Our leadership team at Camp Taconic is comprised of camp professionals who have made Taconic their summer home for many years. This group of adults is made up of teachers, former campers, school counselors, coaches, and entrepreneurs. Our senior staff team is the backbone of Taconic and help make it the special place that it is!
Andy Hart
Associate Director
Andy Hart
Joining us from Texas, Andy joined the Camp Taconic family in 1990. He started as a tennis counselor, and then went on to teach drama and become the Playhouse Director. Andy has also been a Group Head, Boys’ Head Counselor, and is now an Associate Director. He has five children, all of whom have attended or are still attending Taconic. During the year, Andy teaches theater, debate, and yearbook. He and his wife Jonni live in Brenham, Texas.
Cari Kleinman Katz
Associate Director & Director of Staffing
Cari Kleinman Katz
Cari started her career at Taconic as a waterfront counselor and boat driver the summer after graduating from high school. She went on to become a kindergarten teacher, and continued spending her summers at camp. Cari met her husband Jeff, a former Taconic camper, while they were working as counselors together. Cari has been a Group Head, Head Counselor, and is now an Associate Director and helps out on girls’ line and with our Leader in Training (LIT) program. Cari, Jeff and their two daughters, Parker and Zoe, live in Cresskill, NJ with their dog, Ozzie.
Nora Krainis
Associate Director
Nora Krainis
Nora is from Freeport Maine, and has been part of the Taconic family since 1980, when she was hired as bunk counselor for 6- and 7-year-olds and started the costume making activity. Over the years, she served as bunk counselor, Group Head, Drama Director, Special Events Head, Head of Theatre Arts, Sing Leader, and Girls’ Head Counselor. When she's not at camp, Nora teaches singing and theatre and coaches volleyball at a private school in Maine. Many of Nora’s former campers have children who are now campers at Taconic.
Chris Ternouth
Associate Director
Chris Ternouth
Originally from the UK, Chris joined Taconic in 2014 as a soccer counselor and immediately fell in love with Camp. Chris has been a Group Head, Head Counselor and is now our full-time Director of Operations. During the year, Chris oversees any construction and improvement projects at Camp. Throughout the summer, Chris works closely with our Director of Maintenance and Director of Food Services to make sure everything is running smoothly. When not at Camp, Chris can be found running the New York City marathon or playing soccer. He lives in the city with his fiance, Sarah, a special education teacher, and Upper Camp Girls Head Counselor at Taconic.
James Aguilar
Lower Camp Boys
James Aguilar | Lower Camp Boys
James started as Lower Camp Group Head in 2009, and returned for summer 2021 for his 7th summer at Taconic. James attributes many great things in his life to his time at camp, and he keeps coming back to help campers get the most out of their own camp experiences. James spends the off-season in sunny Phoenix, Arizona with his wife Carrie (they met at camp in 2011), their 5-year-old daughter Penelope, and their puppy Birdie. In his free time he loves camping, reading, cooking, and mountain biking.
Lexi Hagberg
Lower Camp Girls
Lexi Hagberg | Lower Camp Girls
Lexi started at Taconic in 2013 as a Lower Camp counselor, and has continued to come back every year. Her favorite activity at camp is tennis. During the year, Lexi teaches 4th grade just outside of Boston. In her spare time, Lexi enjoys listening to audio books, taking walks, and riding her bike.
Zach Fessler
Inter-Camp Boys
Zach Fessler | Inter-Camp Boys
Zach first came to Camp Taconic as a ten-year-old, and it has been his favorite place in the world ever since. During the year, Zach is pursuing a degree in Government and Politics at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also involved with Greek Life and Jewish life on campus. Some of his favorite camp activities include the Tattler, cooking, gymnastics, boating, and soccer.
Allie Weinstein
Inter-Camp Girls
Allie Weinstein | Inter-Camp Girls
Allie started at Taconic in 2008 as a camper and hasn’t missed a summer since. Throughout her time on staff, she’s been a lacrosse counselor, Group Head, and is now the Inter-Camp Girls Head Counselor. Her favorite activity at camp is circus and her favorite special event is Taconic Games. During the year, Allie lives in New York City and is a 2nd grade assistant teacher at the Horace Mann Lower Division School. In her free time, she loves to work out, try new foods, and spend time with family and friends!
Zach Gilfix
Upper Camp Boys
Zach Gilfix | 13s - 15s Boys
Zack first caught the magic as a camper at Taconic in 2006. “Gilly” started as a tennis counselor, and is now the Head Counselor for our oldest boys. He comes back every summer to help his campers find their passions, form lasting friendships with each other, and to make sure they are having as much fun as possible. Zack stays involved with camp throughout the year working in the winter office. He is also the founder of Trunks to Bunks, a courier service we use to transport campers’ belongings to and from camp.
Sarah Spellman
Upper Camp Girls
Sarah Spellman | 13s and 14s Girls
Sarah spent 10 years as a camper in the Berkshires. Having the opportunity to return to sleep away camp as an adult was a lifelong dream. Sarah is the Head Counselor for our Upper Camp Girls. During the year, Sarah is a learning specialist at a school in New York City. In her free time, she loves to work out and explore the city with her fiancé Chris, Associate Director and the Director of Operations at Taconic.
Xavier Holcomb-Young
16s Boys
Xavier Holcomb-Young | 16s Boys
Xavier “X” started at Taconic in 2015 as a fishing counselor, and has continued to come back every year. X’s many talents and interests make him an asset all over camp. He’s worked at fishing, fitness and he ran Taconic’s football program for 3 years. He has also been in charge of our LIT boys program since 2019. X was a collegiate athlete at Sam Houston State University where he studied graphic design. During the year, he is a tattoo artist in Houston, Texas. X’s hobbies include, fishing, drawing, playing basketball and exploring new foods.
Dana Laxer
Director of Camper Care
Dana Laxer | Director of Camper Care
Dana first came to Taconic as a camper in 2007 and has never left. She has been a bunk counselor, Group Head, and Head Counselor and has been directing the LIT program at Taconic since 2017. Dana loves watching her former campers grow into counselors and leaders at Taconic as they share their love of camp with their own campers. During the year, Dana is a school counselor in Manhattan, and she is looking forward to bringing that experience to her new role as Director of Camper Care. She’ll be working with campers in all age groups to help support them in areas such as adjusting to camp, homesickness, problem solving, social conflicts, gaining independence, and following bunk routines and camp expectations. In her spare time, Dana likes to read, bake, and listen to podcasts. She can’t wait to be back in the Berkshires for another summer at her favorite place!
Sammy Kleinman
Camp Mom
Sammy Kleinman | Camp Mom
Sammy Kleinman started at Taconic in 1997 as a camper in the youngest age group. She attended Taconic for 9 summers as a camper and loves her current position as Camp Mom! Sammy’s favorite activity at Camp is the flying trapeze and she makes sure to get up there every summer with the Lower Camp Boys. During the year, Sammy uses her dual degree in Special Education and General education as a Kindergarten teacher at a special needs school in Manhattan. Sammy enjoys running and spending time with family and friends.
Barbara Ackerman
Arts & Technology
Barbara Ackerman | Arts & Technology
Barbara has been Taconic’s Arts & Tech director since 2005. Barbara’s passion can be seen every day at Taconic as she helps campers and counselors explore their creative sides in each of the 15 studios that our program has to offer. Barbara and her husband, Gary, Taconic’s Assistant Athletic Director, raised 2 Taconic alumni - Laura and David. During the off-season, Barbara lives in New Jersey, but can be found on the tennis courts or watching basketball. Barbara was previously the Art teacher at Solomon Schechter Bergen County for over 25 years.
Keith Harrison
Challenge Course
Keith Harrison | Challenge Course
Keith has lived in Berkshire County for most of his life having grown up in Hinsdale and currently living in Lenox with his daughter, Rachelle, and teaching English at a local middle school. Spending a lot of time playing in the woods, it was natural that when he attended college at UMass, he started rock climbing. Then in 2007, he began working as the Challenge Course Director at Taconic. As an educator and a leader, Keith loves to see growth in the smiles, the expressions of understanding, and enthusiasm that pushes people with whom he works with. The Challenge Course program at Taconic encourages participants to expand their understanding of themselves and gain satisfaction from the progress they have made.
Randy Hobbs
Circus
Randy Hobbs | Circus
Randy is from St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, and has been involved in the world of Circus for over 20 years. He worked for Cirque Du Soleil for the past 10 years on multiple projects and shows and has traveled around the world bringing smiles and excitement to people of all ages. Randy has been the Circus Director at Taconic since 2014 and for him, each summer has surpassed the last. He loves to work with campers and see them grow and gain confidence in themselves as they accomplish skills at Circus.
Laura Jordan
Playhouse
Laura Jordan | Playhouse
Laura has been the Playhouse Director since 2015 and is extremely passionate about theater. During the year, Laura is a high school theater teacher in Texas. In her free time, she enjoys reading, bingeing Netflix shows, and all things Disney. Her two favorite musicals are Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “School of Rock” and “Next to Normal”. She lives with her husband Joe and their two children, Zoe and Alexander.
Loren "LK" Kleinman
Waterfront
"LK" Kleinman | Waterfront
Loren, better known as LK, one of the Owners of Camp Taconic, has also been the Waterfront Director for the last 7 years. Prior to becoming Taconic’s Waterfront Director, LK attended a Waterfront Leadership Training Program, became a Certified Lifeguard, a Certified Pool Operator and a Certified Lifeguard Manager. LK’s focus at the Taconic waterfront is safety first, followed by teaching campers new skills and making sure they are having fun. During his tenure at the waterfront, LK has overseen many improvements; the addition of a new pool, new ski and sailing boats and enhanced in-service lifeguard training. When LK is not at the waterfront, you can find him refereeing a soccer or basketball game.
Eric Slifstein
Athletics
Eric Slifstein | Athletics
Eric has been Taconic’s Athletic Director for the past 15 years. Eric and his wife, Ninoska, Taconic’s bookkeeper, raised their three daughters, Ivana, Hannah and Jamie, at Camp.For the past 25 years, Eric has been a physical education teacher and coach on Long Island. He loves anything outdoors and all sports, especially his beloved Mets.
Eric "Tex" Tackett
Waterskiing
Eric "Tex" Tackett | Waterskiing
Eric (AKA: Tex) has been at Taconic for over 20 years and heads up our top-rated waterskiing program. Tex also runs his own waterski safety company that works with other camps across the nation teaching them how to have a successful program. During the year, Tex lives in beautiful Southern California with his Ironman athlete wife, Tiffany, and their son Nick. We are also fortunate to have Tiffany join us at Camp as a physician’s assistant for half the summer as a member of our Health Center team. Tex and his family enjoy snow skiing, being outdoors and playing sports.
Joanna "Jojo" Thatcher
Athletics
Joanna "Jojo" Thatcher
JoJo is one of the newest additions to the Senior Staff team as our co-Athletic Director In 2019, Jojo ran our lacrosse program and our girls’ tournaments. Jojo grew up outside of Sussex, England before moving to Westchester, NY where she later met her husband, JT, Taconic’s Tennis Director. They later moved to Florida and have two sons, Jack and James. Jojo loves all sports, but her favorites are soccer and lacrosse, both of which she played in college in New Hampshire. When not at Camp, she is a lower elementary teacher at a Montessori school in Jupiter.
John "JT" Thatcher
Tennis
John "JT" Thatcher | Tennis
JT joined our Taconic family in the summer of 2019 as the Director of Tennis. He grew up in Palm Beach Gardens, FL but moved to Houston, Texas for high school and then onto Nashville, TN for college where he played tennis at Lipscomb University. He is a USPTA Certified Elite Professional instructor and has vast experience teaching all ages and skill levels. When not at camp JT teaches tennis at Mirasol Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. He lives in Tequesta, FL with his wife, JoJo (Athletic Director for Taconic) and their 2 sons, Jack and James.
David Cooper
Executive Chef
David Cooper | Executive Chef
Chef David joined the Taconic team in 2019. As a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, David has brought his innovative ideas and techniques to the Taconic kitchen! With over 25 years of experience, he has created kid-friendly and nutritious meals. Chef David has worked at some of the most prestigious venues, including The View at The Marriott Marquis, The Plaza Hotel, and The Ritz Carlton Palm Beach. When David is not cooking up a storm at Taconic, he is the Executive Chef for Hasson Caterers Manhassett, NY. He lives in Commack, NY with his wife, Lisa and their 3 sons, Jared, Dylan and Aidan.
Butch Noummano
Maintenance Director
Butch Noummano | Maintennace Director
Butch Noummano has been Taconic’s Maintenance Director for over two decades. Butch started at Taconic in 1981 as a waiter. He worked his way up and became the Maintenance Director before leaving to join the Marines. He rejoined the team in 2004 as Taconic’s year-round Maintenance Director and has been at Taconic ever since. Butch and his wife, Tammy, live at camp all year round. During the “off-season”, Tammy works as an administrator at a local school and during the summer she helps Butch run the maintenance program. Butch and Tammy love keeping Taconic safe and beautiful every summer for all of the campers to enjoy.
Lori Sklar
Executive Assistant (Summer Office)
Lori Sklar | Executive Assistant (Summer Office)
Lori started at Taconic as a camper in 1971, and as fate would have it, she met her husband, Larry, who was also a camper. All of their siblings attended Taconic as well. Lori and Larry subsequently became counselors at Taconic, and their son, Andrew, and daughter, Robin, followed in their footsteps as campers and then as staff members. When she’s not at Camp, Lori is actively involved in Development and Alumni Relations at a private school in Manhattan. She also loves exploring different neighborhoods and cuisines in NYC with friends and family and playing with their pug puppy.
Dori Tapper
Office Administrator (Winter Office)
Dori Tapper | Office Administrator (Winter Office)
Dori has been running Taconic’s winter office since Jill and Loren bought the Camp in 2004. After raising her two children, Blair and Craig, in Tenafly, and a career in marketing and public relations she decided that she’d jump into a second career in the camp world. When Dori’s not on the phone with prospective and current families or helping the winter office stay organized, you can find her spending time with her grandchildren (current Taconic camper, Addison and future Taconic camper, Chase), or traveling with her husband Stuart.
Tori Wilcox
Office Administrator (Summer Office)
Tori Wilcox | Office Administrator (Summer Office)
Tori has been running our Front Office at Camp since 2012. Every summer, Tori drives from Florida with her husband Scot, who heads up our Baseball program, their two sons, Austin and Braden, and their dog Buddy. When not at Camp, Tori runs the Health Clinic at a school in Florida. Among many other things, Tori makes sure that everyone receives their mail, every camper calls home, and every bell is rung on time!
Camp Taconic has an extensive on site Health Center that consists of registered nurses, pediatricians and our Health Center Director. All of our doctors are pediatricians that have been with us for many years. They live onsite at Camp during their one week rotation and are available 24/7. We are very fortunate to also have many of our nurses be able to return year after year. They keep our Health Center running smoothly and seamlessly. Taconic is 10 minutes from the closest urgent care clinic and 15 minutes from The Berkshire Medical Center.
Marla Feinman
Health Center Director
Marla Feinman | Health Center Director
Marla joined us in 2017 as our Health Center Director. In her early years, she spent 12 years as a Camper/Counselor. After graduating Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania Law School, Marla worked for many years as a practicing lawyer before moving into the role of Director of Training and Development at a large global law firm. She left her position to be at home with her 3 children, all now campers at Taconic. Marla jumped at the opportunity to return to Camp, and looks forward to summer in the Berkshires just as much as her children. She feels lucky to work alongside an incredible group of doctors and nurses, and to be a part of the Taconic family!
Blake Mouch
Head Nurse
Blake Mouch | Head Nurse)
Blake has been a Pediatric Emergency Registered Nurse for over 23 years. He joined Camp Taconic in 2017, and is now an integral member of the Health Center team. In his free time, he enjoys gardening and growing his own vegetables, as well as mining for crystals and gems around the country. Blake also loves attending spiritual retreats and seminars, so that he can try to incorporate a more holistic approach into his nursing practice. When not at Camp, Blake works at a Children’s Hospital ER in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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