Leadership
Meet Our Experienced Team
Community Leaders
Mission Focused
The CJE senior leadership team is a dedicated group of people who bring a range of backgrounds and experiences to our mission to enhance the quality of life and facilitate independence of older adults.
Our Senior Leadership Team
Dan Fagin joined CJE in 2018 as President and Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure, Fagin has shepherded several innovative CJE ventures, including the development of Tamarisk North Shore, a luxury senior independent living residence now open in Deerfield, revival of the CJE Diversity Committee, now known as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and the partnership with Elderwerks Educational Services and VR Vision to launch Dementia Reality, a virtual training program for caregivers.
Stacey Turner serves as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of CJE. After a 30-year corporate finance career with General Electric, she made an intentional shift to the nonprofit sector, serving as the CFO of Chicago Children’s Museum for five years before joining CJE in 2023. She is currently also a member of the board of Lincoln Park Community Services, an organization providing interim shelter and services to people experiencing homelessness.
Andrea Lebovits is Vice President of Community Services at CJE. She has overall operational, financial, and strategic planning responsibility for the full range of CJE’s home and community-based services. In addition, she plays a leadership role in developing and expanding new programs and community-based initiatives. Her tenure with CJE began in the Finance Department nearly 20 years ago, where she eventually rose to director, implementing technological and operational innovations.
Jodi Portnoy is Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of CJE. She joined CJE in 2021 as Director of Strategy and Transformation Projects. Portnoy leads CJE’s strategic vision and plan, supporting development, refinement, and restructuring of its programs and services. Prior to joining CJE, she worked for more than 20 years at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, holding multiple roles and leadership positions spanning strategy, research, solution design/development, and policy implementation.
CJE welcomed back Stephanie Smerling as Vice President and Chief Development Officer in 2018. She’s responsible for managing the Development and Grants Department which raises critical funding for many of CJE’s special programs and services, along with events such as Celebrate CJE, its annual gala. Her 30 years of fundraising experience includes leadership positions at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Cancer Wellness Center, Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of the Northshore, and the Jewish Theological Seminary. Smerling previously worked at CJE in the mid-90s as the Development Director for Council for Jewish Elderly (now CJE SeniorLife).
In 2023, Paisley Valentincic was appointed Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, following her role as Vice President of Marketing and Sales since 2021. She oversees marketing, community outreach, engagement, and business development for CJE SeniorLife’s diverse range of programs, services, and residences.Our programs and services leaders.