Meet Our Directors

Meryl Rindsberg, Director of Operations, MJCCA Day Camps
As a camper, Meryl spent many summers at Camp Judaea and views her summer overnight camping experiences as the most influential in her life. She attended UGA (Go Dawgs!) and graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration. She worked as a corporate recruiter for four years and then worked as a real estate closing coordinator. Meryl began her tenure at the MJCCA in 2005 as the Camp Central Registrar and was promoted to Camp Central Director in 2007. In this role, she significantly enhanced the camp registration process and Camp Central structure. In 2010, Meryl was promoted to MJCCA Day Camps Director of Operations. Meryl and her husband Lenny have three wonderful children, Nathan, Zachary, and Emily, who are all avid Bulldog fans!

Kayleen Vannette, Director, Camp Isidore Alterman
Kayleen received a degree in Social Work from Hope College. Always striving to expand her knowledge base related to camp and children, Kayleen has worked in various roles as a Master Counselor at a wilderness camp for at-risk youth, a Youth Sports Coordinator at Zaban Park, the Assistant Camp Director at Barbara and Sanford Orkin Camp Chai, and Associate Camp Director for Camp Isidore Alterman. Kayleen is committed to creating a safe, positive, nurturing, and exciting summer camp environment where every child truly thrives. Combining her love for kids, sports, and the outdoors, camp has always been an important part of her life and is the perfect fit for Kayleen. Kayleen is looking forward to another great year with CIA!

Lori Goldstein, Assistant Director, Camp Isidore Alterman
Growing up, Lori was very active in Young Judaea and BBYO and attended Augusta JCC day camps and Camp Judaea during the summer. Lori received her undergraduate degree with a double major in Literature & Communications and Judaic Studies from The American Jewish University. While in college, Lori studied in Israel at Ben-Gurion University and traveled throughout the country. After graduation, Lori worked for Young Judaea in Atlanta while also staffing multiple Birthright trips and working towards her Master’s Degree. She served as the Assistant Director for Camp Judaea. Lori’s camping and leadership experience led her to the MJCCA where she worked as the Teen Program Director before transitioning to the Assistant Director of Camp Isidore Alterman. Lori is very passionate about informal, experiential Jewish education and camping.

Ilana Schlam, Program Director, Camp Isidore Alterman
Ilana began her professional journey at the Metairie JCC (in LA) as the Assistant Day Camp Director. Ilana’s tenure at the Metairie JCC was cut short due to Hurricane Katrina, but it brought her to Atlanta where she began working as the Assistant Camp Director for Camp Judaea. She helped to successfully run Camp Judaea from 2005-2009. Ilana then joined the MJCCA where she directed Barbara and Sanford Orkin Camp Chai for two summers. Now an integral component of the MJCCA Day Camps staff, Ilana looks forward to continually enhancing the programs and options for CIA!

Ryan Pollard, Director, Sports Camps
Originally from England, Ryan graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a B.A. in History. He played soccer with a professional club for 18 months before playing semi-professionally for several clubs. Ryan has coached soccer across the U.K and U.S for 15 years, working with semi-professional adult players to young children. He is a licensed F.A. (Football Association of England) coach. He also served as an assistant coach on the East Midlands Regional team for the National Football League for the Learning Disabled (in the U.K.). Ryan came to the MJCCA from Challenger Sports, the largest soccer camp company in North America, where he was the South East Regional Director overseeing more than 100 camps per year and working with more than 4,000 young players. At the MJCCA, Ryan has overhauled sports camps and youth sports leagues to provide the best possible camp and sports experience for our participants. Ryan has a son, Rhys, and in his spare time enjoys playing & watching soccer (naturally!!), and most sports, including, cycling, triathlon, rugby, cricket.

Doug Postell, Assistant Director, Sports Camps
Doug graduated from Auburn University with a B.A. in Sociology. While at Auburn he was a member of the Auburn Crew team, he rowed for three years and enjoyed every minute of it. After college, Doug worked in the Fulton County School System in both the middle and high-school setting. During that time he coached multiple sports including Soccer, Track, Volleyball, Lacrosse, and Basketball. While in graduate school, Doug worked as the Assistant Director of Club J as well as an Assistant Program Director at Camp Isidore Alterman. He enjoyed his time working at the center so much that he hung up his teaching hat and came back to the MJCCA in this new role.

Stephanie McCormick, Assistant Director, Sports Camps
Growing up Stephanie was very involved in sports and recreation, playing softball, basketball, and tennis. Her ongoing involvement in youth sports, lead her to her first job in athletics. During Stephanie’s first year of high school she began working for the Roswell Parks Department as an Assistant Tennis Coach. Stephanie continued to work for the City of Roswell for 11 years, during this time Stephanie took on many roles including Gymnastics Coach, preschool teacher and director for two award winning summer camps. Stephanie not only worked for the City of Roswell but was also an ongoing volunteer, coaching several youth league sports and helping organize and run large events put on by the City of Roswell. Stephanie’s involvement and hard work helped to grow and expand all of the programs she was involved in. Stephanie is still involved in sports now and enjoys playing softball, mountain biking and hiking. Stephanie is looking forward to her position at the JCC and hopes that she can help grow and promote the youth sports and camps at the JCC.

Erin Lesure, Director, Dance Camp
Erin Lesure graduated from the University at Buffalo with a BFA in Dance. Erin has danced with Zodiaque Dance Company, as well as Buffalo Contemporary Dance Company. She was on the United States tap team in 1999 and 2000, and traveled to Germany to compete in the Tap Dance World Championships. Both years she placed in the World Medals. Erin worked as the Assistant Director for Administration for the New York Education Departments Summer School of Dance for 5 years before moving to Georgia where she worked as the Artistic Director at a performing arts facility, and owned Empire School of the Arts dance studio. Erin came to the MJCCA in 2007 as the Director of Dance. She loves being part of this amazing community center and seeing the dancers fall in love with dance like she did as a child.

Kim Wood, Director, Gymnastics Camp
Kim started gymnastics as a young child and began coaching in 1990 as a volunteer at the local YMCA. A native of Canada, she went to Seneca College and received a degree in Advanced Gymnastics Coaching where she took courses like biomechanics, kinesiology, sport psychology, and business and worked with the National Team members. After working in Toronto for a couple of years, Kim moved to Atlanta in 1998 and began working at the City of Roswell Recreation and Parks where she was the Team Supervisor. Kim has watched many gymnasts grow up under her supervision, some even moving on to college competition. She gets a thrill out of seeing her gymnasts grow up and move on to succeed in everything they do and considers herself fortunate to have had a small part in that.

Juan Arico, Director, Tennis Camp
Since 2003, Juan has been the Marcus JCC’s Head Tennis Pro, specializing in Little Tennis, Junior Academy, Tennis Camps, and coaching ALTA and USTA teams. A former professional tennis player himself, Juan is originally from Argentina, where he was ranked as a Junior Tennis Player until 1982. He holds a degree of Tennis Instructor from Buenos Aires University. Juan specializes in junior tennis, with experience running junior programs in tennis and country clubs, and coaching women’s teams. Coach Juan has attended numerous tennis workshops in South America and the U.S., held by the AAT, ITF, USPTA. Juan is certified by the ITF, AAT and USPTA.

Brian Kimmel, Director, Drama Camp
In addition to leading Drama Camp, Brian is also the Producing Artistic Director for Company J, the MJCCA's theater program. He has been a freelance director, teacher, and actor for more than 15 years. Brian's students have gone on to work on Broadway, national and international tours, LORT theaters, and in feature films and television. Brian has acted for theaters all over the world and has played pivotal roles in Avenue Q, Fiddler on the Roof, Picnic, Persuasion, and the 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee. He is very excited about bringing his talent and experience to Drama Camp.