Jewish Family Services of Charlotte Welcomes New Board Members and 2025 Leadership Team

Charlotte Jewish News, January

By Julie Loftis, JFS Marketing Specialist

Jewish Family Services (JFS) is delighted to announce its new board members and leadership team for 2025. Andrew Bernstein leads the organization in his second year as president, alongside Rachel Friedman as president-elect. Daniel Benjamin assumes the role of treasurer, succeeding Jonathan Collman, who served with dedication for four years, while Rebecca Hockfield takes on the secretary position. Jennifer Golynsky will complete the Executive Committee as the immediate past president. Andrew Bernstein shared, “JFS provides a wide array of services to so many people. The span of offerings and number of people they touch is impressive. I am honored to be part of such a dynamic and engaged board and to offer my support to the talented professionals who live the organization’s mission, vision, and values by engaging, connecting, and healing our community.”

As we begin 2025, we would like to extend a warm thank you and best wishes to our outgoing board members, Marcia Lampert and Matt Luftglass, and recognize them for their remarkable service. Marcia’s six years on the board included chairing the Agency Services Committee and contributing to several other initiatives. Matt, a two-term board member, has been a steadfast advocate, participating in numerous committees and volunteering extensively.

We would also like to acknowledge and thank Andrea Cronson, Julie Dermack, Joni Deutsch, Meredith Gartner, Jennifer Koss, Eric Lerner, Adina Loewensteiner, Nina Rose, Stuart Singer, Steve Teich, and Amanda Zaidman who will continue to serve on the board this year. We appreciate the ongoing time and effort they give to support JFS.

JFS is excited to welcome four new board members who bring diverse skills, experiences, and a shared passion for supporting the organization’s mission:

Blair Goldsmith, a Charlotte native, has extensive experience as a licensed clinical social worker and is deeply involved in local Jewish life. She has volunteered with JFS on the Mental Health Resiliency Roundtable and Agency Services Committee and has co-chaired the Live Laugh Give event for two years.

Brian Ablitz is lead neuropsychologist for Atrium Health/Carolinas Rehabilitation. He brings professional expertise and a personal connection to JFS, having been adopted through JFS Detroit. He has served on multiple Jewish community boards and committees and is committed to advancing JFS’s mission.

Jeff Zaleon is a retired Certified Public Accountant with decades of volunteer service to Jewish organizations, and he brings financial acumen and board leadership experience to his new role. His involvement spans Jewish Federations, Hillel, and the JFS Finance Committee.

Glenn Kunkes, a structured finance partner at Mayer Brown LLP, has been active in Jewish leadership programs, fundraising efforts, and creating Popups with Purpose, a nonprofit supporting various causes. Each board member is committed to the success of JFS’s full range of programming, counseling, and social service assistance. This leadership team generously contributes time and valuable knowledge, by actively serving on committees that focus on various topics, essential to the success of JFS. This active involvement assists those facing daily challenges, life transitions, new hardships, and unexpected crises. Programs provide education, engagement, counseling, food, case management, financial assistance, resources, and referrals. For more information, visit jfscharlotte.org.