Board & Leadership

Howard has served as CEO of JCFS Chicago since November 2009. He has more than thirty years of nonprofit leadership and project management experience. Prior to joining JCFS Chicago, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Jewish Family and Children's Services of Greater Philadelphia. Howard previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for the Breast Cancer 3-Day, producing and managing a national series of events raising funds for breast cancer research and treatment.  He also served as Assistant Vice President of MossRehab, a nationally renowned rehabilitation hospital based in Philadelphia. 

As a volunteer, Howard currently serves on the national board of directors of the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies, and the advisory council of the Institute for Therapy through the Arts. He is past board chair and treasurer of the Kardon Institute for Arts Therapies. He has also served as treasurer of the board of directors of A Chance To Heal, an organization dedicated to the prevention of eating disorders. He earned his Bachelor of Social Work degree from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and Master of Health Administration from Saint Joseph's University. Howard is also a long-time professional musician, playing trumpet and flugelhorn.

Committed to excellence in service to our community, Howard works to engage our staff, volunteers and board of directors, in collaboration with our many community partners, to meet the human services needs of the Jewish and broader Chicago communities. 

Stacey has been a member of the JCFS Chicago staff for more than 20 years. Most recently, Stacey served as Chief Development Officer with responsibility for grants, individual giving, events, volunteers and marketing. She previously served as the coordinator of volunteers and as a group home childcare worker. Stacey began her career at The Cambodian Associations of Chicago teaching GED and ESL classes, providing court advocacy, outreach and gang intervention. During her tenure at the YMCA of the USA, she coordinated a nation-wide youth worker training and retention program and served as a consultant for youth volunteerism. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and the Alliance/University of Michigan Executive Leadership Institute. She will complete her MBA with a focus in Non-Profit Management from National Louis University in May.

Prior to joining JCFS Chicago, Michelle served as Senior Director of HR for Vein Clinics of America, the largest US retail healthcare company specializing in vein disease.  Michelle uses her deep experience in HR strategy, talent management and learning to drive organizational effectiveness, profitability and innovation by aligning people practices to organizational goals.  Michelle has held senior human resources roles in a variety of industries including non-profit, financial services, manufacturing and higher education.  As a volunteer, she served on the Illinois State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management for 10 years where she held a variety of positions including Illinois State Director and Certification Director. She also served as the National Director, Banking Industry Group, a sub group of the Association of Talent Development (ASTD).  Michelle holds a Bachelors of Arts in International Finance/Spanish from Dominican University.

Pam joins JCFS Chicago with over 20 years of non-profit marketing and communications experience. She previously served as the Director of Creative Services and the Senior Director of Communications and Special Events at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI). In the latter role, Pam oversaw the creative development, communications, and branding at LSSI. As part of a fundraising team, but always with an eye on marketing, the focus on brand identity, consistent messaging, along with strategic communications allowed Pam to shape the public view of LSSI. She also served on the board of Carlson Community Services, a non-profit providing after-school programming for children in at-risk Chicago neighborhoods. Pam holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Bowling Green State University.

With 25 years of progressive leadership experience, Sandee has spent her professional life in healthcare and human services. Having served as Vice President for Home and Community-Based Services at a local senior service agency, she has a deep appreciation for working with staff across locations, shifts and the challenges of engagement and compliance without direct contact.  Prior to that, Sandee spent 11 years in program administration at CJE Senior Life, giving her a strong understanding of the affiliated environment in the Jewish Federation. Sandee holds a Master's degree in public health, and brings significant experience in quality improvement, accreditation and compliance, with a strong focus on evidence-based practice and outcomes. 

Marlies has been with JCFS Chicago for 18 years. She currently oversees Integrated Pediatric Therapies, Psychological Testing & Evaluation Services and Counseling. Trained in the assessment of young children with autism through use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, her continuing education includes topics such as Floortime, the Kaufman Apraxia Intervention, Sensory Integration, feeding therapies, the Impact of Gastrointestinal Disorders and Nutrition in children with special needs and the Picture Exchange Communication System. Marlies has also delivered lectures focusing on the therapeutic treatments used for children with autism. She received her B.S. in Neurobiology and Communication Disorders and her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati. Her graduate fellowship focused on preschool children with autism, utilizing visual teaching and total communication approaches.

Amy oversees a wide variety of education, support and advocacy programs focused on issues that impact individuals, families and institutions including trauma, illness and loss, addiction and adoption, child sexual and interpersonal abuse. Amy was the founder of one of those programs, JCARES, a diverse coalition that educates, advocates, and collaborates to promote innovative policies and practices addressing abuse across the Jewish community and beyond. Previously, she worked for Jewish Women International, supporting communities around the country in their efforts to create and implement grassroots programming. Amy is a graduate of Northern Illinois University and the Alliance for Children and Families Executive Leadership Institute and is a certified Illinois Domestic Violence Advocate.  

Beth oversees programs primarily serving people with disabilities and their families.  Her current focus is on expanding options in the arena of residential supports for individual with intellectual/developmental disabilities. Choice making and person centered practice are the foundational values that drive the provision of services and infuse her work . She has worked in several roles since starting with the agency in 1990, including Therapist, Clinical Supervisor, Director of SOC (a program serving at risk foster children) and Director of SASS (a program providing psychiatric screening, assessment, and linkage services).  Beth obtained a Masters in Social Work from Loyola University of Chicago and a Bachelors in Psychology from Wheaton College.  

Sandra's tenure at the school began in the high-school classroom and later she served as Assistant Principal. To her current leadership role, Sandra brings 14 years of experience in the social service field, where she has provided rehabilitative services to individuals with cognitive and developmental delays, mental illness and behavioral/emotional disorders. She has held positions in high-school special needs education, early childhood direct service, daycare, development and fundraising.  Sandra holds a Master of Arts degree in Education and also has studied therapeutic educational program development, general education, special needs education, school leadership and administrative training. She holds several teaching certifications.