Gayle Levin has become a fashionable fixture at The Jewish Community Center. Whether leading strategy meetings with staff or getting her hands dirty setting up a cultural event, Levin has been involved with The J since 1988. Currently the chief operating officer, Levin will step away from all things “J” in Kansas City when she retires this fall and moves with her husband Ron to Scottsdale, Arizona.
Gayle began her adult connection with The J in 1988 when she and Ron were asked to co-chair the membership and marketing committee.
“That call set so many things in motion that I would never have anticipated,” Levin said. “That call led us to co-chairing the committee, followed by Ron going on the board and both of us co-chairing the first Jewish Arts Festival with two other couples.”
Levin joined The J’s board of directors in the 1990s and spent nine years on the board serving as various committee chairs and as an officer.
“That all laid the foundation of how I got to where I am today,” she said.
Not only were the Levins involved in The J leadership, but their sons Jarret and Blaine graduated from the Child Development Center and participated in the after-school program as well as summer camp. Son Blaine later went on to become a senior camp counselor.
Prior to joining The J staff in July 2011, Levin worked in the private sector in the areas of project management, professional development and training. When the opportunity to join The J management presented itself, she jumped at it.
“Combining my passion for The J and my business acumen in a leadership role at The J was truly a pinnacle of my career,” she said. “Being able to make a difference at a place that means so much to me has been a dream come true!”
Upon joining The J, Levin became the first (and only) director of Organizational Enrichment. In that role, she was responsible for a diverse portfolio focusing on The J staff professional development, internal communications, performance and risk management, employee recognition and new employee onboarding. In March 2016, Levin was named as assistant executive director; in 2018 she assumed her current title of COO. Levin took on the responsibilities of overseeing the directors of the Child Development Center, school age programs and camp, Heritage Center, Arts + Culture, Jewish Experiences, Family Engagement and marketing.
“Sometimes in life, things just work out beautifully,” said Jim Sluyter, The J’s president and CEO. “When the assistant executive director position became available in 2016, Gayle was the obvious and natural choice for the position. I have been blessed to work with Gayle for the past 20 years in both a volunteer capacity and, most recently, as co-workers. Gayle has been involved in almost every facet of the organization over the years and her leadership at The J will be sorely missed.”
Levin has thoroughly enjoyed being part of The J team-both as a volunteer and as staff. She has many special memories of her life with The J.
“Seeing those tents going up for the first Jewish Arts Festival and then seeing thousands of people pouring in was a highlight,” she said.
Another highlight? The interaction with J employees.
“Initiating the first all-employee meeting at The J was a milestone,” said Levin. “Bringing together more than 225 J staff who may not have known each other nor had interactions with each other and meeting their fellow J staff family was impactful.”
With Levin’s announced retirement, The J is beginning the search for her replacement. The COO position is a senior member of the J executive team. The J is looking for someone with at least seven years’ experience in operations management within complex organizations. The COO partners with the CEO on various aspects of leadership development and strategic planning within the organization and with The J board of directors. The ideal candidate is skilled at building collaborative partnerships/working teams between departments to ensure cross-marketing and cohesive programming that adds value to membership.
Those interested in the position should contact Mary Beth Sloan, The J’s chief people officer, at .
As the search begins for a new COO, Levin continues to serve The J with excellence.
“Gayle took the organization to the next level possessing much needed operational, organizational and managerial tools needed to be an effective chief operating officer,” said Andrew Kaplan, J board chair. “Her background as both a Jewish communal leader and as a former J board member has been invaluable in helping the organization continue to expand its influence within both the Jewish and secular communities. She will be missed and not soon forgotten.”