JEFF BUKANTZ OF MONTVILLE, NEW JERSEY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF MACCABI USA
Philadelphia, PA, December 5, 2017 – At its Annual Meeting on December 3 in Newark, NJ, the Board of Directors of Maccabi USA elected a new president and slate of officers to lead the organization for the next four years. Jeffrey Bukantz of Montville, NJ will serve as President of the organization, taking over for Ron Carner of New York, NY, President of Maccabi USA for the past eight years. “I wish Jeff the best of luck and will always be there for him,” said Carner.
“I’m humbled and honored to be elected President of Maccabi USA. I thank everyone for their support and congratulate Ricky Reff for a nice campaign,” said Bukantz. “I hope we can mend fences and work together to keep this the great organization it has always been.”
Bukantz, son of Olympic and Maccabiah Fencer Daniel Bukantz (z”l), first got involved with Maccabi USA as a Fencer at the 11th Maccabiah Games in 1981. He became involved with the leadership of Maccabi USA as Fencing Chairman for the 13th World Maccabiah Games held in 1989, and became a member of the Board of Directors in 1993, a position he has held for the last 23 years. Bukantz joined the Executive Committee of the Maccabi USA Board of Directors in 1998, and served as Associate Treasurer from 2009-2013, and First Vice President from 2013-present.
Bukantz served as the General Chair for the USA Maccabiah Organizing Committee for both the 2013 and 2017 World Maccabiah Games. During both Maccabiot, the Organizing Committee successfully brought 1,100+ member delegations to Israel to participate. He was also the Chair of the USA Organizing Committee for the 2011 European Maccabi Games in Vienna. Bukantz competed in Fencing in four consecutive Maccabiot from 1981-1993 winning 11 medals including three gold. He competed as a golfer in the 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games as a member of the gold medal Masters Golf team.
In addition to his leadership roles at Maccabi USA, Bukantz has also been involved with Fencing at the collegiate, national, and international level, as an athlete and official. As an athlete, he represented the USA at the 1981 World University Games, 1987 Pan American Games, and the 1983 & 1987 World Championships. He served as an official at the 1984 and 1996 Olympic Games, refereeing at the 1996 Men’s Foil Final, and as the USA Fencing Team Captain at the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games. Additionally, he was part of the inaugural class of inductees to the New Jersey Metrowest JCC Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
Bukantz is also very involved in USA Fencing media, serving as a Fencing Analyst for NBC during the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, the 2013 International Fencing Federation (FIE) World Championships, the 2015 FIE Boston Grand Prix, and the 2016 Long Beach Grand Prix. Since 1996 he has also been an editor and columnist for American Fencing Magazine Rules & Referee, and has authored a book, Closing the Distance. Bukantz is President of Flex Energy Management, LLC, an energy and brokerage firm.
Along with Bukantz, the new slate of officers includes Donald Kent, New York, NY – First Vice President; Debbie Adams, Asheville, NC – Vice President; Arnold Fielkow, New Orleans, LA – Vice President; Tonja Magerman, Blue Bell, PA – Vice President; Lou Moyerman, Philadelphia, PA – Vice President; Donna Orender, Jacksonville, FL – Secretary; Ben Fox, Norman, OK – Treasurer; and Marc Rosenberg, Short Hills, NJ – Associate Treasurer. Additionally, 40 individuals were elected members of the Board of Directors and will serve four-year terms.
Bukantz, along with the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, will guide Maccabi USA in the many projects and programs in which the organization will participate over the next four years. They include the Maccabi Youth Games in 2018 in Israel; the Pan American Maccabi Games in Mexico City and the European Maccabi Games in Budapest, both in 2019; and the 21st World Maccabiah Games in Israel in 2021. For more information about the organization, its projects and/or how you can get involved, please email maccabi@maccabiusa.com, call 215.561.6900, or visit our website at maccabiusa.com.
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) Organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The Organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, and the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.
Maccabi USA is a U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Multi-Sport Organization (MSO). The Organization is one of 38 MSOs nationwide to be recognized by the USOC for its ability to cultivate a national interest in sport and increase opportunities for participation internationally, nationally and at the grassroots level, and is rated as a four star non-profit by Charity Navigator.
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