Entrepreneur and avid golfer, Hal Altman, began his tenure as the Merage JCC’s new Board Chair, in August at the J’s Annual Meeting. Following founding Chair, Irv Chase, Hal has big shoes to fill. With a keen eye for growing businesses, affinity for developing collaborations, and strong connections to community, Hal is posed to develop a legacy around community and Jewish continuity.

                                          

Joining the board in 2012, Hal served as the Vice Chair for the four years before becoming Chair, and also took on the extensive role of leading our Maccabi Games in 2013 and 2017. As he contemplates taking an even bigger role with the J, Hal notes, “I feel very fortunate that I am able to be part of an organization that believes in giving back to the Jewish population of OC, and a place where people of any age can call home. We will continue to bring a variety of programs that will bring Israel to the OC.“

 

 Hal takes the helm of the Merage JCC’s Board at a critical moment. Together, with Executive Director, Scott Braswell, Immediate Past Chair, Irv Chase, and the Board of Directors, he maneuvered our J through the unprecedented closing of our doors during the global pandemic, stabilizing the J through the crisis and ensuring that innovative programming continued. Under his leadership, the Merage JCC is at the forefront of integrating innovative digital and in-person programming in a new Zoom era meeting the needs of our diverse community. Together with lay leaders and staff, Hal’s leadership ensured the J utilized resources to strive to continue building a welcoming community embracing the values of excellence, Jewish culture, and family. 

 

 

“The Merage JCC is set up to truly move from strength to strength as Hal Altman becomes Chair of the Board. His leadership both here at our JCC through the JCC Maccabi Games and in his own personal business ensures that we will continue to have a great strategic thinker leading our board,” Scott Braswell, Executive Director. 

 

Hal is the founder and President/CEO of Motivational Fulfillment & Logistics Services (MFLS), specializing in direct to consumer and retail distribution services. MFLS was selected to administer and provide the fulfillment to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics,1996 Atlanta Olympics, Wheel of Fortune/Jeopardy, Live Aid, HBO's Comic Relief, Hurricane Relief, Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans, Imagine with John Lennon, JC Penny Travel Club, and many more major events.

 

Hal, and his wife, Melanie, have two adult children and four grandchildren, who active in Maccabi and our community.