Profiles Archives - Page 3 of 19 - My Jewish Detroit
January 6, 2020
Next Up
A lifelong Detroiter and a community builder at large, Matt Lester will step up as the next President to serve Federation when his term begins in September 2020. An attorney with 25 years in real estate development and management, Matt is Founder and CEO of Princeton Enterprises, a company that has become a well-known name in Greater Detroit, while expanding property operations in fifteen states across the Midwest and Southeast.
Beyond the realm of business, Matt has turned his focus towards community development for nearly 20 years - as Federation’s Annual Campaign Chair and an Executive Board Member, as well as in service to numerous boards including the American Joint Distribution Committee, Jewish Senior Life, Kadima, The Jewish Fund, BBYO, Yad Ezra, Forgotten Harvest, Tamarack Camps, United Jewish Foundation, Project Healthy Community, Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Spare time? Matt manages to find it and cherish it with his family, Michigan football, traveling and the simple pleasures of farming on his property in northern Michigan.
December 5, 2019
The Doctor Is In
An advocate for kids, an ambassador for reducing the stigma still associated with mental illness . . . that’s how Lilly Jacobson sees her role in the community these days. And her days are full. A clinical psychologist, formerly affiliated with Children’s Hospital of Michigan and currently in private practice, as well as the Chair of Federation’s Youth Mental Health Initiative, Lilly has made it her goal to educate the community about current mental health issues and to reach young people (and those who love and influence them) with positive messages of self-worth. “We need to talk about depression and anxiety as major health problems among our youth,” she affirms. “Too many of our children are struggling in silence. We Need to Talk – a Federation initiative in partnership with the community – has become our call to action.”
November 1, 2019
Leap of Faith
All in: That’s Scott Kaufman. Absolutely, positively, whole-heartedly, Scott has been all in at the helm of the Detroit Federation. It’s been 10 years, a long time in a challenging job. And now? He’s stepping away from his day-to-day role in an astonishing, bold move. Call it a mid-career reboot – a self-imposed opportunity to reset his focus on community initiatives in development and see them to fruition. “Jewish communal work is in my blood,” Scott says. “I was the right leader for the times, but the time is right for me to step aside and share the lessons I’ve learned. Federation is in a great place for others to step in and lead in new directions. I’m not walking away from our community. I remain here for our community. And all in.”
October 1, 2019
Out, Open and Welcoming
Mother and father. Sister and brother. She. He. They are a family: Richard and Roz Keith – husband and wife, partners in business and proud parents of two young adults, Danielle, an MSU grad and holistic health coach in Boca Raton, FL, and Hunter, now a junior at Eastern Michigan, majoring in psychology. Each in his, her, their way has embraced change in their family roles to become wiser, gentler and smarter about gender identity.
September 1, 2019
Connected and Wired to Help
Outgoing and genuinely interested in people . . . a true friend and mentor. A trusted advisor, compassionate listener and astute observer of all who seek his counsel. A strategic planner and innovator in business and wealth management. A fundraiser, inspiring others to follow his lead in philanthropy; a creative thinker, problem solver and ready volunteer through more than four decades of service to the community, in partnership with his wife, Susie. An engaging storyteller who loves to make people laugh. Seriously. This is Norm Pappas - joining the ranks of Federation’s legendary leaders: the 2019 recipient of the Fred M. Butzel Award.
