Our Team

Joanna Smith is the Office Manager at Jewish Voters Unite where she wears many hats, but is especially appreciated for her day-to-day logistical support. Before coming to Jewish Voters Unite, Joanna’s skills were shaped by more than a decade of experience in customer care, alongside her work in administrative and executive assistant roles.

Joanna grew up in New Jersey, but has called New York City her home for over a decade. She is a proud Great Dane, graduating from University at Albany (SUNY) in 2009, and currently lives in Washington Heights with her cat, Felix, where they enjoy a beautiful view of the Hudson River. As a proud voter for many years, she knows the importance of JVU’s work in making our voice heard in both local and national elections.

Sam Verstandig is the affable Manager of Strategic Partnerships. Sam previously served as a White House Intern and the NYS Assembly for 2 years as a Communications Director/Policy Assistant. Sam is known for his advocacy efforts fighting the opioid crisis, for STEM and Security funding in private schools, and strengthening US-Israel relations. At Jewish Voters Unite, Sam can be found having coffee chats at the local bagel store where he forms new partnerships with local organizations. Sam earned his B.A. in Public Affairs, completed an Advanced Certificate in Community Advocacy, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social and Public Policy, all from SUNY Empire State University.

Yakira Hirsch is the passionate Volunteer Manager at Jewish Voters Unite. A proud graduate of Touro University, she brings a background of public service and advocacy. Her prior experience includes interning at TeachNYS, New York City Council Member Lynn Schulman’s office, and the Consulate of Jamaica. Yakira is dedicated to bolstering Jewish life and has spent over three years teaching Hebrew School and leading synagogue youth groups. She lives in Deal, NJ with her husband, Daniel. When she’s not organizing for democracy, you can find her journaling outside or grabbing coffee with friends!

Allison Surgeary is a dedicated nonprofit professional with over a decade of experience in development, specializing in arts, culture, and public education. She brings deep expertise in individual giving, major gifts, board engagement, and donor stewardship. Prior to JVU, Allison served as the Individual Giving & Development Manager at The New Press, where she built out their major gifts program. She held development roles at several mission-driven organizations, most notably at The New York Historical, where she discovered her passion for fundraising and public engagement.

Allison holds a BA in History from SUNY New Paltz and lives in New York City.

Caleb Fischer is the Director of Operations at Jewish Voters Unite, where he oversees organizational infrastructure and strategy in service of JVU’s mission to mobilize the Jewish community to participate meaningfully in civic life and vote in every election.

A seasoned community builder, Caleb brings over a decade of experience working at the intersection of communal engagement, strategic growth, and operational excellence with prominent Jewish institutions. As Director of Development at both the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty and Park East Day School and Synagogue, he developed fundraising initiatives and built systems to maximize donor cultivation and stewardship. He also served as Associate Director of The Beis Community, where he oversaw operations and built the sustainable infrastructure necessary for a growing nonprofit.

Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Caleb received rabbinic ordination from RIETS and a Master’s degree in Ancient Jewish History from Yeshiva University. He is deeply committed to building a more vibrant, participatory Jewish future and currently serves as President of the Board of Trustees at Mount Sinai Jewish Center, steering long-term sustainability and growth for the congregation.

A seasoned non-profit and campaign professional, Alana recently served as the Western North Carolina Voter Protection Director with the NC Coordinated Campaign. Her prior experience includes acting as the Assistant Director for the Northeast at American Friends of Tel Aviv University, Director of Alumni Relations at American Friends of Hebrew University, Director of Goucher College Hillel, as well as a variety of other roles. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from Union College and her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Becca is the Executive Director of Jewish Voters Unite and the Jewish Voters Action Network, where she leads national initiatives to mobilize the Jewish community to combat antisemitism by making their voices heard at the polls and engaging in the democratic process. She is also the Founder of CEI Strategies, a nonprofit consulting company that empowers mission-driven organizations through strategic planning, fundraising, and operational growth.

With over a decade of senior leadership experience in the nonprofit sector, Becca has held transformative roles at major institutions. At Yachad: The National Jewish Council for Disabilities, she managed operations for a global program with an annual budget of over $18 million. During her tenure as Director of Donor Services at the Orthodox Union, she restructured and expanded the Institutional Advancement department, significantly increasing donor engagement and fundraising capacity. She also led donor strategy and engagement at the Center for Initiatives in Jewish Education (CIJE).

Becca holds a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Maryland, specializing in nonprofit management and social policy.

Maury Litwack is the Founder of Jewish Voters Unite (JVU), a pioneering national organization dedicated to turning out the Jewish vote in historically high numbers. Maury has led efforts to register and mobilize hundreds of thousands of Jewish voters across the country. His initiatives include a landmark voter turnout effort in the Bowman-Latimer primary and some of the most impactful voter registration campaigns ever conducted in New York, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Maury is also the Founder of Teach Coalition, one of the nation’s largest and most successful community-driven advocacy organizations. Under Maury’s leadership, Teach secured critical resources for STEM education, nonprofit security funding, and special education resources. Currently, Teach represents tens of thousands of politically engaged lay leaders across the country, empowering their voice in state capitals around the country.

Maury’s leadership and impact is widely recognized. He was named in City & State’s Power 100 list and was featured in Algemeiner Magazine’s Top 100 People Positively Influencing Jewish Life. His contributions have earned him a reputation as a transformative force in Jewish advocacy and political engagement.

Before founding Teach Coalition and Jewish Voters Unite, Maury served on the intergovernmental affairs staff for Miami-Dade County, the sixth-largest county in the United States. In this role, he worked closely with local, state, and federal officials to advance key initiatives. Additionally, Maury served as a legislative advisor for two Members of Congress, where he specialized in foreign affairs and education policy.

Maury is also an accomplished public speaker and writer, contributing regularly to Mishpacha Magazine with his biweekly column, “Halls of Power”, where he shares his expertise on political strategy, advocacy, and grassroots organization.

In recognition of his lifelong commitment to community service, Maury was named Alumnus of the Year by the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland in 2020. This honor was awarded in recognition of his decades of work on behalf of the community, as well as his enduring support of the Cleveland Browns.