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APN Board Elects James Klutznick as its Chair

APN_Logo_Magnifying_Glass_2012_186x140.jpgJo-Ann Mort Vice Chair; Mark Silverberg Secretary/ Treasurer; New Board Members: Rabbi Andy Bachman and Mik Moore

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now announced today the election of James B Klutznick of Chicago as the new Chair of its Board of Directors. In addition, APN's Board re-elected Jo-Ann Mort of New York as its Vice Chair, Mark Silverberg of Cleveland as its Secretary/Treasurer, and approved the appointment of two new Board members: Rabbi Andy Bachman of Brooklyn and Mik Moore of New York.

A native of Chicago, James Klutznick is co-founder and Vice Chairman of Senior Lifestyle Corporation, a national senior housing development and management firm. Additionally, he is a principal of Klutznick Enterprises, a developer of mixed-use real estate. He has been involved in the planning, development, leasing and management of shopping centers, mixed-use developments and senior housing for over 40 years.

Mr. Klutznick has been involved in Jewish public life for many years. In addition to serving on the Board of Americans for Peace Now, he served as a Trustee of B'nai B'rith's Youth Organization (BBYO), was a Commissioner of the Youth Commission of BBYO and is currently a board member and past Chairman of the B'nai B'rith Beber Camp in Mukwonago, Wisconsin. He was also the President of Chicago's Jewish Family and Community Service and the head of Chicago Jewish United Fund's real estate division for several years.

In addition to Jewish organizational activity, Mr. Klutznick served on the Advisory Committees of Princeton University's School of Architecture and Near Eastern Studies Department. He has recently served on the Governing Board of the Chicago International Film Festival. Other past positions include President of the Board of the Jewish United Fund and member of the Greater State Street Council.

A graduate of Princeton University, Mr. Klutznick also served a tour of duty with the United States Air Force.

James Klutznick grew up in an environment of public service and Jewish community activism. His father, Philip, was US Secretary of Commerce under President Carter and served as the President of B'nai B'rith International and President of the World Jewish Congress, as well as a founder of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, of which APN is a member.

Klutznick is succeeding Martin I. Bresler of New York, who will remain on APN's Board.

Jo-Ann Mort, APN's Vice Chair, is the founder and CEO of New York City-based ChangeCommunications, a boutique strategic communications firm that works with philanthropists, foundations, trade unions, socially-responsible businesses and NGOS in the U.S., Israel, West Bank and Gaza. She is also a well-regarded freelance journalist and writer with an expertise in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in domestic issues faced in Israel and Gaza and the West Bank. Ms. Mort is the co-author of Our Hearts Invented a Place: Can Kibbutzim Survive in Today's Israel? (Cornell University Press). She is a member of the board of trustees of Congregation Beth Elohim in Park Slope Brooklyn. Ms. Mort is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College. She lives in Brooklyn, NY.

APN's new Secretary/Treasurer, Mark Silverberg began being active for peace in the Middle East in the mid-1980's, first with New Jewish Agenda and later APN. Currently the President of Technoform North America, Inc. which manufactures engineered plastics for energy efficient residential and commercial buildings, Mr. Silverberg was a business associate and friend of the late Al Stern, cooperating with him in both business and Middle East peace activities for over 40 years. Mr. Silverberg is a documentary photographer and videographer. He has a B.S. from Oakland University in Rochester, MI, and resides in Cleveland with his wife Barb.

Rabbi Andy Bachman, a new APN Board member, was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and studied history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Rabbi Bachman was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1996. After serving as a Rabbi Educator, he in 1998 became Executive Director of the Edgar M. Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life: Hillel at New York University. In 2003, Rabbi Bachman and Rachel Altstein, along with several friends, founded Brooklyn Jews, an innovative outreach program for unaffiliated Jews. Based on the principles of openness and creativity, Brooklyn Jews quickly gained a national reputation for being a fun new way to engage young Jews. Rabbi Bachman was on the Newsweek list of top US rabbis and on the Forward 50 list. He blogs daily at www.andybachman.com

 Mik Moore, a new APN Board member, is recognized as one of the leading political and communications campaign strategists in America's Jewish community. He is known for developing and implementing innovative efforts to harness the power of online media to create social change. Mr. Moore co-created The Great Schlep, which mobilized Jewish support for then-candidate Barack Obama; Haik U Glenn Beck!, an interfaith response to Beck's attack on social justice-oriented churches; and Al Tirah USA, a call for civil civic engagement, featuring Rabbi Sharon Brous, in response to the rise of the Tea Party. Before starting his own firm in 2011, Mik was the Chief Strategy Officer at Jewish Funds for Justice. Links to his projects, published writing and television appearances, and firm portfolio can be found at www.mikmoore.com.