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 completed her MBA with a focus in Non-Profit Management from National Louis University.

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.

Kathleen is responsible for overall strategy, program development and execution of plans for career services, Pharmacy Technician Training, citizenship and immigration services, and other workforce development initiatives, and facilitates agency projects to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. She is passionate about finding meaningful employment for people with disabilities, and since starting at JCFS Chicago in 2016 has overseen career and employment services, business services that connect clients to employers and the Business Advisory Council. Prior to JCFS, Kathleen worked at the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities, leading their residential department as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, and has consulted nationally with The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL) on best practices in providing human services. Kathleen holds a B.S. in Special Education from Indiana University Bloomington, and a M.A. in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern. She was also a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya, East Africa teaching in schools for the Deaf.

Marlies has been with JCFS Chicago for 18 years. She currently oversees disabilities services across the agency, including pediatric therapies, residential supports and recreation, customized employment and legal advocacy. She is guiding new program development, including our meaningful day initiative, to further the strategic mission of broadening and strengthening support for individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Prior to this role, she was the director of outpatient services overseeing pediatric therapies, psychological testing and evaluation, and counseling. Trained in the treatment assessment of children and adults with autism and related disabilities through use of the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised, her continuing education includes topics such as Floortime, TEACCH, the Kaufman Intervention, Sensory Integration, feeding therapies, the Impact of Gastrointestinal Disorders and Nutrition in people with special needs and Augmentative Communication Systems. Supervision of multidisciplinary teams and coordinated care is an expertise she continues to use within the agency. She received her B.S. in Neurobiology and Communication Disorders and her M.A. in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Cincinnati.

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. 

Craig has held several positions with JCFS Chicago, but he currently focuses on shaping the agency’s vision and implementation of its technology to gain maximum effectiveness, efficiency and agility. He has also worked with other businesses and nonprofit organizations to optimize, expand and modernize their technology environments.

Prior to joining JCFS Chicago, Craig managed networked computing for the Galvin Library at the Illinois Institute of Technology. He is also a recovering Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Craig’s volunteer work includes coordination of several user groups and forums relating to software, computing, cloud technology and their use in the public/not-for-profit sectors. Previously he has provided services and expertise to local arts, music and literary organizations. Craig holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the University of Illinois.

For 25 years, Dana has worked in the Chicago Jewish community in the areas of resource development, strategic planning and program development. Prior to coming to JCFS, Dana served as Assistant Vice President of Grants and Community Services at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. She earned her MSW and Certificate in Jewish Communal Service from the University of Michigan and BA from the University of Illinois. 

Amanda has worked with children and families in both inpatient and outpatient behavioral health settings for approximately 20 years. She is trained in several evidenced-based models including, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma Focused – CBT while also maintaining a flexible curiosity for a variety of modalities and best practices. Amanda has held a diverse array of positions in her career as a behavioral health clinician, manager, and director. She also served as a faculty member within higher education. She is passionate about lifelong learning and professional growth within the human services field. Amanda’s professional interests include trauma, qualitative research methodologies, and the promotion of self-care. She obtained her Masters in Social Work from the University of Denver and her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Utah.