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Name: Lee Krislow

Occupation: Independent insurance agent

Address: Toms River

Family: Married for almost 19 years to Kathy, a programmer analyst for J.P. Morgan Chase. Three children: twin boys Matthew and Stephen, 14 years old, and daughter Jessica, 11, who will be a bat mitzvah next May. Mother deceased. Father Solomon Krislow lives with wife Arlene in Boynton Beach, Fla.

Community activities: Completed first year as president of Beth Am Shalom, the new merged Reform congregation of Lakewood and Toms River and nominated for second year presidency. First vice president the first year of the merger and president the second year. Previously president of Congregation Beth Am of Toms River. For 10 years boys soccer coach in Toms River and baseball umpire for junior baseball.

Hobbies: "Playing softball and bowling as a member of a bowling team. I also cook. I learned watching my mom and now make her pot roast. I also make a mean matzah ball soup."

Self-portrait: "I'm very entrepreneurial. I enjoy public speaking, but I don't like talking about myself. I lead by doing -- by setting an example and not micro-managing. As a leader you have to trust your people. As a leader I empower people to make decisions."

Motto: "May we have shalom in our home."

Greatest Accomplishment: "Bringing peace and tranquility, a solid foundation, and hope to the newly merged congregation. We will be breaking ground later this month and occupying the building in October 2010."

Bad habits: Taking on too much responsibility and not saying ‘no' because of trying to make people happy."

Favorite TV programs: "My wife and I enjoy watching ‘Home and Garden Show' together and the food network."

Favorite food: "Paella, the Portuguese fish stew, and the recipes my mother taught me."

Best childhood memory: "I still remember the day I was a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel in Union. My father taught me my haftarah, Vayeitzei. I learned the Haftarah one sentence a day. I also taught my twin boys the same haftarah Vayeitzei for their bar mitzvah and the blessings before and after. I also taught one sentence a day."

People don't know that... "Although I seem to have a gruff exterior and can be intimidating, I am really a softie. My bark is worse than the bite."

Last book I read: "The Closers," by Ben Gay. "A book on how to better yourself as a salesman and become a better closer."

Biggest asset in the local Jewish Community: "One thing that will benefit everyone in the community is that we have successfully come to an agreement with the Jewish Federation of Ocean County for them to build a Jewish Community Center on the property adjacent to our new building on Paco Way in Lakewood. They have been talking about this for many years and they recently came to an agreement with our congregation so that is something that will benefit the entire Jewish community."

Biggest problem in the local Jewish community: "It would be getting people to get affiliated with the synagogue again. I'm hopeful with federation building on our property that that will entice people to join and come back A lot of people come to temple because they want their children to be bar mitzvah. We don't want to be a bar mitzvah factory. We want people to develop friendships and strong bonds with one another."

If I had more time... "I would like to travel more."