Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/772020
28 January 12 • 2017 jn 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 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. 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 jews d in the JOHN HARDWICK JOHN HARDWICK ELIEZER REUBEN