The Board

Jesse Blum is a Denver born native who is an active participant in the Jewish community having attended the Denver Jewish Day School (formerly Herzl & RMHA).

He has been the Chosen Auto Educator for 11 years with H.M. Brown & Associates. His role is to assist clients with automotive purchases of new and pre-owned vehicles to finance, lease and buy outright. While the industry term is auto broker Jesse says educator to ensure every client learns the best options for their automotive needs.

When not working Jesse spends time with his wife Caity and their dog Piper and cat Alaria.

Jesse is proud to serve as a board member of the DJCC to continue the excellent work of connecting businesses and living through Jewish values.

Originally from Nebraska and now calling Denver home for the past 5 years, Rachael Emanuel has 7 years of banking experience, working in two banks. Trademarks of her career include starting as a teller, working her way into sales, and successfully building a strong network of valued clients, colleagues, and partners throughout. Rachael has built these business successes in large part by bringing positivity, enthusiasm and compassion into her career and company. In addition to her business career, Rachael has also spent many years serving her communities both in Nebraska and Colorado. Her current role at First Citizens Bank allows her to blend her career path with her deep commitment to her community. At First Citizens, Rachael focuses on working closely with small businesses and derives joy in helping them to grow and thrive.

When not in the office or out networking, Rachael loves to spend time with her husband Derek Emanuel, daughter Emilia, and the family cat, Huck. Having had the privilege of getting to know all of the amazing members and partners of the Denver Jewish Chamber of Commerce during her time in Denver, she is very committed to the chamber’s vision. Rachael is thrilled to be involved with the organization and community and is eager to bring her enthusiasm, passion and commitment to the group.

Brad Ripps is a Denver native, he is married and has two teenage boys, 2 cats and 2 dogs. Brad has been involved with the Jewish Community for decades. Participating as a member and joining the board of the DJCC provides him with an avenue to give back to the community and connect with members sharing Jewish values.

Professionally, Brad has owned and operated businesses, advised business owners in the sale of their companies and is a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual helping families and business owners build and live financial freedom. Brad has worked in financial services since 2006. As a Financial Advisor, he utilizes a comprehensive approach to meet clients where they are in life and provide a financial plan that aligns personal and professional goals. Areas of expertise include: Life and Disability insurance and Long-Term Care planning as well as wealth management, retirement plans, and business transition planning. bradripps.nm.com

Paul grew up in Glendale, Wisconsin and moved to Colorado in 1998 for better weather and great skiing. Paul joined the DJCC in 2019 and became a board member and treasurer in 2022. He began his career in accounting and worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), in public accounting and private industry, for 30 years. In 2017, Paul joined Transamerica Financial Advisors where he now helps individuals, families and business owners achieve their financial goals and dreams.

Paul’s mission is to eradicate financial illiteracy (one client at a time), so that families can take control of their financial future, dream again, and create a better life for themselves and their children. Financial illiteracy is the #1 economic crisis in the world, which impacts more than 5 billion people across the planet.

Unlike the rest of the financial services industry, who overlook the majority of Americans, we serve these families by first teaching them how money really works and then helping them create the financial security and independence they deserve. To do this, Paul utilizes a comprehensive step-by-step planning approach that begins with a discussion of the client’s personal and professional GOALS and DREAMS, to provide them a financial roadmap (plan) for the future which aligns with their goals and dreams.

Paul and his wife Rebecca have a teenage daughter Michaela and a cat Mia. When Paul isn’t serving his clients, he can be found skiing, biking, hiking, working out or spending time with family and friends.

https://wealthwave.com/paulzuckerman

Brett Minzer has been in the IT (Information Technology) industry for the last 40 years. He loves to serve his clients needs. His motto is simple. “We Always Get It Done.” His company is an outsourced IT provider for small businesses with 25 or less employees. They handle computer hardware, software, cloud services, managed services, security both information and physical. Their goal is to meet the needs of our clients and never treat them as if they were a number.

Brett has been a part of the Denver Jewish Chamber of Commerce for almost 2 years. He serves as a board member happily, and recommends the organization with alacrity. We are here to serve our clients needs 24/7/365. 

A native New Yorker, Stephanie is an attorney in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, and protective proceedings. Stephanie is a former Self Represented Litigant Coordinator at the Denver Probate Court, helping local citizens successfully navigate Probate Court without legal representation. Stephanie has also served for ten years as the Panel Attorney for the United States Bankruptcy Appellate Panel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, and possesses transactional, litigation, and federal and state court appellate experience. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with a minor in Critical Legal Studies from Brandeis University in 1989, and earned her J.D. degree from Cardozo Law School in 2003. Yes, Stephanie only attends schools named for Jewish Supreme Court Justices! Committed to equal justice for all, Stephanie is a volunteer with LYRIC, Learn Your Rights in Colorado, educating young people about their rights under the U.S. Constitution, and is also a Domestic Violence activist.

Stephanie is a proud Jewish Mother to twin daughters with James McKeon, and a Pet Mom to a 34 year old African Grey and a 6 year old Tibetan Terrier. Stephanie loves paddle boarding, mahjongg and sushi – please drop her a note if you would like to learn more about the Denver Jewish Chamber of Commerce in any of those settings!

Dr. Lee Weisbard, a general dentist, with special expertise in Restorative, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry has practiced in the DTC for over 30 years. Although a New York native, Colorado has been home for over 45 years. After graduating from the University of Colorado and The University of Colorado, School of Dental Medicine she worked in public health for six years and then started her private practice. Having served the community for decades, she is member of many professional groups, organizations and chambers and has served on multiple boards. She was honored to be chosen for the Dress for Success Impact Award in 2019.

Lee brings decades of small business ownership experience, along with incredible passion and care for her patient’s dental, oral, mental and spiritual health. She participates in multiple professional study groups and continuing education classes to ensure she is always providing the best patient care.

A very active member of the Jewish community, Lee and her husband, David, love attending the theater and Avalanche games. They stay very busy with their six children and six grandchildren.

Bio Coming Soon

Mollie joined Robert W. Baird & Co as a financial advisor in 2020.  She began her career at Wells Fargo in the Business Banking Group where she worked to establish long-lasting relationships with high net-worth business owners. She has 11 years of industry experience helping clients build business plans and continually assisting them by reviewing and auditing their financial statements and business processes.

She believes in focusing her time on the client’s goals with their best interest in mind and completes a comprehensive financial plan for all clients. By focusing on the client first and foremost, she’s able to partner with her team to provide a complete wealth management solution and interact with the clients on a more frequent and personal basis. Investment education is pertinent to her practice, and she prides herself on providing investment education for every client on a regular basis.

Mollie attended Seattle University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in finance and economics. She’s a native to Denver and grew up in Washington Park area. She stays active in her community by serving on the board of the non-profit organization Alliance of Professional Woman as well as a committee member with Woman in Healthcare. She’s also been a part of the Denver Rescue Mission for over 7 years. In her free time, she enjoys teaching and practicing pilates, playing pickleball and golf, traveling with her husband and reading.

Gitit is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Colorado. She has a deep passion to work with people in order to increase their self- awareness toward themselves, while focusing on their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health. Gitit was born and raised in Israel where she worked as a social worker for the Holon municipality. She obtained her master’s degree in Counseling, with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University, Fullerton in 2013. She has a bachelor’s degree in social work since 2001 from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and moved to Colorado in 2014, whereshe now practices as an LPC.

Gitit has a wide experience working with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, including veterans, people struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, and grief. She believes that therapy should be personally targeted, focus on the individual’s needs, and their faith, while providing practical tools for them to utilize. In her mind, every person deserves to have the best opportunity to improve his or her life and get the best support they need. Her goal is to assist people in improving their social as well as their emotional issues to help them reach mental peace and to be able to move forward with their lives. Since 2022, Gitit is the owner of a private practice named Connecting Dots Counseling, where she works with adults who experience anxiety, loss, or relationship issues. Gitit is helping her clients identify that they have a choice and the power to make a change in the cycle within them and experience a better lifestyle while moving forward to a fulfilled life.