CEO ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT, BOARD NAMES INTERIM CO-CEOS AND LEADERSHIP SUCCESSION PLAN
Cincinnati — Jewish Family Service CEO Liz Vogel announced she will retire on August 28. With Vogel’s full support, COO Linda Kean and Chief Services Officer Ann Sutton Burke have been named Interim Co-CEOs. Both are experienced and versatile leaders.
“We have been prepared for any succession scenario and had a strong plan in place. JFS is in wonderful hands with Linda, Ann, the staff and the board all working together,” said Ellen Feld, president of the board.
Kean plans to retire after a new CEO has been onboarded. Kean’s current position of COO will be restructured and a new position for a Vice President of Operations will be posted promptly.
“We are grateful to Liz Vogel for her eight years of dedicated, passionate, and thoughtful service to Jewish Family Service,” said Feld.
Vogel is leaving JFS in an excellent position financially and organizationally. She has grown the organization and built a strong, efficient, and empathetic team. Under her tenure, Jewish Family Service created significant and innovative offerings in Youth Mental Health Services for children and young adults, K’vod Connect’s services for connecting older adults, and Adult Day Services’ support for older adults with memory challenges. On the organizational side, Vogel also secured two significant milestones: JFS was approved as a Medicaid provider and received an impressive three-year accreditation from CARF International.
The board has set up a transition team, which is charged with creating, managing, and executing the succession plan. Under its leadership, a search committee has been formed and will begin a nationwide CEO search in the next few weeks.
“I’ll miss my colleagues, supporting the mission of JFS, and helping the people we serve,” said Vogel. “I have also never been more confident that JFS is and will continue to be a successful and growing organization that adapts to meet our community’s needs.”
Interim Co-CEO Linda Kean said, “Our leadership team is strong. Together, Ann and I have 49 years of combined experience. We will honor Liz’s legacy by making sure that JFS’s work will continue and grow with efficiency and thoughtfulness during this transition.”
“This is a good and planned-for evolution,” said Interim Co-CEO Ann Sutton Burke. “Our team has incredible heart and expertise, and the team as well as community connections Liz has built will remain strong.”
