Page 8 - jr011922

People on the move

Cedar Sinai Park welcomes two to
communications leadership team
Cedar Sinai Park welcomed two new members to the senior liv-
ing campus’ leadership team the first week of January: Director of
Development and Communications Martha Norrie and Events and
Communications Manager Sydney Clevenger.
“They are a wealth of heart, creativity, knowledge and expertise,
and we’re sooooo happy they’ve joined the CSP family,” says CSP
CEO Kimberly Fuson.
A native Oregonian, Norrie can trace her roots to Portland’s early Caplan Richmond Bezodis
Jewish community. Her great-great-grand- ment. Previously the director of congregant connections, Caplan
father, Raphael Prag, immigrated to the is a connector in the CNS kehillah, community. She is known for
United States. Upon arriving in Portland, her creative approaches to building community and her desire to
he helped found Ahavai Sholom in 1869, ensure that CNS is here l’dor v’dor, for every generation. Her
which later merged with Neveh Zedek to expanded role at CNS will include building community and the
become today’s Congregation Neveh Sha- added role of development.
lom. His son, Jacob, married a Catholic, so “I am looking forward to my expanded role of building communi-
Norrie’s Jewish line ended. ty and the added role of development,” says Caplan. “It’s a natural
Norrie is thrilled to have the opportu- combination that allows me to create even stronger relationships
nity to better understand and honor her with our congregants.”
genealogy by joining Cedar Sinai Park. Lisa Richmond is the new program director in charge of congre-
She is excited to meet Jewish community Norrie gational programming, volunteer support and committee support.
members as she strategically raises funds and awareness for the She was formerly the CNS clergy assistant and building coordina-
100-year-old senior living nonprofit. Norrie began volunteering tor. She is a creative thinker who strives for klal, inclusivity, in all
as a teenager and developed a passion for charitable work. She CNS does.
holds a bachelor’s in interdisciplinary studies from the University JoAnn Bezodis has been named clergy assistant and building
of Portland. Norrie is a certified digital marketing professional and administrator. She has spent years working in the education de-
a professional certified marketer. Her experience in marketing and partment with Mel Berwin making sure that all who want to learn
development includes serving as interim executive director for the at CNS are able to do so. She will take her expertise in attention
Oregon Society of Artists and at Norrie Creative for 13 years. to detail and training to the clergy team, making sure that con-
Clevenger is eager to connect with the residents of Cedar Sinai gregants are all able to connect to CNS klei kodesh, team of holy
Park’s facilities as she helps coordinate fund-raising events and leaders, and one another.
shares stories of the nonprofit organization’s Associate Rabbi Eve Posen will expand her role to include a fo-
happenings. As a young girl, Clevenger cus on CNS’ commitment to the engagement of all generations
vividly remembers the tranquility of play- of our kehillah. She
ing checkers with her great-grandmother is thrilled for this
while watching Lawrence Welk. She has opportunity to in-
a passion for those who are aging and has novate and explore
experience working in senior living in the Judaism in this ex-
Portland area. A Portland native, Clevenger panded role.
graduated cum laude in broadcasting with Leora Troper is the
an English minor from Washington State new librarian of the
University. She anchored radio and televi- Feldstein Library.
Clevenger sion news in Salem and the Tri-Cities be- Leora is an expe-
fore transitioning to public relations, where rienced librarian Posen Troper
she has worked for more than 30 years locally and in Washington, who has worked in
D.C. Clevenger’s expertise is in health care and education nonprofits school, academic and public libraries. She has lived with her fami-
having worked at the Children’s Defense Fund, OHSU, Providence ly in Portland since 2002 and earned her master’s in library science
Health & Services, and most recently, Oregon Episcopal School. from Emporia State University in 2007. She feels strongly that a

library should be a welcoming space for all. When not reading,
Staff changes reflect Neveh Shalom’s mission Leora can be found writing, hiking, singing, working in visual arts,
Congregation Neveh Shalom has announced staffing changes to dancing and davening at various shuls in town.
support its new mission statement. In January, team members are
transitioning into these new roles. Meieran announces candidacy for county chair
Neveh Shalom’s Long-Range Planning team created a new mis- Dr. Sharon Meieran has announced her candidacy for Mult-
sion statement: To foster and preserve an inclusive, authentic, and nomah County Chair and has launched a campaign website at
engaging experience of Conservative Judaism in the Pacific North- votesharon.com. She began her second term as a Multnomah
west. Through meaningful life-cycle events, spiritual, educational, County Commissioner in January of 2021 as the representative
and social experiences, we become our best selves, strengthen of Multnomah County’s First District. She practices emergency
connections to each other, and forge positive change in the world. medicine in the Portland area. She is a member of Congregation
Michelle Caplan is now the director of congregational advance- Beth Israel.

8 Jewish Review Jan. 19, 2022