The Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City announced last week that Hava Leipzig Holzhauer will assume the role of interim president and CEO until a permanent CEO is found.
This announcement came as past president and CEO Dr. Helene Lotman stepped down from her position. Holzhauer will start on Jan. 15, 2023.
“[Holzhauer], who is certified in Interim nonprofit leadership, will help our organization run smoothly and move us forward throughout this transition period as we prepare for a permanent CEO,” Board Chair Amanda Morgan said. “She will work closely with the Board and Federation staff to ensure stability and consistency of operations during the search for our next president and CEO.”
Holzhauer grew up in the Chicago area and practiced law in both Illinois and Florida. Her areas of practice have included employment and contracts, among others. Ten years ago, she shifted from legal practice to nonprofit leadership when she was hired to run the Anti-Defamation League statewide in Florida. Most recently, she has served in an interim capacity as inaugural executive director of the Konar Center for Tolerance and Jewish Studies at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York. While there, she identified community members to participate in the newly formed advisory council, secured relationships to provide ongoing funding, created collaborative programs and working groups to promote civil discourse to ease community tensions and encourage inclusivity, and led the search to hire a new permanent executive director.
As a lay leader and volunteer in the Jewish community, she co-chaired a Jewish Federation Super Sunday, served on the Jewish Community Relations Council’s (JCRC) Executive Committee and was the first community security liaison. She is a Wexner Heritage Alum and a Wexner Fellow in Gender Equity and Safety in the Jewish Workplace. She is also a graduate of Hadassah’s Leadership Academy.
“Hava will work closely with the current Jewish Federation staff and incoming Board Chair Beth Liss, who are all dedicated and united in moving us forward as we start the new year,” Morgan said. “We look forward to Hava’s arrival and working together with her in the coming months.”
