“Giving back has always been important to me. I love working with people and building a sense of community.”

Throughout my career, I’ve strived to make a difference. Growing up, I knew I wanted to work with the Jewish community. After receiving my MSW from The University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work, it also became clear to me that I wanted to work with the young adult population. After grad school, I moved to Wisconsin to join the Milwaukee Jewish Community Center (JCC) Camp as their Assistant Director of Resident Camps and Local Youth Groups – a job that combined both childhood and post-grad professional interests.

After 4 years in Milwaukee, I decided to move closer to my family on the East Coast. I took a job as Executive Director of the Hillel Foundation at the University of Rhode Island, which allowed me to continue the kind of work that I was doing in Wisconsin.

My fiancé (now husband) got a job in New York City.  We moved to Connecticut to be closer to his work, and I started a new role in the JCC Association in New York City. At JCC, I worked in several capacities including college campus outreach, organizing teen Israel travel programs, and leading strategic marketing. By the time my first-born was 7 months old, I decided to work closer to home. I joined a synagogue in Stamford as their office manager. It was at the synagogue that I was able to develop my operational skills — overseeing the day-to-day of the building, planning holiday programs, and working closely with its members.

Naomi with her family and a Milk Duds mascot.

I then took some time off to be with my two kids. During this period, I became very active within the Stamford community. I started co-leading my daughter’s Girl Scout troop and eventually got a job working at a local general store. I loved getting to know my neighbors and the community.  It was through this that I met Celeste, who was the other co-leader of the Girl Scout troop. Celeste was looking for an operations manager, and my experience in office management and mission-driven work were a perfect fit!

I was excited to join Public Works Partners. Celeste is a very dedicated and collaborative person, and I was sure that her company would reflect her energy. My feelings were confirmed when I joined the firm as Operations Manager. The Public Works team is a collaborative group.  They’re always game for a good brainstorming session to generate new ideas and overcome challenges for our clients. The team works on interesting projects that shape the fabric of New York City – the last thing I want them to worry about is the day-to-day logistics of the office. That’s why I make sure that systems and processes are in place to make everyone’s life a little easier. Through my communication, client management, and organizational skills, I’m able to keep everything moving behind the scenes. It’s also been amazing to work with a staff that genuinely cares about helping others.

Outside of work I spend most of my time with my kids. I have a 9-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl. I love to bake and try cooking new recipes. I also enjoy guiding and co-leading my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. It has been a real joy to empower young girls with fundamental skills and watch them grow in such a safe space.