The Tucson Jewish Community Center’s Susan Frank and Julie Zorn have been chosen to participate in LEAP (Leadership Enrichment and Advancement Program), a Jewish Community Center Association continental leadership program meant to enhance leadership skills and allow participants to advance professionally within the field. They are two of only 22 selected nationally from nine JCCs participating in JCC Association’s Talent Management pilot program.
Susan and Julie participated in the first LEAP Summit in March in Orlando, FL. “We are honored to be a part of the Talent Management Pilot and thrilled to have both Susan and Julie taking part in LEAP,” says Tucson J President and CEO Todd Rockoff. “We can already see the positive results since their return from the first seminar. As they learn, the rest of the team learns alongside of them, and in the end the community benefits.”
Susan is the Tucson J’s director of health and wellness; she says the first LEAP Summit exceeded her expectations. “It has already changed the way I work with my colleagues and staff. LEAP will change how I work currently and will be a key part of my development as a JCC professional.”
Julie, the J’s Jewish culture specialist, agrees. “Taking part in LEAP has been the single most valuable experience in my professional career so far,” she says. “The program teaches that we are really at our best when we lead from our strengths.”
JCCA developed the Talent Management program to aid JCCs in recruiting, identifying and retaining the best employees, who will then lead the JCCs to continued success. The program launched in September with nine JCCs participating in the pilot.
“JCC Association is investing in Talent Management and the growth and development of JCC staff, which is very important for the ongoing health of our JCCs,” says Joy Brand-Richardson, JCCA associate vice president. “We understand that we can provide critical assistance to JCCs and staff by identifying leadership ability and providing ongoing support and education to capitalize on it.”
LEAP participants will continue through the year with distance-learning projects and webinars to enhance their leadership skills.
Lynn Davis, the Tucson J’s director of arts and culture, says, “Opportunities such as LEAP are an invaluable way to connect with JCC colleagues from around the country and gain a better sense of the Tucson J’s place within the nationwide JCC movement. I know that Susan and Julie will benefit from this experience in ways that they can’t yet imagine, and that they will inspire all of us with the new things they learn.”
