design at TXI, founder of Dadwell & Co. and Board Advisor to AIGA Chicago. In addition to design leadership, Antonio is a mentor, educator, and lecturer. If he’s not hard at work, Antonio is most likely DJing, drawing, or training for his next marathon. Antonio is a long-time Mishkanite and dad to two Mensch students.
Abigail Kuchnir
Board Member
Abigail Kuchnir (she) is a second year law student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, focusing on land use law and commercial litigation. Before law school, she worked as a paralegal in a small law firm focusing on property tax appeals. Abby moved to Chicago from Massachusetts in 2015 and fell in love with Mishkan as an undergraduate at the University of Chicago. She now lives in the Southport corridor with her husband Jacob and enjoys playing board games with friends, practicing yoga, and spending time with family in Chicago and New England.
Sarah Garza Resnick
Board Member
Sarah Garza Resnick (she/her) is the President and CEO of Personal PAC. Prior to this role she was the Chief Deputy Assessor for Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi, the Chief of Staff to Cook County Clerk David Orr, and a Cook County Public Defender. Sarah Garza Resnick graduated from Cardozo School of Law, where she worked at the Innocence Project. She received her undergraduate degree in Political Science and Economics from Brandeis University and her master’s degree in Political Sociology from the London School of Economics. She is a Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow (2023), an Illinois Women’s Institute for Leadership Fellow (2018), and serves on the board of Mishkan. Sarah lives in Bridgeport with her two children and their cat.
Hannah Bloom-Hirschberg
Board Member
Hannah Bloom-Hirschberg (she/her) is the Director of Strategy and Outreach for JECELI @ JTS, a program for Jewish early childhood education professionals which seeks to transform Jewish education through collaborative leadership. Prior to this role, she developed professional development curricula for daycare providers and taught young children. Hannah holds a Bachelor’s from Vanderbilt University and a Master’s from Erikson Institute. She serves on a number of JUF committees as well as the Board of Vanderbilt Hillel. Hannah lives in Andersonville with her husband, Gary, and their children.
Lance Friedmann
Board Member
Lance Friedmann (he/him) joined Mishkan ten years ago after being uplifted by R’Lizzi’s services during her brief gig in the Northern suburbs before she founded Mishkan. Now he is delighted to be on the Board where he hopes to continue building our community. Lance retired as Senior Vice President from Kraft Foods/Mondelez International. He now serves as Docent and Tour Director of the Chicago Architecture Center’s world-famous Architectural River Cruise, and is Mishkan’s Synagogue Liaison to J Street, “the political home of pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans”. Lance lives in West Town with his wife Sari Gluckin, an innovation consultant and adjunct professor at IIT. He is an avid cyclist and, together with Sari, a passionate adventure traveler. They have two married adult children, Ava and Max, and a beautiful granddaughter, Inji.
Andie Linker
Board Member
Andie Linker is a lifelong Chicagoan 3-year Mishkan member. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Urban Planning & Policy at UIC and beginning a new job in the field of community development. She loves Chicago deeply and is always looking for ways she can give back to the community that raised her, which has led to a deep involvement in the Jewish Council on Urban Affairs and Mishkan’s local action committee. She is excited to join the board and help to bring Mishkan’s mission of creating inspired down-to-earth Judaism to life. Ask her for ice cream recommendations and she can provide you one almost anywhere in the city!
Anita Cohen
Board Member
Karen Jacobs
Board Member
Karen Jacobs grew up in New England but has made her home in the city, then suburbs, now city again, of Chicago for almost 40 years. In 2017-18, Karen was part of one of Mishkan’s early Conversion Cohorts, and she and her husband became enthusiastic Builders of the Mishkan Chicago community. Karen was most recently a board member of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and she has also served previously on the boards of Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Synagogue, JCUA, and startup food co-operative Chicago Market. Karen received a B.A. in Cognitive Science from Brown University. She built a career in advertising with Leo Burnett, and then a spin-off sister company, Starcom Media Group, for over 20 years. During her time with Starcom, she became part of the executive leadership team, and helped grow the company to worldwide leadership in reputation and achievement. She retired in 2014 in order to give time to family, friends, volunteer activities and other pursuits. Karen met and married Andy Jacobs in Chicago. They are tremendously proud of their two adult children, Katie and Ben. Among her many passions are traveling, live music, cooking, reading, language, crafts of all kinds, and curiosity about all things.
Lisa Portnoy
Emeritus