MJCC central to Horowitz even before she became central to it

By Paul Haist

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When Lisa Horowitz and her husband, both attorneys, came to Portland they drew a circle around the Mittleman Jewish Community Center and looked for a home that wasn't more than about 12 minutes away from the center.

That was back in 1992. Since then, the Horowitzes—Lisa, husband Lewis and daughters Esther, 18; Rivka, 17; and Gabriella, 15—have kept the MJCC at the center of their family life, even after they relocated to Lake Oswego.

Almost from the time the family arrived in Portland from the East Coast, where husband and wife had practiced law in Boston and then Washington, D.C., Lisa developed a passion for the Mittleman Center and the adjoining Portland Jewish Academy.

The couple's three children were first enrolled in the center's Early Childhood Learning Center before going on to PJA.

"I volunteered there basically since we moved here," said Lisa Horowitz.

Eventually, she chose to leave her law practice to work as a Jewish professional on the MJCC campus and at PJA. She has held various posts at the school including development, marketing and media relations. Last month she was named chief executive officer to succeed Julie Smith who accepted a post in California.

Horowitz is charged with ultimate responsibility for the success of both the MJCC and PJA at a time when both institutions are emerging from a restructuring precipitated nearly four years ago by the near bankruptcy of the MJCC.

Horowitz credits Smith and the boards of the MJCC and PJA for restoring stability to the center and the promise of a bright future for both institutions.

"Julie has done so much to leave both PJA and the MJCC strong and stable," she said. "Her leadership really not only saved the JCC, but led to such achievements for both."

Of the two boards she serves she said,"Both boards are just phenomenal. Anyone would be blessed to have a board like the MJCC board. They are truly a development director's dream."

As she embarks on her new role, Horowitz finds both boards key to her mission.

"Both boards are working together closely," she said. "I have never met such a dedicated and hard-working group of volunteers."

Near-term goals at the center, according to Horowitz, include finishing the physical improvements to the structure and campus, and wrapping up the capital campaign.

Remodeling and refurbishing projects awaiting completion include the heating, cooling and ventilation system; the roof, the pool area and the surrounding grounds and parking lot.

Approximately $2.5 million are needed to wrap up the capital campaign.

Restoration of programming at the center is a top priority for Horowitz.

"We're already starting to work with the Programming Committee and staff to bring back programs to meet everyone's needs," said Horowitz."We'll have something for everyone."

Down the hall at PJA, enrollment is a top priority.

"I'd love to see every class full," said Horowitz.

As an MJCC tenant, PJA is a key component in the center's revenue picture, and the revenue that PJA can provide is tied to its enrollment level.

At the recent rededication of the center, MJCC President Jordan Schnitzer reported PJA's enrollment projection for the next academic year at about 81 percent of the goal of 320 students.

"We need to do an even more effective job of telling PJA's story," said Horowitz, who credited PJA Admissions Director Linda Singer for doing "a spectacular job."

Horowitz pointed to expanded efforts to "spread the word" about PJA to a broader segment of the community by reaching out in more publications, to preschools and to unaffiliated families.

"When parents take a tour of the site," she said, "they take very little convincing."

And when prospective students sit in on PJA classes?

"They say they love the place and don't want to go back (to their old school)," said Horowitz.

Besides targeting enrollment, Horowitz wants to work on the school's academic program too.

"It's no accident we won the Blue Ribbon Award," she said, referring to PJA's having been named a national Blue Ribbon School in 2005 by the U.S. Department of Education. The honor is reserved for the top 10 percent of the nation's K-12 schools in terms of academic achievement.

The award cannot be presented to the same schools in immediately successive years, but Horowitz was optimistic about the future.

"We have an excellent program, but we are not complacent about it," she said. "We are always trying to take it to the next level."

As she settles into her new job, Horowitz said some new staff will be recruited and others given new and larger responsibilities.

Besides adding development and marketing directors, Colleen Sexton, who has been the school's director of general studies, will be named assistant principal. Middle school teacher Michael Hulshof-Schmidt will assume overall coordination responsibility for the middle school while continuing to teach. Merrill Hendin will move from coordinator to director of Jewish studies.

Recently, Shannon Hokkanen was named MJCC general manager and Patricia Schwartz was named interim head of school.

Of her leadership colleagues Horowitz said, "We have a close-knit team. Shannon and Patricia are both phenomenally competent, and I am so lucky to have them and other similarly dedicated and skilled people on staff."