Our Leadership

David & Allison, Owners/Directors

David and Allison

We take pride in our hands-on approach to camping. Our personal leadership and spirit is reflected in Camp Starlight's rich traditions, extraordinary staff, and quality program. We focus on the individual camper, striving to make each child and parent feel that they are an important part of the Starlight family. As parents ourselves, we understand the significance of a warm and safe camp community where young people can have fun, make friends, develop skills, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

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Meet David

David, a native of Newton, Massachusetts grew up as a camper in Maine, where he spent 12 summers as a camper, counselor, Hockey Specialist, and Division Head. He graduated from New York University and, prior to entering the camping industry, worked in the entertainment industry as a casting director, talent manager, and independent film producer. His lifelong dream to be a director of a summer camp became a reality in 1999 when he purchased Camp Starlight. He currently resides in Florida with his wife Allison and his two children Hayley and Griffin.

Meet Allison

Allison, originally from Old Westbury, N.Y., focuses on camp operations and administration as well as staff and camper relations. She graduated from N.Y.U. and then earned a law degree from Cardozo School of Law. She spent her legal career as an associate at a prestigious national law firm and served as in-house counsel at a major auction house. She later became V.P., Head of Human Resources for that same company, where she was responsible for hiring, training, and development of the North and South American staff. However, she sees her role as the mother of two children, Hayley and Griffin, as the most valuable experience she brings to Camp Starlight.

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Hayley & Robbie, Directors

Hayley and Robbie

It has always been a dream of Hayley and Robbie to find someone who shares the same passion and joy for life as each other. When Hayley and Robbie met in Australia while recruiting camp counselors it was clear they also shared a deep love for summer camp. They have each experienced the incredible gift of camp as both campers and counselors. They know what it is like to be a camper, a counselor, a senior staff member, and what it takes to run a camp behind the scenes.

Hayley and Robbie realize it is important that every camper and counselor makes special friendships, camp memories, and of course has fun! They focus on creating individual relationships with every camper and staff member each summer and throughout the entire year bringing the energy, spirit, and personality to Camp Starlight!

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Meet Hayley

Hayley grew up at Camp Starlight, spending her summers as a camper, Counselor Assistant, Bunk Specialist, and Assistant Division Leader for the Lower Inter Girls and Senior Girls. Hayley was also a Sing Leader for the Blue Wave and General for the Epic Whites! Hayley received her MBA and Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Miami. She loves everything camp! Whether she’s on stage hosting the Friday Night Show or spending time talking to campers, you can easily see Hayley’s passion for camp and making sure our campers have the best summer. During winter months, Hayley is in charge of hiring staff and keeping our Starlight Family connected throughout the year.

Meet Robbie

Robbie grew up at Timber Lake Camp and served as Associate Director and Boys Head Counselor for twelve years. Prior to this he was a camper, counselor, Division Leader, and Program Director at his long-time summer home. In 2021, Robbie joined the Starlight Family as Associate Director. Robbie is originally from Montville, New Jersey, graduated from Indiana University, and lives in New York City. He is most known for his spirit, energy, sports announcing, square dance calls, basketball trick shots, love for Hoosier basketball, outstanding care for campers, staff and parents, and passion for summer camp.

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Summer Leadership Team

Our Summer leadership team is comprised of experienced, fun, creative, energetic, and caring professionals, many of whom work with children year-round and return to Starlight each summer. Mostly educators and coaches who are also parents, our Head Counselors, Division Leaders, Program Heads and Administrators have decades of experience. Most importantly, they love working with our campers, whose fun and safety are never anything less than their top priorities.

Winter Office

Russell Yorston

Russell Yorston
Business Manager

24 Years • Australia

Austin Nelson

Austin Nelson
Program Manager

8 Years • North Carolina

Livi Hill

Livi Hill
Staffing and Office Administrator

2 Years • North Carolina

Admin

Kelly Miller

Kelly Miller
Office Manager

2 Years • New York

Rachel Leger

Rachel Leger
Camp Mom

10 Years • Florida

Head Counselors

Barrie Dratch

Barrie Dratch
Girls Head Counselor

26 Years • New York

Jason Glick

Jason Glick
Lower Camp Boys Head Counselor

32 Years • Florida

Jeff Malis

Jeff Malis
Upper Camp Boys Head Counselor

24 Years • New York

Division Leaders

Dena Weiner

Dena Weiner
Juniors

12 Years • New York

Rebecca Weiss

Rebecca Weiss
Junior Girls

1 Year • New York

JJ Weiner

JJ Weiner
Juniors

12 Years • New York

Courtney Ortiz

Courtney Ortiz
Lower Inters

4 Years • Florida

Evan Schwartz

Evan Schwartz
Lower Inters

14 Years • New York

Rebecca Cooper

Rebecca Cooper
Upper Inters

6 Years • New York

Alex Galin

Alex Galin
Upper Inters

16 Years • Wisconsin

Megan Panelas

Megan Panelas
Lower Debs

16 Years • Canada

Jacob Rosenstein

Jacob Rosenstein
Upper Plebes

1 Year • Illinois

Kim Schwartz

Kim Schwartz
Upper Debs

28 Years • New York

KB Malefane

KB Malefane
Upper Plebes

2 Years • South Africa

Sammi Malis

Sammi Malis
Seniors

7 Years • New York

Matt Hipps

Matt Hipps
Seniors

8 Years • Georgia

Olivia Solomon

Olivia Solomon
CAs

7 Years • Florida

Department Heads

Melissa Stein

Melissa Stein
Atheltic Director

5 Years • New York

Bafana Mohale

Bafana Mohale
Atheltic Director

3 Years • South Africa

Jeff Moss

Jeff Moss
Theater Director

53 Years • New York

Tom Fosnocht

Tom Fosnocht
Musical Director

2 Years • Pennsylvania

Diego McCoy

Diego McCoy
Head of Basketball

11 Years • Washington DC

Fruzsina Zoltay

Fruzsina Zoltay
Head of Gymnastics

1 Year • Hungary

Hunter Brunelle

Hunter Brunelle
Head of Lacrosse

2 Years • New York

Wade Liska

Wade Liska
Head of Hockey

10 Years • Missouri

Chris McKenna

Chris McKenna
Head of Soccer

2 Years • United Kingdom

Katie Hipps

Katie Hipps
Head of Waterfront

6 Years • Georgia

Brian Sartota Lorca

Brian Sartota Lorca
Head of Boys Waterfront

1 Year • Argentina

Juan Ibanez

Juan Ibanez
Head of Boating and Waterski

1 Year • Argentina

Marcos Carizzo

Marcos Carizzo
Head of Fitness

1 Year • Argentina

Jessica Sanchez

Jessica Sanchez
Head of Arts and Crafts

1 Year • Florida

Paris Barragan

Paris Barragan
Head of Special Events

7 Years • Mexico

Paul Davis

Paul Davis
Head of Tennis

1 Year • Jamaica

Enemy Jones

Enemy Jones
Head of Dance

1 Year • Washington DC

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The Best Counselors Ever

We strive to hire the best staff in camping. Successful prospective staff members are upper level college and graduate students who have experience working with children and valuable skills to share. Our staff to camper ratio is better than 3:1 with a large percentage of our counselors returning year after year. Many of our staff members have also grown up at Camp Starlight and understand our philosophy and traditions. Each candidate is personally interviewed by our Directors then selected on the basis of personality, teaching abilities, enthusiasm, patience, and love of children. All hired staff members attend an intense, comprehensive, and fun week of training prior to camp and are not only well prepared but eagerly awaiting the arrival of our campers.