July 21, 2026 – The Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Hartford appointed two new members to its Board of Trustees, Ron Cipriano and Eric Zachs.

Cipriano and Zachs join a board of leaders who are guiding the strategic growth of the Jewish Community Foundation, building permanent charitable resources, fostering generosity across generations, and investing in Jewish life today and in the future.

“With a track record of strategic leadership, Ron and Eric are both dedicated to the long-term growth of our Jewish community,” said Walter Harrison, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Jewish Community Foundation and President Emeritus of the University of Hartford. “Their vision and expertise will position the Jewish Community Foundation for new approaches that address the challenges we are facing today and ensure a vibrant future.”

Ron Cipriano is the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at NEFCO in East Hartford, a construction supply company. He joined the company in 2010 as Director of Technical Sales and has held several key leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of Operations and General Counsel. Over the years, Cipriano has played a pivotal role in expanding NEFCO’s geographic footprint, improving supply chain efficiency, and strengthening risk management strategies.

Cipriano serves on the Board of Trustees at Chabad House of Greater Hartford and at Kingswood Oxford School. He previously served as Business Partnership Chair and as a Board Member at the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.

Cipriano holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Michigan and a JD from the University of Miami. He lives in Avon with his wife, Alisha, and their three children.

Eric Zachs is an entrepreneurial innovator who has founded and grown more than eight companies. As Co-chairman and Co-founder of Torrecom Partners LP., he has overseen the expansion of wireless infrastructure across 10 countries in Latin America. He is Co-Chairman of MCM Holdings, LLC, Managing Partner of Communications Tower Group, LLC, and a board member of Enlight, a developer of solar and battery energy storage (BESS) systems in Mexico and Chile. Zachs served as President and Chief Operating Officer at Message Center Beepers, the largest privately-owned paging company in the United States.

Zachs is a board member of the Root Center for Advanced Recovery. He previously served as board chair and board member of the Hartford Region of Hartford Health Care, Chairman of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, and President of the Mandell Jewish Community Center. He also served on the Board of Directors of the UConn Foundation and St. Francis Hospital Foundation.

Eric has been married for over 40 years to Jessica, and they have three children and spouses, and three grandchildren.

The Jewish Community Foundation unlocks the power of personalized and collective philanthropy to solve problems, strengthen community organizations and provide permanent support for Greater Hartford’s Jewish community. The Jewish Community Foundation has more than $210 million in assets and awarded approximately $8.5 million in grants in its fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The nonprofit is a proud partner of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford and a member of the Connecticut Council for Philanthropy.