After months of searching, the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City has hired a new president and CEO. Helene Lotman, Ph.D. will begin her new duties on May 2. She will replace Todd Stettner, who announced his retirement in February 2014.
Dr. Lotman has held senior executive positions for more than 20 years in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, in industries including philanthropy, healthcare, venture capital, financial services and professional associations. Most recently she served as executive vice president and chief talent officer for the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, where she developed a leadership succession initiative and served as co-interim chief executive officer.
“Helene’s ability to successfully build teams and meaningful relationships with all community stakeholders will take the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City to the next level,” says John Isenberg, chair of the Jewish Federation’s board of directors. “Her passion for the Jewish people combined with her expertise in organizational leadership and development makes her a valuable asset to the Kansas City Jewish community. I am confident she will help us continue to fulfill our mission of sustaining and enhancing Jewish life at home and around the world.”
Dr. Lotman’s accomplishments include building a successful management consulting business, implementing a regionally accredited doctoral program in organizational leadership, and serving as the associate director of the Sarasota-Manatee Jewish Federation, where she developed the Women’s Division. She also coordinated international exchange efforts in education — including a program between Temple University and Haifa University — and has led more than 30 trips to Israel.
“I’m very thrilled and excited to come to Kansas City and to be so warmly received and I look forward to doing great things with the Federation and the Jewish community as a whole,” Dr. Lotman said from her office in Palm Beach on Tuesday.
Dr. Lotman, a native of Philadelphia, holds master’s and doctoral degrees from Temple University.
Current President and CEO Stettner has served Jewish Federation here for more than 16 years. He was to retire in September 2015, however in June he was asked to stay while the search for his successor continued.
