Kelly Davydov has been named as the new CEO and executive director of Jewish Family Services (JFS).
Board President Lara Krigel Pabst made the announcement following an extensive search.
Davydov will join JFS in late October and will succeed longtime CEO and Executive Director Don Goldman, who is retiring after 16 years.
"This is an incredible time to join an organization like Jewish Family Services,” Dayvdov said. “With a long, rich history of serving our community, JFS is uniquely positioned to address the ever-changing needs of families. I look forward to building upon the organization's commitment to providing innovative, high-quality programs and services."
A search committee of JFS board members, donors and community members interviewed candidates over the period of several months. Chaired by Fay Balk, JFS past board president and retired HR executive, the committee worked with a national search firm affiliated with the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies (NJHSA) for JFS CEO searches.
“After months of searching for our new executive director and CEO, the search committee unanimously chose Kelly to take JFS into the next generation of service to our community,” Balk said. “I am excited by her experience, her warmth and enthusiasm, and her commitment to continuous improvement and can't wait to see what she brings to JFS.”
For the last three years, Davydov has been executive director of Child Care Aware Kansas, a resource and referral network addressing access to high-quality childcare for young children and their families. Davydov is well versed in governance and board relationships. She has taken the lead in both the fundraising, succession planning, and strategic plans for the organization.
"Kelly is the right person at the right time to lead JFS,” said Pabst, board president and search committee member. “Kelly is highly skilled in staff management and believes in professional development and cross training. She has developed strong collaborations with partners, including governmental agencies and nonprofit organizations. Warm and friendly, Kelly is passionate about leading JFS and serving the community.”
Davydov currently serves on Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s Early Childhood Transition Task Force in addition to other state and local initiatives focused on early care and education. Before moving to Kansas, Davydov lived in Iowa and led the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families two-generational anti-poverty initiative. She also served as project director for Early Childhood Iowa, the state’s early childhood systems-building effort.
Davydov holds a bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Administration with an emphasis on public policy from Drake University and a Certification in Family Development from the National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice from the University of Iowa.
“Kelly has such a deep appreciation of the work that JFS does in the community," said Debbie Sosland-Edelman, a member of the search committee and executive director of the Sosland Foundation. “Her experience in early childhood development, anti-poverty initiatives, and nonprofit management is such a natural fit for the space JFS has been filling in the greater Kansas City community and for where the agency is going.”
Don Goldman, who announced his upcoming retirement in January, spoke highly of his successor.
“After we talked for just a few minutes, I knew Kelly was perfect to lead JFS,” Goldman said. “She is a smart, thoughtful and caring person with amazing leadership skills. I know she’ll take JFS forward to new heights over the years to come.”
Davydov and her husband, Dmitry, are the proud parents of two sons, Ethan and Henry. The family moved to the Kansas City area in 2020.
