STAFF
Allison Wexler
Executive Director
Allison earned her M.Ed. from University of Illinois at Chicago in 1998, and her Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Syracuse University in 1991. Before joining TJFL, Allison served as Program Associate for Tucson’s Jewish Community Center. Allison developed and managed programs related to Diversity & Inclusion, Safety Respect & Equity (SRE), Mental Health, and Women’s Empowerment. Allison joined the Handmaker Board of Directors in 2011, and currently serves as Vice Chair. She also serves as Treasurer for the Tucson chapter of National Charity League. A passionate animal advocate, Allison promotes elephant conservation, as well as companion animal welfare both locally, and internationally. Allison and her husband, Mike, moved to Tucson in 1998. They enjoy spending time with their three daughters, and two rescue dogs. Allison brings her special brand of enthusiasm to The Tucson Jewish Free Loan, inspiring deeper community engagement, and expanding the ability to provide financial assistance to those in need.
Emily Riley-Saxton
Loan Manager
Emily has been a resident of Arizona for over 40 years. She graduated in 1998 with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona. She spent many years working in the Jewish community as an office manager at Chaverim, a preschool and religious school teacher at Congregation Anshei Israel, and a leader for the Rosh Chodesh teen group. She’s excited to be back working in the community and for such good cause. In her spare time, she is an amateur triathlete and completed her first full Ironman in Tulsa with her husband last year. She teaches fitness classes and still helps a few hours a week at her father’s insurance agency.
LEADERSHIP
Phil Bregman
President of the Board
Phil Bregman is an educator, entrepreneur and community volunteer. He is a graduate of the University of Arizona College of Education, Magna Cum Laude and holds a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. He has served as the Executive Director of the Leroy D. Kendis Child Care Center, which provided care of children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years. He also has served as President of Congregation Anshei Israel, President of the Handmaker Foundation and he currently serves as the President of Tucson Jewish Free Loan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging and a member of the board of The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. Mr. Bregman is a Founder of Kino College and the current Director of Operations.
Bruce Ash
President and CEO, Paul Ash Management Co.
Director
Bruce Ash was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona where he attended the University of Arizona and graduated in 1975 receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Real Estate and Finance. Mr. Ash joined Paul Ash Management Company in 1973 and along with his father developed a successful real estate management and acquisition firm operating multifamily, retail, industrial and office properties throughout Arizona and across the United States. He was a co-founder of the Bank of Tucson, Sun Community Bancorp, Yuma Community Bank and First California Southern Bancorp. Mr. Ash served as Chairman of The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and earlier as President of Council Housing and Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging. He was selected as Arizona's Republican Committeeman in 2007 and was re-elected to successive four year terms in 2008 & 2012 and 2016. Bruce Ash was a presidential elector in 2008 and 2016. In 2010 Mr. Ash was elected Chairman of the RNC Standing Committee on Rules (2010 -2012) and was re-elected to serve a four year term in 2013. Mr. Ash served as special advisor to the 2012 RNC Convention Rules Committee. Bruce Ash served as a member of the RNC Executive Committee from 2010 to 2017. Ash currently serves as a board member of The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. Bruce Ash is married (Jane) and they have two married sons Matthew (Tessa) and Michael (Onnie) as well as two grandsons Bodhi and Lev.
Scott Stovall is a Vice President with National Bank of Arizona. Scott has held VP positions in commercial and real estate finance with Chase, Alliance Bank and Bank of the West in the Tucson, Phoenix and Albuquerque markets as well as previous principal and CFO of Metro Title Agency of Arizona prior to joining National Bank in 2016. Scott’s undergraduate studies were at the University of Arizona and he holds a Master of International Management from The American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) focusing on International Political Economy and International Studies.
Lori Lundberg Leung
Director
Lori relocated to Tucson in 2005 after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Michigan State University College of Law. She first worked as a law clerk for now retired Superior Court Judge Leslie Miller, and
then took a position as a prosecutor with the Pima County Attorney's Office. After prosecuting numerous misdemeanor as well as felony drug and property cases, Lori decided to start her own law practice. She focused on appellate work, primarily in the area of termination of parental rights. A believer in the power of alternative dispute resolution, Lori participated in Mediation training through the Arizona Attorney General's office and served as a volunteer mediator for civil rights cases. She placed her legal work on hold to raise her daughter Genevieve, and has since focused her energies volunteering in the community. Currently, Lori serves as Fundraising Director for the Catalina School District Foundation Board, where she also leads the Teacher of the Year award program. She is in the process of restarting her legal practice and looks forward to further serving the community as a member of the Loan Committee and Free Loan Board.
Monica Rosenbaum
Director
Monica Rosenbaum Bergman has worked for a JCC for the last 28 years, and currently serves the Tucson JCC as the Director of Member Relations. Monica oversees the member and user experience for over 5000 individuals daily. In addition, Monica is tasked with the oversight, creation and implementation of all new hire on-boarding, continued training and development, scholarships, and an array of other projects including a key role in the Tucson JCC’s strategic plan for the next 5 years around community partnerships.
As the child of a mother left to raise four children (ages 10months- 10 years) after the sudden passing of her father, Monica’s mother needed financial support and assistance to keep her children social and happy during summer break.
Their local JCC stepped up along with JCFS and stepped in to provide scholarship for the three older children to attend summer camp. It has been Monica’s passion and driving force since to repay what was awarded to her and her family and to make sure no child is without an amazing summer and childcare experience like the one, she was afforded.
Monica attended a certificate program in School Age Child Care from a partnership program with Cornell University and recently completed a Certificate in Jewish Leadership with Spertus Institute for Jewish Leadership and Northwestern University. Monica is a former JCC Association Merrin Teen Fellow, past participant and presenter at ACA Tri-State Camp Conference & JCC Association regional conferences. Monica and her family, husband Scott and two young daughters Violet & Mia moved to Tucson from NJ in 2019 and are now happy homeowners in the Catalina Foothills. Tucson has become home, and they are thrilled to be raising their family here and getting the opportunities to help be an active member of the community.
Dani Bregman
Director
Dani is a licensed social worker at Southern Arizona Health Care Veterans Affairs (SAVAHCS). Growing up in Central America, Dani is fluent in Spanish including reading and writing. She graduated from Arizona State University Summa Cum Lade with a Bachelor of Social Work and went on to earn her Master of Social Work. Advocacy and social justice are Dani’s passion, and this is evidenced in her work. Her team has been nationally recognized for their work with veterans experiencing homelessness and complex medical issues. Prior to becoming a social worker, Dani was a stay-at-home mother, and served in leadership roles on school family and faculty boards. Dani also served as co-chair The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s Young Women’s Cabinet as well as member and co-chair JFSA’s Social Action Committee. Dani has experience as an Undergraduate Research Assistant with a demonstrated history of working in the nonprofit industry. She is skilled in Case Management, Behavioral Health, Nonprofit Organizations, Coaching, Sales, and Event Management.
Katie Filous
Director
Katie Filous Malka became a partner at criminal defense firm Ferguson Hill Filous, PLLC, in Tucson, Arizona in January of 2022. Prior to founding her own firm, Katie was a felony trial attorney and supervisor at the Pima County Public Defender’s Office for four years, where she honed her skills in all types of felony cases, including murder, driving under the influence, drugs for sale, gun crimes, aggravated assault, domestic violence, child abuse, and theft/robbery. Before moving to Arizona, she served as an attorney at the Federal Public Defender for the Eastern District of Virginia, a legal fellow for the Ford Foundation and Georgetown University Women’s Law and Public Policy program, and a consultant for the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. Katie graduated from DePaul University College of Law magna cum laude. While in law school, Katie was the editor-in-chief of the DePaul Journal of Women, Gender, and the Law. She was also a recipient of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois award, the Cudahy scholarship for public service, and served as a judicial extern on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to law school, Katie graduated magna cum laude with her M.A. from Loyola University Chicago and summa cum laude with her B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been a member of the New York Bar since 2016 and a member of the Arizona State Bar since 2018.
Katie’s reputation for skillful litigation, honesty, and the utmost care in serving her clients brings excellence to her criminal defense practice. She is passionate about advocating for the fair treatment of all people, challenging injustice in all of its forms, and providing vigorous representation for all of her clients. In her spare time, Katie loves spending time with her family, including her son and her 4 dogs, getting outside, cooking, and enjoying all Tucson has to offer.
