As the seasons changed from Spring to Summer, all of us here at the J have experienced a time of change and growth––personally and professionally.
This month, we said “goodbye” to some wonderful colleagues and friends who have helped make the J an inviting and exciting community for all. With that being said, we’d like to announce the departure of Sam Walsh (former Annual Fund Officer), Ron Ekstrand (former COO/CFO), and Dinah Burgess (Former Fitness & Wellness Director). We wish all three of them the best as they set off on their new endeavors. We are forever thankful for the grace and kindness they’ve shown our organization.
While change is difficult, we are very lucky to have some fabulous, new individuals join our community. First, we’d like to welcome Jay Berry, our new Fitness & Wellness Director. With a proven ability to support and strengthen fitness and wellness centers and over 16 years of experience providing exceptional sales team management, customer service, and unprecedented employee engagement, we are thrilled to have him on board (he’s also a Colorado native––bonus!). The next time you visit the J, be sure to say, “hello.”
We are also happy to introduce Ian Jacobs as our new Major Gifts Officer in our Development office. Ian is originally from Meriden, Connecticut, but is happy to call Denver home.
We are incredibly thankful to have Jay and Ian join our team. Both gentlemen started work today, July 8, and they’re fitting in very well––boy, did we hit the jackpot!
Now, as we introduce our new employees, it’s important to highlight two internal staff changes that also occurred last week…(don’t worry––they’re happy changes!).
Steve Goslee, our former Director of Membership and Engagement, is our new Director of Operations––overseeing the BOSS security team, IT, our housekeeping team, front desk team, and our rental department. When asked about his new role, Mr. Goslee had this to say:
“It has been a great experience working in the JCC community and I’m very excited to continue to support our staff and members in this new role.” Way to go, Steve! We’re so happy for you.
Last, and certainly not least, Shana Jacobs (former Business Registration Analyst), has been promoted to the Director of Engagement and Jewish Learning.
Shana has taken on multiple roles in the organization, and her professional, yet friendly, manner is a clear example of her readiness for this position. Congratulations, Shana! You deserve it.
Shana’s reaction to the new role?
“Seeing as I’ve been a mother for over seven years, I’ve been a full-time programmer for a very long time. All jokes aside, I am so excited to expand my knowledge in this field as I meet new individuals, work with new families, and grow our engagement programs. This is a beautiful community, and I’m honored to have this opportunity to learn, and work, alongside you all.”
As a community, we are thankful for those who are no longer with us, we are incredibly happy for those who are just joining us, and we are humbled by the growth our staff members have experienced while working with us. This is just the beginning.
