CMI Welcomes Steven Jacober as our new Executive Director
Dear CMI Members,
We are very excited to share with you that we have hired Steven Jacober to serve as CMI's next Executive Director.
We believe that Steve is an outstanding choice and a great fit for CMI. He is currently the Executive Director of the Washington Hebrew Congregation, a large two-campus Reform synagogue in Washington, DC. For nearly fifteen years, he has been an effective leader, mentor and partner to the board, clergy, staff, and congregation at WHC. He is a true “servant leader,” a responsible steward of resources, and a thoughtful and articulate communicator.
We are fortunate that he had previously decided to relocate to Connecticut to be near his wife’s family. We eagerly await his arrival, and will be working with him in the coming months to prepare for his transition to our community.
Steve and his wife Beth are very familiar with the area. Beth grew up in Shelton and Woodbridge and the family enjoys spending summers in Clinton. Her three brothers, sister, and mom are all in the area. Beth and Steve are the proud parents of four children and two grandchildren. Rachel, a social worker, lives with her husband Chris and their two children, Ryan and Brynn, in Columbus, OH. David, a captain in the Marine Corps, lives with his wife, Nera, in San Diego, CA. Ben, a lieutenant in the Coast Guard, and his wife Jennifer, reside in New Orleans. The youngest, Matthew, lives in Columbus, OH, and works in IT security.
Steve will officially join the CMI staff in July. Until then, our Operations team will continue to handle much of the synagogue's day-to-day business. We look forward to introducing you to Steven, hopefully in person, this summer!
Thank you for welcoming Steve into our community.
Board of Trustees
Congregation Mishkan Israel
Learn more about Steve Jacober
Before assuming his position at WHC, Steve spent 12 years as president of the School, Home, and Office Products Association based in Dayton, Ohio. In this role he oversaw the global operations and finances of the nonprofit trade association, its charitable foundation, and for-profit subsidiary.
He previously served as president of New York City-based Macfadden Trade Publishing, LLC, and worked as a publisher, editor, and research director at various stages in his tenure. His professional experience also includes positions at several Manhattan-based advertising agencies.
He has served on numerous synagogue, Jewish community, and nonprofit-business Boards of Directors. In his role as a business leader, he has appeared on CNN and Good Morning America, and has been quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and numerous local and international newspapers.
Steve’s interest and hobbies include family, reading, genealogy, history, foreign languages, New York Times crossword puzzles, travelling, and The Ohio State University football team. Go Bucks!
Steve is a graduate of Providence College and earned M.A. and M.Phil. degrees in Hebrew Bible from Columbia University. He and his wife Beth have four adult children and two beloved grandchildren.