Jewish Family Service CEO Liz Vogel announced her retirement after serving in the position for eight years. Ann Burke and Linda Kean, the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Services Officer, respectively, have been named co-interim CEOs. While JFS begins its search for its next CEO.
“I’ll miss my colleagues, supporting the mission of JFS, and helping the people we serve,” said Vogel. “I have also never been more confident that JFS is and will continue to be a successful and growing organization that adapts to meet our community’s needs.”
JFS Board President Ellen Feld said that they have a strong plan in place.
“We have been prepared for any succession scenario,” said Feld. “JFS is in wonderful hands with Linda, Ann, the staff, and the board all working together.”
Kean and Sutton Burke, who together bring 49 years of combined experience to their interim roles.
“Our leadership team is strong,” Kean said. “We will honor Liz’s legacy by making sure that JFS’s work will continue and grow with efficiency and thoughtfulness during this transition.”
Said Burke: “This is a good and planned-for evolution. Our team has incredible heart and expertise, and the team, as well as the community connections Liz has built, will remain strong.”
Under Vogel’s tenure, JFS expanded its programming significantly, building out youth mental health services for children and young adults, K’vod Connect’s services connecting older adults to the community, and Adult Day Services’ support for older adults facing memory challenges. The organization also became an approved Medicaid provider and received a three-year accreditation from CARF International during her time as CEO.
Vogel oversaw an expansion of JFS programming, including the development of youth mental health services for children and young adults, as well as an expansion of programming for older adults facing memory challenges through the Adult Day Services.
“We are grateful to Liz Vogel for her eight years of dedicated, passionate, and thoughtful service to Jewish Family Service,” Feld said.
The board has formed a transition team to manage the succession plan and a search committee to launch a nationwide search for the next CEO in the coming weeks.