After 13 years with the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco –– including nearly three years in the top spot –– CEO Sandee Blechman has stepped down, effective Friday, March 13. The JCC board has launched a nationwide search to find a replacement.
Meanwhile, Judy Edelson, former executive director of the Peninsula JCC in Foster City, has been appointed interim executive director.
“It’s been an amazing 13 years,” Blechman said, “and it’s just time to move on. I feel incredibly proud of what’s been accomplished.”
Blechman, 56, first joined the JCCSF staff in 1995 as associate director for finance and administration. At the time, the JCC was in crisis, occupying a crumbling building and coping with declining membership.
“The first year and a half was about deciding whether [the JCC] had a future,” recalled Blechman, who had been a longtime member of the institution. “I came in as part of the turnaround team. The board made a decision that the only way was to have a new building.”
That began the long process of designing, funding and constructing the new JCC building, which opened in 2004. Nate Levine joined as CEO, and together with Blechman (then chief operating officer) formed a successful working partnership.
Levine “spearheaded the project and was chief fundraiser,” Blechman said. “I managed the organization. I became the detail person, planning the new programs and hiring staff, planning the transition, renovation. Our success surpassed our wildest dreams.”
Among the innovations she is proudest of, Blechman cited the multidisciplinary theme events, such as Freud Fest in 2006, the annual BookFest and last year’s Israel@60 series. She also touted the community travel program and the now-annual staff trip to Israel, which brings key personnel from area JCCs to the Jewish state.
The Chicago native devoted most of her adult working life to three area nonprofits — Mount Zion Hospital (now UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion), the San Francisco Art Institute and the JCC.
Edelson served as executive director of the PJCC from 1984 though 2007. She spearheaded the JCC’s move to its new Foster City site and the $47 million construction of its new campus’ first phase.
Blechman has not decided on her next step. But she’s confident the JCC will continue to thrive. “I have a very strong team of associate directors to provide leadership after I leave,” Blechman said.
She also intends to start showing up at the fitness center, duffle bag in hand. “In all these years, I never worked out here before,” said the avid golfer. “I’ve only got three massages to my credit.”