Meet Our Honorees


Michael Seeve

Community Leadership Award

Michael serves as President of Mountain Development Corp. and guides the firm’s activities in close coordination with its executive team, professionals and partners. Michael provides strategic leadership for the firm and works actively on many of the firm’s projects.

Michael is a past President and of the New Jersey Chapter of NAIOP, which is the State’s leading advocacy association for the commercial real estate development industry. The organization, which currently has more than 700 members just in New Jersey, focuses on public land use issues, professional advancement, and industry best practices.

Michael serves as Chairman of the Board of William Paterson University, one of the State’s public higher education institutions and is a past Chairman of the University’s Foundation. Michael serves on the State of New Jersey Uniform Construction Code Advisory Board. He is also a past Chairman of the Paterson Special Improvement District, a public private partnership active in the central business district of the State’s third largest City. Michael is a past Chairman of the former Barnert Hospital Foundation.

Michael was recognized as Distinguished Friend in 2015 at William Paterson University’s annual gala, as Barnert Hospital’s Man of the Year at their 2006 gala and, in 2006, was named one of “Forty under 40” by NJ BIZ and received the same recognition in 2005 from Real Estate New Jersey magazine. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992 and lives in Montclair, New Jersey with his wife Veronica and their two sons.

Michael has been studying the Talmud with Rabbi Lubin for two years without any appreciable increase in his comprehension but with a great deal of interest, joy and many far ranging discussions. As a result of this experience coupled his great appreciation for annual Jewish Law Symposium and having had the chance to learn about the caring and outreach efforts of the Rabbi and Chabad, most especially to the community of displaced Ukrainian Jews, Michael has become a friend and proud supporter of Chabad.


Paul & Rachel Selvin

Volunteers of the Year Award

Paul (Bachelor of Business Administration) and Rachel (LS&A) both graduated from the University of Michigan. Rachel also has a law degree from Brooklyn Law School. They live in Livingston, with their two sons, Jason and Alex, both currently students at the University of Michigan- Go Blue!!!

Paul is a managing director with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management (Bank of America) and has been with the firm since 1989. His team, the Selvin Furst Group, works with individuals and businesses with a focus on investments, financial planning, and banking services. Paul has been recognized many times on Forbes’ "Best-in-State Wealth Advisors”, Forbes "Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams” and Barron’s “America’s Top 1,200 Advisors: State by State”.

Paul & Rachel believe in “giving back” to the community, as evidenced by an endowed scholarship to the University of Michigan and being honored by the Sunrise Association for their work with children with pediatric cancer. Paul sits on the board of Trustees for Cedar Hill Country Club and has coached youth baseball, hockey and soccer. Rachel, after practicing law for many years has spent the past two decades devoted to her family and causes within the community. She has volunteered with the school district’s parent’s associations for over 12 years.

Paul and Rachel got involved with the Chabad through an introduction to Rabbi Lubin by Larry Frankel & the Frankel family shortly after Paul’s mother had passed, and Rabbi Lubin provided comfort and guidance to them during this difficult time. When looking for a way to teach philanthropy and giving back to their boys, Rabbi Lubin suggested that they volunteer with Chabad on Thanksgiving to deliver dinners to people in need. This developed into a terrific Thanksgiving family tradition, and something the entire family have done annually since that time. Over the years Paula and Rachel have supported Chabad in several other endeavors, and it has been a wonderful relationship and friendship.

Paul and Rachel, along with Jason and Alex, are very proud of their affiliation with Rabbi Lubin and the Chabad. They are humbled to be honored as Volunteers of the Year.


Jodi Prupis, Jordyn, Leah & Adele Flager

Women of Valor Award

Since November 2020, Jodi Prupis has been generously dedicating her time to volunteering at the Caring Kitchen. What began as a heartfelt decision during Thanksgiving that year, when Jodi and her daughters realized once a year wasn’t enough, has blossomed into a monthly commitment to giving back to their community. Jodi, a devoted mother and local businesswoman, deeply understands the significance of volunteering. For years, she has instilled this value in her three daughters, Jordyn, Leah, and Adele, fostering a family tradition of contributing meaningfully to society.

Jodi firmly believes that the values she imparts to her daughters stem from the lessons she learned from her parents Joy and Neil Prupis. They consistently emphasized the importance of giving to those less fortunate and prioritizing acts of kindness towards others.