News and Editorials

Board Member Phil Kipnis
President of Pacific Coast Visions

Phil Kipnis was born in San Francisco in 1950. He attended public schools, graduating from San Francisco State University with degrees in Photography and Cinematography. After student teaching at Lowell High School in 1969, he taught photography at City College of San Francisco in 1970 and Film History at San Francisco State University in 1971 while completing his credential. He moved to Santa Clara County in 1974

He lives with his wife Diane (Taxier) Kipnis whom he married in 1981. They have lived in Los Gatos since 1991. He has thee adult children: Rachel, from his first marriage is 34, lives in San Francisco with her husband Hugh and 3 year old daughter Gillian. He and Diane have two grown children: Sara, 24, a student at U.C.S.C. studying Forensic Anthropology, and Daniel, 21, a student at West Valley who's planning to transfer to S.J.S.U. and earn a teaching credential.

Phil has owned a wholesale manufacturers representative company since 1974, first specializing in professional photography equipment, then in 1989 shifting into Broadcast video production equipment. In 2000 his company absorbed a brother representation company to form Pacific Coast Visions, employing five outside salespeople, covering the thirteen western states and representing 16 audio visual companies. The products range from high def definition video cameras to large video walls.

Phil lives his life by the principles of the first century Rabbi Hillel who taught, " If not now, when? If not me, who? If I am only for myself, what am I?”  Phil has been involved with his community since he was 14, first donating time to the Red Cross and being part of the Bnai Brith Youth organization. He has served on numerous boards including Temple Emanuel Board of Trustees, The Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Public Affairs Council, United Synagogue Regional Council, Anti Defamation League Regional Council, Association of Jewish Men's Clubs, AIPAC Annual Dinner committee, and advised numerous community groups in a consultant capacity. He has also been sent to International forums and congresses multiple times to represent the Western Jewish Community.

He has served as Board President of Congregation Sinai, Yavneh Day School, Temple Emanuel Brotherhood, Electronic Representatives of Northern California (ERA N/Cal). 

Currently he serves as IP-President on the Congregation Sinai Board, Vice President of Planning and Allocations of The Jewish Federation of Silicon Valley, Secretary of Hillel of Silicon Valley, President of ERA Northern California, Executive committee of the InfoComm Representatives council.

Phil loves a good joke and to laugh. Even while recovering from synovial sarcoma cancer last year; it was often Phil who was cheering up those around him.  He is unmistakable; the big guy talking to everyone he meets in his aloha shirt, keppah (yarmulke) and huge smile.

Phil has been a tireless “salesman” for SVCCJ programs for almost 5 years, a donor, a consultant on marketing to SVCCJ President Bart Charlow, and someone whose personal background enables him to understand intimately what SVCCJ is all about.