About

Our Team

Our dynamic team comes from diverse backgrounds, but two important characteristics are shared by all: persistent optimism and enthusiasm to make a positive impact on the world.

Below are some of the key players in our growing team.

Chana Simon

Founder and CEO

With a strong background in media and editing, Australian-born Chana has been involved in various charitable projects since 1998, laying the foundation for RE-SPECS in 2008. Prompted to action by the unnecessary wastage of eyeglasses and the worrying statistics of Israel’s growing poor, Chana sought to address the matter by collecting pre-loved and surplus frames and channeling them to the underprivileged. Chana founded RE-SPECS Frames for the Needy and currently serves as its CEO.

Joseph Gitler

Director, Primary Consultant

Graduate of Yeshiva University and Fordham University Law School, Joseph worked for three years as Director of International Sales & Development for a family software business, before founding Leket Israel in 2003, Israel's National Food Bank and largest food rescue network. A staunch supporter of projects that assist the needy, Joseph acts as Primary Consultant to RE-SPECS.

Dorron Kline

Director, Primary Consultant

Born in South Africa, Dorron made Aliyah in 1985 and has made it his life's work to promote the quality of life of Southern Africans in Israel while engaging them to participate in and contribute to Israeli society. Currently the CEO of Telfed (South African Zionist Federation - Israel), Dorron has supported RE-SPECS from its seedling stage and seen the organization mature to full development. It is our honor to have him serve as one of our Directors.

Michelle Bashan

Marketing Director

Living most of her life between Sydney, Australia, and Tel Aviv, Israel, Michelle has a BA in Politics and International Relations and has studied Adult Workplace Training and Development. She brings to RE-SPECS a wealth of experience in business and marketing, having worked with companies such as Strauss Group Ltd., Bank HaPoalim, and Hewlett Packard. CEO of Write It Right, Michelle acts as Marketing Director for RE-SPECS. 

Shai Rubin

Fund Manager 

Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, Shai spent many years in the USA. He began his professional career opening restaurants and working as a consultant in the food service industry. After he earned a business degree in healthcare administration, he worked in long-term care operations. Shai successfully moved on to the non-profit sector before making Aliyah with his family in 2012, much to the benefit of RE-SPECS where he serves as Fund Manager.

Nechama Cohen

Adv, Legal Advisor

Nechama has been practicing family/divorce law and litigation since 2000. In 2010, she began to use her legal mediation skills to develop a practice as a personal life coach. Nechama finds great success in channeling her experience and intuitive approach to supporting and coaching people who are suffering in order to enable them to achieve a life with greater meaning, freedom and direction. RE-SPECS is honored to have her as its Legal Advisor.

Ilan Chasen

Shuli Briggs

Michele Kaplan-Green

Yitz Feigenbaum

Lior Tadger

Rhoanna Sumroy

Leah Saltzman

Strategic Advisor

The world of business development, financial structuring and corporate finance is not new to Ilan. He has held management positions with Deloitte South Africa as well as Deloitte Israel, where he led the firm’s Innovation Unit. As Management and Strategy Consultant, he supported new business development initiatives across a number of sectors, including real estate, oil & gas and infrastructure. Ilan's wide experience in finance and management ably qualifies him to be Strategic Advisor for RE-SPECS.

Operations Advisor

Using her extensive marketing skills, boundless energy, and wide experience in hi tech, Shuli infuses RE-SPECS with a special flavor. She has worked in service-oriented and communal organizations and is the founder and CEO of BoxedGood.com, an organic vegetable delivery service that supports organic farmers in outlying areas who typically have limited access to traditional markets for their income. RE-SPECS greatly appreciates Shuli's role as Operations Advisor.

Development Director

As the director of Go North and the founding director of Go South at Nefesh B’Nefesh, Michele focuses on creating opportunities for immigrants to effectively plan and acclimate to their lives in Israel. Prior to making Aliyah in 1995, she worked in PR and Marketing at UJA-Federation. Post-Aliyah, she ran the Community Aliyah Program for Raanana, a joint program of the Raanana municipality, the Ministry of Absorption and the Jewish Agency. Michele co-chaired the English-speaking Sharon area program for the Israel Women's network and has volunteered at the L.O.Combat Violence Against Women's hotline. She brings marketing and development experience to RE-SPECS.

Financial Director

Yitz brings a fresh vigor to the strong RE-SPECS team. He made aliyah in 1992 after receiving his B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Business Administration. Yitz lives with his wife and family on Kibbutz Merav (on the Gilboa) where he managed for over 20 years, together with another kibbutz member, a group home called Bet Hayeled Merav. His role as father figure for the children didn’t preclude his investing both experience and energies in all financial & fundraising aspects of the amuta. Through the wonderful connections made with UK charity MyIsrael, Yitz found his way to RE-SPECS and today serves as our esteemed financial director.​

Optometrist

Lior has been working as a qualified optometrist at RE-SPECS since 2015. Lior received her BSc degree from Bar Ilan School of Optometry, after completing her two-year "stage" at optician's chain HaDor Hashlishi, followed by a successful work stint at one of Raanana's busiest optometry practices, CLC. Since joining the RE-SPECS family, Lior has been a driving force behind the professional eye exams conducted here, and combines her various skills in her professional work ethic, organization, one-to-one customer service, follow-up care, and adaptability to the ever-changing field work whether in our main HQ or in our mobile eye clinics. 

Optometrist

Rhoanna began working at RE-SPECS in the beginning of 2016.