Paul Penna DJDS provides our children with an education that tells them, shows them and involves them. The words integrated and arts-based are meaningful. The magic that happens in our classrooms is created by our magnificent teachers and supported by dedicated staff. The school’s commitment to inspiring curiosity, honouring diversity and creating community is alive in everything that happens in our gem of a private school. Creative methodology, rooted in Jewish values, sends our children out into the world as well-prepared, independent, free-thinking young people.

2024-25 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Biographies

Brian Abracen: Brian is a seasoned professional in the digital marketing space. He has a strong background in business strategy consulting, project management, and communications. Earlier in his career, he worked as Manager, Interactive Communications at Federation CJA in Montreal. Brian was a Board member of the Annex Shul, as well as their Marketing and Communications Director. He has also recently been accepted into the latest cohort of the Joshua Institute. Brian’s daughters are currently in Grade 1 and Grade 7.

Amy Ballon: Amy Ballon is an advisor for the Business Development Bank of Canada’s clients with a focus on strategic planning and sales and marketing. Previously, she co-founded, grew, and sold her own small business. Amy is passionate about Canadian small businesses and is a published author on the subject of entrepreneurship. Amy and her husband, Ian Schnoor, have both held various volunteer roles at Paul Penna DJDS. Her three daughters all attended the school, graduating in 2014, 2017, and 2020. 

Michael Goldrosen: Michael currently manages capital and regulatory reporting, leading the enterprise-wide requirements for a federally regulated financial institution. Having worked for over 15 years in corporate accounting and finance, Michael has extensive experience in regulatory and capital management, financial accounting and business intelligence. 

Michael is a member of the Institute of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario (CPA). He was a former facilitator within CPA Canada where he taught incoming cohorts accounting and finance subjects leading to their CPA designation. Michael’s son is currently in Grade 2 at Paul Penna DJDS. 

Mitchell Marcus: In 2021, Mitchell was named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40.  He is the founder and Artistic & Managing Director of The Musical Stage Company – Canada’s leading and largest not-for-profit musical theatre company. Outside of The Musical Stage Company, Mitchell was the Associate Producer for the inaugural six years of Luminato, the Creative Producer for the Hilary Weston Writers’ Trust Prize and the producer of the Dora Awards. He has held teaching positions at the University of Toronto and Ryerson and serves on several committees and boards across the city. Mitchell is the recipient of the 2017 The Leonard McHardy and John Harvey Award for Outstanding Leadership in Administration, a Harold Award and was a finalist for the 2018 Roy Thomson Hall Award,but his proudest role is dad to Eytan and Yael in Grade 7 at Paul Penna.

Lisa Milgram: Lisa has 20 years of experience in healthcare system management. Her responsibilities include provincial program development and expansion, policy development, process improvement, budgeting, evaluation, increasing appropriate use of technology, and creating positive stakeholder relationships with Ontario hospitals, the Ministry of Health, and pan-Canadian health sector partners. She brings to the Board experience in strategic planning, project management, and communications.

Ryan Morein: Ryan is a Senior Vice President at an international commercial real estate brokerage. While focussed on downtown retail leasing in Toronto, he has a broad range of experience in many different types of commercial leasing and sales transactions across the GTA and North America. Representing both tenants and landlords, buyers and sellers, he has a unique insight and impact into the happenings in the city of Toronto and beyond. He is also a die hard Montreal Canadiens and Pearl Jam fan, both of which he now shares with his son Bowie, who is in Grade 2 at Paul Penna.

Daniel Naymark: Daniel is a trial lawyer and the principal of Naymark Law, a litigation boutique law firm. He has experience in a broad range of commercial and civil disputes, public interest litigation and regulatory matters. He opened Naymark Law in 2015 after working at a Bay Street firm for several years and clerking at the Superior Court of Justice in Toronto. He holds a JD (2008) from the University of Toronto and a B.A. from Huron College at Western University. Daniel has been active as a board member and volunteer with several non-profit organizations, both in and out of the legal community. He is the father of a daughter currently in Grade 7 and son in Grade 4.

Michael Peiser:  Michael Peiser has been working in real estate development for 17 years, both locally and internationally. He is the VP of Development at Cadillac Fairview, managing large commercial and residential development projects. Outside of his job, he also serves as an Alumni Fund DIrector at Bowdoin College, where his role is to help guide the college with fundraising efforts with alumni. PPDJDS has become a vital part of his community, and he is enthusiastic about offering his experience and knowledge to contribute to the school’s continued success.

Ari Shomair:  Ari is Chief of Staff at POINT Biopharma, where he primarily focuses on finance (fundraising), operations, business and corporate development, HR and IT. He has significant board experience, currently sitting on four boards: Volunteer Success, which is a non-profit organization that helps charities and non-profit organizations connect with volunteers, Alumier MD, a privately held cosmetic company, Mantaro Capital Corp, a privately held Amazon seller aggregator, and InkWell Health, a privately held orthopedic technology company. With two children at the school, he wants to see the school continue to prosper.

Jessica Weiss: Jessica is Counsel to the Executive Director of Professional Development and Competence at the Law Society of Ontario where she supports the development of policy recommendations in the competence area. Jessica is a strong communicator and has substantial experience working with various stakeholders, including the Board of Directors (of the Law Society). She was called to the Ontario Bar in 2012 and has recently begun a certificate in adult learning and development at OISE. She served on the Board of Act to End Violence Against Women and participated on their Advocacy committee. Jessica is a parent ambassador, volunteered for the carnival, and was a parent rep for the Day of Giving.  Jessica currently has 2 daughters in Grades 4 and 6 at Paul Penna DJDS.