An interview with new Federation Exec. Vice President Larry R. Skolnick

What struck Larry R. Skolnick on his first trip to Dayton a few months ago was how much it felt like Louisville, Ky., where he grew up.

“Both the Jewish community and the community at large gave me the feeling that this is a place I can be really comfortable,” he says.

Skolnick began his work as executive vice president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton on Jan. 3.

He takes over for Peter Wells, who has been with the Federation since 1973. Wells retires on March 1.

Skolnick now leads an organization in transition – both physical and conceptual in scope.

In the next few months, the Federation will relocate programs and services that serve the north Jewish community as a result of the coming sale of the Jesse Philips Building to the United Theological Seminary.

And the Federation’s Programs and Services Committee is in the process of reshaping service delivery to more effectively meet the needs of Jews across the Miami Valley.

“This community has made some very tough decisions over the last few years and my first priority as outlined by the Federation board is to lead the community in assessing the right path, the right vision to help us go through this transition period and to create quality programs and services that reach out to all members of the community, in all geographic areas, of all demographic backgrounds.

“My task now, within the next few weeks, is to give the board a list of the priorities I think will help us accomplish that.”

He adds that another of his major priorities is to focus on outreach to young, Jewish families the organized Jewish community isn’t reaching.

Skolnick comes to Dayton with a background in programming, fiscal and staff management.
For the past five years he served as the associate executive director of the JCC of the Greater Palm Beaches in Florida.

In that position, he supervised the JCC’s early childhood program; camping, youth and family services; recreation, health and wellness; special needs programs; adult programming including onsite meals for the elderly; and cultural arts and special events.

One of five siblings, he says his parents were very active with the Louisville Jewish community.

“I grew up at the Louisville JCC,” he says. “I did the summer camps, after-school sports leagues, BBYO, you name it.”

Skolnick received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in 1993 and his master’s degree in science and recreation from Indiana University in 1996.

A single parent, he says he decided to apply for the executive position in Dayton because of his 2-year-old daughter, Sophie.

“Florida was a wonderful place to be for five years, but when you have children you think more about being closer to family, about the specific kind of community in which you want to raise your child,” he says.

“What I really wanted was a nice, Midwestern community like Louisville to raise her in and somewhere that was close to family.”

Skolnick’s parents still live in Louisville, about a two-hour drive.

“And my parents are already planning their long weekend here every month.”

Sophie is now enrolled at the DJCC’s preschool at the Boonshoft CJCE in Centerville.

“She’s adjusting well there. I was pleasantly surprised at the ease of her transition.”

Reaching out to the Miami Valley’s synagogues and Jewish community organizations is also a major focus for Skolnick.

“I hope we can work toward some collective decision making and partnering that perhaps wasn’t taking place to its maximum potential,” he says.

“All Jewish organizations in our community have to figure out, in a different way, how to do business with changing demographics, with lower affiliation rates than you have typically seen in the past.”

He views the Federation as the engine to bring all the different facets of the Jewish community together.

“We can really look at the needs of the community from a different point of view than Jewish communities traditionally have.

“My goal is to ensure that our transitions are as positive as they can be for this community and that we find very out-of-the-box, creative ways to meet community needs. I hope members of the community will join us and help us make this happen.”