Our People

Noach Braun

CEO and Co-Founder of the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind - 1986

Began training dogs while a paratrooper in the IDF
Guide Dog Mobility Instructor
2 years training – Pilot Dogs, Columbus, Ohio, USA
2 years training – British Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, England
First dog trained in Israel – 1991
noach@igdcb.org

Orna Braun

Director of Animal Services & Co-Founder

Joined IGDCB: 1987
Professional Training:
Guide Dogs for the Blind Association – Great Britain
Veterinary Support Personnel Network

Amihai Toren

Director of Guide Dog Training and Operations

Joined IGDCB: 2001
Hebrew University, B.S. Marine Sciences
Guide Dogs for the Blind in Oregon, USA
Clicker Training at Guide Dogs for the Blind, San Rafael, California, USA

Rafi Taglicht

Director of Strategic Planning & Senior Guide Dog Mobility Instructor

Joined IGDCB: 1992
3 years training – Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, England
rafi@igdcb.org

Menashe Kashi

Director of Operations

Returned to IGDCB: 2014
4 years’ experience as a non-profit professional, Operations, HR & Finance Manager
Education: MA in Political Science and Public Administration, Bar Illan University
MCSE – Microsoft Certified Professional System Engineer

Dennis Allon

Director of Resource Development

Joined IGDCB May 2012
MA: Political Science, Hebrew University
26years experience as a non-profit professional, donor consultant and project manager
dennis@igdcb.org

Yariv Melamed

Guide Dog Mobility Instructor & Responsible for Pension Dogs and Dogs for Special Needs

Joined IGDCB: 2001
High School: Toronto, Canada
1 Year scholarship with Guide Dogs Victoria, Melbourne, Australia
2 Year program at IGDCB, Beit Oved, Israel

Jed Schlesinger, PhD

Psychologist, Staff Consultant

Education: PhD Clinical Psychology + Post Doctorate U.C.L.A.
Army experience: Paratrooper
Training: Specialization in Health Psychology
Joined IGDCB: October 2013
jed@igdcb.org

Timora Sela

Kennel Manager

Joined IGDCB: 2001
PE Teaching Credential, Wingate Institute
Two years with the SPCA – Israel

Dr. Sivan Shani

Veterinarian

Joined the Center: 2010
B.A. in Animal Science, Israel
Veterinary Certification from Kosice, Slovakia
drshani@netvision.net.il

Avital Margulis

Director of Marketing

MBA – 12years experience in entrepeneurship and strategic marketing, sales activities, fund raising, business development, channels of distribution and management, market analysis and communications.
Joined IGDCB: February 2013
Avital@igdcb.org

Lisa Baron Haet

International Liaison

Joined IGDCB: February 2009
16 Years Jewish Community Professional – San Francisco, California
BA – Recreation Therapy/Dance Therapy – San Francisco State University
lisa@igdcb.org

Bar Ben-David

Maintenance Department

Joined IGDCB: August 2004
Competitive Swimmer
Assisted in Dog Competitions

Mike Leventhal

Executive Director, Israel Guide Dog Centre - USA

Martin Segal

UK Executive Director

Joined IGDCB: April 2012

martin@bfigdcb.org