Need help now? Call our helpline.

Staff & Board

Meet the Jewish Family Services of Rochester’s staff and Board of Directors.

Our Leadership Team

Deb Rosen, LCSW

President & CEO                                                          585-461-0110 ext. 1120

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Betsy Bringewatt, PhD

Chief Strategy Officer 
585-506-3069

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Barbara Connor

Chief Administrative Officer
585-506-3056

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Kristen Lang

Chief Financial Officer
585-506-3066

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Carly Layton, PMP

VP, Marketing & Communications
JFS Media Contact
585-645-2825

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Dee Schwartz, LMSW, C-ASWCM

Chief Program Officer
585-506-3072

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Heather Starks, LCSW

Clinical Director
585-562-9771

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Staff Directory

The JFS Helpline is available for anyone in the Rochester area who has a need, connecting them to resources such as food, basic needs, mental health & wellness, support for parents & families, and aging services. 

Call 585-461-0114 Mon-Fri; 8:30 am-5 pm, email helpline@jfsrochester.org, or fill out our online form. The Helpline is continuously monitored by our team, and we aim to respond to your inquiries within 24 hours, weekdays, Monday – Friday.

Locations

Jewish Family Services
255 East Avenue Suite 201,
Rochester, NY 14604 (Map)
(585) 461-0110

Pencils & Paper
1099 Jay Street
Water Tower Park; Bldg. N, Dock 9
Rochester, NY 14611 (Map)
(585) 736-4610

The NORC at Ellison Park Apartments
31B Bobrich Drive
Rochester, NY 14610 (Map)
(585) 288-3442

Brighton Food Cupboard 
220 Idlewood Road, Door #16
Rochester, NY 14618 (Map)
(585) 271-5355

JFS at the Rochester Highlands
47 Green Knolls
Rochester, NY 14620 (Map)
(585) 216-1887 ext. 2

The Counseling Center at JFS
441 East Ave,
Rochester, NY 14607 (Map)
(585) 506-3064

Board Members

Officers

Marc Solomon – Chair
Lorraine Braveman – Vice President
Michalene Kinsler – Chair Elect
Bill Nelkin – Treasurer
Oren Harary – Asst. Treasurer
Steve Levinson – Secretary

Board of Directors

Stuart Baker
Fatima Banister, LCSW
Debi Brenner
Samantha Colson, MSW, MS, IMH-E
Joel Elliot
Camille Verbofsky
Dr. Lea Goldstein
Victoria Goldstein
Debbie Gordon
Monica Gurell
Susan Kramarsky
Steven Levinson
Rosemarie Levy  
Ellen Poleshuck
Lynda Newman
Jocelyn Torres, Esq       
Fran Weisberg 

Past Presidents

Lisa Tellem
Elyse Gilman, Esq.
Marc Reich
Bill Nelkin
Scott Rogoff, Esq.
James S. Grossman, Esq.
Steven Levinson
Donald J. Onimus
Michael L. Harf
Nina Kalen
Robert R. Lebman
Susan Kramarsky
Beth Bruner*
Sanford Liebschutz*
Steven I. Hurok
Douglas J. Lustig, Esq.
Hinda Rotenberg Miller
Dr. Martin Rosenberg*
Elaine Simon
Sherwin B. Weinstein
Linda S. Weinstein
John L. Goldman
Hon. Richard D. Rosenbloom*
Dr. Bernard Isaacson*
Justin Vigdor, Eq.
Robert M. Berman*
Dr. Harold N. Fine*
Charlotte S. Reich*
Maurice M. Fromer*
Dr. Harold Feldman*
Manuel D. Goldman*
Samuel Sturman*
Joseph E. Silverstein*
Dr. Solomon J. Applebaum*
Dr. Jacob Kominz*

Interested in Getting Involved with JFS?

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Jewish Family Services

Jewish Family Services
255 East Ave, Suite 201
Rochester, NY 14604
T: (585) 461-0110
F: (585) 461-9658

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Jewish Family Services is an equal opportunity provider. | © 2023 JEWISH FAMILY SERVICES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Deb Rosen

President/CEO
585-461-0110 ext. 1120

As President and CEO, Deb oversees agency strategy and performance, ensuring that all activities are aligned with the agency’s mission and vision. Deb received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and has practiced as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Wisconsin and New York State. Deb has extensive experience as a human services leader, having held numerous leadership positions in governmental and nonprofit organizations. Deb has focused significantly on the needs of children and families involved in the child welfare and mental health systems and brings a family systems perspective to the agency’s work across the lifespan. Deb has also been deeply engaged in the marketing, fundraising, governance, and public policy components of agency leadership. 

Betsy Bringewatt, PhD

Chief Program Officer of Child and Family Services
585-506-3069

Betsy oversees a wide range of programs that serve children and families in our community. Betsy came to JFS with years of experience providing consultation and evaluation for programs that support children and families, primarily around early childhood, children’s mental health, child welfare, and parenting.  She has a Master’s in Social Work and a Ph.D. in Social Work and Sociology from the University of Michigan. Her dissertation involved a qualitative analysis of how children diagnosed with mental health disorders learn about and experience their diagnoses, and how parents can be supported in this process.

Barbara Connor

Chief Administrative Officer
585-506-3056

After volunteering at several local non-profits, Barbara knew her calling was to work for a non-profit agency. Fast forward 25 years, Barbara is so very thankful to continue being part of the JFS Family. She is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations within the organization including human resources, marketing and policy oversite.

Kristen Lang

Chief Financial Officer
585-506-3066

Kristen earned her Masters of Science in Accounting at the University of Buffalo in 2005. She was an auditor at Lumsden CPA of Buffalo, NY from 2005 until 2013 when she joined the JFS Family. Kristen lives with her husband and two boys on their micro farm with chickens, sheep, dogs and a couple of goldfish. She loves running, hiking and being outside with her boys. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve my community in my daily work and I love finding ways to stretch the greatest amount of good out of each dollar.”

Carly Layton

Vice President, Marketing & Communications
JFS Media Contact
585-645-2825

Carly has managed PR, communication, and marketing programs for local and national clients at agencies in New York City and Rochester and has led marketing teams for some of Rochester’s largest child and family-serving organizations. She is an experienced PMP certified project manager with 20+ years leading successful programs in the non-profit, CPG, consumer tech, B2B, higher education, and health sectors

Dee Schwartz, LMSW, C-ASWCM

Chief Program Officer of Aging, Essential and Inclusion Services
585-506-3072

Dee is a licensed Master of Social Work as well as a certified advanced social work case manager. Dee has over 10 years of experience working at Jewish Family Service, previously as a care manager and then as a director. Dee believes that all individuals and families of all abilities should have the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential. This is accomplished by developing and overseeing programs that promote compassion, inclusivity, trust, responsiveness, accessibility, and in partnerships with the community. Dee is a member of the Greater Rochester Area Partnership for the Elderly Program (GRAPE), and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW).

Heather Starks, LCSW

Clinical Director
585-562-9771

Heather has spent her career as a social worker in the child and family serving systems across the Greater Rochester area, providing supervision and direct clinical services to a diverse population of youth, adults, parents, and families.  Heather utilizes a holistic, collaborative, person-centered approach focusing on individual strengths and needs coupled with developing skills and resilience.  Heather is highly skilled in areas of mediation, conflict resolution and life transitions. Heather draws upon a trauma-informed approach and training that includes Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, and Functional Behavioral Approach. As a trained yoga teacher, she incorporates mindfulness and overall mental wellness with individuals. At JFS Heather provides leadership to the counseling center, clinical consultation to staff and community partners and sees individuals for counseling.