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, President and Chief Executive Officer

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.

Just prior to coming to CJE, Fagin served as CEO of Cedar Village Retirement Community in Mason, Ohio. His extensive senior leadership experience extends to his position as COO of The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, his hometown, where he developed a new shared service organization for Jewish communal agencies and congregations and launched SAFE Cincinnati, a Jewish community security and disaster planning initiative. During his accomplished 30-year career he has also worked for Protiviti Inc, Arthur Andersen, Ernst & Young, Kettering Medical Center and Florida Hospital in managerial and information technology roles.

Fagin earned an MBA from Thomas More College and a B.S. in finance from Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
Stacey Turner, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

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.

Turner earned an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management and a B.S. in finance from Indiana University.
Andrea Lebovits, Senior Vice President and Chief Program Officer

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.
She has been the recipient of two President Awards and an Employee of the Year Award while at CJE.
Jodi Portnoy, Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer

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.

Portnoy has a strong commitment to the success of nonprofits, serving on the board of Esperanza Health Centers for eight years. She currently is on the boards for Guest House Chicago, and her synagogue, Beth Emet.

Portnoy earned a B.A. with College Honors in political science and international studies and a minor in Russian language and literature from Washington University and an MBA with Honors from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Stephanie Smerling, Vice President and Chief Development Officer

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).

Smerling is a long-time trustee for the Jewish Women’s Foundation and is currently Health Committee Chair. She’s also a member of the Academic Scholarship Committee for Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.

Smerling earned an MPH from the University of Illinois Chicago and a B.A. in sociology from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Paisley Valentincic, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer

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.

She joined CJE in 2019 as Director of Sales and Marketing to launch and lease Tamarisk NorthShore, a new independent living community managed by CJE. Prior to her time at CJE, Valentincic spent over 25 years as Director of Sales and Marketing at Lake Forest Place, a Presbyterian Homes community.

Valentincic obtained a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and brings extensive experience in the senior living and services sector.

Our programs and services leaders.

David Guthridge, Executive Director of Affordable Housing

David Guthridge is the multi-services Executive Director of CJE Affordable Housing and Director of Facilities, Operations and Maintenance for Affordable Housing since July 8, 2019. David holds specific experience in Building Envelope, Indoor Air Quality, Mechanical Assets, and Building Life Cycles. David is Co-chair of CJE SeniorLife’s Ethics Committee, and a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, and Safety Committee. He is also President of the LeadingAge Illinois Housing Cabinet and a Board Member of LeadingAge Illinois. In David’s free time, he enjoys barbequing, working with his dogs, gardening, and playing the piano, trumpet, and trombone.
David earned his Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis.
Jennifer Weininger, MHSA Executive Director, Deerfield Campus

Building relationships with residents and their families is the highlight of Jennifer’s 21-year career at CJE SeniorLife, Weinberg Community, and Tamarisk NorthShore. Her experience as a Personal Care Manager, Assistant Director, and Executive Director has given her many opportunities to guide—and learn from—the older adults in our communities and their loved ones. Jennifer feels that watching our residents create deep and meaningful friendships with each other is the most rewarding aspect of her day. Jennifer earned her Master’s in Health Administration from the University of Saint Francis.
Betsy Bauer, Human Resources Director
Sharon Dornberg-Lee, LCSW, Clinical Director of Community Services

Sharon has been with CJE since 1997. In addition to many years in which she provided psychotherapy for older adults, Sharon chairs CJE’s Professional Development Committee, supervises support and therapy groups, coordinates social work interns, oversees professional and community education, provides clinical supervision for community services staff and acts as a liaison to our government affairs partners at JUF. She has been an adjunct instructor at University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice and continues to teach in its Clinical Practice with Older Adults program. She is an executive board member of the Illinois Coalition on Mental Health and Aging.

Sharon earned her MA in Social Work from University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice.
Yonit Hoffman, PhD, Senior Director, Holocaust Community Services

Dr. Yonit Hoffman has served as the Director of Holocaust Community Services (HCS) since 2014. She oversees all program development and service provision for nearly 2,000 Holocaust survivors, supervises clinical, care management and administrative staff, and provides direct services and support groups for survivors and their families. She has served as a key advocate and facilitator in establishing community partnerships to build resources and capacity to support survivors. Dr. Hoffman has conducted numerous national and community education and trainings for professionals, lay leaders and caregivers on person-centered, trauma-informed care and the special needs of aging Holocaust survivors. She currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Holocaust Survivor Services Professionals Group of the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA). Her prior clinical work centered on trauma, loss and under-served populations in Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois. Her clinical research included studies on resilience and identity in Holocaust survivors and their descendants, which she has presented and published both nationally and internationally. Dr. Hoffman is a second and third generation descendant of Holocaust survivors and victims.
Dr. Hoffman received her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Case Western Reserve University.
Catherine Samatas, MA, Director of Business Development

Catherine Samatas is the Director of Engagement and Innovative Programming at CJE SeniorLife. She provides leadership and participates in the assessment, planning, and facilitation of programming to increase community engagement. She has experience in developing community outreach programs, managing events, and designing innovative community-based learning initiatives including evidence-based practices for healthy living. She is the creator of Dementia Reality, an experiential caregiver training program which uses virtual reality technology and role specific curriculum, for a comprehensive training program.
Cathy has BS in Psychology from Loyola University (Chicago, IL) and a MA in Psychology/Gerontology from Northeastern Illinois University (Chicago, IL).
Rich Buino, LCSW, CMC, Manager, Clinical Care Coordination

Rich Buino was recruited to CJE SeniorLife’s Your Eldercare Consultants team in 2019 after serving on CJE’s Care Management and Counseling teams. Rich takes a holistic approach to promoting older adults’ autonomy and wellbeing, using clinical skills gained from experience in individual psychotherapy, support groups, and clinical case management, as well as academic training in integrated behavioral health systems and evidence-based practices. Prior to studies in social work, Rich worked at a global consumer goods company for 17 years in the field of public relations and corporate communications, gaining transferable skills in relationship building, interviewing, crisis management, and cultural humility. In his spare time, Rich enjoys cycling, running, reading, and exploring new cultures through travel and learning Spanish.
Rich holds a Masters in Social Work from University of Illinois at Chicago and a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from DePauw University.
Leon Greenberg, Manager, Home Delivered Meals

As Manager of CJE SeniorLife’s Home-Delivered Meals program, Leon Greenberg makes sure that delicious fresh and frozen meals get produced and delivered to older adults in Chicago and the surrounding metropolitan area. Leon began his association with CJE as a volunteer at Lieberman Center assisting with shabbat services. Prior to CJE, he was Shift Supervisor of Prepared Foods at Whole Foods, where he managed the catering orders. Leon has worked in the food industry for over 10 years, including starting his own baking company that specialized in rugelach and black and white cookies, sold online and in local grocery stores. In his free time, Leon enjoys cooking for family and friends, photography, and tennis.
Leon earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from The George Washington University.
Victoria Gruber, LSW, MPA, CDP, Manager, Adult Day Services

Tori Gruber serves as the Manager of Adult Day Services with CJE SeniorLife in Evanston, providing community, socialization, and supportive services to older adults and their families. Tori has worked as an aging professional for eight years and has a passion for working with individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and their care partners.
Tori has a Masters in Social Work and a Masters in Public Administration from Florida State University.
Tamara F. Kushnir Groman, JD, Sr. Manager, Irving H. and Jane W. Goldberg Legal Services at CJE and Benefits Services

Tamara Kushnir Groman is the Senior Manager of both CJE’s Benefits Services and the Irving H. and Jane W. Goldberg Legal Services at CJE. She is a licensed attorney and has a practice background in legal services with the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago. She also worked as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable James Epstein.
Tamara received her BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from Loyola University Chicago.
Rabbi Michelle Stern, BCC, Chaplain and Manager, Spiritual and Religious Life

Rabbi Michelle Stern leads Shabbat and holiday services, shares her deep love of music by integrating it into prayer and programming, and facilitates dynamic Jewish learning sessions. In addition, she provides spiritual guidance to residents, clients, family members and staff members during transitions that occur in a health care setting. A board-certified chaplain, she has worked in numerous hospitals, nursing homes, congregations and schools on the East Coast and the US Virgin Islands. Rabbi Stern’s interest in eldercare and the intersection of spirituality and health grew during her rabbinical internships in long term care and acute care hospitals. Before joining CJE, Rabbi Stern worked as the staff chaplain in the emergency and intensive care units at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, where she also trained as a mindfulness meditation facilitator.
Rabbi Stern received her Bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College and holds a Master’s degree and ordination from the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College.
Susan M. Swanson, LCSW, Manager of Counseling Services

Susan worked at CJE from 1988 to 2002 and then from 2015 to the present and is currently the Manager of Counseling Services. Besides her current counseling role, she has provided care management, clinical supervision, and community and professional education. During her first turn at CJE, she helped launch its model care management demonstration program for community care. After leaving CJE in 2002, she developed and implemented an anti-bullying program for a local K-8 school.
Susan has an AM (MA) degree from UC SSA and received a post-graduate degree from the Center for Family Consultation.

Leadership

Meet Our Experienced Team

Community Leaders

Mission Focused

BERNARD HORWICH BUILDING

3003 W. Touhy Ave.
Chicago, IL 60645

773.508.1000