Meet Our Staff

Our team offers deep knowledge, trusted relationships, and a genuine passion for strengthening Jewish Hartford. We understand the community’s evolving needs — and we’re here to help you make a meaningful impact.

Call us at 860-523-7460 when you’re ready to start a conversation.

The following staff is available to provide services in specific areas:

Vision and Strategic Leadership
Kathryn Gonnerman, President and CEO
kgonnerman @ jcfhartford dot org

Media Interviews and Marketing Inquiries
Maureen O’Connell, Marketing Director
moconnell @ jcfhartford dot org

Financial Questions
Laura Whitney, Chief Financial Officer
lwhitney @ jcfhartford dot org

Grantmaking out of your Donor Advised Fund, Creating a new fund or making additional contributions to your fund, and information about Life & Legacy
Michael Elfenbaum, J.D., Vice President, Community Engagement
melfenbaum @ jcfhartford dot org

Information about access to your funds
Susie Lotreck, Vice President, Operations and Donor Services
slotreck @ jcfhartford dot org

Kathryn oversees a nine-member staff and is responsible for growing the Foundation’s assets under management, which are approximately $190 million.

Kathryn first worked at the Foundation from 2013 – 2024 in various leadership positions. She began as the Marketing Director and was promoted to Executive Director of the Foundation’s Center for Innovative Philanthropy. In 2018, Kathryn served with distinction as Interim CEO of the Foundation and was named Vice President of Philanthropy in 2019 – 2024. In this role, Kathryn restructured and grew the Development Team staff, and managed fundraising and donor relations, generating $4-6 million in revenue per year. She also counseled Jewish agency and synagogue leaders on effective endowment initiatives and supported the migration of a new database system for greater operational efficiency.

Kathryn holds a B.A and M.A. from Yale University in East Asian Studies. She was named one of Hartford’s 40 Under 40 in 2016.

Kathryn loves action movies, boxing and paddle boarding. She is an avid reader and creative writer, as well as a certified executive coach. A resident of Bloomfield, she enjoys walking the trails with her husband and her dog.

Kathryn Gonnerman

President & CEO

A Jewish communal professional for more than 25 years, Michael joined the Foundation in 2007 and helped grow its annual grantmaking from $3 million to over $4.5 million. He spearheaded the Israel Experience, a program that awards annual scholarships for teens to visit Israel to explore and develop their Jewish identity. Michael serves as a trusted advisor to donor advised fund holders who rely on his in-depth knowledge of the Jewish community to help them achieve their philanthropic goals.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Michael is a proud graduate of Indiana University and THE Ohio State University College of Law. Michael and his wife, Anna, live in West Hartford and have three children.

Michael lives his life knowing that all roads lead to Bruce Springsteen.

Michael Elfenbaum, J.D.

Vice President, Community Engagement

Christine has over 32 years of financial/accounting and management experience in the insurance and banking industries, and non-profit community foundation sector. She joined the Foundation in 2005 and currently serves as the Controller of the finance and investment accounting functions. Christine is responsible for asset/cash reconciliations, investment income allocations to donor funds, expense payables, gifts and other general ledger record keeping and year-end tax reporting to vendors and donors.

Christine serves as her church’s Sunday School Superintendent and Treasurer of its Planning Committee. When she’s not crunching numbers, Christine loves helping children with their homework and reading, as well as preparing and serving meals at local homeless shelters. Christine and her husband have two children, who help make sandwiches for the shelters.

Christine Kelly

Controller

Madison joined the Foundation in 2019 after earning her bachelor’s degree in Spanish and linguistics from Mount Holyoke College. Her professional background includes mentoring undergraduate students in written and oral argumentation as well as typing and editing legal transcripts for a Jerusalem-based company. Madison brings her expertise in writing and research to her work on the Development team.

Outside of the Foundation, you can find Madison oil painting, exploring nature with her dog, or trying out a new challah recipe.

Madison Leighty

Development Coordinator

A 29-year veteran of the Foundation, Susie manages the Foundation’s database platforms, donor portal and processes. Agencies and donors rely on Susie for their reporting needs. Internally, Susie collaborates with and provides training across all departments of the Foundation.

In her personal life, Susie loves being a mom of 3 young adults and serving as co-president of the Loomis Chaffee Parents Association with her husband. If you live in Greater Hartford, you may have heard Susie’s soprano voice. She is a Cantor for Mary, Gate of Heaven Parish in Windsor Locks, and sings in church choirs, weddings and funerals. Susie’s largest audience was when she sang the National Anthem live at the Yard Goats 2019 Jewish Heritage Day.

Susan Lotreck

Vice President, Operations & Donor Services

Maureen has more than 20 years of communications experience helping nonprofits and corporate foundations achieve their goals while championing social issues such as STEM education, economic empowerment, and diversity and inclusion, through strategic campaigns. A former correspondent for The Hartford Courant, Maureen has developed and executed award-winning media campaigns for numerous prominent brands including The Bayer Foundation, Northwestern Mutual Foundation, and Keep America Beautiful.

Maureen manages the Foundation’s Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations initiatives including digital marketing campaigns.

She earned her MBA from Bay Path University and is a senior adjunct professor in the University’s Business Department, teaching Marketing and Management classes.

In her leisure time, Maureen loves travel adventures with family and friends, and enjoys the outdoors including hiking at her favorite spot: West Hartford Reservoir. She is a self-professed chocolate connoisseur always in search of a piece of chocolate confectionary perfection.

Maureen O’Connell

Marketing Director

Goldy has more than 18 years of experience in IT and customer service. Her professional journey includes posts at the Mandell JCC and the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. Between 2019 – 2022, Goldy contributed her skills as a Grants and Donor Services Assistant and Office Administrator at the Foundation.

In 2024 Goldy returned to the Foundation as Executive Assistant, a newly-created role. In this role, Goldy primarily supports the work of the CEO and the CFO. She also supports the Department Heads on special projects as needed and serves as liaison to the Board of Trustees.

Outside of work, Goldy enjoys spending time with family, friends and her Boston Terrier, Burfee. She also has a passion for arts & theater and exploring health & wellness activities, and can be found working out at the Mandell JCC.

Goldy Singh

Executive Assistant &
Manager of Board Relations

An accounting and financial investment expert with more than 35 years of experience, Laura leads the Foundation’s three-person Finance team. Laura has held numerous financial leadership roles in Connecticut’s nonprofit sector. She previously served as Vice President of Finance at the University of Hartford. In this role, Laura oversaw all Finance operations, including Treasury, Budget, Procurement, Financial Accounting, and Controller. She also served as liaison to the University’s Resources, Investment and Audit Committees of the Board of Regents.

Prior to her work at the University of Hartford, Laura was Controller and Assistant Treasurer at Albertus Magnus College. She also served on the College’s Strategic Planning Task Force.

Laura earned an M.S. from the University of Hartford and a B.S. from Trinity College. She is a member of the Board of Trustees and Chair of the Enrollment Committee at Rosemont College in Philadelphia.

Laura Whitney

Chief Financial Officer