THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ATTENDED THE JFS 2025 ANNUAL MEETING!
Click here for the agenda and meeting materials.
Outgoing Board President Allison Kates welcomes guests to the 2025 JFS Annual Meeting (top left); Ian Rubin offers remarks of gratitude as he assumes his new role as President of the JFS Board. (bottom right). All photos courtesy of JFS volunteer Sheldon Golder.
Framingham, MA – June 9, 2025 – Jewish Family Service (JFS) of Metrowest—a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides vital social, health, and community services to alleviate suffering, enhance lives, and support people in need—held its Annual Meeting at Congregation Or Atid in Wayland. The event recognized the dedication of volunteers, staff, and community partners, and included organizational business such as the installation of new board members and officers.
After guests enjoyed a light dinner, the program kicked off with the showing of videos highlighting the JFS Home-Share program and JFS’ work with community partners in Welcoming the Stranger.
Addressing a full audience, Board President Allison Kates then took the podium to officially call the meeting to order. She reflected on her tenure as President and expressed gratitude for the support she received throughout her term.
Rabbi David Finkelstein of Congregation Or Atid then took the podium to offer words of welcome and wisdom. He was followed by featured speaker Michael Tichnor, who, as part of the Chester and Diane Black Lecture Series on Volunteerism and Civic Engagement, spoke about the state of the world and emphasized the vital role JFS plays in serving the community, especially in challenging times like these.
Continuing to the awards portion of the program, CEO Lino Covarrubias honored the following volunteers and community partners with the CEO’s Roll Up the Sleeves Award, recognizing their above-and-beyond support of the JFS mission:
- Lauren Adams*
- Deborah Freed*
- Sarah Keselman*
- Rob and Jess King*
- Rob Levine
- Mara Sherman*
Senior Director of Philanthropy Jayne Lampert took the podium to present the Ellen Bloch Youth Leadership Award, inviting Liev Minkoff – a member of the JFS/Rashi Learning and Leadership Council – forward to be recognized for his exceptional dedication, compassion, and initiative.
Resuming the podium, Mr. Covarrubias presented the Community Humanitarian Award to representatives of Charlesbank Estates in recognition of the organization’s extraordinary partnership with JFS, providing 19 housing units to families exiting shelter and exemplifying compassionate leadership in advancing housing equity and community impact.
Mr. Covarrubias then recognized staff members Leslie Bazer* and Vera De Souza as this year’s recipients of the “Lebold” Staff Award, honoring their outstanding professional growth and development.
Concluding this portion of the program, Mr. Covarrubias invited staff members Maryann Cardani, Dámaris Medina-Hernández, Justo Rosario-Lebrón, and Malka Young to the podium in celebration of their 25th anniversary with JFS, honoring their leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving those in need within the community.
Meet the inspiring individuals behind this year’s awards—click to learn more!
To begin the business of the meeting, Ms. Kates returned to the podium for the approval of the minutes from the 2024 Annual Meeting, then invited Board Treasurer Meyer Levy to present the Treasurer’s Report. Mr. Levy highlighted key figures and emphasized JFS’ strong standing with charity watchdogs such as Charity Navigator.
Moving to the Installation and Discharge of new Directors, Mr. Covarrubias invited Immediate Past Board President Josef Volman to the podium who conducted business as follows:
DISCHARGED
- Board Members Ashley DePaolo*, Doug Dolgov*, Tom Dretler*, Jake Grossman*, and Jeff Swartz* resigned this year. Also, discharged after two full terms, Youth Board Members Ben Gelber and Ben Myers*.
- The following Board Members with terms expiring in 2025 were discharged in preparation of being reinstalled for new terms: Michelle Bearak*, Anita Lavakumar*, and David Podell*.
- And, after a two year term, Ms. Kates was formally discharged as Board President. Mr. Volman extended heartfelt thanks to Ms. Kates for her outstanding leadership and dedication during her tenure as Board President. He acknowledged that her steady guidance through challenging times and unwavering commitment to supporting the mental health of JFS’ clients, staff, and volunteers have led to meaningful new initiatives that will have a lasting impact and JFS and the Board are deeply grateful for her service and are pleased to continue benefiting from her experience and support in her new role as Immediate Past President.
INSTALLATIONS
The following Board officers were installed for two-year terms expiring in 2027:
- Ian Rubin will serve as the Board President
- Jodi Bring will serve as a Board Vice President
- Dena Kowaloff will serve as the Board Secretary
Also extending their service for another two-year term expiring in 2027:
- Jay Gainsboro as Board Vice President
- Barbara Schultz as Board Vice President
Appreciation was extended to Ms. Bring and Ms. Kowaloff for stepping into their roles mid-year, and it was noted that they were being formally installed as Board officers at this time.
The following Board Members were reinstalled with new terms:
- Reinstalled for their second 3-year term expiring in 2028: Michelle Bearak and Anita Lavakumar
- Reinstalled for his third 3-year term expiring in 2028: David Podell
The following new Board Members were installed for 3-year terms expiring in 2028:
Michael Gilman*
Michael is an attorney who has practiced labor and employment law for over 50 years, largely in the public sector, representing cities, towns, county government and private non-profits. He is a graduate of Colby College, Suffolk University and New York University Law Schools. Michael and his wife Laura have been members of Temple Beth Elohim (TBE) in Wellesley for over 40 years where he has held several leadership positions including serving as President from 1998-2000, and where Laura taught at the Temple pre-school for 16 years. Their now married daughters, Rachel and Jaclyn, grew up at TBE where they each became a bat mitzvah and were confirmed.
Now residing in Wayland, Michael was a long-term resident of Wellesley where he was a Town meeting member for 10 years and also served 10 years as a board member of the Human Relations Service which provides affordable mental health services for residents of Wellesley, Weston and Wayland. More recently, he is a founding member and member of the TBE Immigration Justice Leadership Team which has partnered with JFSMW in the resettlement of 20 families (71 individuals) from Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Algeria, and Venezuela. In 2023, he received the JFS Community Humanitarian Award.
Michael engages in regular Jewish study, enjoys reading and writing, meeting with his Men’s Wise Aging Group, and volunteering in social action activities to make the world better. When not busy with these activities, he and Laura are happy to visit with their daughters and sons-in-law in New York and Connecticut and spending time with their four granddaughters ages 5 to 14.
Michael Katzman
Michael is currently the Director of Government and Regulatory Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), where he has worked since 2005. BCBSMA is a locally-based, not-for-profit health plan serving about 3 million members. Michael is responsible for a broad range of issues focusing primarily on affordability and health care reform, having worked on the Massachusetts 2006 Health Care Reform Law that became the model for the Affordable Care Act. As a volunteer with the company’s Blue Crew, Michael has chosen to lend a hand at JFS in Framingham as well as other charities such as the Greater Boston Food Bank and Project Just Because. Prior to joining BCBSMA, Michael worked for six years at the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) as Director of Legal and Regulatory Affairs.
Michael has served on the board of the Massachusetts chapter of the Arthritis Foundation for almost 20 years and has been the Chair of the chapter for over 15 years. In addition to his involvement with the Massachusetts chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, he has worked with the national Arthritis Foundation, serving on various committees and speaking on panels. Michael also supports other nonprofit organizations including the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation and Families First.
A native of Rockville, Maryland, Michael holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Political Science from Emory University (1990) in Atlanta, Georgia and is a graduate of New England School of Law. He is a member of the Massachusetts Bar.
Julian Rich
Julian Rich is a veteran of the senior care world, currently the founder of J RICH SOLUTIONS, a consulting firm serving the senior/long term care field providing expert witness, interim executive, and other consulting services.
Julian holds an M.A. in Health Care Administration from George Washington University and has more than 45 years in the healthcare field. His expertise includes compliance, operational management, turnarounds, fund raising, marketing, and business/referral development. He has been a member of the American College of Health Care Administrators for over 40 years and has achieved Fellowship and Nursing Home Administrator Certification status. He served on their national Board of Directors from 2001-2004. He is a past president of the Board of the Massachusetts Chapter and has served on the boards of several organizations, including the Massachusetts chapter of Leading Age, which represents over 30,000 nonprofit senior care organizations. He recently served as the president of the board of the Massachusetts Advocates for Nursing Home Reform.
In addition to his experience as a speaker, teacher, mentor, and consultant, he also has volunteered with a number of non-profit organizations as a Board member and advisor. For example, he has been president of the board of Temple Sinai in Marblehead, MA and the board of the Haverhill, MA Rotary club, and has also been a board member and consultant for the New England Homes for the Deaf in Danvers, MA.
He and his wife recently relocated to Framingham, MA, after raising two sons in Swampscott, MA, and is now blessed with five young grandchildren.
Jessica Rubinstein
Jessica is a Senior Medical Director at WellSense Health Plan, a non-profit health insurance company serving over 700,000 members in Massachusetts and New Hampshire through Medicaid, Affordable Care Act, and Medicare Advantage plans. Through this work, she drives to remove barriers to individuals’ ability to maintain their wellbeing and obtain adequate behavioral health and physical health services.
Previously, Jessica had a 28-year career as a primary care pediatrician at practices in Acton, Harvard and Concord. She continues to practice urgent care pediatrics on a limited basis.
Jessica completed her undergraduate studies at Brown University. She earned a Medical Degree at University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and a Master’s in Healthcare Management from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.
Susan Wilk*
Susan resides in Newton with her husband, Dr. Richard Wilk, and their two daughters, Hannah and Talia. She currently works as an independent consultant specializing in higher education, providing sales training, coaching, and recruitment support for graduate school admissions offices.
Susan spent 16 years at EF Education, the world’s largest private educational institution offering educational travel, language and academic training, and cultural exchange programs, serving as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Europe and Latin America. More recently, Susan provided marketing and sales consulting services for Brandeis University, Bentley University, World Learning, the School for International Training (SIT), and the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).
At Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JF&CS), she served on the board for 12 years, founded and chaired the Advisory Committee for Services for Older Adults, co-chaired the Nominating Committee, and was an active member of the Development Committee. She also co-chaired the 2020 JF&CS Women’s Breakfast.
Susan participated in CJP’s Cynthia and Leon Shulman Acharai Leadership Program and served as Vice President of Sponsorship for CJP’s Women’s Executive Leadership Board. Additionally, Susan was on the board of Friends of Dana-Farber, where she chaired the Dana-Farber Chefs Cooking for Hope event.
In her personal time, Susan enjoys playing tennis, traveling extensively, and cooking for family and friends. She has lived abroad in Spain, France, Hungary and Sweden, spending a year in each country, and is fluent in French, Spanish, and Hungarian.
Susan earned her bachelor’s degree cum laude from Tufts University.
Jacob Darish – Youth Board Member
Jacob attended The Rashi School from K–8 and is currently a junior at Gann Academy in Waltham. He is an active leader in his school community, serving as Student Body President, Mock Trial team captain, and DECA chapter president.
He also participates in robotics and is Captain of the Gann tennis team.
Outside of school, Jacob serves on the Board of his local BBYO chapter and founded an LLC that helps businesses improve their online presence. He was introduced to JFS of Metrowest through his “Socks and Underwear Project” at Rashi and is always looking for new ways to give back. Jacob is excited to join the JFS Board and contribute to its mission.
Talia Frieze – Youth Board Member
Talia is currently a student at The Rivers School and an active member of the Jewish Affinity group. She is deeply passionate about community service and is always looking for ways to give back.
Before Rivers, Talia spent nine years at The Rashi School, where she developed a strong connection to her Jewish identity.
She is excited about the opportunity to work with JFS and make a meaningful impact in the community and in the lives of those in need.
At the close of the business portion of the meeting, Mr. Rubin—making his first remarks as Board President—took to the podium to express heartfelt gratitude. He thanked Mr. Volman and former JFS CEO Marc Jacobs for their guidance and mentorship; acknowledged Ms. Kates and the Board for their dedication and service; and extended appreciation to the evening’s speakers, presenters, the JFS executive team and staff, as well as the many volunteers and community partners who champion the agency’s mission.
Mr. Covarrubias then delivered closing remarks, offering special thanks to Ms. Kates for her outstanding and ongoing service—prompting a standing ovation from the audience. Following his thanks to all in attendance for their continued support, the meeting officially adjourned at 7:43 p.m.
*These individuals were unable to attend this year’s annual meeting and were recognized in absentia.
Click here for to see the full list of 2025/2026 JFS Board of Directors.
About JFS of Metrowest:
JFS is a community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works with over 8,000 people within the Metrowest and Greater Boston regions each year, targeting at-risk families, individuals, immigrants, and older adults aging in place. Dedicated to accelerating social, academic and health equity, JFS is:
- Increasing the ability of older adults to maximize independence and quality of life as they navigate the challenges that come with aging
- Supporting the needs of low-income students so they can thrive
- Providing safety, hope and opportunity for refugees victimized by world conflict
- Advancing equity with comprehensive assistance that empowers immigrant families to succeed
- Reducing poverty in our community with case management, basic needs assistance and employment readiness support
JFS provides the tools to meet life’s obstacles to stabilize during a crisis and optimally achieve self-sufficiency, strengthen lives, improve wellbeing, and build a stronger community. JFS’ sound fiscal management practices have earned it a 4-star rating (score=100!) from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator.