Laying Roots in Baltimore

Her latest endeavor is one she’s particularly excited about: she’ll be chairing the Young Adult Division’s Cuba Mission next year, and she’s thrilled about blending her passion for travel with her love of giving back. She looks forward to serving as a liaison bringing together other Jewish professionals with similar interests to share the experience.

An Early Affinity for Travel

Wendy has had many other adventures with her grandmother over the years, including a special expedition to Israel.

“When she was a travel agent she would arrange group trips to Israel. She also volunteered in the Israeli Army. So a couple years back I said to her, ‘I want to do Israel your way’ and so we went on a trip, stayed at a spa in the Judean Hills, I got to meet my family in Tel Aviv…it was a really amazing trip.”

A Soft Spot for Spirits

“My cousin is a big solo traveler and she doesn’t understand why I don’t do a ton of it, but I like to create memories through shared experiences, and when there’s something I love, I want to share it with someone,” she explains.

“I’m all about meeting like-minded people and also showing myself that you can still create that sense of community and share unique experiences with people that you don’t know.”

What’s Next: Leading a Mission to Cuba

Though still in its early planning stages, Wendy is extremely excited to dive headfirst into The Associated’s Young Adult Division Mission to Cuba. As someone who loves to plan and create memorable travel experiences, Wendy is looking forward to fostering a sense of community among participants even before they set foot in Cuba. From arranging pre-trip mojito tastings at local rum bars to organizing networking opportunities, Wendy is intent on making the experience both engaging and meaningful.

“My focus as chair is really on recruiting and pre-engagement. I want to build a community before we even get there, so that when we arrive in Cuba, we’re already connected,” she shares.

Wendy is excited to experience Cuban culture firsthand, especially through its food, drink, and Jewish heritage. “I want to enjoy through eating, drinking and connecting with fellow Jews there,” she says.

Finding Adventure Locally

When she’s not traveling internationally, Wendy is still finding numerous opportunities to enjoy exotic and adventurous experiences at home. She loves exploring the ever-growing restaurant and cocktail scene in Baltimore, and even planning new cocktail recipes herself.

“I enjoy and appreciate the craftsmanship and the art form that goes into the nuances that people are thinking about when they’re creating these types of cocktails… for example, I’ve started going to Kenwood Tavern over in Canton. One of the owners, Matt, has been diving in more with agave spirits so we’ve been able to share recommendations and talk about it…I love being a thought partner, brainstorming and ideating about how to bring an idea or an experience to life.”

Though she lives a fast-paced life, Wendy can’t resist staying in and relaxing from time to time. One of her favorite at-home activities is to put together jigsaw puzzles, especially with her sister. The two consider their passion for puzzles to be next level, explaining that she grew up doing puzzles with a minimum of 1,000 pieces.

“Some people say they are into puzzles, but the best way I can shed light on the level of puzzling my sister and I are at is, when my niece was a newborn my sister and I completed a 500-piece puzzle over the span of one of her nap times. I joke that I did puzzles before they became cool during COVID.”