Q&A with JFCS’ new CEO Amy Weiss
Leading the agency through expansion and navigating turbulent times in the community
Amy Weiss became JFCS’ new CEO on Jan. 1. It happened to be the same day that the agency officially became Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota, following its acquisition of Jewish Family Service of St. Paul. On top of this expansion, her first few months in the role have come during a very difficult time in the Twin Cities community. She recently spoke about starting in the CEO role and her goals for the agency’s future:
Why did the CEO role appeal to you?
I came to JFCS in 2018, first as the Director of Community Services – a role where I had six different community programs in my portfolio. I had a connection to each of those programs, and I couldn’t believe my good fortune to have the opportunity to lead and grow them with and for the community. I then transitioned to the Chief Program Officer role, which allowed me to work with all our 30+ programs. I’ve stayed at JFCS for these last eight years because of our mission, the people I’ve had a chance to work with, and the impact JFCS makes in the community every day.
The opportunity to become CEO, the first CEO of Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota, was really a dream come true. I’d be remiss if I didn’t credit former CEO Judy Halper for her leadership and mentorship in encouraging professional growth and development throughout the organization. This leadership transition and the acquisition of Jewish Family Service of St. Paul (JFS) is a once-in-a-lifetime moment for the organization. We are privileged to expand programs, increase access, and deepen our presence in a wider geographic area and I am honored to lead the work.
As someone who has held several leadership roles, how would you describe your leadership style/philosophy? How do you intend to implement it in your new role?
Our values of compassion, inclusion, innovation, integrity, and collaboration are the framework of my leadership philosophy. JFCS has a history of innovation – rising and adapting to meet changing community needs. That only happens when you center the focus on the people – our employees, volunteers, and donors. All of us are working together toward a common goal to serve clients and the community with inclusive compassion, dignity, and integrity.
What are your broad goals for the newly-expanded agency, both in the short-term and long-term?
Initially our short-term goals are to successfully integrate the JFCS and JFS staff so that we are united in creating a culture and community where they can bring their full selves to work in support of our clients. Ideally, this will feel seamless to clients and they will experience our holistic approach to providing service to clients and program participants.
Longer-term, our goals are to expand the programs, deepening our presence in the Jewish and broader community. Our vision of Here for all. Always is just that – a promise to the community to provide essential services to people of all ages, sustain healthy relationships, ease suffering, and offer support in times of need.
How do you plan to cultivate and expand JFCS’ network of volunteers and donors?
Our work is only possible because of the thousands of volunteers and donors that have made JFCS a priority for their time, financial resources, and talents. The volunteers and donors are part of the community, so we have an important vested interest in the success of each other. As Paul Wellstone (z”l) said, “We all do better when we all do better.” I have already gotten to know many of our volunteers and donors and I’ll be spending additional time in the community listening and sharing about the 30+ programs available at JFCS.
When I talk to donors and volunteers, I often hear stories about how JFCS helped their family or how they started volunteering as a child with their family or as a member of NextGen. Their stories and their involvement are an important part of who we are and what we can accomplish. We now have more than 1,200 volunteers that give their time and talent to help us better serve the community and thousands of donors all helping us achieve our mission.
This winter has been a period of both transition for JFCS and severe challenges in the local and national political climate – how do you prioritize what to focus on to ensure success for JFCS?
There are the day-to-day operational goals of an organization and then there is the reality of running a non-profit during times of uncertainty and increased need. At the end of the day, our decisions and how we prioritize the work come back to our strategic plan, our values and centering our people. JFCS is the organization that it is because of the people – staff, donors, volunteers, clients, participants – however people choose to engage with us.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and reading.
Anything else you would like to add?
I am honored to serve as Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota’s CEO and look forward to building on our legacy and commitment to the community.