Meet Our Leadership Team

Margo Hassan

Margo Hassan began her term as the new president of MRT in July 2025. Prior to becoming President, Margo served on the board for several years. Margo and her husband John are retired attorneys who live in Monmouth Beach. Margo worked for over 30 years in the securities industry as a regulatory attorney. John and Margo have one daughter who lives in Washington DC with her husband and several pets!

Vincent Coppola

Vince Coppola began his term as the new Treasurer of MRT in July 2026. Prior to becoming Treasurer, Vince chaired the Finance and Investment Committees at MRT. Vince is a retired business executive having held numerous executive and financial positions in the payroll, benefits, and financial services sectors for over 40 years He also served on several Private Equity and Condo Boards.  Vince is an avid Yankee’s fan, loves traveling and a musician and singer who enjoys singing in a large chorale group the most. Vince and his wife Brook live in Little Silver with their two rescue dogs, Georgia and Barney. They have three children who live in DC, NJ and NYC. 

Karen Seligman

Karen Seligman rejoined the board in 2025 with a special focus on temple communication. Previously Karen served as the chair of the Religious Education Committee from 2016-2020. As a writer and editor of literary fiction, Karen has a deep and abiding respect for the ways in which language shapes how a community sees itself. Although her husband, Peter, was raised in a local conservative congregation, as a Jew-by-choice and native Midwesterner, Karen was drawn to MRT for its welcoming atmosphere, commitment to social action, and embrace of interfaith families. She and Peter live in Little Silver with their two high school-aged children, Lyra and Teddy.

Alexis Spektor

Alexis Spektor joined the Monmouth Reform Temple in 2019 and the MRT Board in 2024, serving as a Member at Large. A former New York City school teacher, she is now the Adult Program Director at Family in Red Bank, NJ, where she creates and manages programs that enrich the lives of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Alexis is married to Yury Spektor, who immigrated to the United States as a Jewish refugee and now owns and operates S&S Roofing. Together, they are raising two sons, Jacob and Maxim, who can often be found on ice rinks and lacrosse fields across New Jersey when not attending MRT religious school. Drawn to MRT as a welcoming space for interfaith families, Alexis sought a supportive community for her own journey to conversion and to raise her children in a Jewish home.

Reid Conway

Reid Conway joined the MRT Board in 2026. He is a lifelong Monmouth County resident, having grown up in Middletown, and currently lives in Little Silver with his wife Amy and daughter Rosie. He works for an investment management firm as Global Chief Compliance Officer. 

David Schmetterer

Dave Schmetterer began his term as President-Elect of MRT in October of 2025. He is a member of the Board of Red Bank F.C., and an Honorary Board Member of the Monmouth Day Care Center. While he spends his days as an urban planner, Dave is an adoring husband to Nina and very proud father of Isaac and Austen 24/7, as well as loyal human to canine sisters Echo and Acadia. The six of them live in Red Bank, where you can often find them walking downtown or on the field at Count Basie Park. The family was drawn to MRT for its inclusion of interfaith families and has stayed on as proud members of this stunningly warm and welcoming congregation.

Cori Patterson

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David Siegel

David Siegel joined the MRT Board several years ago with a special interest in social justice and social action. David has had an extensive career as a Senior Executive in both Federal and state government. He shaped and directed major work to assist vulnerable children and families. David has been the MRT liaison with the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. David and his wife Willa (a member of the MRT Sisterhood Board) came to MRT because of its open welcoming lively membership and its spiritual values. He and Willa live in Farmingdale. David grew up in Keyport. His daughter Lauren lives in Northern Virgina.

Fay Szakal

Fay Szakal joined the board in 2025 after serving as a member and co-chair of the Religious Education Committee for the past 4 years. During the day she works as a partner in the Corporate Law department of a midsize New Jersey law firm engaging in mergers and acquisitions, general business transactions, and representation of various nonprofits and for-profit enterprises. The light of Fay’s life is raising her pre-teen twins, Graham and Tilly, who keep her wildly entertained with their love of puppetry, magic, music, and history. The trio lives in Tinton Falls just around the corner from MRT and have been attending MRT since the twins were in Bagels & Blocks at the age of 2! 

Nancy Zaslowe

Nancy