Staff
Don Goldman, Executive Director
Don has a background in marketing, strategic planning, operations and technology. He spent much of his career as an executive with Sprint and Birch Telecom. His most recent position in the for-profit sector was Chief Operating Officer at Birch Telecom. In the past few years Goldman decided to refocus his professional energy into the not-for-profit sector. Most recently, Don was the Director of Adult Jewish Learning at the Jewish Community Center.
Telephone: 913-327-8262
E-Mail: dgoldman@jfskc.org
Management Team
Celeste Aronoff, Office Manager
Celeste comes to JFS with extensive experience in office management. Most recently, she served as office manager for AMLI Residential in Chicago overseeing a 100-person corporate headquarters. Celeste has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in philosophy from Boston University.
Telephone: 913-327-8263
E-Mail: caronoff@jfskc.org
Ruth Bigus, Director of Community Relations
Ruth joined the staff of JFS in March 2008 as community relations director, after more than 13 years in a similar position with the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City. With JFS, Ruth handles all public relations and marketing efforts for the agency. She has an extensive background as a journalist working as both writer and editor. Ruth holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree in radio-television education from the University of Michigan.
Telephone: 913-981-8813
E-mail: rbigus@jfskc.org
Laura Breitberg, Therapist and Case Manager Supervisor
Laura is trained to work with individuals and couples. She works with people who suffer from depression, anxiety, have low self-esteem, grieving a loss, etc.
Professional Certifications:
LSCSW - Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker, licensed in KS
LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker, licensed in MO
Telephone: 913-327-8254
E-mail: lbreitberg@jfskc.org
Kristin Brumm, Director of Finance and Controllernsible for developing and implementing financial strategies to su
pport the agency’s mission and vision, and ensuring the responsible use of agency funds.
Telephone: 913-327-8294
E-mail: kbrumm@jfskc.org
Scott Fishman, Director of Development joined Jewish Family Services in 2009. Prior to working at JFS he was the Vice-President for Coldwell Banker Commercial-Fishman and Company Real Estate where he was a commercial real estate agent and developer. Scott graduated from the University of Kansas with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He then received his Juris Doctor from University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law. Scott is a member of the Kansas Bar, but spent the majority of his post graduate work in the Financial Securities industry, where he was the financial consultant for Merrill Lynch.
Telephone: 913-327-8278
e-mail: sfishman@jfskc.org
Dawn Herbet, Director of Older Adult initiatives
Dawn has been with JFS since June, 2007. In her position she directs both JET Express, a volunteer driver program for older adults, as well as Help @ Home, JFS' "aging in place” program for the 65-plus generation.
Dawn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and human services from Marymount University and has more than 25 years of experience in the non-profit field. She has worked and volunteered within the Kansas City Jewish community for the past 17 years.
Telephone: 913-327-8239
E-mail: dherbet@jfskc.org
Adrienne Kizer, Director of Volunteers and Special Projects
Adrienne has been with JFS since February 2001. In 2008 Adrienne took on the role of Director of Volunteers & Special Projects. Among other things, Adrienne focuses on the agency’s volunteer program focusing on recruiting volunteers for two newer programs, JET Express, a volunteer driver program, and Help@Home, a service promoting aging in place with security and support for everyday life. Other new volunteer opportunities are in development. Adrienne also develops and implements the agency's special events.
Telephone: 913-327-8257
E-mail: akizer@jfskc.org
Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, Jewish Community Chaplain
Rabbi Rudnick joined the JFS staff in September 2006. Rabbi Rudnick received his bachelor of arts degree in 1988 from Claremont McKenna College; a diploma of International and Comparative Law of Human Rights from University of Strassbourg; a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University; a master of arts degree in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University; and completed a fellowship in education and policy at Mandel School for Educational Leadership. In addition, Rabbi Rudnick has a Master of Arts degree in Jewish Studies that he received from the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, from where he was ordained as a rabbi in December 2004.
Telephone: 913-915-7730
E-mail: rabbi@jfskc.org
JFS Staff
Sondra Atherly, Project Coordinator and Administrative Assistant
Sondra has recently been promoted to the new position of Project Coordinator. She will continue directing the agency’s holiday efforts at Passover, Rosh Hashanah and Chanukah. She is responsible for various aspects of the Help@Home and Jet Express projects.
Telephone: 913-327-8265
E-Mail: satherly@jfskc.org
Cathy Banks, Finance Assistant
Professional Certifications: MO Medicaid Certification Training 2006
Telephone: 913-327-8255
E-mail: cbanks@jfskc.org
Mary Beth Blackwell, Eating Disorder Resource Center Program Coordinator / Therapist
Mary Beth is in charge of facilitating an adolescent girls program (BLING) for the prevention of eating disorders within the schools and the greater KC community. She is also in charge of the eating disorder resource center that provides assessments, referrals, educational support and treatment for individuals who have eating disorders and their loved ones. As a therapist, she works with individuals with eating disorders and adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
Professional Certifications: C.N.C. (Certified Nutrition Consultant) with the American Association of Nutritional Consultants L.M.S.W. Licensed Masters in Social Work with the State of Kansas
Telephone: 913-327-8298
E-mail: mblackwell@jfskc.org
Amy Breashears, Older Adult Case Manager
Amy mainly serves as an advocate/case manager for the elderly. She has an emphasis in aging studies and has been a social worker since 1994. She also provides some case management for the emergency assistance program at JFS.
Professional Certifications: Licensed Masters Level Social Worker
Telephone: 913-981-8858
E-Mail: abreashears@jfskc.org
Susan D. Hurst, Adolescent Specialist/C.H.A.I. and Director of Family Life Education
Susie is the Adolescent Specialist for C.H.A.I. (Channeling Healthy Adolescent Interaction). She offers preventive education workshops and individual consultations for adolescents, parents, educators and youth workers. In addition, she serves as the Director of Family Life Education, offering a variety of education and support programs across all age groups. Susie has a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology.
Telephone: 913-327-8259
E-mail: shurst@jfskc.org
Lauren Levin, Clerical Support
Telephone: 913-327-8250
E-mail: llevin@jfskc.org
Betsy Low, Children's Therapist
Betsy is a child and family therapist. She provides individual and family therapy to kids and their families from preschool age to high school. She also facilitates parenting groups at the Jewish Community Center and other Jewish preschools.
Professional certifications: LSCSW- Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker
Telephone: 913-327-8253
E-mail: blow@jfskc.org
Brooke Nelson, Case Manager
Brooke joined JFS in February 2009 as the case manager for the community assistance program. In 2006, Brooke graduated with a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas with a clinical concentration in children and families. Her undergraduate degree is in philosophy and religion. Previously, Brooke has worked in non-profit organizations and for the state of Missouri doing foster care case management.
Telephone: 913-981-8816
E-mail: bnelson@jfskc.org
Dayle Reed, Administrative Assistant, Billing Specialist
Telephone: 816-333-1172
E-mail: dreed@jfskc.org
Deborah Snow-Sheridan, Licensed Psychologist
Deborah joined the staff of JFS in July 2005 as an outpatient therapist working with adults and families. She is a generalist but also has specialties in stress resilience, substance abuse and psychological treatment of individual's with medical problems.
Professional Certifications: Missouri Licensed Psychologist, Missouri Health Service Provider, Kansas Licensed Clinical Psychotherapist, Certified Substance Abuse Professional. To learn more click here.
Telephone: 913-327-4685
Email: dsheridan@jfskc.org
Seroj Terian, Community Handyman
Seroj joined JFS in January 2009 as the Community Handyman for the Help@Home program, the agency’s aging in place fro the 65-plus generation. Seroj provides minor home repairs and computer troubleshooting to Help@Home members.
Seroj holds Bachelor degrees in math and english from the University of Kansas. He is experienced in many facets of home construction and repair. He worked previously as a technical writer and process analyst for Sprint, before leaving the company to start his own remodeling and handyman business.
Telephone: 913-327-8279
E-mail: sterian@jfskc.org
Catherine Tremblay, Front Office Coordinator
Catherine came to JFS in October 2008. She provides support to all departments as well as coordinating the front office. She has a background in social services, most recently working for a community support service as a case manager in Manhattan Kansas. Catherine holds a bachelors of science degree in psychology from Kansas State University.
Telephone: 913-327-8250
E-mail: ctremblay@jfskc.org
|
