Amy Schectman has been named president and chief executive officer of Brighton-based Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly (JCHE), effective Aug. 16.
Schectman serves as the associate director for public housing & rental assistance for the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). She previously served as vice president of real estate development at Hebrew SeniorLife.
"I was drawn to this unique opportunity at JCHE to lead one of the nation’s most successful communities in providing quality housing opportunities for low-income seniors in a rich environment where residents are actively engaged in programming as well as to ensure the preservation of the properties in Brighton, Newton and soon Framingham," said Schectman.
Schectman will succeed Ellen Feingold, nationally recognized as an expert in the area of affordable senior housing, who is retiring after 28 years of service as president.
"For the last 28 years, it has been my greatest honor to have helped JCHE become one of the nation’s largest providers of Jewish-sponsored, non-sectarian housing for low-income seniors. I am so glad that the organization will be led into the future by Amy Schectman, someone with her mix of skills, talent and energy. Amy is the ideal person for this mission," said Feingold.
"After conducting an extensive national search, Amy stood out because of her unparalleled success working to increase affordable housing opportunities for low-income residents over the course of her remarkable career," said Merle Grandberg, chairperson of JCHE’s board of directors. "We are very excited to have someone as highly qualified as Amy lead our organization. As JCHE continues to grow and expand, it’s critical that we have the expertise necessary to maximize and provide quality housing, innovative programs and supportive services for low income residents. With nearly 1,000 seniors on our waiting list, Amy’s leadership, background and success in the housing industry will ensure that we meet our goals and continue on our current growth trajectory."
