New Hires at the JCA!

Sam Cohen will be our new Operations Director. Sam has been at the JCA for 9 months as Membership and Office Manager, and during that time has helped to further professionalize and grow our organizational capacity, supporting staff teams and making wonderful connections with community members. Prior to coming to the JCA, Sam worked at Preble Street in both the Veterans and Food Services programs, and he brings an array of skills as well as a strong vision for strengthening Jewish life in Maine. Sam’s first day in this role will be September 5, 2022.

Marlena Lantos will be our new Youth Programming and PJ Library Coordinator. Marlena comes to us from Ocean Avenue School in Portland, where she has been a classroom teacher for several years; she has also spent the last 9 summers as a counselor and program director at Center Day Camp. Marlena has lifelong connection to the Jewish community in Portland and is committed to creating new opportunities for kids in our community to make connections, build friendships, and learn! She is excited to restart our afterschool and “Camp 365” programming after the high holidays. Marlena’s first day at the JCA will be September 9th.