Meet Sam Sobkov
For Sam Sobkov, The Associated has always been part of his family’s story. Raised in Roland Park, he grew up seeing firsthand how his family’s involvement with The Associated strengthened their ties to the Baltimore Jewish community.
After earning two undergraduate degrees, this Baltimore native moved to Chicago, where he began his career, before making his way back home. Now pursuing his master’s in accounting, Sam balances classes with time on the tennis court—his favorite way to unwind. Back in Charm City, his connection to The Associated’s Young Adult Division (YAD) came to life in the summer of 2024, marking the start of a new chapter of community and connection.
Rooted in Baltimore, Raised on the Court
Sam grew up in Roland Park and graduated from Gilman School, but his Baltimore story stretches beyond the classroom. If you spent time at Baltimore Fitness and Tennis back in the day, there’s a good chance you crossed paths with Sam. A passionate tennis player since age six, he’s spent countless hours perfecting his game.
One of his favorite memories is competing in the 2014 Cherry Hill (NJ) Maccabi Games, where he took home a bronze medal—while playing doubles with a partner he met that very day.
Double the Degrees, Triple the Drive
After graduating from Gilman, Sam attended Vanderbilt University, earning his first bachelor’s degree in organizational development. It was there that an accounting class sparked something unexpected for Sam – a love for problem-solving through numbers.
Wanting to follow his interest in numbers, Sam went on to earn his second bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Maryland Global Campus. But his drive for learning didn’t stop there. Now pursuing his master’s in accounting at Loyola University Maryland, he’s on track to graduate in July 2026, with plans to earn his CPA soon after.
From Charm City to the Windy City—and Back Again
After Vanderbilt, Sam moved to Chicago, where he spent several years working in consulting from 2021 to 2024. While he enjoyed his time in Chicago, especially the architecture, food scene and big city feeling, his heart belonged to Baltimore.
Sam returned to Charm City in the summer of 2024 but found that most of his friends had moved away from Baltimore. From there, he felt like getting involved with Baltimore’s Jewish young adult community was the perfect way to reconnect and carry on his family’s tradition of giving back. He knew the Young Adult Division (YAD) was the perfect way to invest his time and energy and help find reasons for people to get together and connect.
Sam now serves on the Engage365 Committee of The Associated’s Young Adult Division that provides programming and engagement opportunities for young adults.
Sam’s Advice and Hopes for YAD
Sam’s advice for anyone thinking about getting involved with YAD? Just go for it. With so many different events and opportunities through YAD and The Associated, there’s truly something for everyone.
Looking ahead, he hopes to see YAD and The Associated keep growing—sparking new ideas, building new connections and strengthening the ones that have always made this community feel like home.
To see upcoming events happening at The Associated, please visit the community calendar.
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The Associated is a home for everyone in the Baltimore Jewish community. We offer several email lists to help people find a community, engage with their peers and support Jewish journeys around the world.
Join Our Mailing List
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