It’s telling that when approaching Mike Fine, President of the JFCS Board of Directors, for an interview, his response was, “Anything for JFCS.” Mike’s dedication to our organization is palpable when speaking with him and over the years he has become one of JFCS’s most enthusiastic ambassadors. Let’s learn a little more about Mike!
Q: Tell us about your journey to Louisville.
A: I grew up in Miami, Florida, went to college in St. Louis and attended law school in Philadelphia. After spending over a decade practicing law and bouncing between Chicago and Washington, D.C., our family settled down in Louisville in 2015. We moved here for my wife’s career opportunity and now she is a tenured professor at the University of Louisville. I joined the law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP and am now an equity partner. I’m sorry it took us so long to get to here.
Q: How did you get involved with JFCS?
A: In 2017, I was selected as a Leadership Louisville Center Bingham Fellow, alongside former JFCS Executive Director, Judy Freundlich Tiell. (Fun fact: JFCS Board of Directors Vice President, Jim Ensign, was also in that Bingham Fellows Class – best class ever!) After learning about JFCS from Judy, I knew I wanted to connect with this amazing community organization. I started by participating in family mitzvah volunteer projects with my daughters and eventually joined the Board of Directors.
Q: How would you describe yourself in one word?
A: Creative. In my legal practice, I advise nonprofit organizations on complex corporate and tax issues. I’m always looking for solutions through an innovative lens, whether it be at work, home or in my volunteer leadership service at JFCS.
Q: Can you describe your favorite moment at JFCS?
A: As Board President, I was a member of the search committee that hired our current CEO, David L. Finke, Ph.D. One evening, near the end of our interview process, the search committee members and David shared a meal together and discussed our agency’s future. We got to know David on a much deeper level and driving home I knew he was the right choice.
Q: If you could swap jobs with someone at JFCS, who would it be and why?
A: I would be interested in attempting to fill the shoes of our receptionist, Anita Jarboe. It would be fun to welcome people to our agency and play air traffic controller.
Q: What do you want our community to know about JFCS?
A: We’re not just for Jewish people. JFCS is here to help everyone. While JFCS is a place for the Jewish community to live their values, only 25% of our clients are Jewish. We serve all in Greater Louisville, regardless of religious background.
Thanks to Mike for his dedication and service to JFCS!
If you haven’t looked at your bio on professional networking and social media platforms lately, then today’s the day to make sure that you are presenting yourself and your brand in the best way possible. Our JFCS Career Counselors have some great advice. Read below, and then take a few minutes to make some edits – you never know where it will lead!
When building and communicating your branded bio, consider the following questions:
- What sets you apart? What makes you different and what key areas differentiate you and what you do?
- What is your promise of value? What value do you bring to those who work with you, around you, or potentially hire you?
- What do you do and how do you do it? (This is what makes your promise of value come alive!)
By asking and answering these questions, you can help craft your bio and communicate your personal brand in a consistent way. If you need more assistance in updating your bio or translating that brand into a resume that will get noticed by recruiters, contact JFCS Career Services today at services@jfcslouisville.org.
Embracing, Empowering & Employing Greater Louisville & Beyond
In January of 2022, JFCS joined over nineteen other Jewish nonprofits across the country to create Project EM, a national initiative to support job seekers through holistic methods. Supported by the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies and the Jewish Federations of North America, Project EM aims not just to employ job seekers, but to embrace and empower them to achieve their goals. We understand that each job seeker is an individual with their own unique needs. Through interactive workshops, career exploration and job search preparation services and wraparound services from JFCS and other local organizations, we not only can help Project EM clients find jobs but address various life challenges that can be impacting their overall well-being. Remote career counseling and online workshops expand our reach, so anyone in Greater Louisville and beyond can benefit from our services. Project EM aligns directly with JFCS and our family strengthening approach – working with clients in a holistic way to foster the resilience they need to face life’s challenges with confidence.
Meet Cindy Key – Project EM Career Counselor
Leading Project EM at JFCS is Career Counselor Cindy Key. Joining JFCS in 2020, Cindy brings over twenty years of experience as a transition strategist, career counselor/coach and executive coach. She helps individuals from all walks of life, a vast array of industries and many countries, focus to align their skills, interests and experience, then communicate and leverage their unique value, to create new meaningful employment, find job opportunities, gain a promotion, start a business or achieve important personal goals. Transforming work, a job, or any situation, begins with small individual actions and connection. Cindy’s holistic focus begins with the needs and goals of the individual. Her experience allows her to guide with résumés, interviews, job searching, salary negotiations, labor market research, exploring careers, navigating challenging career transitions, and more depending on an individual’s goals and needs.
Community Connections: Kris’s Story
Kris was referred to JFCS by a local counselor after taking a leave of absence from their job for three months. Kris wanted to find a part-time opportunity that was safe, less physical and less stressful than their previous positions. JFCS worked with Kris to identify their interests and prepare for a job search with resume, interviewing and networking skills. JFCS connected Kris with a partner organization that aligns with their interests and within just one month, Kris met their goal of securing a part-time position with benefits. JFCS worked with Kris in a holistic way to identify the type of position they needed to meet their goals. Utilizing community partners and referrals, JFCS strengthened our relationships and Kris expanded their opportunities.
JFCS and Project EM are here to support job seekers in Greater Louisville and beyond. If you or someone you know are unemployed or underemployed, schedule an appointment with us today to embark on your new career path!
When you combine the JFCS Family Strengthening approach with a deserving family, compassionate organizer and a generous donor, the opportunity for a day of fun and normalcy can make all the difference. Most importantly, it reminds us of the power of community.
Resilience & the Family Strengthening Approach
Last December, Jasmine and her family of 7 survived the devastating tornadoes in Mayfield, KY but sadly lost their home and had to relocate to Louisville. The family has been living in a hotel while searching for permanent housing, job searching and ensuring the children were able to attend school.
Through a referral from JCPS’s Family Resource & Youth Service Center, Jasmine and her family worked with JFCS Lead Case Manager Liza Kerr to set short- and long-term goals. The JFCS Family Strengthening Approach provided holistic support to Jasmine and her family, coordinating internally and externally with services and resources specific to their needs. Liza walked alongside them every step of the way, helping them create a new path and life in Louisville. After several months, the children have successfully finished the school year and both Jasmine and her husband have secured stable jobs. The family is set to move into permanent housing later this month.
Connecting Clients & the Community
Gabe Stein, a local high school student, noticed a need in the community and an easy way to bring joy into the lives of children. His charitable organization, Ticket Donor, helps connect unused tickets to local sporting events to clients of JFCS. This win-win situation helps donors utilize otherwise unused tickets and children and families across Louisville benefit.
When Gabe and Ticket Donor secured tickets to a Louisville Bats game, we offered them to Jasmine and her family. They were able to enjoy a day of family fun at the ballpark – well deserved after all they have endured and the resilience they’ve shown since relocating to Louisville. We hope they enjoy more Bats games together in the future!
This is what community looks like. Working together to lift one another up and create a Greater Louisville where ALL live with dignity and purpose.