People
Rob Katz, Co-founder
Rob is the co-founder of the Katz Amsterdam Foundation and executive chairperson of the Board of Directors of Vail Resorts. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts from 2006-2021, and has been involved with the company since 1991, including on the Board of Directors since 1996. Prior to becoming the CEO, he was associated with Apollo Management, a private equity investment firm, since its founding in 1990. Rob graduated in 1988 from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania with a BS in Economics. He currently serves on the board of Vail Resorts and the Wharton Leadership Advisory Board and has previously served on numerous private, public and nonprofit boards. It’s his hope that the grants from the Katz Amsterdam Foundation will improve access to much-needed services related to mental health and substance abuse. Rob lives in Colorado with his wife, Elana Amsterdam, and their two sons.
Disparities and discrimination have led to inequities in so many aspects of our lives, including health care and civic engagement. In order to work towards a truly just society, we must work to combat these systemic inequities and make sure that every voice is heard and empowered, to realize the promise of our multi-racial democracy.
Elana Amsterdam, Co-founder
Elana Amsterdam is a pioneering activist in the wellness space, riding the cutting edge of healthy living advocacy for over 30 years. A New York Times best-selling cookbook author, cancer survivor, and health advocate, she is the founder of elanaspantry.com, a popular resource for healthy living.
Living with celiac disease and MS for decades, she spearheaded the paleo gluten-free movement from its earliest beginnings as a top spokesperson. When diagnosed with breast cancer in 2021, she chose to “go flat” for her double mastectomy closure to avoid implants, becoming a powerful voice in the women’s health and rights movement. Elana is committed to helping medical industry professionals, patients, and the public understand that flat closure is a valid choice, not an exception.
I am committed to transforming women’s healthcare by dialoging with professionals, patients, and the public to bring light to the biases in our culture that act as barriers to health equity and ultimately, desired outcomes. I write and speak about how to overcome these challenges to create systemic change and outline my experience to share the language of advocacy.
Beth Ganz, Executive Director
Beth has been the Executive Director of the Katz Amsterdam Foundation since its inception. During her 11 years in her previous role as Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability at Vail Resorts, Beth spearheaded many federal, state and community initiatives that had an indelible impact on Vail Resorts and the entire industry. She directed the launch of Vail Resorts’ Epic Promise Program, which partners with more than 250 non-profit organizations and gives $10M+ to local charities across the company’s mountain communities, and the Epic Promise Foundation, which provides grants to employees in times of need and for their educational pursuits. In addition, she oversaw the launch of the company’s Commitment to Zero, with a goal of reaching net zero impact by 2030. In her new role with the Katz Amsterdam Foundation, Beth oversees the work of the Foundation, develops strategy and leads collaborative efforts between hundreds of stakeholders. Before joining Vail Resorts, Beth led and worked for several advocacy organizations including America Votes, Colorado NARAL, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Colorado Democratic Party. She’s had the honor of serving on many nonprofit boards, including the National Forest Foundation and the Africa School Assistance Project. Beth is thrilled to join Rob and Elana to partner with organizations working to address and combat inequities that exist in our society. She earned a B.A. from Duke University and a J.D. from Georgetown University. Beth lives in Denver with her husband and son.
We hope to develop long-term partnerships with community-based organizations to help them activate and empower community members to ensure access to health care and voting rights. We’re excited for what’s ahead.
Heather Trish, NCC, LPC, LMHC, LPCC, Mountain Behavioral Health Network Director
A lifelong outdoor enthusiast and avid skier, Heather hails from the Roaring Fork Valley and has called the mountains of Colorado her home since childhood. After completing her undergraduate and graduate degrees and living in the New York City area for several years, Heather returned to her beloved Colorado to work as a crisis and trauma counselor. Most recently, Heather served as a Clinical Director at a large community mental health center, providing organizational clinical training, development, and consultation for staff and where she expanded trauma and suicide prevention services for community members and veteran and military families in three diverse urban and rural counties. Heather holds an Ed.M. in Psychological Counseling and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University, has a Certificate in Conflict Resolution from the International Center for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution, is an Approved EMDR Consultant, a Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) trainer, and has been the organizational lead for Trauma Informed Care, Zero Suicide, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives.
Jina Freiberg, Senior Grants Manager
Prior to joining the Katz Amsterdam Foundation, Jina was the Grants Manager at the Public Welfare Foundation overseeing the grants process, tracking grant-making activities and budgets, and distributing grants. She also worked in several grants management and fundraising roles at the City of Falls Church, Leon Levy Foundation, 92nd Street Y, and Girls Inc.
Jina is a first-generation Korean American and native of Queens, NY. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management from Syracuse University. She volunteers as a board member of the New Breath Foundation, co-chairs the AANHPI Caucus at PEAK Grantmaking, and serves on the Cherry Blossom Race Committee.
Grace Loughborough, Foundation Coordinator
Grace comes to the Katz Amsterdam Foundation after four years in family philanthropy at van Beuren Charitable Foundation, where she served her local Newport, Rhode Island community. Engaging with all people and processes across vBCF, she provided support and thought partnership to the Program and Grants Management teams, aligning their respective efforts to create optimal philanthropic practices. Grace managed vBCF’s entire grant lifecycle and was a trustworthy, responsive partner to grantees, staff, and applicants through every stage of the grantmaking process.
Grace is deeply passionate about dismantling systemic injustices and believes that intentional grantmaking structures and processes are critical for philanthropy to advance social justice.
Before entering philanthropy, Grace worked in the nonprofit space, managing the Girls on the Run Rhode Island youth development program and worked in the corporate sector, holding an administrative role at Columbus Nova, a venture capital and investment management firm in Manhattan.