JVS Careers 2015 Annual Meeting

Date: 06-25-2015 | Category: For Job Seekers,News | Reading Time: 3 Minutes

1435265730_tmp_Bill_Friedlander_check_presentation

On May 26, 2015, JVS Careers held its Annual Meeting and launched the celebration of its 75th anniversary.   Rabbi Sissy Coran of Rockdale Temple delivered the invocation, referencing the sanctity of the work of helping people find jobs.  Shep Englander, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, presented Board Chair Sandy Kaltman with a large check, which was directed to JVS Careers by the late Bill Friedlander.  Mr. Friedlander was a former board chair of Jewish Vocational Service and a community philanthropist.

Sandy Kaltman’s Board Chair report focused on the major events of the past year, which included the search for and the hiring of CEO Joni Burton, a senior management executive with decades of experience in the employment industry.  Another significant event was the receipt of a capacity building grant from The Jewish Foundation, designed to expand JVS Careers and position it to become the lead agency in the community’s Cincinnati 2020 effort to create a jobs and networking hub here.  Kaltman reported that in 2014, 108 members of the Jewish community working with JVS Careers found new jobs, collectively earning $4.5 million in wages.

Joni Burton and Managing Director Kim Slaton reported on changes taking place at JVS Careers directed at working with clients during their full career spectrum, from college through retirement.  In addition to Slaton’s reorganization of client services, the agency now has a business development manager who will work with CEO Burton in building business relationships with area employers.  The agency is assisting other Jewish agencies and organizations with hiring, and will be offering fee-based services to employers, such as recruiting and outplacement.

Nominating Committee Chair Bob Oestreicher presented his committee’s report.  The Board approved the recommendations of the Nominating Committee, adding

Ari Mann and Lev Orlov as new members.

In honor of the 75th Anniversary, the meeting concluded with a historical review by former CEO Peter Bloch.  Bloch noted that “from the very beginning, the Jewish values of Tikkun Olam and Tzedakah have been at the core of Jewish Vocational Service’s culture and decision making.”  Board Chair Sandy Kaltman stated that “the agency has been blessed with hard working and dedicated leadership, both lay and professional, over 7 and ½ decades, all with the same goal of helping clients find meaningful employment.”

JVS Careers officers for the coming year are: Sandy Kaltman, Chair; Robert Oestreicher, Vice Chair; Lori Frischer, Treasurer; Ed Freeman, Secretary; Jan Armstrong Cobb, Immediate Past President; and Jody Brant, Past Chair.  Continuing board members are Stan Better, Shary Levitt, Jamie Dalin, Jeffrey Stern and Blair Wolkoff.