JF&CS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Managing Partner of Prospect Hill Growth Partners
Adam Suttin is the Managing Partner of Prospect Hill Growth Partners, a private equity firm that focuses on the acquisition of consumer products and healthcare service businesses. Adam is the incoming Board Chair at Temple Emanuel in Newton and is a director of Jewish Community Relations Council of Boston for which he previously served as Board Chair and as Treasurer. Adam is a former director of Combined Jewish Philanthropies (including past service as Annual Campaign co-chair), Gann Academy (including service as Treasurer) and Jewish Vocational Service. Adam is a graduate of the Wharton School and Moore School of Engineering of the University of Pennsylvania. Adam and his wife, Hope, have three adult children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Alexandra Rand Simes lives in Newton with her husband, Jody, and their three children. She was formerly a marketing consultant for the retirement division of Fidelity Investments. She serves as Board President of The Second Step, a domestic violence agency in Newton. Alexandra is on the Board of Overseers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and is also a member of the Temple Beth Elohim Development Committee. She has been the recipient of the International Association of Business Communicators Gold Quill Award. Alexandra received her Master's of Science in marketing from Boston University and her Bachelor's of Arts in political science from Union College. At JF&CS, Alexandra co-chairs the Development Committee, serves on the Center for Basic Needs Assistance Advisory Committee, and co-chaired the 2019 Benefit. She has a daughter at Gann Academy and two sons at The Rashi School. Alexandra's leisure pursuits include travel, boating, and skiing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Andrew Pearlstein, former JF&CS Board President, lives in Needham with his wife, Barbara. They have three daughters. Andrew graduated from the University of Pennsylvania magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Temple University School of Law. He is a partner in Seyfarth Shaw LLP's Boston office, concentrating his legal practice in the representation of banks, financial institutions, businesses, real estate owners, and developers. Andrew is also Co-Chair of the firm's Structured Real Estate and Finance Group. His areas of expertise are complex commercial real estate and finance, and he is recommended by Chambers USA and the Legal 500. He is also AV rated in Martindale Hubbell. Andrew is currently the Honorary Director of Men's Associates at Hebrew SeniorLife and a member of the Development Committee at CJP. In addition, he is a lecturer at the graduate program at the MIT Center for Real Estate. In addition to his role as President of the JF&CS Board, Andrew serves on several committees, including Finance, Officers, Board Governance, Nominating, and Development Committees, and is also a member of the Real Estate Task Force. He is the recipient of the Betsy Gross President's Award in 2020. Andrew is an avid sports fan and in his leisure time enjoys golf and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Chief People & Operations Officer, Executive Team
- JF & CS in 2022 As the Chief People & Operations Officer
Betsy Kelder joined JF&CS in 2022 as the Chief People & Operations Officer, responsible for oversight of Human Resources, IT, Risk and Compliance, Facilities, Operations and the Dept of Evaluation and Learning. A mission-based businesswoman for most of her career, Betsy was most recently the Executive Director for Invest in Girls (IIG). In her 5 years at IIG Betsy tripled the organization's budget and led a merger with the Council for Economic Education taking IIG from a northeast regional non-profit to a national footprint with programs from coast to coast. Prior to leading IIG, Betsy held positions as the Director of Summer & External Programs at Belmont Day School, Associate Director at Hidden Valley Camp in Maine and Manager of the domestic intern program for Microsoft. Betsy has a BS in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a Masters of Public Administration from The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. Betsy grew up in Boston attending Temple Israel and now lives in Arlington with her husband and two children. Betsy is still active in the camping community having served on the board of directors for the American Camp Association, New England for almost ten years and currently serving as the board's President. She loves to spend time with friends and family and be outdoors as much as possible.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Danielle Darish lives in Needham with her husband, Gregg, and their three children, Jacob, Allison, and Michael. After graduating from Brown University in 1998, Danielle received her master's degree in social work from Boston University. She has been a licensed social worker since 2005. Her areas of expertise are children with emotional and behavioral issues and mental health problems. She also worked with families with histories of trauma and abuse, low-income families, and people with disabilities. Danielle co-chaired the Auction Committee in 2013 for Temple Beth Shalom's largest annual fundraiser and also co-chaired the synagogue's Children Center's Caring Committee. She participated in CJP's Leadership Development Series, 2014 - 2015 and served on CJP's Camp Scholarship Committee from 2012 - 2016. She has been an active member of Women's Philanthropy since 2010. Danielle joined the Gateways Board in the fall of 2018 and also serves on the Parenting With Purpose Committee. Danielle is an active member of Yachad at Rashi, where her children attend school. At JF&CS, she serves on the Nominating Committee and co-chairs the CERS Advisory Committee. Danielle served on the Women's Breakfast Committee in 2015 and co-chaired the event in 2016. Her leisure pursuits include running, spinning, strength training, skiing in the winter with her family, and cooking. Danielle took a brief hiatus from her active role in the local community to live in Israel with her family during the 2018 - 2019 school year.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
David Goldstone lives in Newton with his wife Melissa. They have three daughters. David provides legal counsel at Ab Initio Software LLC, a privately held global software company headquartered in Lexington. Previously, David was a partner at the Boston office of Goodwin Procter LLC. At Goodwin, David practiced in the litigation department, with specialities in intellectual property, privacy and data security. Earlier, David practiced in Washington D.C. at Skadden Arps, and as a federal prosecutor in the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section of the Department of Justice. David graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and from Harvard Law School, and then clerked for the Honorable Herbert Wilkins of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. He is a member of Temple Emanuel in Newton and previously served on its Board of Directors. David is a member of the Jewish Community Relations Council, where he serves on the Public Policy Committee. For JF&CS, David serves on the Governance and Risk Management Committee, and on the Information Technology Advisory Committee, and volunteers with Family Table. David enjoys spending time with his family, reading, visiting Israel, and playing tennis.
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the Executive Team
- Chief Financial Officer, Executive Team
- JF & CS in 2014 As the Controller
Elayne joined JF&CS in 2014 as the Controller and became the Chief Financial Officer in 2022. She started her career in Public Accounting at Grant Thornton, a large, international accounting and consulting firm, receiving broad experience including non-profit clients, such as The American Red Cross, Maimonides School and the Combined Jewish Philanthropies. Elayne then worked for New England Research Institutes, a social and public policy research firm, for 19 years, and immediately prior to joining the team at JF&CS, provided accounting consulting services to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Elayne is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and has her Master of Science in Accountancy from Bentley University. She lives in Framingham with her husband and mini-labradoodle, where she is active at Temple Beth Sholom and is the proud mother of two adult children.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- Member of the Executive Team
- Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team
As Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Family & Children's Service, Gail Schulman leads an organization of over 250 professionals serving more than 15,000 people each year. JF&CS's integrated services address mental health and well-being, economic insecurity, and disability supports, across the lifespan from infancy through old age. Much of Gail's earlier career was in the high-tech sector, where she spent more than 20 years leading complex global businesses, serving as CEO and COO for businesses of 500+ staff and over $200 million in revenue. Driven to more mission-oriented work, Gail left high tech in 2016 to become Chief Operating Officer of Gann Academy, Greater Boston's independent Jewish High School. There she was responsible for all of Gann's business functions, including finance, human resources, marketing, facilities, and operations, while also overseeing strategic initiatives at the school. Gail joined JF&CS in 2020. Her commitment to the agency runs deep, as she was previously a JF&CS volunteer and a client. As a passionate volunteer leader, Gail has served as the board chair of Kesher Newton, led committees focused on youth and education at Temple Reyim, and served as fundraising and recruitment chair at Teen Voices. Gail graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University. She lives in Newton with her husband and is the proud mother of two young adults.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Gayle Dublin earned her BA from Lake Forest College and her MSW from Boston University. She worked for over ten years with adolescents with emotional and behavioral challenges in residential and outpatient settings.
She retired from her social work career when she had her daughter, Grace, and began volunteering with several nonprofits, including as Co-President of the Families First board and Vice President of the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. She also trained and became an educational advocate. In addition, she served on the parent councils of Northfield Mount Hernmon and Whitman College.
She moved to Marblehead over four years ago and started volunteering at SPUR. She currently serves on the board of Marblehead Festival of Arts. She also volunteers for Yom Sport, an annual day of sports organized by Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters.
At JF&CS, Gayle currently volunteers on the CHAI Services Advisory Committee, the Human Rights Committee, and at Family Table on the
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Hedy Adler and her husband, David, moved to Newton in July 2019. They have three adult children, Joshua, Rachel, and Sarah. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and Case Western Reserve School of Law. She practiced as a Public Defender handling juvenile and adult felonies and misdemeanors and death penalty work. Hedy is the president of her family's foundation, The Kangesser Foundation. While living in Cleveland, she was involved with the Jewish community. She was a trustee for the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland, serving on its Endowment Committee, Allocations Committee, and Nachum Alzheimer and Dementia Committee. She is a lifetime trustee at The Mandel Jewish Day School (fka The Agnon School) and was a trustee for The Hathaway Brown School for Girls. She is a JF&CS Center for Basic Needs Advisory Committee member. Hedy and David are members of Temple Emanuel. In Hedy's free time, she enjoys travel, reading, ceramics, and rowing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Jill Cohen lives in Boston, Boca Raton, and New Seabury. She is married to Michael Savit and is the mother of Alexander Jacobs and Moriah Jacobs. Jill earned her Bachelor's of Science in economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She was the owner of the Sheldon Cohen Insurance Agency, which she sold in 2012. Jill is the founder of Glammer Planner. She serves on the boards of the Boston Jewish Film Festival and National Women's Philanthropy at UJF. A longtime supporter of JF&CS, Jill serves on the Development Committee. Jill's interests include reading, swimming, yoga, and films.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Director at the Boston College Center for Thriving Children
Joan Wasser Gish and her husband Jason live in Newton. They have two daughters. Joan is a Director at the Boston College Center for Thriving Children where she leverages knowledge from research and implementation to inform education policy and practice nationally and internationally. Joan previously served in the United State Senate, on a Presidential Campaign, and in a nonprofit focused on children and families. She was twice appointed by the Governor to serve on the Massachusetts Board of Early Education and Care, and is a past member of several non profit boards, including the Board of Trustees of Temple Emanuel and an Israeli non-profit, Educating for Excellence. A magna cum laude graduate of Brown University, Joan received her MA from Columbia University Teachers' College, and her JD, with honors, from Columbia University School of Law. At JF&CS, Joan is a member of the Center for Early Relationship Support Advisory Committee and her family is engaged with Family Table and Center for Basic Needs Assistance. Joan enjoys time with family and friends, exercise, reading, writing, travel, and art.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Engineering Vice President at Qualcomm
Jose Fridman is an Engineering Vice President at Qualcomm, a multinational company that creates technology for a wirelessly connected world, autonomous driving and multimedia experiences. Prior to his tenure at Qualcomm, Jose was with Analog Devices, Inc, developing platforms for wireless handsets. He holds 30 U.S. granted patents in the areas of DSP architecture and communications, and over 40 academic publications. Jose received his Ph.D. degree in computer engineering and a master's degree in computer and communications engineering from Northeastern University, and also a bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering from Boston University. Prior to joining the board, Jose volunteered for Family Table with his children and serves on JF&CS's Committee for Basic Needs Assistance. An avid tennis player, he is a board member at Wightman Tennis Center. Originally from Mexico City, Jose lives with his wife, Nanette, and two children in Newton.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Karen Deresiewicz is a recently retired human resources professional who spent most of her career working for Harvard University schools and large business units. She is passionate about organizational effectiveness, with a keen interest in change management and HR communications. As she approached retirement, Karen volunteered with JF&CS Journey to Safety, offering employment guidance to the program mentors. She currently volunteers with JF&CS Family Table, with CJP's volunteer network, Hineni, and serves on the HR Advisory Committee of JCC Greater Boston. She also engages in select HR consulting assignments.
Karen lives in Chestnut Hill with her husband, Bob, and spends time on Martha's Vineyard, where she enjoys biking, cooking, and serenity. She is a member of Minyan Darchai Shalom.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Chief Advancement Officer, Executive Team
Karen oversees fundraising, marketing and volunteer services for JF&CS. Before joining JF&CS in 2021, she served as director of communications and partnerships at Education Resource Strategies, a national nonprofit that partners with schools and districts to transform how they use resources in pursuit of educational excellence. Karen was also a founding member of the national educational advocacy organization, 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now, building its communications arm, and worked on the communications team for the Save Darfur Coalition. Her first jobs out of college were as a journalist with Government Executive Magazine and the PBS NewsHour. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's Annenberg School for Communication and received a Master of Public Policy from the University of Chicago, where she was awarded an Irving B. Harris Fellowship. Karen lives in Newton with her husband and three children, where she is an active member of Temple Reyim. She enjoys keeping in touch with old friends and visiting her native Pacific Northwest.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Kimberly Creem lives in Newton with her husband, Gary, and their two children, Jacob and Lily. She is a graduate of the University of Vermont and received her Master's of Business Administration from Boston College. Kimberly was a member of the Temple Emanuel Board for seven years and is a current member of the Sisterhood after serving as president from 2015 - 2017. She is a member of the JVS Scholarship Committee. Kimberly has held a leadership role at CJP for more than 26 years, serving as a member of the Young Leadership Board, Ben Gurion Chair, Young Couples Chair, Lawyers and Accountants Event Chair, POM Event Chair, a member of the Budget and Administrative Committee, and a member of the Women's Philanthropy Board. Most recently, she has been nominated to the board at CJP and started her term in the fall of 2020. She is now the co-chair of CJP's annual campaign, a member of CJP's Nominating and Governance Committees, and a member of the Committee in Strategic Priorities. In recognition of her work at CJP, the organization honored her with the Campaigner Award, Young Leadership Award, and the Accountant of the Year Award. For more than 26 years, Kimberly has worked as a CPA with Coopers & Lybrand/PwC. At JF&CS, she is a member of the Center for Basic Needs Assistance Advisory Committee, the Nominating Committee, Development Committee, and co-chaired the 2019 Benefit. Kimberly enjoys reading, Scrabble, piano, and exercising.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- Litigation Partner in the Boston Office of Mintz
Larry Schoen lives in Newton with his wife, Margaret. They have two daughters. Larry is a litigation partner in the Boston office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. He is a trial lawyer who handles complex commercial litigation, including antitrust, securities, contract and bankruptcy-related matters, and was part of the Mintz team that won the Adams Pro Bono Public Award in 2011. Larry graduated from the University of Pennsylvania summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and from Harvard Law School magna cum laude, and then clerked for the Honorable William G. Young of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. He is a member of Temple Beth Avodah in Newton, and serves on the Finance and Business Advisory Committees of JF&CS. Larry is also the former chair of the Complex Commercial Litigation section of the Massachusetts Bar Association and is a member of the professional advisory board of the Melanoma Education Foundation. In his leisure time, Larry enjoys running, rooting on the Celtics, and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Lewis J. Pearlson lives in Newton with his wife, Heidi, and two sons. He is a former Managing Partner and Vice President of Investor Relations at LCB Senior Living LLC, a developer/operator and third-party manager of quality senior housing communities. Lew's areas of expertise are investments, finance, and senior housing. A graduate of Tufts University with a Bachelor's of Arts in economics, he earned his Master's of Business Administration at the Yale School of Management. Lew serves on the Board of Overseers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and was also a participant in the Acharai Program at CJP. At JF&CS, he is currently serving as the Treasurer for the Board of Directors. Lew enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and playing golf.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Lori Shaer and her husband, Jon, live in Needham and have two children. At JF&CS she sits on the Center for Basic Needs Advisory Committee and the Nominating Committee. Lori served on the Women's Breakfast committee for several years and co-chaired the event in 2019. She frequently volunteers with her family at Family Table and is her temple's site coordinator. Lori is a member of Temple Beth Shalom and served on the Board of Trustees for seven years. Presently she is on the Nominating Committee and several years ago founded a new group at TBS, ConNEXTions, for soon-to-be and current empty nesters. She is a big sister through Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters. Lori earned a degree in Television, Radio, and Film Production from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Her professional career began in New York City in news production and then she moved into children's television working at Sesame Street and then co-launched a children's production company, Little Airplane Productions. Lori enjoys playing tennis, snow and water skiing, seeing any musical theatre production, and traveling with her family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Matthew Appelstein and his wife, Judi, reside in Needham and they have two married daughters, Jamie and Melissa. Both girls reside in New York. They also have three grandchildren, Ella, Avery, and Lily, with another on the way. Matt is a graduate of UMass Amherst, where he majored in accounting. He also holds CFA and CPA degrees. Matt is the CEO of the Americas and heads up international distribution for Eastspring Investments, an investment management firm headquartered out of Singapore. He has spent over 25 years in the investments industry. Matt is on the Finance committee at CJP and a board member for a new healthcare startup. At JF&CS, Matt serves on the Finance Committee. His leisure pursuits include travel, golf, investing, and spending time with his growing family.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Director of the Community Services Division at JF & CS
- Director, Center for Basic Needs Assistance, Executive Team
Meredith has been with JF&CS since 2004. Meredith is the Director of the Community Services Division at JF&CS which includes the Center for Basic Needs Assistance. She is a graduate of the Boston University School of Social Work and has spent close to 30 years addressing social issues through her work at a variety of institutions. Meredith has worked in an adolescent residential treatment program, in-patient psychiatric hospital settings, and community-based youth and arts programs before joining JF&CS in 2004. Outside of work, Meredith is very active in the Temple Beth Zion community and enjoys gardening, walking, and anything that involves being in nature. She lives in Brookline with her partner and stepdaughter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
- IT and Healthcare Executive
Michael Levinger is an IT and healthcare executive and multi-time entrepreneur, having been responsible for several businesses in the healthcare field. A graduate of Brown University with a master's degree in business policy from Columbia University, Mike is Chief Operating Officer of Primaris Healthcare, a healthcare services firm specializing in improving quality of care. He is also on the faculty of Boston University, where he teaches a graduate course on Health Information Systems and Electronic Health Records. Mike is a past president of Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley and a current member of its Leadership Council. Mike and his wife have also been very involved with activities and organizations involving people with disabilities. At JF&CS, Mike serves on the Finance Committee.
Job Titles:
- Leader
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Michelle Black is a dedicated leader in the Greater Boston Jewish community. She is the current Board Chair of Gann Academy where she is a strong champion for expanding the reach and impact of our local Jewish Day Schools. Michelle previously served on the boards of The Rashi School and Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP). She is an alumnus of CJP's Acharai Leadership Development program and JFNA's National Young Leadership Cabinet. She is a past recipient of CJP's Young Leadership and Circle of Excellence awards, recognizing her commitment and passion to Jewish communal service. Michelle currently co-chairs CJP's Teen Initiative and recently co-founded TribeTalk, an organization that helps prepare teens for Jewish life on a college campus. At JF&CS, Michelle serves on the Center for Basic Needs Assistance Advisory Committee and the Development Committee. Michelle earned her BA from University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Harvard Business School. She worked as a consultant with a focus on change management leadership development, corporate strategy and organizational design. She now applies her business skills and experience to strengthen and support the local Jewish non-profit community. Michelle lives in Newton with her husband, Darren, and her four kids, Evan, Scott, Emily and Alex.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- President of the Berlin Family Foundation
Morea Cutler is the President of The Berlin Family Foundation, where she focuses on mental health and basic needs for vulnerable youth and their caregivers. She graduated cum laude from Boston University's School of Education in 2015 and went on to earn her master's degree with a concentration in Children, Youth, and Families from Boston College's School of Social Work. She has worked with children and families experiencing generational trauma and psychosocial stressors at Eliot Community Human Services, and collaborated with a range of agencies and organizations across the social service ecosystem in the greater Boston area. At JF&CS, Morea is a member of the Advisory Committee for the Center for Early Relationship Support. Morea is a member of Temple Beth Avodah and is a room parent for her daughter's class in their Early Learning Center. She lives in Newton with her husband, Zack, and two young daughters, Mila and Hazel. She enjoys being outdoors with her family and spending time in Boston.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Director, Center for Early Relationship Support, Executive Team
Noah joined the JF&CS team in April 2023. She has spent the past 20+ years working in the Early Intervention field supporting infants and toddlers and their families throughout Massachusetts. She has extensive experience working directly in the field and in leadership roles at the MA Department of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health and Nutrition in the Early Intervention Division. Noah has a Master's in Public Administration from Suffolk University and a Master's in Child Life and Family Centered Care from Wheelock College. She brings strong management, leadership and strategy orientation, along with 20 years of early childhood experience with diverse communities to JF&CS. She lives in Newton and has 2 boys who are growing up way too fast!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Nora Friedman is a child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Lurie Center for Autism, where she provides clinical care for individuals with neurodevelopmental disabilities across the lifespan. At Jewish Family & Children's Service, she serves on the CHAI Services Advisory Committee. Nora is a current member and previous past president of the Gateways: Access to Jewish Education Board of Trustees. She was previously involved with the CJP Committee on Services for People with Disabilities and now serves on the CJP Mental Health Advisory Committee. Nora earned her undergraduate degree from Yale University and attended Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She and her husband have four children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Patti McWeeney and her husband, Michael, enjoy retirement in Boxford with their black lab, Rosie. She earned her B.A. from Skidmore College and J.D. from Emory Law School. Her Boston legal career began as a litigator at Posternak, Blankstein & Lund. She later moved in-house to GE's liability insurer, Electric Insurance Company, where she directed the defense of GE Power's insured litigation for 26 years. She lectured frequently at GE and national legal seminars. Eventually her favorite topic focused on helping women lawyers prosper in their careers. In 2014, she received the Defense Research Institute Award for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession. Patti also spoke many times at Temple Emanuel in Andover, where she served on the Board of Governors. Upon retiring, she taught an Adult Education course called What's So Funny About Hamlet? Patti has worked on several CJP committees and in 2020 was honored with the CJP Superstar Award. At JF&CS, she serves on the Risk & Compliance and the Basic Needs Advisory Committees. Up North, Patti and Michael volunteer for Family Table. She also co-chairs the JCC's Jewish Book Month Series and volunteers at Project Home Again in Andover. Patti and Michael enjoy traveling, playing tennis, reading, and doting on Rosie.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Penny M. Goodman and her husband, Larry, live in Newton. They have two sons, Jeffrey and Jonathan. Penny is a graduate of George Washington University, where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Her areas of expertise are fundraising events and nonprofit engagement. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Kipness Wilson Frieland Award from the Jewish Federation of North America, and in 2015 she received the Maxwell Burstein Volunteer Award from Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters. She was also a CJP Circle of Excellence Award winner in 2014. Penny is a member of CJP's Caring and Social Justice Committee and Past President and Campaign Chair of CJP's Women's Philanthropy. At JF&CS, she serves on the Finance Committee and co-chairs the Development Committee. Penny was also a long-time volunteer for the Lauren and Mark Rubin Visiting Moms® program. In her spare time, she pursues golf, exercise, reading, and travel.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Director, Services for Older Adults, Executive Team
Renée joined the JF&CS team in March 2023. Prior to JF&CS, she spent 25 years in various programmatic and leadership roles at Community Catalyst, a national nonprofit health care advocacy organization. Some of her most meaningful experiences at the organization included working to improve systems of care for low-income older adults and people with disabilities. Renée is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and previously served as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Vermont Attorney General's Office. Outside of work, she is an active volunteer on issues of food insecurity as well as voter protection. Originally from Rochester, New York, Renée currently lives with her husband in Jamaica Plain along with a rescue dog…and two snakes. She has two adult children and dreams of the day that her family gets a camper van and travels to parts unknown!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Robin Gross and her husband, Anthony, live in Newton with their college-aged son and high school-aged daughter. She earned an undergraduate degree in English from the University of Florida and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the George Washington University School of Law. Robin practiced law in Washington, D.C. for over a decade in various positions, including jobs at the United States Department of Treasury and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Robin is a member of Temple Emanuel and is active in the Jewish community. She served as a member of the Executive Board of CJP's Women's Philanthropy for six years, co-chaired the Lion of Judah luncheon in 2016, graduated from the Acharai program in 2016, and was awarded the title "CJP Superstar" in 2017. Currently, Robin serves on CJP's Development Committee. As an active volunteer at her children's schools (Solomon Schechter Day School, the Park School, Beaver Country Day, and the Dana Hall School), Robin was honored to give back to the institutions that helped her children grow. At JF&CS, she chairs the Compliance and Risk Management Committee. In her spare time, Robin enjoys traveling with her family, spinning, training, hiking, Torah study classes, and baking with her daughter.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Team
- Senior Director, CHAI Disability Services and Agency Initiatives
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Board of Directors
Shari Cashman and her husband, Robert, live in Swampscott. They have two daughters, Alyssa and Haley. The Cashmans are members of Congregation Shirat Hayam, where Shari was a past board member. Shari has strong ties to the Jewish community on the North Shore, serving as the current Vice President and Membership/Marketing Chair of the JCC of the North Shore and as a member of the ADL North Shore Advisory Committee. Shari is also very active with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), where she is a current board member and serves on the Gala Committee and Outreach Committee. In 2014, Shari was honored as a JF&CS Community Hero, and she was the JDRF Honoree in 2015. In April of 2018, Shari and Robert co-chaired the JF&CS Benefit, helping to raise a record-breaking $1 million. She is a dedicated volunteer at JF&CS's monthly social program for Holocaust survivors, Café Hakalah. In her free time, Shari enjoys strength training and rowing.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors