Our Leadership

Laura has been a native of Phoenix, Arizona since 1976. She derives great joy from raising her two children, Max and Zoe, as her family is her focal point. Laura, along with her children and parents, enjoy all moments and experiences together and savor each of the memories and Drachler traditions. Laura enjoys traveling, the arts, a glass of Pinot Noir, a passion for Jewish overnight camp, and donating time and effort to various causes in the community. Her passion for overnight camp goes back to 80’s when she attended Camp Charles Pearlstein and continues today with both her kid having attended Camp Stein. She has served on national camp boards as well as boards and committees in our Phoenix community including Congregation Beth Israel, Jewish Free Loan, Women’s Leadership Institute, Camp Swift, CJP Community Impact Committee, and now serving as the Board President of Jewish Free Loan. She continuously seeks opportunities to serve in the community to promote its future. Laura joined the JFL board in 2016 and is honored to serve with her fellow board members who are all dedicated to our Phoenix Jewish Community.

Ellen Friedman Sacks is the Executive Director of Jewish Free Loan. She has been a part of JFL since 2010 – serving on the Board of Directors before joining the staff in 2012 as the organization’s first Director of Programs and PR, and later serving as the Associate Executive Director. Ellen has over 25 years of experience working with non-profit organizations, including SOVA Kosher Food Pantry & Resource Center (Los Angeles, CA), MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, and the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix. Ellen is currently the Immediate Past President of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans’ board of directors, sits on the advisory committee for UPI Loan Funds, and serves on the Emergency Food & Shelter Program’s allocation committee. She volunteers with several community groups, is a former mentor in the Women’s Leadership Institute (Co-Horts 1 & 2) and participated in the inaugural class of 50 Women Who Will Change the World – a leadership program for nonprofit professionals designed by Take The Lead Arizona. Ellen has a graduate degree in public administration and lives in Phoenix with her two kids, Leah and Justin.

Shayna Millman joined the JFL team in April 2024. Originally from Metro Detroit, Shayna grew up an active member of the Jewish community. She received her Bachelor’s in Psychology, Master’s in Social Work, and Certificate in Jewish Communal Work from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). After graduation, Shayna moved to Chicago for a few years and then back to Michigan, before moving to Arizona, with her husband Brad, in 2018. Shayna comes to Jewish Free Loan with over 10 years of experience in both local and national Jewish non-profits. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, and hanging out at the Scottsdale Railroad Park with her two kids – Mason and Ethan.

Fredi Brown joined the JFL team n January 2017. Fredi has a long history working within the Jewish community, beginning with B’nai B’rith Girls in high school. After college, she spent a year in Israel working on Kibbutz Ma’ayan Baruch, located at the base of the Golan Heights. Fredi sat on the Advisory Council of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science. She has been a member of the Federation of Greater Phoenix Women’s Department, and on the Board of Trustees of Copland House, which enhances awareness and appreciation of the rich vibrant heritage of American music, through the legacy of Aaron Copland. Fredi has previously been active with the American Cancer Society for 15 years. In 1989 she became part of the professional staff, serving as Executive Director of the North Shore of Chicago until 1992. For the past 15 years, Fredi has been working in various capacities for Hadassah, serving in the local, regional and national levels of leadership development. Fredi, and her late husband, Howard Treshansky, are members of Congregation Or Tzion. Fredi is the mother of Jennifer Brown, PhD, of Scottsdale, AZ, and Lisa and Aaron Brown, PhD, and their three daughters, Gabrielle, Alexis, and Eliana Brown, of Houston, TX.