jews d
Josh Kaplan, 31, of
Novi is president and
co-founder, with his
brother Darryl Kaplan
and cousin Max
Cornfield, of Supply
Line International (SLI),
an automotive company
in Novi. SLI got started
about four years ago with a $50,000 interest-
free loan from Hebrew Free Loan (HFL) and
generated $11 million in revenue last year.
The company forecasts $18 million in reve-
nue for 2017. Josh’s innovative thinking and
leadership helped the company thrive. SLI
has a 40,000-square-foot headquarters build-
ing, locations in Orlando, Nashville and
Boston, plus new medical and financial divi-
sions. Financial success has given Josh the
opportunity to indulge his giving nature. A
board member, he arranges benefit events for
Kids Kicking Cancer. The award-winning
organization provides martial arts therapy to
help seriously ill children dealing with pain.
Josh and SLI also participate in Cheers for
Children and charity golf outings hosted by
the Kovan Classic. Josh teaches entrepre-
neurship to aspiring Jewish teens he takes
under his wing. Still grateful to HFL, he plans
to continue giving back through donations
and mentoring.
Jessica Katz, 31, of
Royal Oak is the
recruitment and train-
ing specialist at
Moosejaw
Mountaineering’s local
headquarters in
Madison Heights. Jess
encourages, inspires
and educates her peers about tikkun olam
(repairing the world) through philanthropic
gifts. She took the initiative to get training in
New York from Amplifier Giving, “a network
of giving circles motivated by Jewish values
and inspired by change makers making a dif-
ference around the world.” In Metro Detroit,
she formed a giving circle with six young pro-
fessional couples who had never donated
intentionally before. The local charity they
chose to support with their collective group
donation of nearly $1,500 was Oak Park-
based Forgotten Harvest, which rescues sur-
plus perishable food for the hungry. Jess will
facilitate more giving circles in the future.
This kind, compassionate and dedicated
individual also engages with the Jewish com-
munity as a board member of The Well,
Kadima and the Jewish Federation’s
NEXTGen Detroit.
Noam Kimelman, 30,
of Detroit is a social
entrepreneur and
owner at Fresh Corner
Cafe. “Let all who are
hungry come and eat”
is a phrase familiar to
Jews at the Passover
28
January 12 • 2017
jn
seder. Noam embraces the Jewish commit-
ment to food justice by providing access to
nutritious food and education on its prepa-
ration. Before nearly anyone else did, he
noticed that many Detroit residents were
doing most of their grocery shopping at
nearby small markets and gas stations
throughout the city. Noam opened Fresh
Corner Cafe to bring fresh and healthy pro-
duce to customers at the various locations.
His other business, Detroit Food Academy,
teaches cooking to youth in the city,
emphasizing the benefits of using healthier
food. Noam regularly gives of his time and
money in service to charitable organiza-
tions and projects in Detroit. He was
among the young adults who brought
about the revival of the Isaac Agree
Downtown Synagogue, where he remains
an active lay leader.
David Kurzmann, 30,
of Royal Oak is the
executive director of
JCRC/AJC. Less than a
year into the job for
which he was hired,
David was called upon
to help shepherd a new
partnership between
JCRC and American Jewish Committee,
two major advocacy organizations in
Metro Detroit. David helps to advance the
causes and interests of the Jewish commu-
nity. A warm and inspiring leader, he’s con-
sidered innovative in his approach to com-
munity relations. Focused as well on revi-
talizing connections between Detroit Jews
and other religious communities, David
has made great headway with interfaith
relations. Working closely with Muslim and
Christian partners, he’s created opportuni-
ties for shared community-service experi-
ences. David is dedicated not only in his
professional role, but also as a board mem-
ber of New Detroit and the Interfaith
Leadership Council. He is healing the
world through creating connections.
Carrie Long, 34, of
Birmingham is a
designer and owner of
Carrie Long Interiors, a
successful, high-end
interior design compa-
ny in Royal Oak.
Creative and innova-
tive, she is generous
with her design knowledge. Always willing to
help others, particularly in the Jewish com-
munity, Carrie gave her time, free designs
and donated many of the decorative selec-
tions in designing Chabad House of Ann
Arbor. She volunteers at Chabad of
Commerce, where she designed the rabbi’s
kitchen. Carrie currently is designing a lacta-
tion lounge for working mothers, including
donating furniture for the room, at Frankel
Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield. The
school reportedly is amazed and delighted at
her “beyond generous” spirit and actions.
Carrie made aliyah several years ago, but
moved back to Michigan be close to her fam-
ily. She belongs to the American Israel
Political Action Committee (AIPAC), attends
NEXTGen Detroit events and has a genuine
love for the Jewish people and Israel.
Brooke Samson Miller,
36, of Berkley is a
licensed psychothera-
pist, entrepreneur and
owner of Honey Space
for moms + moms-to-
be, which supports
moms in Metro Detroit,
including those suffer-
ing from postpartum depression. It also
offers childcare, a co-working space for
moms as well as sells safe skin and body
products for pregnant women. Recently, a
Honey beauty bar was added so moms can
enjoy salon services while using the on-site
childcare. In addition to specialty yoga and
birth/lactation services, Brooke has also built
an online community called “mamahive” to
support moms and find solace and help in
her groups. Brooke and her team have also
donated hundreds of meals to moms around
Metro Detroit. Brooke and the team she has
built embody love and support for all families
and a sense of responsibility — a mission —
to serve families. In Jewish tradition, women
deserve a space to heal and support one
another. Brooke has built Honey to provide
exactly that. She and her team have also sup-
ported Jewish families through J-Baby birth
classes at the Jewish Federation.
JOHN HARDWICK
ELIEZER REUBEN
JOHN HARDWICK
in
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Gabe Neistein, 30, of
Detroit is alumni rela-
tions director at
Tamarack Camps. Gabe
is a go-to person for sev-
eral community projects
as a longtime resident of
Detroit, as a Detroit City
Moishe House member
and as a spokesperson for Tamarack Camps.
Whether he’s talking about how to bring peo-
ple back to Detroit or supporting our com-
munity, he always has Detroit and the Jewish
community in the back of his mind. Via
Moshe House and his work at Tamarack,
Gabe is an ambassador for Jewish life in
Detroit.
Max Nussenbaum, 26,
of Detroit is CEO of
Castle. Max moved to
the city through a pro-
gram called Venture for
America, which aims to
place talented recent
college graduates in
struggling cities
throughout the country, with a goal of revi-
talizing these areas through entrepreneur-
ship. When his fellowship program ended, he