ABOUT
For every season, for any reason, Pisgah can help you.
Pisgah Consulting brings top development talent to small and mid-sized non-profits across the U.S. empowering them to bridge their gap in growth and reach their greatest fundraising potential. Working with non-profits that need to hire expert development staff but don’t have the resources to do so, Pisgah provides them the benefit of having a team with over 50-years of experience and enables organizational growth.
Through a unique client relationship model, Pisgah first functions and identifies as the organization’s development professional, providing full-service management of development operations. Then, as the organization’s capacity grows through Pisgah’s efforts, it can hire an in-house development professional, and Pisgah moves to a supportive role providing development staff coaching, periodical check-ins, and serving as interim staff. Always maintaining high standards of fundraising ethics, Pisgah propels non-profits’ growth by providing them with the best talent, driving development solutions and results.
OUR TEAM
_edited.jpg)
RANDY GOROD
President and CEO
Randy Gorod is the President and CEO of Pisgah Consulting. With over 30 years of development experience, Randy offers his expertise to small and mid-sized non-profits, guiding their strategy and day-to-day tactics, as well as consulting and coaching. He is passionate about being a catalyst for positive change, helping his clients build a strong foundation and maximize their efforts.
​
Randy has years of theoretical and practical experience in program development and creation, organizational development, and fundraising. He is also the past Chapter President of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, as well as a Mentor and Diversity Task Force member on the International level.
​
Randy first learned about development when he was the executive director at a synagogue, where he perfected the art of aligning the needs of the organization with what donors and volunteers cared about. After completing a course on fundraising with the National Society of Fundraisers, he knew development was his calling.
​
Randy holds Bachelor's degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, where he became an expert a communication, and a Master's degree in Higher Education Administration from Columbia University's Teachers College. He also obtained his coaching certification from Coaching.com.
LIOR BEN-ZVI
Director of Foundation and Data
Lior Ren-Zvi is an expert in nonprofit management, specifically development strategy and utilizing data for growth. She practices a community-centric approach to fundraising and supports organizations in building a culture of philanthropy, enabling them to meet and exceed their goals.
Lior grew up in a youth-led community, where she developed an understanding of collaborative organizing and gained a spark for changemaking. Since then, through working in local community organizing, municipal politics, and international diplomacy, she's learned to balance immediate needs with big picture planning. Lior attributes her appreciation for nonprofit management to her time as Camp Director for a nonprofit sleepaway camp, which is where she had her first go at fundraising strategic planning.
Lior is a graduate of Rutgers University, and completed a Fundraising & Development Specialization with UC Davis.
JOEL BERGER
VP of Creative Business Development
Joel has been in Jewish communal work in Florida and New Jersey for 30 years. Joel completed his tenure as CEO of the Rosen JCC in Orlando and before joining the JCC, Berger was the Executive Director at Temple Israel of Greater Miami where he served for three years. Previously, he served six years as Executive Director of Beth David Congregation in Miami, where he led the synagogue’s successful 2012 centennial campaign. Previously, he was Executive Director of University of Miami Hillel in Coral Gables, and earlier served as youth, camp and Executive Director at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in Aventura.
Joel was also a founding member of The Collective, a consortium of over 300 non-profits in the Orlando Area. Joel has served two years as the President of the Florida Association of Synagogue and Temple Administration, which offers its professional members networking, education and training activities.
Joel is a guest speaker on a wide variety of industry topics. Adept at managing multiple projects, leading cross-functional teams, and driving program success across functions. Strong relationship building, decision-making, communications and problem solving capabilities. Excellent knowledge in areas of security and employee benefits.
Joel was recently elected to the board of NAASE, the North American Association of Synagogue Executives serving a two year term. He was also recognized for over 18 years of service as an Executive Director in the Conservative Movement.
An alumnus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Berger holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance and a BS in Management/Management Information Decision Systems.
Joel is married to Gloria Gorman Berger, and together they have two children, Stephanie and Lauren.
DEBORAH SHAPIRA
Certified Facilitator
Deborah Shapira is a certified facilitator and educator that consults with non-profit organizations and boards of directors, crafting processes to guide them towards better meeting their organizations’ needs. She is passionate about helping volunteer and professional leaders build constructive partnerships, both to make their work personally fulfilling and to benefit the organizations they serve.
As a facilitator, Deborah draws on her days as an elementary school teacher, when she learned not only that engaging experiences are the most effective, but also that people achieve more when they are held to high expectations. Both of these beliefs inform her work helping groups maximize their potential and reach their highest goals.
A graduate of Stanford University, Deborah earned her certification in Facilitation through Georgetown University, and a certificate in Jewish education through the Drisha Institute.
EDWARD QUEEN, PhD, JD
Ethics Consultant
With over 40 years of experience in the nonprofit world as a foundation program officer, researcher, consultant, teacher, and trainer, Edward Queen brings a depth of knowledge to working with nonprofits, particularly in the areas of ethics, leadership development, and crisis response and recovery. He has a particular passion for small and mid-sized nonprofits and faith-based organizations.
Edward has trained and advised numerous organizations on management and ethical issues both in the United States and internationally, including the Pew Charitable Trusts, Ethisphere, Coca Cola, USAID, the Southeastern Council of Foundations, the American Bar Association’s Central and Eastern Europe law initiative, Atlanta Public Schools, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta.
Edward received his B.A from Birmingham-Southern College, his M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from the Divinity School of the University of Chicago, and his J.D. from the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis
He has written, coauthored, or edited numerous books, including Serving Those In Need: A Handbook for Managing Faith-Based Human Services Organizations (2000), Philanthropy in the World's Traditions (1998).