Our Leadership Team

Directors

Jill and Loren Kleinman

Owners/Directors

Jill and Loren Kleinman

Owners/Directors

Jill and Loren “LK” Kleinman have proudly owned and directed Camp Taconic since 2004. They are seasoned leaders and nurturing people who love working with children. Together, they oversee the operations of camp and spend each day committed to making Taconic one of the finest camps in the industry.

Both are graduates of Brown University and have Masters Degrees in Business Administration from New York University. At Brown, Jill played tennis and LK was on the baseball team. They have both been involved in athletics their whole lives.

Before owning Taconic, Jill owned a children’s book and toy store for ten years. She has also volunteered as President of the Tenafly Youth Basketball Organization, as a coordinator of the JCC’s Maccabi Games and as an active coach in youth sports. LK, a civil engineer by profession, spent his first 25 professional years in the construction industry as a general contractor. Along the way, he dedicated his time as the President of Temple Sinai of Bergen County and coached youth sports as well.

Jill and Loren reside in Tenafly, NJ. They have lived there for over 30 years and raised their three children, Dawn, Cari and Jason, there.

Jason & Sammy Kleinman

Owners/Directors

Jason & Sammy Kleinman

Owners/Directors

Jason and Sammy Kleinman bring excitement and youthful leadership to the Owner/Director team at Taconic. Jason and Sammy share a love for camp and a passion for children. Together, with Jill and LK, they oversee the operation of Camp. Jason’s passion for sports and the outdoors combined with his ability to connect with campers and counselors has been invaluable to Taconic’s success. Jason is a natural born leader. He achieved 10 varsity letters in three sports during his time at Tenafly High School and was the captain of all three teams. Jason attended Colgate University where he graduated with a degree in political science. He was the president of his fraternity and participated in several philanthropic groups while attending Colgate. After graduating, Jason began his career at a reputable communications firm in New York City, where he quickly climbed the corporate ladder. Despite his success, he was unsatisfied with the work and realized his true passion was camping. Jason joined the Taconic team as a Head Counselor in 2016, progressed to an Associate Director in 2017 and became an Owner/Director in 2018. Sammy also spends her summers working at Taconic as a member of the Camper Care team. Sammy’s love for camp and children led her to a career in teaching. After graduating from Wisconsin, Sammy continued her education at Hunter College, where she received a dual master’s degree in childhood and special education. Sammy then worked as a kindergarten teacher at a special needs school in Manhattan for 10 years. Sammy is currently working at an elementary school in Westchester as a kindergarten teacher in a special needs classroom. Sammy and Jason met at Taconic as campers. They grew up together as best friends and ultimately got married in December 2017. During the off-season, Jason and Sammy live in Westchester, NY with their daughters, Juliet and Isabel.

Cari Kleinman Katz

Director & Staffing Director

Cari Kleinman Katz

Director & Staffing Director

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 Associate Director. Over the summer, Cari runs girls’ line with Jill and in the off-season, she focuses on staffing in the Winter Office. Cari, Jeff and their two daughters, Parker and Zoe, live in Woodcliff Lake, NJ with their dog, Ozzie.

Chris Ternouth

Director

Chris Ternouth

Director

Chris came to camp in 2014 as a soccer counselor and hasn’t missed a summer since. He has held many positions at camp, including Group Head, Head Counselor, Operations Director, and Associate Director. Chris wears many hats at camp and is involved in just about everything we do. In the off-season, he is an avid gym goer and soccer player. Chris’s wife Sarah also spends her summers at Taconic as an Associate Director.

Associate Directors

Zack Gilfix

Associate Director

Zack Gilfix

Associate Director

As a camper, Zack spent eight summers making friends and memories at Taconic before joining our staff as a Lower Camp Boys Tennis Counselor in 2014. As his campers grew, Zack grew along with them, taking on new leadership roles from Group Head to Head Counselor to Associate Director. He “caught the magic” as a staff member, seeing firsthand how camp helps kids unplug, connect face-to-face, and grow in confidence and independence. During the offseason, Zack works in the Winter Office, motivated by the idea that the perfect summer is always the one still to come. Zack enjoys exploring new places with friends and family and is grateful for the international Taconic community that has given him so many opportunities to see the world!

Nora Krainis

Associate Director

& Head of Special Events

Nora Krainis

Associate Director

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.

Dana Laxer

Associate Director

& Director of Camper Care

Dana Laxer

Associate Director

Dana first came to Taconic as a camper in 2007 and has happily been back every summer since. She’s been a counselor, Group Head, and Head Counselor and developed the Leaders in Training (LIT) program. She is thrilled to work as Taconic's Director of Camper Care, a mental health and social emotional role that supports campers in all divisions. Her favorite Taconic events are Opening Sing and camp's annual Strides4SCOPE walk, which she proudly leads with our LITs. During the year, Dana is a school counselor at an elementary school in Manhattan. In her free time she loves to read, bake, and explore New York City with friends and family.

Sarah Ternouth

Associate Director

Sarah Ternouth

Associate Director

As an Associate Director at Taconic, Sarah brings a strong combination of enthusiasm, a nurturing spirit, and a deep professional understanding of children. Before joining the Taconic team year-round, Sarah spent ten years in New York City as a special education teacher and learning specialist. Her transition to leadership at Taconic was natural; she served for many summers as the Upper Camp Girls Head Counselor, and will now be assisting with all of girls' line. Sarah's connection to camp runs deep. She is a lifelong camper, having started at a camp in the Berkshires when she was seven and continuing for a decade. She met her husband, Chris, one of Taconic’s directors and found herself back at camp many years later, living her lifelong dream. Sarah, Chris, and their daughter, Sophie, enjoy spending their summers at Taconic before returning to New Jersey for the school year.

Allie Weinstein

Associate Director

Allie Weinstein

Associate Director

Allie is truly a lifer at Camp Taconic. She began her journey in 2008 as a camper and hasn’t missed a summer since. As a staff member, she has assumed numerous roles, first as a lacrosse counselor, then to Group Head and most recently, has been the Lower Camp Girls Head Counselor since 2021. She also plays a key role in overseeing Taconic’s special events, including Lower Camp Rocks and the big/little camp sibling program. Allie’s favorite activity is circus, and she especially loves the spirit and excitement of Taconic Games. After graduating from Tulane University, Allie pursued a master’s degree in childhood education from Hunter College. During the winter, she lives in New York City, where she teaches 1st grade. In her free time, she enjoys running, trying new foods, spending time with family and friends, and talking about her love for camp!

Activity Directors

Barbara Ackerman

Arts

Barbara Ackerman

Arts

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.

Loren “LK” Kleinman

Waterfront

Loren “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.

JoJo Thatcher

Athletics Program Director

JoJo Thatcher

Athletics Program Director

This summer, Jojo will be stepping into the role of Athletics Program Director. In this role, she will oversee the logistics around tournaments, inter-camp games, and the day-to-day athletics program at camp. Jojo started at Taconic in 2019 as our Head of Lacrosse and has spent the last 3 summers as one of our Athletic Directors. This is an exciting new position for Jojo, and for Camp, and we’re thrilled to have a seasoned veteran in this new role. Jojo grew up outside of Sussex, England before moving to Westchester, NY where she later met her husband, JT. They later moved to Florida and have two sons, Jack and James. Jack is a 12-year-old camper at Taconic and James is nearing camp age, as well. 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 an educator in Florida.

Camper Care

Dana Laxer

Associate Director

& Director of Camper Care

Dana Laxer

Associate Director

Carrie Donatelli

Asst. Director of Camper Care

Carrie Donatelli

Asst. Director of Camper Care

Carrie came to Camp Taconic in 1998 as a Group Head. Her 3 children, Allison, Jennifer, and Glenn were campers at Taconic, and Jennifer and Glenn continued as counselors for 3 years. Carrie has held many positions at Taconic, including Lower Camp Girls Head Counselor, Cooking Director, and Camp Mom for Lower Camp Boys. This summer, she will be joining the Camper Care team. When not a camp, Carrie is a Teacher’s Assistant for a third-grade classroom in the Islip Public School system on Long Island. Carrie's husband, Tony, visits camp on the weekends, and they enjoy exploring the Berkshires together!

Grounds & Operations

Lou Abikzer

Executive Chef

Lou Abikzer

Executive Chef

Coming Soon!

Miron Kaczala

Maintenance Director

Miron Kaczala

Maintenance Director

Miron was born and raised in Poland. He first came to the US in 2010 to work on Butch’s maintenance team at Camp Taconic, where he worked for 3 summers. In 2012, he earned his college degree in Logistics and Supply Chain Management, and then took some time to explore life in the UK. In 2015, Miron returned to the States and became a permanent resident. He has since become a proud citizen of the USA.

Miron started a successful general contracting business in 2015 but never lost his love for camp life. In 2020, he became the Facilities Manager at an overnight camp in the Berkshires, where he spent 4 summers.

In 2023, Miron returned to Camp Taconic as the Maintenance Director. He works alongside his father-in-law, Butch, to ensure that the maintenance department thrives.

Miron is married to Butch’s daughter, Kimberly. She will continue in her family’s footsteps and work alongside Miron over the summer. Miron is a loving and dedicated father to his four children. He enjoys spending time with his boys, fixing his classic car, riding four wheelers, and fishing.

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!

Corey Polakowski

Health Center Director

Corey Polakowski

Health Center Director

Coming soon

Shelley Kenyon

Head Nurse

Shelley Kenyon

Head Nurse

Shelly Kenyon joined the Taconic family in 2023. After receiving her BS from Framingham State College in MA and working in retail management for 20 years, Shelly returned to school and received her BS in nursing from Fitchburg State College in MA. Shelly’s entire nursing career has been in pediatrics: working for 9 years in a local pediatric office and the last 6 years as a school nurse in MA. Shelly resides in Plymouth, MA with her husband of over 30 years and their 25yr old son and 22yr old daughter. Shelly enjoys traveling with her best friend, playing games with her family, baking all things sourdough, and listening to Taylor Swift.

Next Page: Our Program