Working with Meeting your Mission was a remarkable experience. Leslie Rosen Stern is an outstanding professional, who took the time to understand the needs and context of our project, provided invaluable insights into the planning of the research and focus groups, and was an expert facilitator able to cull important insights from focus group participants. The results of the research were extremely valuable to our institution and the overall project. With her experience, professional skills, and knowledge of the Jewish community, Leslie provided the expertise we needed in a timely and thoughtful way.
Dean BellProvost and Vice President, Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership
Strategic planning and prioritized-findings implementation are second nature for Leslie Rosen Stern. In her work on the Camp Chi Strategic Planning Task Force, she brought a unique and well-honed skill set to the process. She is adept at drilling down issues resulting in a clear sense of mission, core services, and the impact of the organizational culture. Her approach is a well-tested blend of asking the right questions, being a good listener, using organizational development tools, utilizing past experience, and the ability to prepare written materials that are concise and easily understood by the host organization. She clearly was central to the success of our planning venture.
Bruce MondschainPresident, Catalyst Associates, Inc.
Leslie did an excellent job for us researching, interviewing, and interpreting data on a relatively unknown area of Jewish education. She provided information and analysis that helped us better understand this genre and shared that understanding with the larger Chicago Jewish community as well as Jewish communal and foundation professionals who needed to enhance their knowledge of it.
Rabbi Scott AaronExecutive Director, Community Foundation for Jewish Education
Working side by side with a professional like Leslie creates an environment conducive to healthy, team-building. Her thought-out decision-making ability guided my work; as she diffused tense, emotion riddled situations with the teens, my staff and I were able to focus on programming and educating them on the leadership skills we are tasked to impart. Leslie’s knack for noticing small quirks and teaching us to do the same, helped us to identify issues readily in the teens and stave off problems before they started. She is a consummate professional with a desire to help and I enjoyed working and learning from her.
Judi YoungmanSenior Regional Director, BBYO, Greater Jersey Hudson River Region
Our congregation’s Strategic Planning Committee engaged Leslie Rosen Stern to plan and run a series of focus groups for our members so we could learn more about our members’ perceptions, habits, interests and needs. Leslie brought a wealth of expertise to the project with intimate knowledge of current trends in congregational membership and members’ attitudes. The focus groups she facilitated for us were invaluable — not only in the data she collected but also as highly engaging and deeply meaningful experiences for the members who participated.
Mark D. FriedmanChair, Strategic Planning Committee, Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation
Leslie Rosen Stern is the ultimate communal professional. She can take a concept for a program and develop it with elegance and attention to detail. She can ask strategic questions, create marketing materials and make everyone involved feel lucky to have been involved.
Dr. Jane ShapiroCo-Founder, Orot Center, Chicago
Leslie has impressed me with the way she has approached opportunities and challenges with ingenuity, strategy and professionalism. She is a rare professional who excels at both, evaluating the current scenario and coming up with a strategy to maximize resources and opportunities, as well as managing the details as she executes a project. She brings energy and commitment to the job in addition to her friendly and warm personality. Any Jewish organization would be lucky to collaborate with her!
Francine EphraimDirector of Alumni Relations, Solomon Schechter Day School
Leslie is the consummate professional. Positive, confident and a master of project detail, she is an outstanding colleague that has an incredible capacity to consistently handle a significant workload in the best way possible. There are only a few individuals that match her drive to create successful initiatives and to ensure that the data is present to make proper decisions. She is able to multi-task and has skill sets in a vast number of areas. Anyone thoughtful enough to engage her will make an excellent business decision in virtually any arena.
William J. RubinDirector, Special Projects, Chicago Jewish Funerals
Leslie was a real boost to our symposium through her efficient and thorough logistical support that made the program day run like clockwork. Her recommendations helped our program look and feel a certain way that conveyed important messaging to the participants, and she took special care to keep us within our budget. She really was a critical component to the success of our event.
Dr. Scott AaronExecutive Director, Community Foundation for Jewish Education
Working with Leslie Rosen Stern on a convening of Directors of Teen Initiatives was a pleasure. Her attention to detail ensured that every participant knew what was happening and felt sure that his or her needs were being met. Leslie scheduled regular check-in meetings with leadership prior to the convening to ensure that she was on the right track as she developed the program and followed up after the event to debrief. She sought continuous feedback and was able to make adjustments as needed. Leslie demonstrates the highest level of professionalism in every regard.
Hallie Shapiro DevirAssociate Vice President, Community Outreach and Engagement, Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago
Leslie Rosen Stern is a stellar mentor and professional coach. She helped me transition into the next stage of my career in the nonprofit realm, navigating shifts both personally and professionally. Through deep conversation and thoughtful inquiry, Leslie deftly helped me identify strengths, prioritize goals, and prepare for the interview and decision-making process.