MEET Our board
Jordan Harouche – Founder/CEO
In November of 2019, Jordan Harouche founded JZips with the support of his mom Jodi and Grandmother Judith. At 15 years old, Jordan was diagnosed with non-germinoma germ cell tumor in the pituitary and frontal lobe of his brain. During his extensive chemotherapy and radiation treatments he learned the importance of comfort and normalcy. Jordan founded JZips to provide t-shirts with zippers at no cost for children and clinics.
Jordan is a High School Senior attending Great Neck South High School. He is currently overseeing all JZips social media, packaging and shipping of shirts, inventory and supply management.
Jodi Harouche
Jodi Harouche is President/Chief Creative Office for Multimedia Plus a technology company specializing in communications and training for leading global brands. Jodi guides and supports Jordan in his vision and execution of JZips. As a parent living through Jordan’s battle against cancer, she has a genuine perspective of the value of JZips.
Dr. Theodore Nicolaides
Dr. Theodore Nicolaides is Director, Pediatric Neuro-Oncology at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone. Dr. Nicolaides received his medical degree from NYU School of Medicine, where he also completed his residency in pediatrics. He completed a pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship at UCSF and was recruited to the faculty there, where he also received a National Institutes of Health K award.
As we continue to grow our outreach and fundraising, we will partner with Dr. Nicolaides to best understand the most promising research and developments in the battle against pediatric cancers.
Ellen Hoeffel
Ellen Hoeffel is a seasoned operations and human resources professional who spent almost 30 years in the fashion industry. She held senior management positions at Ann Taylor, Brooks Brothers and Saks Fifth Avenue. Her areas of expertise include employee relations, labor relations, training, development and recruitment. She has also been on the board of several non-profit organizations, including the Community Foundation for Nantucket where she helps oversee fund distribution through the scholarship and grants committees.
Ellen brings with her talents in fundraising, resource management, fund allocation and event planning. She is currently retired and dedicating her time to raising two teenage sons and volunteering locally.
Jeff Harouche
Jeff Harouche is the Senior Vice President of Strategy and Planning for W Promote, the largest independent digital agency in the US. Jeff graduated from New York University’s Stern School of Business before moving on to the world of digital marketing. Prior to W promote Jeff directed strategy for, and held digital marketing roles with, brands like LG Electronics, American Express, Sports Illustrated and CNN, accruing over twenty years of digital marketing experience.
Jeff brings his experience in digital advertising, social media and promotional expertise to help us grow our exposure and promote awareness of our impact.
Ravit Kraus
Ravit Kraus is the Executive Vice President of TAA Apparel Inc. TAA is a privately owned international wholesaling company with over 50 million dollars in annual revenue. TAA Apparel manufactures under both private and proprietary labels, producing inspirational items for men, women, children, as well as home.
Ravit brings her knowledge of product development, sourcing and production to help our organization as we look to manufacture and expand production to keep up with demands.
Judith Harouche
Judith Harouche is a retired teacher from the New York City Board of Education. For over 25 years, Judith taught art and worked with special education students at Elmhurst Hospital and at Long Island Jewish Hospital. She earned a BA from New York University and an MA from Queens College. She is proud to call herself Jordan’s grandmother.
Judith brings firsthand knowledge of how JZips positively affects children and young adults undergoing cancer treatments. Working side by side with Jordan, Judith sewed the first several hundred JZips and continues to stitch them today.
Advisory Board
Elle Loupandina
Elle Loupandina is a Freelance Visual Designer, working in the field of marketing and branding. Elle brings her knowledge of engaging digital and print design, web development, and user experience to help our organization explore and continue an on-brand look and feel. Elle has supported our team from inception and adds her unique design perspective to maintain JZips brand integrity through our website and print marketing materials.
Jenifer Weinberg, Esq.
Jenifer Weinberg is the founding member of Weinberg Law PLLC, a Great Neck, New York-based law firm. She concentrates her practice on the areas of corporate and securities law. She has extensive experience representing public and private companies on a wide range of legal issues, including formation, organization, corporate governance, trademarks, regulatory compliance with federal and state laws and rules promulgated by self-regulatory organizations and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. She also advises on various types of transactions, contracts, leases, as well as shareholder, employment, stock option and confidentiality agreements.
Jenifer received her Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School in 1996. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, in Economics, from Brandeis University in 1993. Jenifer is admitted to the New York State Bar.