Executive Team
Adam Silver (he/him)
President and CEO
Adam joined Jewish Federation of Ottawa in July 2024. Before that, he served as Chief Executive Officer for Calgary Jewish Federation and Calgary Jewish Community Campus Corporation in Alberta, Canada, for almost a decade. Adam’s Jewish communal experience has ranged from “babies to bubbies” having worked in organizations that specialize in children and youth programming right up to older adults and seniors, and he has served as an adjunct professor in Seneca College’s Community Services department, teaching community practice, casework, and social policy.
Adam received his Master of Education (MEd) in Adult Education and Community Development from the University of Toronto (OISE), completed graduate work in philanthropy and development at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota, and earned his Doctor of Education (EdD) degree from Western University, specializing in community leadership. A member of the inaugural cohort of the Mandel Nonprofit Institute’s Executive Leadership Program, Adam volunteers on the board of the Organization for the Prevention of Violence and as an advisor with JPro's WellAdvised program for early and mid-career Jewish communal professionals. Adam is passionate about building community and supporting and mentoring others.
Adam and his wife Deborah, have three children – Hannah, Lilah, and Benji – and are excited to immerse themselves in Jewish Ottawa. Outside of work, Adam likes to cook, exercise, drink coffee, and spend time with family and friends.
Connect with Adam at [email protected]
Pauline Colwin
Vice President, Communications
Pauline joined Federation in May 2013 and leads the marketing and communications efforts for both Federation and the Ottawa Jewish Community Foundation. She is responsible for strategic messaging, media relations, brand development, social media, and website content, helping to elevate the profile of both organizations and foster meaningful community engagement.
With a background in journalism and a passion for impactful storytelling, Pauline brings a thoughtful, strategic lens to her work. Prior to joining Federation, she was an editor at the Ottawa Citizen. She holds an Honours Degree in English Literature from the University of Ottawa and a diploma in Journalism.
Away from work, Pauline enjoys camping with her family, writing, listening to audio books and experimenting with mixed media art.
Connect with Pauline at [email protected]
John Davis
Interim Chief Financial Officer
John Davis is a CPA, CA with deep expertise in financial strategy, reporting, and operational leadership. With a career spanning the tech sector, financial services, non-profits, and both public and private companies, John brings a wealth of experience to his role as CFO. He has held senior finance positions where he has built high-performing teams grounded in accountability and innovation.
John is known for his hands-on leadership style and technical acumen, including strengths in public company reporting, statutory compliance, and operations. He oversees all aspects of finance and operations at Federation, including budgeting, audits, payroll, and financial reporting. Passionate about driving efficiency and managing risk, John plays a key role in ensuring the organization’s financial health and long-term sustainability.
Connect with John at [email protected]
Rena Garshowitz
Vice President, Operations
Rena is thrilled to rejoin the Federation team as VP, Operations, having spent the majority of her career serving the Ottawa Jewish community. For the last five years Rena held the position of Executive Director at Kehillat Beth Israel (KBI), overseeing all areas of the synagogue’s operations. Before joining KBI, Rena spent seven years at Federation, first as Event Planner and Sponsorship Coordinator before moving over to Annual Campaign manager. She previously held positions on Parliament Hill and Queen’s Park and with a foreign embassy.
The oversight areas for Operations include: Campus Management, Security, Governance, and the Ottawa Va'ad HaKashrut.
In her downtime, Rena enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. She loves experimenting in the kitchen while listening to show tunes.
Connect with Rena at [email protected]
Anne Read
Vice President Impact, Partnership & Allocations
Anne joined the Federation team in late 2019. Before taking a role with Federation, Anne worked as a consultant to Ontario school boards developing and facilitating equity, diversity and inclusion programs. Prior to that, she was a professor at the University of Waterloo — Anne holds a PhD in Sociology of Religion. Anne started her career as an Assistant Publisher at Ascent Magazine, where she managed a small but mighty team of yogis.
When not at work, Anne is more than likely repainting her dining room, working on her table tennis backhand, or out on her land building bat habitats. Anne has two children, who keep her humble and on her toes.
Anne can be reached at [email protected]
Michael Reznick
Vice President, Development
Michael joined the Jewish Federation of Ottawa with over 15 years of experience in strategic planning, community engagement, and fundraising, in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. He focuses on initiatives that secure the Federation's financial future while fostering relationships within the community. In his role, Michael oversees donor relations, develops new income streams, and strengthens ties with key partners.
Born and raised in Israel, Michael previously managed a high-tech company and served as a ministerial advisor. Five years ago, he moved to Europe, where he worked as a Director of Development. Michael holds a Master’s degree from the Hebrew University, specializing in Israel-Vatican relations.
Outside of work, Michael loves spending time with his family, whether exploring the outdoors or simply enjoying a quiet evening together.
Connect with Michael at [email protected]