Roselle Ungar announced as new JFS executive director

By ALAN SMASON

Roselle Ungar, the most recent president of the Jewish Family Service of Greater New Orleans (JFS), was hired on Wednesday as the agency’s executive director, effective January 28. Ungar, a fundraiser and former registered nurse (R.N.), takes over the position from Michael Steiner, who is on longterm medical leave.

New JFS executive director Roselle Ungar takes over on January 28. (Photo courtesy of JFS)

Ungar, a New Orleans native and a certified fundraising executive with credentials from CFRE International, brings with her more than 30 years of experience to JFS, whose overarching mission is “dedicated to preserving, strengthening and enhancing the well-being and self sufficiency of individuals and families.”

Contacted by the CCJN, Ungar said she was pleased to be able to take over such a major community agency, whose many programs include individual and group counseling, the suicide awareness and prevention program Teen Life Counts, the Lifeline emergency response system and many others.

“I’m thrilled,” she said. “It’s exciting and (I’m) happy to be working within the jewish world again, especially with an agency that makes such a tremendous difference in people’s lives every day.”

Besides her volunteer post at JFS, Ungar has enjoyed a highly visible career in New Orleans working closely with non-profit organizations in helping develop management skills, leadership training, donor relations and community outreach. She has recently served as the owner-consultant of Strategic Nonprofit Consulting, a firm she founded in 2013.

Prior to that, Ungar served as the director of Community and Philanthropic Affairs for Crescent Bank and Trust, a post she kept for six years. She and her husband Stanley also operate Stanley’s Jewelers.

Ungar has been involved with several professional organizations in the New Orleans community and is slated to take over at the president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals next year. She is a former National Vice President of Hadassah, a current member of its National Board as a Development Division Coordinator, and was a co-chair of last summer’s National Convention held in Las Vegas, NV.

A former interim executive director of Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans, Ungar has also served as the second woman president of Orthodox Congregation Beth Israel and was credited with organizing its capital campaign that resulted in the rebuilding of the synagogue’s sanctuary in Metairie following the destruction from flooding associated with Hurricane Katrina. She has also volunteered with numerous other organizations including the Cancer Crusaders and the Louisiana State Museum.

A graduate from the Touro Infirmary School of Nursing, Ungar worked as an R.N. for many years. Her interests in fundraising led her to study and be certified as a CFRE in 2008. Only 4,127 individuals hold such a credential in the U.S.

Steiner has been on a medical leave for some time and his phone voicemail has indicated he would not be able to answer queries.

According to a press release from JFS, incoming president Julie Wise Oreck convened her first meeting on Wedesday, January 21 and was prepared to have a search committee continue the process to find a new executive director, when she was informed by Ungar of her interest in the position. According to the statement, Ungar’s resumé was more impressive than the credentials of other potential candidates.

“We are thrilled with this selection and know that Roselle will be a superlative leader for the agency,” Oreck said.

“It is such an honor for me to take on this role,” Ungar said. “JFS is an agency that changes people’s lives and I look forward to being a part of making a difference through this organization’s great work.”

JFS was founded in 1948, following the closure of the Jewish Children’s Home. JFS has offices in Metairie, Uptown New Orleans and the Northshore and serves people of all faiths.

A constituent agency of the Jewish Federation, it is also a partner agency of the United Way of Southeast Louisiana.