Our Team

Keshet's heart and soul

It’s the skilled, creative and extraordinarily dedicated people who work at Keshet who have made us the unmatched organization we are today. From educators, camp counselors, and administrators to art teachers, grant writers and vocational experts, our staff is the collective force driving inspiration and growth throughout Keshet. Our diverse team is a big part of our family empowering Keshet participants lead their very best lives.

So much more than a job

Making an impact

“What I like most about working at Keshet is the daily impact that myself and my team’s support have on our participants to ensure that each day is meaningful for them. The nature of our work provides so much fulfillment and personal satisfaction for our staff at any level. Seeing our participants accomplish their goals is extremely rewarding.”

—Lauren, Residential Services

Endless growth and development

“Keshet is a place where I feel like my voice is heard and matters. In a short period of time, I’ve been given lots of opportunities to grow my skills personally and professionally and that means so much to me.”

—Lauryn, Business Office

Belonging for all

“Keshet’s mission is not just for the people we serve–Keshet truly makes me feel that I belong. From the minute you meet the participants, they welcome you with enthusiasm and you know you are a part of a family. I am new, but so happy to be here!”

—Elise, Adult Day Services

Committed to making a difference every single day

130

year-round staff members with a 120% increase in staff over the summer

93 %

of staff feel like their work contributes to Keshet's mission and goals

22

different locations where Keshet staff work

90 %

of staff feel like they're making a difference in the world through their work at Keshet

Come join our team!

Today, more than ever, Keshet continues to grow our team as we search for individuals with diverse backgrounds, talent, creativity and the drive to live up to one of our core values: we don’t say no, we only say how. We have openings in several of our programmatic areas and we’d love to have you on board!

See Openings

Our leadership team

President & CEO

Jennifer Phillips

Jennifer Phillips is an experienced special educator who has dedicated her career to building inclusive communities. Jennifer began at Keshet in 1994 as a one-to-one summer camp counselor, which inspired her to become a special education teacher. Since then, she has risen from being a teacher in Keshet’s High School to the Director of Recreation and then as the organization’s first Chief Program Officer. Her leadership in program development and community partnership building has been an unparalleled success for the organization. Jennifer has established Keshet as a national leader in inclusion, particularly inclusive summer camps, and is regularly called upon to speak at conferences and trainings. Jennifer received a B.S. in Elementary Education and Special Education from National Louis University.

Chief Financial Officer

Bishal Maskey

Bishal has more than two decades of financial management experience in strategic and operational leadership with large nonprofit organizations. He comes to Keshet from Envision Unlimited where he served as Chief Financial Officer overseeing $77 million operations after successfully supporting program growth by 50% in just two years. Prior to that, Bishal served at the corporate office of Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), where he advanced into progressively challenging roles during his 20 plus years there and led the fiscal management team during the organization’s major restructuring. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, in accounting and business management from the University of Maine, and an MBA from Texas A&M University.

Chief Communications Officer

Jamie Lake

Jamie’s commitment to creating inclusive communities began from her experiences as a higher education administrator and summer camp professional for over 20 years, including as a director at Camp Chi. From there, she found her way into the world of marketing, communications and non-profit management. Now she oversees development and fundraising at Keshet, where she feels inspired every day. Jamie has an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and J.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Chief Development Officer

Lauren Berndt

Lauren Berndt is a graduate of Ithaca College with a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation. She began her career in recreation working with people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. After several years in the field, she was introduced to fundraising and has been in philanthropy ever since. Prior to joining Keshet, Lauren was the Director of Major Gifts at Per Scholas, a workforce development program which advances economic equity through rigorous training for tech careers. She believes that philanthropy has become an important way for people to express their identity and feels privileged to have the opportunity to match donors with meaningful investments.

Vice President of Adult Services

Theresa Kopitzke

Theresa has nearly 20 years of experience working with individuals with disabilities. Theresa holds QIDP certification, is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and a Licensed Professional Counselor. Most recently, Theresa was the Senior Director of Programs at Orchard Village, where she oversaw Therapeutic Recreation, Community Day Services and Vocational Departments. Theresa is thrilled to continue her journey at Keshet, providing direction and senior supervision for GADOL and MY Life. She is extremely passionate about developing and growing modern, person-centered programs. She is most excited to begin to develop connections with those served and the individuals who support them.

Director of Operations

Robin Anderson

Robin Anderson is an experienced non-profit leader who is deeply committed to strengthening the future of the Jewish community. Prior to Keshet, she was a full time Jewish camp professional at Camp Young Judaea Midwest for nearly 20 years, most recently as Executive Director, where she focused on building relationships to create a safe and inclusive community. Robin graduated from Indiana University and received a master’s at Brandeis University’s Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program.

Director of Human Resources

Robin Horton

Robin Horton has served as a Human Resources Professional for over 20 years.  She has devoted her career to serving non-profits like Keshet.  Prior to Keshet, she was the Executive Director of Human Resources and Risk Management for the Ozarks Regional YMCA, where she oversaw hiring, training, benefits, and compliance.  She focused on improving employee relationships, and building a safe and inclusive working environment. Robin graduated from Lee University and is a certified SHRM-CP and PHR.

Director of Quality Assurance

Lisa Lew

Lisa has dedicated her 30+ year career to working with and advocating for people with disabilities. She began her time at Keshet as the Director of Adult Day Services and has since transitioned into a new position as Keshet’s first Director of Quality Assurance. In this role, Lisa ensures that programs are compliant with accreditations/licensures, the organization’s operations meet quality, integrity, and efficiency standards and she develops systems to sustain optimal delivery of services. Lisa holds a Masters in Social Work and was recently accepted into the Illinois CQI Mentorship Program.

Director of Education

Robert Lee

Robert comes to Keshet after six years as the principal of The Winston Knolls School.  He has a deep understanding of non-profit therapeutic day schools and a history of building relationships with students, families, staff and community partners. He is a skillful special educator and behavior intervention specialist with 19 years of experience at therapeutic day schools. Robert holds a dual master’s degree in special education and educational leadership from Northeastern Illinois University. We look forward to seeing how his collaborative approach to education elevates the instruction and the culture of Keshet’s schools from kindergarten through transition.

Director of Recreation

Stephanie Darnell

From a young age, Stephanie has dedicated her education and career to supporting individuals with disabilities. Stephanie began her career as a Summer Camp Counselor and Special Olympics coach in 2011 and has excelled professionally in the non-profit sector. Graduating with her bachelors in 2016, she became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and then in 2019, graduated with her master’s in Organizational Leadership and Management from Lewis University. Throughout this time, Stephanie has developed multiple programs creating inclusiveness and learning opportunities for all individuals to achieve their highest quality of life.

Director of Adult Day Services

Garrett Reynolds

With 10 years of experience in social services, Garrett comes to Keshet with abundant experience in working with adults with disabilities and their families. He’s worked all over the country, including Ohio, Oregon, Washington and Illinois, most recently as the Vocational Specialist at Orchard Village. Garrett prides himself on being person-centered and building strong relationships with participants, staff and community partners. Garrett earned his BA from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has a Masters in Public Health at Purdue University.

Director of Residential Services

Jeniffer Burgess

Jen comes to Keshet with over 30 years of experience supporting people with disabilities. She has spent most of her career at Orchard Village, where she held various roles, including DSP, QIDP, Director of Quality and Director of Residential. Jen graduated from Roosevelt University with a degree in Psychology and minor in Sociology. Jen is drawn to Keshet because of our long-standing dedication to inclusion and creating a community of belonging. She is looking forward to meeting more of our residents, families and staff and learning about Keshet.

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