Ilene’s journey with Mah Jongg began in 2022, and it quickly became far more than a casual pastime. Playing anywhere from two to six times a week, she developed a deep passion and appreciation for the game's strategic depth, mental rhythm, and the subtle decision-making it demands hand after hand. That dedication eventually led Ilene to become an accredited Mah
Jongg instructor, driven by a desire to help others discover the same enjoyment - particularly those who assume the game is too complex to learn.

What sets Ilene's teaching apart is a background as a certified professional life coach and author. Years spent studying how people grow, focus, and build stronger habits gives her a clear appreciation for Mah Jongg;s less obvious benefits: The game also doubles as a genuine workout for executive functioning. Rather than focusing solely on tile combinations, Ilene also pays
attention to how the game sharpens the mind, helping students build focus, patience, and mental resilience and flexibility while they play. It's this intersection of cognitive development and genuine enjoyment that defines her approach: Helping people think better, and helping people have fun while doing it!

Outside of Mah Jongg and coaching, Ilene and her husband, Del, own a sign and printing company in Port Richey, Florida. At home, she;s taken on a rather different kind of teaching challenge: Training her two Miniature Schnauzers, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Maisy), and Baron von Yeti (Yeti), to communicate using talking buttons, exploring just how much dogs can express when given the right tools.

Ilene and Del live in Trinity, Florida, and serve the Tampa Bay area, including parts of Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties. Ilene teaches beginning classes as well as intermediate and Siamese Mah Jongg.