Shoshanna Kramer – President

Shoshanna Kramer is the president and founder of Hands of Ahava, a national organization providing community education and assistance for southern California, to help victims of domestic abuse, domestic violence, and sexual assault. Her vision began when she reached out for assistance and noticed there was a lack of support needed for those who had been affected by domestic violence and sexual assault.

Ms. Kramer is a survivor of domestic violence and sexual assault. When she tried to reach out for assistance, she found a lack of understanding and few services that fulfilled the Jewish need. She decided to break the victim cycle by starting Hands of Ahava.

Kramer is a professional speaker specializing in domestic violence and sexual assault issues. She offers a unique perspective as a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence. Her goal is increase awareness about emotional, verbal, sexual, and financial abuse, which seem take a back seat to physical abuse. Ms. Kramer’s experiences give her the ability to connect personally with her audience, thus helping them understand that domestic violence and sexual assault does not discriminate.

Kramer served as one of two southern region co-chairs for California Partnership To End Domestic Violence (CPEDV) Pubic Policy Research Committee. As a co-chair she represented the southern region  for CPEDV policy recommendations. She was  actively involved in reviewing all pending legislature bills that may directly or indirectly impact issues related to domestic violence.  She actively worked with  CPEDV to see that state legislature supported CPEDV approved policies and legislation.

Since a young age Kramer has been continually active in giving back to the community including volunteering for multiple organizations such as, the American Red Cross and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. She has also volunteered her time to the senior community, visiting seniors who have been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease and those living with multiple sclerosis.

Shoshanna is a classically trained cellist and is extremely passionate about the arts. She is also dedicated to the preservation of the arts.

Wayne A. Thorp, CFA – Treasurer

Wayne A. Thorp is a senior financial analyst for the American Association of Individual Investors, which he has been with since 1997. He is the editor of Computerized Investing, a quarterly newsletter considered to be the premier publication covering the use of personal computers for financial planning, investment analysis, and portfolio management.

Thorp was awarded the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation in 2002 by the CFA Institute (formerly the Association for Investment Management and Research or AIMR). The Economist ranked the CFA Program as the gold standard among investment analysis designations.

Thorp is a 1997 honors graduate of DePaul University in Chicago, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in finance. While at DePaul, Wayne was active in a number of student organizations, including the Student Government Association. He was active in the Boy Scouts of America and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. In his free time Wayne enjoys fly-fishing and is active in Chicago politics.

Reina V, Kutner – Secretary

REINA V. KUTNER is a freelance editor and writer who has worked for local and national media outlets, including Creators Syndicate, one of the five major newspaper syndicates in the country.

She currently is the founder and chief blogger for Young, Broke and Kosher, a food blog dedicated to kosher recipes and storytelling. She has been featured in OC Jewish Life and is a member of EatNation, a group of bloggers in major metropolitan areas across the United States.

She had participated in fundraising for domestic violence in the past, including performing in The Vagina Monologues at her alma matter, California State University, Fullerton. She currently lives in Long Beach with her husband, Ari.

Thea Stern – Fundraising Chair

Thea is an Emmy award-winning actress and has been involved in the entertainment industry since she was a teenager. She has worked on such projects as Days of our Lives, Young & the Restless, “Great Scott” featuring Toby McGuire, and as an associate producer for City Girls. She modeled for Guess for 10 years and Calvin Klein for nine years. She is the founder of Stern Talent Management and is currently working as a manager and represents many A-list talents.

Stern strongly believes in giving back to the community and is serving on the Ronald McDonald House national board, Boys & Girls Club national board, and U-Pledge Board. Though she has been very successful in the entertainment industry she has never strayed away from her commitment to give back to the community and continues to be active in numerous charities.

Thea has a modern day Brady bunch family with three stepchildren and a set of triplets with her husband. Her best role to date is being a mom and spending time with her family.

Sarah Van Zanten – Board Member at Large

Sarah Van Zanten was the victim of domestic violence at 15 after two bruised ribs and a concussion at the hands of her high school boyfriend. She ended the relationship and with the support of her family contacted the local authorities, sending her abuser to juvenile hall. After changing schools due to death threats and vandalism, she became a national speaker raising awareness for domestic violence.

She soon joined the Liz Claiborne Teen Task Force. She participated in the organization’s “It’s Time to Talk Day” in 2006, and has continued to speak out nationally about domestic violence. Sarah’s story has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, People Magazine, the Today Show, E! True Hollywood Story, and America’s Most Wanted. She has spent the past five years speaking, including to various high schools, middle schools, Girl Scout troops and incarcerated boys.

Sarah is currently a Public Relations major and Communications minor at Chapman University. She hopes to pursue public relations in the sports arena with the emphasis in event planning.

Alexis Meshi, M.D. – Board Member at Large

Dr. Meshi is a graduate of Wellesley College and the AUC School of Medicine. After receiving her medical degree she completed a year-long Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Neural Regeneration and Spinal Cord Injury at the Reeve-Irvine Research Center at UCI. Dr. Meshi completed her internship year of residency at the UCLA-Northridge Family Medicine Residency Program. She then went on to complete her residency training in general adult psychiatry at the Morehouse School of Medicine. While at Morehouse Dr. Meshi was the recipient of the Emory/Pfizer Resident Research Award. She also received a departmental nomination for both the Association of Women Psychiatrists Wyeth/Ayert Fellowship and the American Psychiatric Institute for Research and Education Fellowship.

Dr. Meshi is a general adult psychiatrist and has a strong interest in treating women. She has a particular interest in perinatal and reproductive psychiatry. She enjoys providing specialized care to women suffering from reproductive associated mood disorders, including PMS, illness during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

For the last three years Dr. Meshi has worked at the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach, CA. She has enjoyed providing both traditional and alternative and natural treatment to her patients. She truly believes that each and every person can always and continually optimize their brain health and life happiness.

Dr. Meshi  has most recently opened a private psychiatric practice in Newport Beach.  Through caring for many clients over the years  she has begun to realize how prevalent domestic violence and abuse is.  Her concern and desire to help brought her to join Hands of Ahava.

In her spare time she is an avid martial artist, having just taken up the practice of Krav Maga.  She is also an art enthusiast.