SCOTCH PLAINS — The JCC of Central New Jersey has announced its new board of directors for the 2025-2026 year.

At the JCC’s annual meeting June 9, Lauren Barr, publisher and editor-in-chief at The Westfield Leader and Union County HAWK, was appointed as the JCC’s next board president; seven new board members were appointed, and the JCC said thank you to seven outgoing board members. Tracey Hoberman, outgoing JCC president, will continue to serve on the JCC’s Executive Committee as immediate past president.

Mrs. Barr and her family have been members of the JCC for almost 15 years. Her four children attended the JCC preschool and have been active participants in Camp Yachad and the JCC’s youth theater program.

Before assuming the role as president, Mrs. Barr served on the Executive Committee as treasurer, secretary and most recently first vice president. She co-chaired the Governance and Nominating Committee for four years and served as an Early Childhood Parent Committee (ECPC) co-chair from 2017 to 2021. Mrs. Barr and her fellow ECPC co-chairs laid the foundation for the strong, involved ECPC that exists today.

“Giving back to the place that has brought so much joy to our family is a great honor for me,” shared Mrs. Barr. “I look forward to continuing our agency’s legacy of a strong, vibrant, thriving Jewish Community Center that welcomes all to our programs. I am excited to embark on a new plan to grow and update our campus and to nurture current partnerships and create new ones so that we can continue to meet the needs of our growing community.”

After a hiatus, two JCC past presidents return — Ken Rotter as treasurer and Joan Levinson as board member — and Jeff Silverstein also returns as a board member. The JCC welcomes first-time board members Stefanie Forman, Lauren Kennedy, Steven Newler and Rachel Stuart.

Returning Executive Committee members include Scott Stavin (first vice president), Debra Judd (secretary) and Brian Cohen (assistant secretary/treasurer). They are joined by new Executive Committee members Tamra Feldman (auxiliary officer) and Eric Martin (parliamentarian).

Returning board members include Sara David-Fisher, Michelle Fiddler, June Fischer, Michael Gladstone, Robert Jankowitz, Talia Janofsky, Adam Love, Jessica Silverstein, Naomi Tilman, Jacob Toporek, Suzanne Tucker and Randi Siegel Weniger.

Mike Goldstein, JCC executive director, revealed that he is really excited about working with this new board. “We are going to accomplish great things,” he said. “We have such a demand for our programs and services, and our JCC is poised for exceptional growth. I cannot think of a better group to help see us through these next pivotal years. Our community is very lucky to have these lay leaders who are so committed to our mission and vision.”

For more information about the JCC of Central New Jersey, visit www.jccnj.org.

The JCC of Central New Jersey is located at 1391 Martine Avenue, Scotch Plains. It is a constituent agency of the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ, United Way of Greater Union County and the Westfield United Fund. Financial assistance is available for membership and various programs.