Seven staff members from The J attended the 2025 JCCs of North America Professional Conference (ProCon 2025), the JCC movement’s professional development gathering, held from Oct. 27 to 29 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The annual conference unites JCC professionals from across North America to connect through workshops, labs and shared experiences focused on leadership, Jewish life and community impact. 

Attendees from The J represented several departments. The Kansas City team included Barry Birkmeyer, director of camps and school-aged services; Bobby Boresow, chief financial officer; Claire Curtis, accountant; Denise Sarver, senior manager of group fitness and personal training; Jonah Greene, director of Arts & Culture; Molly Hess, director of Jewish Experiences; and Stefan McMillan, assistant director of sports and recreation. Each brought department-specific knowledge and perspectives to the conference and plan to apply what they learned to strengthen programs and operations at The J.

“Connecting with other Jewish professionals from across the country helped provide new perspectives on the work we do at The J,” Hess said. “One of the most impactful sessions focused on the J member experience, exploring how every point of contact, interaction and connection can be approached with greater intention. Hearing diverse viewpoints from colleagues across the movement reinforced the importance of purposeful engagement in all aspects of our work.”

Greene described the experience as both inspiring and practical, highlighting the importance of collaboration in shaping future arts initiatives at The J. He noted that the conference provided new perspectives on creative engagement and community impact. 

“Attending ProCon was an incredible opportunity to exchange ideas with peers from around the country and explore new approaches to arts and culture programming,” he said. “I returned with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of purpose to strengthen our mission and enhance the arts experience for our members.”

Beyond their commitment to learning and professional growth, the team took the opportunity to connect outside of sessions and enjoy time together in Minneapolis. On Tuesday, the group attended a Minnesota Wild hockey game, giving them a chance to step away from sessions and spend time together.

Representing the administrative and finance team, Curtis shared how the conference provided valuable opportunities for growth and idea sharing. 

“ProCon provided fresh perspectives on how to make our work more efficient,” she said. “I discovered new software and systems other JCCs are using that could help us address similar challenges here at The J.”

Due to Kansas City’s future as host of the JCC Maccabi Games, the team wore shirts celebrating the community’s upcoming role. The attendees gained useful insight from peers on best practices and preparation for hosting the event. 

Sarver shared that the conference provided meaningful opportunities to learn from peers and strengthen The J’s fitness programming. 

“I left with practical ideas to support team growth, improve communication and build a stronger foundation for our department moving forward,” she said.