Meet the Team

Home » Meet the Team



Andy (A.C.) Swedlove

Assistant Retreat Center Director

Pronouns: He/Him/His
acswedlove@urj.org

Learn More



Danny Robinow

Chef

Pronouns: He/Him/His
drobinow@urj.org

Danny is thrilled to return to URJ Camp Newman, for the first time since 2017, this time in the capacity of Chef Manager. Danny first attended Newman as a camper and then moved up through staff position before attending culinary school and beginning his career in food. He has cooked for every type of operation imaginable, from fine dining restaurants to movie/TV productions.

Learn More



Martee Fischman

Retreat Center Director

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
mfischman@urj.org

Martee has been working on the full-time team for Camp Newman since 2017 and is excited to be transitioning into her new role as the Retreat Center Director. In this role, she will oversee the year-round business at our Porter Creek home. She is excited to combine her passion for hospitality and camping to create unique and exceptional experiences for all who visit our site.

Learn More



Matt Ghan

Assistant Director of Retreat Services

Pronouns: He/Him/His
mghan@urj.org

Matthew is very excited to join the full time team as he started his camp journey as a camp. He is originally from San Jose and attended Chapman University studying Communications Studies. Prior to this role, Matt served on the URJ’s Camping & Immersives team supporting all of youth programs, including camps, NFTY and Israel programs. In his free time he enjoys cooking and traveling.



Osmar Palafox

Facilities Manager

Pronouns: He/Him/His

Osmar has been part of the camp community since 2006 when he joined the maintenance team and, as of 2020, serves as the Facilities Manager. For almost two decades Osmar has cared for the buildings and grounds at camp as if they were his own. He also assists in construction projects, working with lay leaders as well as architects and builders. When not at camp, Osmar can be found working on side projects and spending quality time with his family.

Pronouns: He/Him/His
acswedlove@urj.org

A.C. joined the team in August of 2021 as Assistant Camp Director. Prior to his time with us, he gained significant experience in informal Jewish education having spent many summers as a Sports Director, Logistics Manager, and Assistant Director for Camp Newman, 6 Points Sports Academy-CA, and Kutz Camp, respectively. He grew up in the Reform movement from his early summers at Camp Newman to serving as President on NFTY SOCAL Regional Board. Upon graduating High School, he served as a youth group advisor and program directors for congregations and JCCs throughout California, Colorado and New York.

A.C. received his B.S. in Sports & Recreation Management from Concordia University. He has a deep love of sports, tv/movies, and anything related to zoos and aquariums.

A.C. is pumped to bring his energy and creativity back to the place that has played such a big part in his life. He is also lucky enough to be able to call camp home 365 days a year as he lives on site in Santa Rosa, California.

Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
mfischman@urj.org

Before joining the full-time team, she began working for Camp Newman in the summers starting In 2015. Her roles included Dining Hall Manager, Development Associate, Logistics Director and full-time as the Logistics and Development Associate until recently. Martee played a critical role in managing the logistics of our summers at Newman By the Bay.

Growing up in the Chicago Suburbs, Martee was active in USY and attended Tamarack Camps in Michigan. She is a HUGE Chicago Bears fan. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois and In 2015, she received her Master’s in Hospitality Administration as well as a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.