ALTIUS FARMS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Shareholder
Aaron Hyatt is a Shareholder at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, and the former chair of the firm's Real Estate Department. His work covers the lifecycle of complex and high-profile real estate transactions: acquisition, due diligence, financing, development, leasing and disposition of real estate across the asset class, including apartment, office, industrial, hotel, retail, casino and mixed-use.
In 2015 Aaron was named a 40 Under 40 honoree from the Denver Business Journal. He previously served as board member at the Colorado Agency for Jewish Education, and he is Chair Emeritus of the Board of Directors of Mental Health Colorado. Aaron is the recipient of the Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award, presented at the 2019 Faces of JFS event, co-chaired by Aaron's wife, Niah.
Aaron was a College Scholar at Middlebury College and received his law degree from the University of Colorado Law School in 2001. Aaron and Niah's two sons attend Denver Public Schools.
Amanda Smith Greenberg is a commercial real estate and land use planning attorney, wife, mom, and alpine ski racing coach. As a Shareholder at Otten, Johnson, Robinson, Neff + Ragonetti, Amanda represents clients in sophisticated purchase, sale, and development transactions, including mixed-use projects, industrial developments, large scale residential developments, office buildings, hotels, shopping centers, and sports and entertainment stadiums and venues. Her work includes a full spectrum of services from site identification, negotiating purchase agreements and long-term ground leases, to working with regulatory bodies to obtain permits and approvals.
Inspired by a tour of the Weinberg Food Pantry in 2013, Amanda served on the Executive Luncheon Committee for the first time in 2014, and shortly thereafter joined and still serves on the JFS Development Committee. Amanda was on the Board of Directors and Strategic Planning Committee for Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado for eight years, is a graduate of the Denver Metro Chamber Leadership Foundation Leadership Denver Program, and the Anti-Defamation League Partners-in-Leadership Institute. She also served on the Legal Aid Foundation of Colorado's Denver Area Campaign Committee.
Amanda grew up in Fort Collins, Colorado, obtained a B.A. in Government with a Certificate of concentration in Latin American Studies from Cornell University, and her law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Amanda is a weekend coach for Team Discovery at Winter Park Resort Competition Center. Amanda and her husband, Matt, are members of Congregation Beth Evergreen. Their young son attends Jefferson County Public Schools.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
- JFS As Director of Accounting
Angela joined JFS as Director of Accounting in March of 2022 moving into the Chief Financial Officer position in September of 2023. She has worked in non-profit and public school finance for over 20 years, including serving as an accountant and business manager for Denver Public Schools central office support teams and as the Director of Finance for Third Future Schools, a public school network with schools in Colorado and Texas. Her financial management experience includes organizational budgeting, process improvement, human resources, grants management, financial analysis, and risk management. Angela has spent her career striving for high-level outcomes for children and families while delivering internal and external customer service excellence.
Angela received her Masters of Organizational Leadership from Regis University and has a bachelor's in English and Early Childhood Education.
Charles Gwirtsman has approximately 35 years of experience in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, buyouts and corporate finance. Since 1996, Gwirtsman has been a Co-Founder and Managing Director at KRG Capital Partners, a private equity firm.. Gwirtsman has served as a member of the Firm's Investment Committee since its inception and as a lead Managing Director, Chairman served as a member of the Board of Directors for many of its portfolio companies. Since 2021, Mr. Gwirtsman and a partner have been acquiring private companies using a leveraged buyout structure.
Mr. Gwirtsman serves on the boards of four not-for-profits, including JFS, National Jewish Health and two Israeli not-for-profits..
Mr. Gwirtsman earned an MBA degree in Finance from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Columbia University.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Executive Vice President of Feiner Enterprises, Inc
David Feiner is the Executive Vice President of Feiner Enterprises, Inc and FEI Holdings LLC. Feiner Enterprises is a private family office with a focus on real estate investment and partnership with third-party operators. FEI Holdings is the direct investment and acquisition arm, concentrated on strategic multifamily investment opportunities in the Southwestern United States. David sources new real estate investment opportunities, operates portfolio companies focused on real estate lending and development, fosters strategic partnerships, and focuses on long term growth. David is experienced in many facets of real estate, including acquisitions, asset and property management, brokerage, development, financing, sales, and securitization.
David graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2009. David serves on the Board of Directors for Merchants Mortgage & Trust Corporation as well as Jewish Family Service of Colorado and was a Sturm Fellow for the Anti-Defamation League.
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of ZS Capital Partners
Derek Conn is the co-founder of ZS Capital Partners, a forward-thinking real estate investment and development firm based in Denver, CO. ZS is focused on acquiring and improving assets across the front range of Colorado with business plans that demonstrate the ability to deliver outsized returns for its investors. Prior to founding ZS, he was an executive vice president and partner at Etkin Johnson Real Estate Partners responsible for all capital markets activity. His tenure with Etkin Johnson culminated in the complete disposition of assets and associated wind down of the organization in 2021.
Derek is active in multiple real estate organizations including NAIOP and ULI and was recognized in 2018 as one of Colorado's Top 25 Young Professionals by ColoradoBiz magazine. He was born and raised in Denver and attended the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Derek and his wife Megan are raising two fifth-generation Colorado natives, Devon and Cameron.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- SECRETARY
- Member of the Board of Directors of the Caring for Colorado Foundation
- President of ORRA Group
Dr. Gilad S. Gordon is the president of ORRA Group, LLC, a healthcare consulting company specializing in clinical development of novel therapeutics. As a physician, board certified in internal medicine, his career has primarily focused on conducting applied medical research within the private sector. Dr. Gordon has more than 30 years of experience designing and implementing clinical trials leading to the approval of new drug and vaccine candidates. He has focused on the clinical development of new therapies, devices, and diagnostics for the treatment of disease and has worked as both a consultant and as a senior executive at a number of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. In addition, he has extensive expertise in medical information systems, health economics, and health policy, and has consulted to a number of Colorado state policy makers on health policy.
Dr. Gordon, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Caring for Colorado Foundation from 2008-2016 (Chairman from 2015-2016) and is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center in Washington, DC.
Dr. Gordon graduated from Harvard College, followed by Harvard Medical School and then received his MBA from the University of Washington. He has lived in Boulder since 1991, has three grown boys, and currently belongs to both Congregation Bonai Shalom in Boulder and to Congregation Bnai Vail in Vail.
Job Titles:
- Chief Quality and Safety Officer at Intermountain Healthcare
Dr. Heidi Wald is the Chief Quality and Safety Officer at Intermountain Healthcare. She is responsible for supporting the operational quality and safety work across three markets, including 33 hospitals and greater than 400 ambulatory sites in an enterprise-wide approach. Previously, Heidi served in the same role at SCL Health. Prior to joining SCL Health, Dr. Wald was an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Health Care Policy Research at the University of Colorado (CU) School of Medicine where she was a faculty member between 2007 and 2018. She has authored over 60 peer reviewed articles on patient safety and quality of the older adult population in hospitals and nursing homes. She served as the Department of Medicine's Vice Chair for Quality from 2011-2016.
Heidi is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She completed a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine, a NRSA Primary Care Research Fellowship, and an MSPH at the University of Colorado Denver. Dr. Wald was a 2009 Atlantic Philanthropies Health and Aging Policy Fellow. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine.
Elise A. Barish is an experienced community leader with over fifteen years of non-profit board and committee work. She currently serves on the board of the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF), the Philanthropic Services Committee at Rose Community Foundation, and the regional board of the ADL. She is an alum of the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Society Fellowship and currently serves on the JDC Welcome Committee. She has volunteered at the JFS food pantry and participated on the JFS taskforce to redesign its disabilities services.
In 2012, Elise initiated and chaired the Inaugural Wings of Hope for Melanoma Gala in Denver and has been an active gala committee member since. Ten years later, the annual gala continues to generate significant funds to support the work of the MRF as well as educate the Denver community about the importance of sun protection and early detection in the fight against melanoma. Elise received a Leadership Award from the MRF in September 2021 to recognize her work.
Elise and her husband have four college-age children. Prior to leaving the workforce to raise them, Elise worked as an Equity Analyst in Denver and New York. She earned her bachelor's degree from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and her MBA from Columbia University.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of COMMUNITY RESOURCES for STABILITY
Elizabeth is the Director of Community Resources for Stability. As Director, she oversees a skilled team that works to bolster food and housing security for individuals and families in need by providing food, limited emergency financial assistance, care management, and information and referrals for essential services.
Elizabeth joined the agency in September 2022. Prior to joining JFS, Elizabeth served in roles internationally and in the Denver community, her work has focused on human rights, democracy, and homelessness prevention. Elizabeth's professional career has taken her from working in Denver to disrupt the cycle of poverty and homelessness at Warren Village and across the globe where she most recently managed democracy and rule of law programs across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Elizabeth holds a master's degree in Public and Social Policy from Charles University and a bachelor's degree in Political Science form Metropolitan State University in Denver.
Elizabeth lives in Denver with her husband, three dogs, and five chickens.
Fran has had her own business, Simon Analytics, for over 20 years. She conducts market research and data analysis for businesses, non-profits, political organizations, and foundations. She has performed research and analysis for numerous Jewish organizations including JFS for whom she analyzed data from the Greater Denver Jewish Community Survey on economically vulnerable Jewish people. Fran is also among the foremost researchers on LGBTQ+-related issues.
Tikkun olam (our responsibility to help heal the world) is very important to Fran; she currently serves on the Board of Shalom Park, The Colorado State Public Defender Commission, the Denver Waldorf School Parent Council, and the Board of the Colorado Wildfire (her senior women's softball club). She and her family are also very active with Judaism Your Way.
Fran graduated summa cum laude from Cornell University while double majoring in sociology and social relations and received her M.A. in Sociology from Stanford University while in the Ph.D. program. Fran lives with her wife Anna and their teenage son Jeremy. Fran and Anna testified many times at the state legislature for civil unions and were honored as the first couple to receive a civil union in Colorado as well as the first same-sex couple to get married in Denver.
Job Titles:
- Principal of Iris Companies
Jason Cooper is a ounder and principal of Iris Companies, a Denver real estate investment, property management and construction company. He serves as its Chief Financial Officer. He earned a bachelor's degree from Amherst College and an MBA from the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. Jason holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is also licensed in Colorado as both a Certified Public Accountant and a real estate broker.
Over the past several years, Jason has served on numerous nonprofit boards and he has held various leadership positions as part of his board service.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS
Jenny joined JFS in December 2019 as the Director of Marketing and Communications. In her role Jenny oversees a team that creates and implements communications designed to increase awareness of and support for JFS programs and services.
Jenny has more than 15 years of experience in traditional and new media marketing, strategic planning, campaign management, branding, and creative oversight. She previously worked for the Dumb Friends League, where she served as the Director of Marketing and Communications. She enjoys spending time with her family and exploring Colorado.
Job Titles:
- CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER
- JFS As Chief Advancement Officer
Jessica Zeidman joined JFS as Chief Advancement Officer in June 2019. She relocated to the Denver from San Francisco, where she spent the last 10 years as an accomplished fundraiser for the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco and Stern Grove Festival. Jessica has a real passion for philanthropy and looks forward to connecting donors to the incredible programs and services at JFS.
Jessica has a diverse background in leading fundraising departments, board and event committees, and program staff in the successful execution of vibrant campaigns, compelling proposals, and engaging fundraising events. Jessica has worked with a variety of stakeholders, including major donors; corporate partners; private, family, and community foundations; and government agencies to build and increase financial resources for dynamic nonprofits.
Prior to her development experiences, Jessica worked for several high-profile California politicians in various capacities. She received her master's degree in political science from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice and Public Administration from California State University Chico. A Los Angeles native, she is thrilled to explore Colorado with her husband and son.
"My first year at JFS was filled with so many unique challenges, opportunities, and experiences to raise vital resources to support the incredible programs at JFS and our COVID-19 Relief Fund. I have been overwhelmed by the community's generous response to the evolving and increasing demands for service during this pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis it has created. I look forward to meeting more of our amazing donors to raise funds to support our programs and services to serve the most vulnerable in our community."
Job Titles:
- Partner at Westfield Company, Inc
Jonathan Alpert is a partner at Westfield Company, Inc and has been with the company since 2015. While at Westfield, Jonathan helped create Stanley Marketplace, North Wynkoop, Mission Ballroom, as well as S*Park. S*Park is a sustainable condo community in RiNo (River North Arts District) with an on-site urban farm, greenhouse and retail including world class restaurant operator, Uchi. Born and raised in Denver, Jonathan has always had a passion for building innovative urban apartments, for-sale residences, and commercial/mixed-use projects. He has generated over $400 million in asset value and participated in the construction of more than 2 million square feet of commercial space over the span of his real estate career. Also in that time span, Jonathan has been involved in the sale/development of several thousand residential lots and master planning of several thousand acres of new communities throughout Metro Denver.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of SPECIAL EVENTS
Kate is the Director of Special Events and joined JFS in October 2017. In her role Kate provides strategic direction, outreach, and planning for all events at JFS. Kate has a long commitment to events and the nonprofit sector. Prior to JFS, Kate was Director of Events at Morris Animal Foundation where she oversaw all Foundation-driven events and volunteer-driven peer to peer fundraising events.
Kate is a Colorado native and enjoys spending time with her husband and 3 kids, traveling, and riding her bike.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Leah joined JFS in February of 2018. She began her time at JFS as a Job Developer in the Disability Services department before moving on to manage the Individual Supported Employment services. Prior to her current position as Director of Employment Services, Leah served as Business & Workforce Development Manager and focused on expanding the employment services offered to jobs seekers with disabilities, as well as growing and nourishing JFS' employer partnerships.
Leah is an alum of the first Colorado based Emerging Leaders cohort through the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE). She is an active member of the Employment First Leaders Community of Practice. Additionally, Leah serves on JFS' DEI Advisory Board. Leah is passionate about advocating for a more equitable and inclusive workforce and society.
Leah earned a Bachelor of Science in Youth Studies from the University of Minnesota and her Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Organizations from the University of Colorado Denver.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Committee
- Chairman of the GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE
- Consultant
Leanna Harris has worked as an educational consultant since 1999, partnering with teachers and schools from around the country to improve instruction and student achievement. Before joining Diane Sweeney Consulting in 2014, she was a staff developer with the Public Education & Business Coalition (PEBC), and then a school-based instructional coach across grades K-12. Leanna is the co-author of several books, including The Essential Guide for Student-Centered Coaching (Corwin, 2020), and Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves (Corwin, 2016).
Leanna has an MA in Education from the University of Colorado at Denver and an undergraduate degree in Theology from Georgetown University. She also has a Certificate in Sustainability Leadership and Implementation from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver--environmental sustainability being her passion when not thinking and learning about kids, teachers, and schools.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Leader
- Member of the Executive Committee
- PRESIDENT
Since joining Jewish Family Service of Colorado (JFS) as its President & CEO in November 2018, Linda has applied her vision, passion, and experience leading JFS through program optimization, pursuing new service opportunities, and an over $6M 150th Anniversary campaign. During COVID-19, Linda guided JFS in quickly adapting and transforming its programs and services to best meet the changing needs of the community. She relocated to Denver from the Chicago area, where she served as CEO & Head of School at Solomon Schechter Day School for nine years and the school's Executive Director for four and a half years prior to that. She has deep Colorado connections and owns a home in Steamboat.
Linda has been a leader of both nonprofit and for-profit organizations and business units in a variety of industries, ensuring mission fulfillment and sound financial viability. She currently serves on the Denver Nonprofit Engagement Commission and Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She has extensive organizational, operational, and management experience, and has successfully led capital campaigns, endowment growth, and donor cultivation and stewardship efforts. Linda earned a BA degree from Wellesley College and has participated in the Kellogg School of Management Center for Non-Profit Management at Northwestern University.
"I am truly honored and humbled to lead this incredible and impactful organization and to have the opportunity to work with our committed stakeholders. JFS's mission and core values bring together so much of what is important to me, both personally and professionally. I feel fortunate to know and work with JFS's incredible staff, Board, donors, volunteers, and partners in building and strengthening our impact."
Martha joined JFS in July of 2023 as our Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, she will lead our strategic plan, oversee legal and risk management, compliance programs, and contracts management. Additionally, she will be responsible for maintaining the safety and security of our facilities.
Martha comes to JFS from Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where she was a partner in the litigation group for 17 years. She received a master's degree in Spanish Language from the University of Colorado before attending law school at Georgetown University. Martha has a wealth of experience and a history of supporting causes to help meet the needs of the underserved-Martha's background and passion for helping others align perfectly with JFS's core values. Please join us in welcoming her to the team.
Marty was born in Winnipeg, Canada. His work as a health care actuary brought him to Denver 35 years ago and he now lives in Lone Tree. He is married to his wife Melissa and has four children-Adam, Leora, Micah, and Aaron.
Marty enjoys traveling, being a member of AIPAC, reading, and long walks.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director
- ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, JFS BOULDER
As Associate Director, Melissa develops new and relevant programming to meet community needs in Boulder County. She also helps to oversee current, ongoing programs and services. Melissa began her work at JFS in 2012 as an intern in the Disability Services department to complete her bachelor's degree in social work from Metropolitan State University. She continued her journey, taking on different roles within the department with her last position as the QA/worksite program manager. In April 2022, Melissa transitioned to be the Boulder programs manager then in March 2023 stepped into the role of JFS Boulder Associate Director.
Job Titles:
- Broker at Centennial Leasing & Sales
Mike is an auto broker at Centennial Leasing & Sales in Englewood Colorado. He joined Centennial in 2000 and has a passion for helping people in the sale or lease of autos and trucks. Centennial is like a second family to him as they are a group of people that care about what they do.
Personally, Mike grew up in Littleton and is currently residing in Greenwood Village- four short miles from where he grew up.
He began his involvement with JFS as a table sponsor at the JFS Executive Luncheon and has since served on the Executive Luncheon Committee. He currently serves on the Development committee and joined the Board of Directors in 2017.
Job Titles:
- Office Manager
- Vice President
After years of experience in commercial banking and as a commercial real estate appraiser, Mindy joined J&B Building Company in 1995 in the accounts payable/accounts receivable position. Her M.B.A. degree from University of Denver in Real Estate and Construction Management (1988) provided her the background to manage several shopping centers, develop and construct a 668 unit mini-storage facility, and oversee the company's sophisticated property management database system.
Today Mindy is vice president, office manager, directs the A/P and A/R functions and accounting, and has input in strategic business decisions relative to selling, acquiring, leasing, and development of commercial property. Mindy holds an active Colorado Real Estate Broker's license. Mindy was the recipient of the Joyce and Kal Zeff Humanitarian Award in 2018.
Mindy is an avid reader, movie-goer, loves to workout, snowshoes in the winter, volunteers in the Weinberg Food Pantry, and serves on the board of the Colorado Self Storage Association.
Nneka McPhee has more than 16 years of experience in resource development and non-profit management. She currently serves as the Chief of Staff & Strategic Initiatives for Americans for Ben-Gurion University, or A4BGU. A4BGU raises awareness and philanthropic support for an innovative and inclusive university in the South of Israel. Nneka's prior roles have included Chief Operating Officer and Chief of Staff for JEWISHcolorado.
Born and raised in Denver, Nneka is passionate about her community. She is the co-founder of the Sisterhood of Philanthropists Impacting Needs, a giving circle of African American women, held at the Women's Foundation of Colorado, who pool their resources to affect change for marginalized women and girls. Nneka is also the current Board Chair for the Colorado High School Charter and the Treasurer/Secretary for Lincoln Hills Cares.
Nneka is a 2017 graduate of Leadership Denver and a 2013 graduate of Chamber Connect, a program of the Urban Leadership Foundation. She holds a BS in Marketing from Metropolitan State University and has four children.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of GRANT ACCOUNTING
Peggy is the Director of Grant Accounting and has been a part of the JFS Accounting team since June 2002. She has held multiple positions, including Senior Accountant, Controller, Finance Manager, and most recently, Associate Director of Grant Accounting. From 2015 to 2017, Peggy worked for JFS on an as-needed basis, helping with special projects until she rejoined the agency full-time in April 2017. Before JFS, she worked for over 20 years in nonprofit accounting in Indiana, including serving ten years as Finance Director for one of the Indiana Area Agencies on Aging.
Peggy received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1989 from Ball State University in Muncie, IN.
Peggy enjoys spending time with her three adult children, two grandchildren, and fur babies and loves living in beautiful Buena Vista, CO.
A native of Rochester, NY, Rabbi Kobrin attended the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at American Jewish University in Los Angeles where she received her rabbinic ordination and Master of Arts in Rabbinic Studies, as well as the USCJ award for congregational leadership in 2009. Rabbi Kobrin is active in many aspects of Jewish life and thought, including as a CLAL Rabbis Without Borders Fellow, and a contributing writer for the Denver Post, MyJewishlearning.com, huffingtonpost.com, TimesofIsrael.com, and God: Jewish Choices for Struggling with the Ultimate. She has been a scholar-in-residence and teacher at conferences and retreats throughout the country, and is often invited to speak at rallies and gatherings for social justice. Rabbi Kobrin serves on the board of Faith Forward, combining political and social activism with interfaith work.
Prior to moving to Denver, Rabbi Kobrin was the Rabbi at Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park, PA, and the Associate Rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim (CAA) in Austin, TX. Rabbi Kobrin has a passion for serving people of all ages and bringing the joy and meaning of our 3,500-year-old tradition to the modern world.
Rachel Pryor-Lease joined JFS in October 2023 as the Director of Development. She brings almost two decades of experience in non-profit fundraising to the role, where she will engage with the organization's supporters and grow the funds that sustain our amazing services.
Prior to JFS, Rachel served as the Director of Development for the Colorado Restaurant Foundation and the Director of Philanthropy for the ACLU of Colorado, where she worked for 10 years, helping to oversee massive growth in the organization during critical political times.
She returned to her home state of Colorado in 2011 after living on both the East and West coasts. In addition to work in the non-profit field, she also received training in Pastry Arts at the Institute for Culinary Education in New York City, where she worked in some of the city's best renowned restaurants and bakeries.
Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She and her wife, Leah, live in Denver with their twins, 2 dogs, and 2 fish.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of VOLUNTEER SERVICES
Renee joined JFS in July 2022 as the Director of Volunteer Services. In her role Renee is responsible for the strategic direction and growth of the volunteer program. Renee looks forward to connection, collaboration, and an expanded vision for volunteers.
With over 20 years of experience in leadership of small nonprofits, Renee understands the tremendous value that volunteers contribute to the community. Additionally, Renee has a heart for engaging young people in volunteering, as that is how the seed was planted in her journey of nonprofit work through volunteering with her mom early on in life.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of DISABILITY SERVICES
Roxane is the Director of Disability Services. Prior to beginning this position in July 2020, she served as senior operations manager at SHALOM Denver for five years. In her current leadership role, Roxane provides vision, strategic planning, and oversight of the various programs serving persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities throughout the Denver metro area.
She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and brings more than 40 years of experience working to improve the lives of children and adults with special needs and abilities. Roxane's advocacy and commitment originate from a lifelong experience with her older brother who was diagnosed at the age of three with Autism and IDD. At a time when members of this population were traditionally institutionalized, Roxane's parents resisted this trend, opting to immerse their son in newly created integrated community programs. Hence began Roxane's entry into this field.
Roxane, her husband Tom, and daughter Taylor lived in Steamboat Springs for 18 years where she was the adult director of Horizons Specialized Services, a Northwest Colorado Community Center Board. During her time in Steamboat she served on many boards and committees, including Routt County United Way, Colorado Mental Health Board of Directors, and the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association. She is currently a member of Alliance Colorado and served on its Executive Committee, Government Relations Committee, Membership Committee, and Employment Committee.
Roxane's passion has been, and always will be, to advocate for opportunities and inclusion of individuals with disabilities.
Sally founded Altius Farms in 2018 and will continue to lead this program as the Director of JFS Altius Farms. Sally has a demonstrated track record of leadership balancing technology development, customer service, and marketing within United States and international markets. She has successfully formulated strategies for business growth and cost reduction while serving the needs of a global, varied retail and manufacturing customer base. Sally held COO and senior leadership roles with the Worldwide Retail Exchange, IBM, and MCI WorldCom. Sally served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve for over 13 years, including during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm Gulf War operations.
Sally is passionate about shifting the local food scene in Colorado through community education and delivery of high quality, non-GMO, pesticide-free leafy greens, and herbs. Providing job training and employment for our nation's veterans is a key part of Sally's envisioned legacy. Sally is a Board Member for the not-for-profit Veterans to Farmers and is a Denver Southeast Evenings Rotary Club member.
Sally has two grown daughters, and she enjoys cycling and hiking.
Job Titles:
- Executive Vice President at Jones Lang La Salle
Sam Zaitz is an executive vice president at Jones Lang La Salle and the head of retail brokerage in the Rocky Mountain region. In 2015, Sam joined the JFS Development Committee and has invested hundreds of hours and resources to JFS. He has served on the Executive Luncheon Committee and was a co-chair of the 2015 event. He was recently honored with the Yana Vishnitsky Leadership Award at the 2017 Faces of JFS event.
Sam brings a youthful energy and has introduced the life-transforming work of JFS to a new generation. He is married to Stephanie and they have three children-Zach, Chloe, and Penelope.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- TREASURER of the Executive Committee
Scott recently retired as the president and managing partner of MassMutual Colorado. The company provided comprehensive financial planning for small- and mid-sized businesses and professionals in the areas of estate planning, business succession planning, retirement planning, and risk management.
Scott first became involved with JFS in 1985, helping Russian families new to Colorado and serving on the Development Committee. In December 2019, Scott was honored at the Faces of JFS Winter Soiree with the Joyce and Kal Zeff Humanitarian Award for his deep commitment to JFS. In addition, both he and his wife Andrea have participated in the Bright Holidays program for many years. Scott also serves on the Anti-Defamation League Mountain States Regional Board.
Job Titles:
- Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Jewish Federations of North America 's ( JFNA ) Jewish
Stacey Aviva is currently the Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Jewish Federations of North America's (JFNA) Jewish, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Initiative (JEDI). Stacey has a BA in Political Science from the University of Cincinnati, a Masters of Urban Planning and Public Policy for UIC (CHICAGO), and Certificates in Jewish Leadership and Jewish Education from Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership.
Stacey began her career as the Policy Director for Chicago's Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) advocating for housing reform, criminal justice, and Jewish/African-American dialogue. Stacey went on to specialize in Economic Development as Senior Director of Real Estate Development for Affordable Housing, Mixed-Use Spaces, Brownfield Redevelopment, and New Market Tax Credit financing.
Stacey Aviva serves on the board of the MOED network of Jewish Federations of North America (to promote belonging and leadership for Jews of Color), Jewish Family Service of Colorado, Jewish Life Committee member of the Rose Community Foundation, and Alliance4Israel, and is a current Executive Leadership fellow with the Mandel Institute. She nurtures a college student, high school senior, and her 95-year-old grandmother.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director in Institutional Advancement and Planned Giving & Endowments at the Jewish Federations of North America
Steve Gross is currently a Senior Director in Institutional Advancement and Planned Giving & Endowments at the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) for the past 10 years. He brings a broad range of development and financial services experience to nonprofit boards and is no stranger to Jewish Family Services. Steve was the past Treasurer then President of JFS of Greenwich, CT and recently moved to Fort Collins. He worked at various commercial and investment banks giving him the opportunity to acquire a wide-ranging knowledge of Wall Street and its financial markets both in the public and private sectors.
Prior to joining JFNA, Steve worked at Save the Children in their philanthropic services group dealing with private banks, donor advised funds, and diaspora giving. A native New Yorker, Steve completed an executive leadership program at Columbia University's Institute for Not-for-Profit Management, received his MBA in finance from Adelphi University, and a BA in psychology from Binghamton University. He has been active in the community as an elected official for his district, served on several nonprofit and town boards, and is also immediate past board president for a nonprofit human services foundation which he helped establish.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
- IT Director
- JFS As the IT Manager
Tim joined JFS as the IT Manager in June 2022. He has worked in the IT field for over 30 years, including recently as an IT Director for Sheridan School District.
Tim is a highly accomplished IT Director who expertly drives high-volume, state-of-the-art IT infrastructure, systems, projects, and operational initiatives through to successful completion, and who makes sound decisions to align with a company's vision, value, and goals. He is a hands-On self-starter who develops targeted technology roadmaps, mitigates key risk, and establishes detailed incident response processes. He has constantly shown that he is an innovative leader who continually gains buy-in among team members to promote unified IT objectives and enhanced productivity and accountability for all corporate-specific programs and technologies. Influential he also sees the "big picture" at all times while thriving in rapidly evolving scenarios to exceed expectations and actively coach multidisciplinary IT professionals to lead by example and with ethics and integrity - always willing to "go the extra mile" to surpass the status quo.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Todd Merendino joined the agency in May of 2022 as the Director of Mental Health Services. Before joining JFS, he worked for the Colorado Department of Human Services-Office of Behavioral Health for over ten years. He held several positions within the department, the last being the Director of Quality Assurance and Standards. Most recently, he was the Division Director of Acute Services for the Aurora Mental Health Center where he was responsible for the oversight and leadership of Crisis Services, Detox/Substance Use Disorder treatment, and Forensic Services teams.
Todd has a master's in social work from the University of Denver and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 20 years. He is passionate about community mental health and delivering caring, compassionate, and high-quality behavioral health services.
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
Troy joined JFS in August of 2022 to create, build, and oversee the Yana Vishnitsky Resettlement Program as JFS launched as an official refugee resettlement site in October of 2022. Prior to joining JFS Troy has led programming for refugees, emergency responses, and displaced peoples across the globe. Troy lived and worked in Eastern Africa for 6 years managing multiple development projects in refugee camps and assisting internally displaced peoples; focusing mainly on food security, water, agriculture, and education programming. After that time Troy returned to Denver, where he immediately started working with refugees on this side of the ocean. Troy brings with him 10 years of experience working with refugees throughout the Denver metro area, beginning as a case manager, wearing many hats, and moving through the ranks to eventually leading programs.
A passion for serving others has guided all of Troy's pursuits. In his free time you will find Troy outdoors enjoying everything that Colorado has to offer!
Victor L. Sulzer is a partner in the law firm Tschetter Sulzer. Vic has been associated with the Firm for more than 20 years. TS is a landlord/tenant law firm.
The eldest of three siblings, Vic grew up in Denver attending Park Hill Elementary, Smiley Junior High, and East Denver High School. Vic is an honors graduate of Middlebury College where he majored in Economics. After college and prior to graduate school, Vic lived in New York City where he worked for a marketing consulting firm. He received his law degree from the University of Denver in 1994.