Meet Our Team

Carisa Heiss

Chief Executive Officer

Carisa brings over 25 years of leadership experience in the non-profit sector, but many of you will know Carisa from her long history with the JCC. Carisa previously served as our Director of Development and JCC Maccabi Games Director (2005 and 2009) from 2000-2016. After her time here, Carisa moved on to San Antonio Sports, Rise Recovery, and AVANCE – San Antonio. Carisa has primarily served in roles instrumental in raising funds and building awareness for local non-profits.

Since childhood, the JCC has been Carisa’s home away from home, where she and her family have enjoyed sports and recreation activities and programs, arts and culture programming, and being part of an engaged community.

Favorite JCC Moment: Amid a hectic day, stepping outside my office to see our members in action, especially during our peak times.

Favorite Travel Destination: Just about anywhere I can enjoy some downtime with my family and soak in local activities. I am especially fond of time in the mountains when the ski conditions are just right!

Phone: 210-302-6822
Email Carisa

Lisa Guerrero

Chief Program Officer

Lisa Guerrero is a long-standing employee at the Barshop Jewish Community Center, having worked for the agency for almost thirty years in a multitude of roles. Since 2017, Lisa has served as Director of Early Childhood at the JCC. She holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies/General Education and a Masters in Education/Early Childhood Studies. She is also an adjunct professor at local colleges and universities.

Hobby I Am Most Passionate About: Crafting & Pinterest.

What Makes Me Happiest: Being with family and traveling in the Caribbean makes me happy!

Phone: (210) 302-6872
Email Lisa

Jean Yeargan

Chief Financial Officer

Jean Yeargan has served in the role of JCC Accounting Supervisor since April 1998.

Phone: (210) 302-6874
Email Jean

Brandon Barnes

Director of Systems & Operations

Brandon Barnes went to Texas A&M Corpus Christi and graduated with a BS in Kinesiology: Sports Management and a minor in Management. He also graduated from West University A&M University with a Master of Business Administration with a focus in marketing.

What are your hobbies or passions? I enjoy working out, playing basketball, relaxing whenever I can, and discovering new foods and restaurants.

Phone: (210) 302-6844
Email Brandon

Maisy Andrade

Director of Marketing and Communications

Phone: (210) 302-6827
Email Maisy

Amy Goldstein

Director of Member Services

Amy has grown up in the JCC world, starting as a pre-school student at the New Orleans JCC to JCamp Counselor, and many wonderful experiences in-between! Before joining the Membership Department here at the Barshop JCC, she worked in the Development Department, helping facilitate our Corporate and Community ties. Prior to being a part of this JCC family, Amy worked in media sales and brings her relationship-building experience to the Membership Team. She welcomes you to come see all the J has to offer!

Phone: (210) 302-6866
Email Amy

Blake Edwards

Member Services Associate

Blake Edwards started working at the J in the spring of 2008 and was employed by the Campus for three & a half years, where he used his superior customer service skills to assist members with room reservations and general maintenance of the Campus facilities. In May of 2011, Blake left the campus, but in 2015, he returned to the J to serve as the Sports and Fitness Supervisor on Duty.

Currently, Blake serves as one of the member service associates at the J, and can be found at our Central Information Desk, or CID, Monday-Friday.

• Favorite JCC Moment: My favorite JCC moment is the annual Main Event fundraiser.
• The thing that makes me happiest is: My wife and children

Phone: (210) 302-6825
Email Blake

April Myers

Member Engagement and Retention Specialist

April Myers is the Member Engagement and Retention Specialist in the Membership department at the J. This is a career change for her as she previously taught English as a Second Language in Germany and the UK before returning to college. She attended Texas State University where she graduated cum laude with a degree in public relations and a minor in theatre. April enjoys her job and getting to know members by name. Her favorite thing about the J is that it’s always busy and no two days are alike.

Favorite Hobby: Trying new recipes

Favorite Quote: We’re all lying in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars-Oscar Wilde

An interesting fact about you: I’ve walked across England and climbed the Zugspitze, the highest mountain in Germany

In my spare time I like to: Spend time with my family and try to improve my terrible guitar skills

Favorite travel destination: London- I love the busyness- there’s always something to do

Favorite JCC Moment: Members stopping by CID just to say hello

Phone: (210) 302-6908
Email April

Sally Scharff

Member Services

Sally Scharff has worked at the JCC in Membership since April 2008. She has been a JCC member all of her life; she worked as a counselor-in-training as a teenager, and all three of her children went to the JCC preschool on Rampart Drive.

• What makes me happiest: spending time with my grandchildren, David, Rainey and Izzy.

• Favorite Quote: “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” ~ Mark Twain

Phone: (210) 302-6862
Email Sally

Randy Holland

Director of Athletics

Phone: (210) 302-6843
Email Randy

Neil Jennings

Assistant Athletic Director

Neil Jennings was born in Yokosuka, Japan. Being from a military family, Neil moved around before settling in San Antonio. Neil graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, specializing in Sports Administration, and a minor in Business. His professional journey has included working with prominent sports organizations such as the Houston Texans, Houston SaberCats, NBC Sports, etc. Beyond these roles, Neil dedicates his free time to volunteering for sports organizations and has even been privileged to coordinate surf lessons in Africa. Outside of work, Neil enjoys traveling, especially by the beach, and indulges in his passion for surfing.

Why Sports? I love that sports have the ability to unite people from everywhere, fostering a sense of community.

Fun Fact? My favorite teams are Manchester United, Philadelphia Eagles, Orlando Magic, Filipe Toledo (surfer), and of course the Spurs!

Phone: (210) 302-6855
Email Neil

Brittany Sauls

Youth Sports & Aquatics Supervisor

Phone: (210) 302-6851
Email Brittany

Cindy Maddox

Fitness & Group Exercise Supervisor

Phone: (210) 302-6909
Email Cindy

Christina Avena

Senior Director of Enrichment, Arts and Culture

Phone: (210) 302-6824
Email Christina

Sarah Ram

Adult and Cultural Arts Coordinator

Phone: (210) 302-6828
Email Sarah

Rachel Rustin Henson

Jewish Engagement Specialist

Rachel Rustin Henson has served in the Early Childhood, Youth and Camp, and Adult Departments in a variety of roles over the last two decades. She has an undergraduate degree from Rice University, a Masters in Non-Profit Management and a Certificate in Jewish Education for Adolescents and Emerging Adults from Hebrew Union College.

Email Rachel

Ethan Hajduk

Youth and Camp Director

Ethan Hajduk is a graduate from UTSA where he studied Interdisciplinary Studies/General Education with an ESL certification. Ethan has been working for the JCC since 2017 and joined the staff full-time in January of 2022. Ethan is very excited to make everyone’s experience at the JCC as great as his own!

• A hobby I am passionate about is… fishing! It’s very self-fulfilling and it’s great to be that close to nature!

• Favorite Quote: “One generation plants the tree, another gets the shade.”

Email Ethan

Katie Gates

Youth and Camp Program Coordinator

Katie Gates graduated from Texas State University where she earned her Bachelor’s in Finance. She has grown up at the JCC starting as a J-camp camper, CIT, counselor, and administrator. She was also involved in the Kids Club, NOVA, and STARZ programs as a kid. She officially joined the JCC team starting in fall 2023!

What I enjoy about the JCC: The friendly and helpful feel of the community.

An interesting fact: I am an only child.

Hobbies and Interests: I love to paint, do my nails and makeup, play card and board games, and hang out with my friends and puppy.

Phone: (210) 302-6859

Blaine Byrd

BBYO City Director

Email Blaine

Calla Pfeifer-Campos

Director of the Block and Dreeben School for Young Children

Calla has a B.A. in Communications from UTSA where she also completed her Post Baccalaureate Teaching Certification in early childhood-fourth grade. She has been with the JCC Block and Dreeben School for Young Children since 2006, where she found her love for early childhood as a Pre-K teacher. In 2015 she moved into the role of Early Childhood Assistant Director and in 2022 became the Curriculum Director. Her favorite part about this role is inspiring teachers to see to the beauty, wonder and possibility of early childhood. In her free time Calla loves to read and travel with her family.

What do you love most about your role?
I love inspiring teachers to see the beauty, wonder and possibility of early childhood.

What are you hobbies or interests?
In my free time I love to read and travel with my family.

Phone: (210) 302-6845
Email Calla