Our Agency Leadership.
Our Board of Directors and staff are comprised of committed members of our community who are dedicated to the mission of Jewish Family Service and to making a difference in the lives of those we serve.
2024-2025 Officers and Executive Committee
Marc Bakst – Chair
Rhonda Brown – Chair-Elect
David Gach – Treasurer
Danielle DePriest – Secretary
Julie Teicher – Immediate Past Chair
Jerry Frohlich – Member at Large
Jason Page – Member at Large
Julie Rothstein – Member at Large
Todd Schafer – Member at Large
Jordon Wertheimer – Member at Large
Andi Wolfe – Member at Large
Perry Ohren – Chief Executive Officer
Board of Directors
Anita Blender
Emily Camiener
Daniel Cherrin
David Eisenberg
Jeri Fishman
Michelle Freeman
Allan Gale
Bill Goldstein
Sue Hersh
Helen Katz
Lorie Kessler
Melissa Orley Lax
Randy Orley
Shelly Rubenfire
Rabbi Steven Rubenstein
Elana Schwartz
Amy Singer
Nachy Soloff
Marvin Sonne
Becca Steinman-DeGroot
Carolyn Tisdale
Renee Unger
Allison Weinmann
Past Presidents
Mina Bargman*
Jerry Bielfield*
Susan Citrin
Suzan F. Curhan
Albert M. Colman*
Marvin C. Daitch*
Sandy Muskovitz Danto
Arnold Faudman*
Marcy Feldman
Janice B. Friedlander
Joseph Garson*
Edward D. Gold
Amy Hoffman Haimann
Merle Harris*
Edythe Jackier*
John E. Jacobs*
Benjamin E. Jaffe*
Sylvia Jaffe*
Mary Lakoff*
Terran Leemis
Samuel L. Levin*
Theodore R. Levin*
John D. Marx
Mark Milgrom
Milford R. Pregerson*
Donald Rochlen
Lawrence H. Seltzer*
Max M. Shaye*
Helen Shevin*
Herbert P. Sillman*
Gilbert B. Silverman*
Abraham Srere*
Bernard Stollman*
Sheldon Stone
George M. Stutz*
Brent S. Triest
Stewart Weiner
Belle Welt*
Melville S. Welt*
Kathleen Wilson-Fink
Betsy G. Winkelman
*Of Blessed Memory
Perry Ohren, Chief Executive Officer
Perry Ohren has been the CEO of Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit (JFS) since 2011. Prior to that, since 2004, he was JFS’ Director of Older Adult Services and then its Chief Program Officer. Perry also has worked for the Jewish Federation in Detroit, directing a program helping older adults to age in place. Before that he worked for Detroit’s JVS Human Services, supervising and managing a variety of programs and services including refugee employment services, supported employment services and school to work transition. Perry started his professional career at JFS in the early 1990s as a clinical social worker in a family violence intervention program. Ohren has served on the following Boards of Directors: NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work), Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (Past Chairperson), Metro In-Home Solutions, Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, Oak Park Business and Education Alliance, Greater Detroit Network of Social Innovators, KADIMA and the Wayne State University School of Social Work Board of Visitors. He received his MSW and BA degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1984 and 1990. Ohren grew up in Cincinnati and has three young adult children.
Perry Ohren, Chief Executive Officer
Perry Ohren has been the CEO of Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit (JFS) since 2011. Prior to that, since 2004, he was JFS’ Director of Older Adult Services and then its Chief Program Officer. Perry also has worked for the Jewish Federation in Detroit, directing a program helping older adults to age in place. Before that he worked for Detroit’s JVS Human Services, supervising and managing a variety of programs and services including refugee employment services, supported employment services and school to work transition. Perry started his professional career at JFS in the early 1990s as a clinical social worker in a family violence intervention program. Ohren has served on the following Boards of Directors: NEW (Nonprofit Enterprise at Work), Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (Past Chairperson), Metro In-Home Solutions, Association of Jewish Family and Children’s Agencies, Oak Park Business and Education Alliance, Greater Detroit Network of Social Innovators, KADIMA and the Wayne State University School of Social Work Board of Visitors. He received his MSW and BA degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1984 and 1990. Ohren grew up in Cincinnati and has three young adult children.
Yuliya Gaydayenko, Chief Program Officer, Older Adult Services
Yuliya Gaydayenko, MA, LMSW is the Chief Program Officer of Older Adult Services at Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit. She has been at JFS Detroit for over 13 years and has been working in the non-profit community for the past 26 years, starting as an ESL tutor and Refugee Resettlement Coordinator at the Jewish Community Services in Flint, Michigan, where she then served as an Executive Director from 2003 to 2008. She is a past President of the Board of the Senior Regional Collaborative, member of the Transportation Options Network, and other collaborative bodies. Yuliya was selected to participate in the Practice Change Leader 2018 national fellowship program and received a prestigious Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Award for Outstanding Professional Service in 2015. Yuliya has three adult children and a young rescue dog, who filled the empty nest.
Yuliya Gaydayenko, Chief Program Officer, Older Adult Services
Yuliya Gaydayenko, MA, LMSW is the Chief Program Officer of Older Adult Services at Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit. She has been at JFS Detroit for over 13 years and has been working in the non-profit community for the past 26 years, starting as an ESL tutor and Refugee Resettlement Coordinator at the Jewish Community Services in Flint, Michigan, where she then served as an Executive Director from 2003 to 2008. She is a past President of the Board of the Senior Regional Collaborative, member of the Transportation Options Network, and other collaborative bodies. Yuliya was selected to participate in the Practice Change Leader 2018 national fellowship program and received a prestigious Mandell L. and Madeleine H. Berman Award for Outstanding Professional Service in 2015. Yuliya has three adult children and a young rescue dog, who filled the empty nest.
Jeff Lev, Chief Financial and Operating Officer
Amy Newman, Chief Development Officer
Having lived in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Jerusalem and Los Angeles, Amy Newman has called Detroit home since 2002. She has worked in some form or fashion in the Jewish community since 1993 when she realized doing so would be spiritually rewarding and could be a career. She received her BA from Indiana University in Jewish Studies and Religious Studies and a master’s degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion/Rhea Hirsch School of Education. She has worked at the Hillel Jewish Student Center on a college campus as well as in Jewish day schools and supplementary schools across the United States as teacher and an administrator. Amy has been the Chief Development Officer at Jewish Family Service since 2018. Prior to this she was the Director of Leadership Development at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Amy loves meeting new people, making connections and helping others find ways to connect meaningfully to the community and their giving. Amy is currently the co-chair of the Development Professionals Affinity Group for the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. She has three sons and is married to Max.
Amy Newman, Chief Development Officer
Having lived in Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Jerusalem and Los Angeles, Amy Newman has called Detroit home since 2002. She has worked in some form or fashion in the Jewish community since 1993 when she realized doing so would be spiritually rewarding and could be a career. She received her BA from Indiana University in Jewish Studies and Religious Studies and a master’s degree in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion/Rhea Hirsch School of Education. She has worked at the Hillel Jewish Student Center on a college campus as well as in Jewish day schools and supplementary schools across the United States as teacher and an administrator. Amy has been the Chief Development Officer at Jewish Family Service since 2018. Prior to this she was the Director of Leadership Development at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit. Amy loves meeting new people, making connections and helping others find ways to connect meaningfully to the community and their giving. Amy is currently the co-chair of the Development Professionals Affinity Group for the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies. She has three sons and is married to Max.
Dini Peterson, Chief Program Officer, Mental Health & Safety Net Services
Dini Peterson, LMSW is the Chief Program Officer of Family and Community Services. In her 10+ years at JFS, Dini has focused her career in the areas of case management and poverty alleviation in the Detroit Jewish community. She currently oversees JFS safety net and mental health services. She has also enhanced JFS’ outreach initiatives to local Orthodox Jewish communities. Dini received the Meyerhoff Early Career Professional Fellowship and currently serves on local boards addressing food insecurity and other basic needs throughout Oakland County. Dini lives in Oak Park with her husband and three young children.
Dini Peterson, Chief Program Officer, Mental Health & Safety Net Services
Dini Peterson, LMSW is the Chief Program Officer of Family and Community Services. In her 10+ years at JFS, Dini has focused her career in the areas of case management and poverty alleviation in the Detroit Jewish community. She currently oversees JFS safety net and mental health services. She has also enhanced JFS’ outreach initiatives to local Orthodox Jewish communities. Dini received the Meyerhoff Early Career Professional Fellowship and currently serves on local boards addressing food insecurity and other basic needs throughout Oakland County. Dini lives in Oak Park with her husband and three young children.