In an effort to create synergies across programs for young families through teens, Melanie Gruenwald and Melissa (Combs) Hoch have been promoted and will be taking on new responsibilities.
Melanie and Melissa have convened a Youth and Family Team of JCC professionals who will coordinate a focused effort to maintain relationships with children and families as they move through the spectrum of JCC offerings — from Jewish Baby University, Shalom Baby, Shalom Family, ECC, Youth Athletics, Club J, camps, and teen experiences.
As the new director of family, teens and youth athletic programs, Melanie has worked at the JCC for one year, with many years prior experience in community organization and informal Jewish education. Melanie’s professional training includes a Masters degree in social work and Certificate in Jewish Communal Service from Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Melanie will continue to supervise the Family Programs department, while also supervising Jill Katchen, family programs coordinator, Jamie Skog, teen program coordinator, and Yuri Tavbin, youth athletics coordinator.
As the new director of camping, youth and south programs, Melissa Hoch has been at the JCC for a year managing the JCC’s south expansion. Her focus has been to establish and build relationships with families with young children who live in South Metro Denver. Melissa has spent much of her time this year working on the inaugural year of Camp Shai South that was held at Ames Elementary in Littleton. Melissa will build on this year’s camp experience and collaborate with a team of camping professionals to improve day camp programs for next year.
Dani Wynn, who served as Camp Shai South program director last summer, has been hired as part-time south program coordinator and, beginning in the spring, will also fill the role of seasonal Camp Shai South director. Melissa will also hire a seasonal Camp Shai North director. In addition to supervising the two seasonal Camp Shai directors, Melissa will supervise Jason Gold, children and youth programs coordinator. Jason recently launched the K-6th grade after-school program at the JCC.
As a next step in the south metro expansion, we have secured a 3000 sq. ft. rental space in a shopping center on the northwest corner of Dayton & Arapahoe Rd. in Greenwood Village that will be used for south metro programming beginning with family programs and holiday celebrations. This space is expected to open in November or December. We will be providing more details as we get closer to opening.
Melanie and Melissa will also work closely with Gilad and Miriam Shwartz, JCC Ranch Camp co-directors, who will supervise our new Israeli youth Shliach, Noam Dahary, who arrives in Denver at the end of September. This newly assembled team will work together with the Early Childhood Center administrators to ensure that consistently high-quality programs are being offered to families with children.
Debbie Goodman, currently ECC director, will transition to the part-time role of Director of Jewish Life and Learning. In this new role, Debbie will work across all departments to add depth to our Jewish programming. Debbie will maintain her current role during the search and hiring of her replacement.
Plans are underway for next summer and you will soon be seeing communication from us announcing our north and south 2012 camping dates and ways to register early for better rates.
I welcome you to connect with our staff to get to know them and their programs.
Melissa Hoch – mcombs@jccdenver.org - (303) 316-6418
Melanie Gruenwald – mgruenwald@jccdenver.org – (303) 316-6325
Jill Katchen – jkatchen@jccdenver.org - (303) 316-6336
Jamie Skog – jskog@jccdenver.org - (303) 316-6391
Yuri Tavbin – ytavbin@jccdenver.org - (303) 316-6304
Jason Gold - jgold@jccdenver.org - (303) 316-6349
Dani Wynn - dwynn@jccdenver.org - (303) 912-5398
Debbie Goodman – dgoodman@jccdenver.org - (303) 316-6317
