JCYS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing and Communications
Job Titles:
- Selected As New Chief Executive Officer of JCYS Tuesday, September 12, 2017
Job Titles:
- Director of Human Resources
In her role, Cathy is responsible for the organization's day-to-day operations and ensuring that all of the systems, resources, and people are in place to achieve the goals of JCYS. She is responsible for building employee alignment with JCYS organizational goals and meeting the critical targets of the organization. Cathy has over 35 years of experience in Human Resources, 25 of which have been in a leadership role in the public sector. She also heads the JCYS Human Resource department with strong knowledge in recruitment, employee relations, leadership, employee development, training, compensation, benefits, and workers' compensation.
Cathy received her BBA from Loyola University and holds a Master's in Strategic Human Resource Management from DePaul University. She is a Certified Professional of Human Resources by the Society of Human Resources (SHRM) and is also certified through the Human Resource Certification Institute as a Human Resource Professional (HRCI). Cathy is an active member of local and national Human Resources organizations.
For nearly 25 years CJ has worked with children in a variety of capacities. She taught second and third grade at Central School in Wilmette, while also serving as an academic tutor, a role she continues today. Most recently, CJ has worked at the Glencoe Park District teaching in the twos, threes, and pre-K programs. She has served as their camp director, developed curriculum, and created a kindergarten readiness program for four-year-olds.
CJ received her undergraduate degree in Communications and Economics from Indiana University and received a Master's degree in Education from Loyola University Chicago.
Debbie has a long history with JCYS! At 16 years old, Debbie was an arts & crafts counselor at Camp Henry Horner when JCYS was still Young Men's Jewish Council. It was in 1996 that she joined JCYS in her official capacity as Center Director. Debbie received her formal education from National Louis and Spertus College of Judaic Studies and is a member of the Educational Advisory Board for Truman College. She and her family belong to JRC Synagogue, where Debbie volunteers and is often asked to teach Sunday school, and her children attended JCYS preschool and our Big City Day Camp. Debbie is passionate about early childhood education and working to fulfill the JCYS mission of providing educational and recreational programs for children!
Job Titles:
- Medical Director for Life
Job Titles:
- Director of Risk Management
Job Titles:
- Turin - Immediate past President
Job Titles:
- Child and Family Development Specialist
Jamie Decker holds a master's degree in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University and is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. Jamie earned her bachelor's degree from Indiana University with a major in Human Development and Family Studies and minors in Psychology and Sociology. Working with staff, children and families in order to successfully meet the needs of individual children and to help them reach their full potential is something that Jamie has always been passionate about.
Jamie worked at the JCC as part of the Early Childhood Social Services Team for the last 16 years. In this role, Jamie worked with staff and families to enhance the educational and psychosocial development of the children in their early childhood programs. She conducted classroom observations to identify and assess children with behavioral, emotional, or developmental issues and provided resources to staff and families. In addition, Jamie has provided therapeutic services for children, families, and adults in a variety of different clinical and educational settings that include Family Adolescent Child Treatment Services, Chicago Commons Child Welfare Division, Thresholds and Westbrook Therapeutic Day School.
Jamie lives in Chicago with her husband, Justin, daughter, Lyla, and two dogs. She enjoys traveling, skiing, yoga, hiking, and spending time outdoors with her family and two dogs.
Job Titles:
- Senior Accountant / Payroll Specialist
- Senior Accountant and Payroll Specialist
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education
Marcie has worked with children for over 20 years. She taught preschoolers and 2nd and 3rd graders back in her home state of New York. Since moving to Chicago, Marcie has taught infants, twos, threes, and pre-k, as well as being the Assistant Director of Sunflower Camp in Highland Park. She's been with JCYS for over 15 years.
Marcie received her B.A. in Judaic Studies with a minor in Education from SUNY Albany. She completed a Master's Degree in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from C.W. Post College.
Marcie resides in Buffalo Grove with her husband, Jim, and their two children, Chase and Brody. She enjoys traveling, taking walks, and making people laugh.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Development
Megan joined the JCYS family at the end of 2018. After finding a new home in Chicago in 2016, Megan became very active in the Chicago Jewish Community with the help of her previous job at Anshe Emet Synagogue. Megan grew up attending Jewish Early Childcare Centers and summer camps, and earned her degree in Youth Development and Jewish Studies from Indiana University.
Nikki holds an Associate's Degree in Early Childhood Education with a specialization in Child Development and a Bachelor's Degree in Early Child Education Leadership from Rasmussen College. She has always loved working with children and has been in the early childhood education field for over 20 years. After graduating high school, Nikki worked as an Assistant Teacher at a childcare center and gained experience working with different age groups. After 12 years of teaching, Nikki stepped into an Assistant Director role and eventually a Center Director role, where she continued to make a significant impact on the lives of the children, families, and teachers.
She lives in Fox Lake with her two children and two cats. She enjoys spending warmer months boating with the rest of her family and attending concerts and sporting events.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Operations
The importance of Early Childhood Education is something that Nikki has been passionate about throughout her entire career. She has had the opportunity to be an Early Childhood Educator as well as Early Childhood Administrator for the past 15 years. Nikki received her BA in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and her MA in Elementary Education from National-Louis University. Making a positive difference in the lives of children has been one of the reasons Nikki has continued to pursue opportunities where she will have an impact on the education, nurturing, and love that children receive each day.
Nikki lives in Buffalo Grove with her husband Paul, and their two children, Skylar and Mason. She enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, socializing with family and friends, and cheering on her children's sports teams and the Chicago Cubs!
Job Titles:
- Executive Director Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Patzik - Vice President of Strategy and Innovation
Job Titles:
- Child and Family Development Specialist
Robin has worked with children for the past 25 years. She has worked in a social service agency, college and private school. She is passionate about children and connecting families to resources. Robin has her BS in Psychology from the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana and MS in Rehabilitation Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Samantha Jakubowski is the Chief Executive Officer of Jewish Council for Youth Services (JCYS). She is thrilled to return to JCYS, where she previously was the Chief Advancement Officer and oversaw the agency's fundraising, marketing, communications, and leadership development program. She brings with her nonprofit management experience in both legacy and start-up organizations, as well as deep passion for youth development, board leadership, and the Chicago Jewish community.
Prior to returning to JCYS, Samantha was the Senior Director of Advancement at Leading Edge and ensured the organization had the resources it needed to grow. Before Boardified was acquired by Leading Edge in 2022, Samantha was the Chief Growth Officer and managed the organization's operations and programs that served board members across North America. She co-led the post-acquisition integration of Boardified into Leading Edge and successfully migrated its programs, operations, and funding.
Throughout her career, Samantha has supported over 250 local and national Jewish nonprofits in their board development and organizational capacity-building journeys. As a seasoned development professional, she has raised over $20M for nonprofits, including $5M to support board development programs. She graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in Business Institutions.
Job Titles:
- Director of Early Childhood
- Director of Early Childhood Education
Sharee holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Western Michigan University and comes to us from her most recent role as Assistant Director of Early Childhood at Jacob Duman ECC, JCC Chicago. Sharee has extensive experience not only in early childhood but in Jewish education as well. Sharee has taught at Lincoln Park Prep, Solomon Schechter Day School, and Florence G. Heller JCC. Sharee brings with her success in training and mentoring staff, building long-lasting relationships with families and staff members, as well as an Early Childhood philosophy that mirrors our own.
Sharee currently resides in Vernon Hills, with her husband Roenan, children Ruben and Robin, and their beloved dogs Scotch and Mickey.
Job Titles:
- Secler - Vice President of Leadership Development