Our professional and volunteer leaders bring a wealth of experience and expertise, reflecting the unparalleled diversity and dynamism of Eastern Connecticut’s Jewish community. They work side by side with our professional staff to address today’s most pressing problems and plan for tomorrow.
Gabe Stern became President of JFEC in June 2021 having served in various capacities as a JFEC board member and officer for thirty years. Gabe is employed as a Director at CMEEC, serves on the Board of the southeastern Connecticut Enterprise Region (seCTer), is President of Technology for Connecticut (TECHCONN) and is an officer for Thames Yacht Club. Gabe and his wife Kathleen are members of Congregation Beth El and Beth Jacob synagogues and reside in Gales Ferry.
Rachel has been working in the Jewish community for more than 25 years. She is a transformational leader who has focused her efforts on fundraising, leadership development, and community building. For the past decade, Rachel has served as the Director of the Network of Independent Communities where she traveled to more than 22 states as a Jewish Federation consultant for the country including Boise, Bloomington and Burlington. Rachel received her Bachelors in Judaic Studies and Psychology from Brown University. She was awarded a Wexner Graduate Fellowship towards her Masters in Nonprofit Management at Columbia University with the goal of becoming a Jewish Federation Executive. She has served in the roles of Young Leadership, Women’s Division and Major Gifts, Grant Writer and Corporate Sponsorship Director for the Jewish Federations in Boston, New York, and Northern New Jersey. Rachel’s roots span across four generations in Connecticut and began when her great-grandparents Tessie and Reuben Alexander moved from Poland to Norwich in 1905. Tessie owned the La France Shop in downtown Norwich. Rachel loves to travel and organized Jewish Federation Missions to Israel, Minsk, Tbilisi, and Cuba over the past few years. She is looking forward to getting involved in our community and meeting everyone. Please reach out and welcome her.
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