Barak Hermann, chief executive officer of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore since November of 2012, was recently appointed incoming president and CEO of the JCC Association of North America.
The New York-based JCC Association supports the JCC movement across the United States and Canada, comprising more than 170 community centers and Jewish camps.
A Long Island native, Hermann, 54, will begin his tenure with the JCC Association at the end of June. A search committee for a new CEO is being formed, to be led by Keith Shapiro, first vice chair of the JCC board of directors.
“I am both excited and deeply honored to have the opportunity to lead JCC Association of North America,” Hermann said in a statement. “I look forward to working in close partnership with the board, the leadership team, my colleagues across the continent, and all our key stakeholders to advance our mission. Together, through innovation and meaningful collaboration, we will seize this moment to amplify the critical role that JCCs play in Jewish life and strengthen our collective impact.”
Jennifer Mamlet, the JCC Association’s acting president and CEO, praised Hermann for his “unwavering dedication, strategic vision, and strong leadership.”
“With more than 30 years in our movement, Barak has the perfect combination of experience, expertise and relationships to lead effectively from day one, while positioning JCC Association for continued success,” she said. “His reputation for building trust and collaboration across our field makes him the ideal person to lead us forward. I am proud to pass the baton of leadership to my colleague and friend.”
Before coming to Baltimore, Herman served for three decades in the JCC field. His previous positions included serving as executive director of the JCC of Central New Jersey, chief operating officer of JCC MetroWest in New Jersey, and program and camp director at the Suffolk Y JCC in Long Island.
During his tenure with the JCC of Greater Baltimore — the oldest in the nation — Hermann guided the $22 million organization through a strategic planning process and a period of growth. He cultivated key cross-sector partnerships; launched such programs as J Camps, the 4Front Jewish Teen Initiative, and the J Life Family Engagement platform; and increased the JCC’s visibility and recognition.
“We’re trying to help Americans be connected to their Jewish heritage, to each other and live Jewish lives in a way that’s best for them,” Hermann told Jmore in 2022. “At the same time, the JCC is expanding its communal reach, growing more diverse and serving the larger community, bringing our Jewish ethics, values and culture as a way to foster interfaith relations and combat antisemitism. We are in the Jewish pride business.”
In an email to the JCC community, Larry Plant, board chair of the JCC of Greater Baltimore, wrote, “While this is a significant loss for the JCC of Greater Baltimore, it is a tremendous gain for the entire JCC Movement. Barak’s tenure with the JCC and the Baltimore Jewish community has been extraordinary. He has fostered a strong work culture of creativity and innovation while developing valuable strategic partnerships, such as with LifeBridge Health and the Baltimore County Government. …
“Under Barak’s leadership, the JCC gained greater community-wide recognition, resulting in increased funding from the County and State. He has always focused on strengthening our workplace culture and enhancing our facilities at both the Owings Mills and Park Heights campuses. Barak has worked closely with the Board and staff to meet the needs of the diverse Jewish community while ensuring people of all communities are embraced. … We are excited for Barak, and we are grateful for the strategic leadership he has provided our JCC over the past 12 years. We will keep you informed as the search unfolds and we look to celebrate Barak’s leadership with our community.”
An Owings Mills resident, Hermann currently chairs the board of the Owings Mills Corporate Roundtable, a nonprofit that serves as a platform for senior level executives in the business, medical and hospitality fields.
He earned a master’s degree from Yeshiva University’s Wurzweiler School of Social Work, a bachelor’s degree from Stony Brook University, and an associate degree from Johnson & Wales University.
He is a Schusterman Fellow and has completed executive non-profit programs through Harvard Business School and Columbia University.
In November of 2021, Hermann was recognized as one of the state’s most admired CEOs by The Maryland Daily Record.
“Barak is the exemplary leader we need to navigate this exciting moment for the JCC movement,” said David S. Wax, board chair of the JCC Association. “He is a true product of the JCC Movement, with over 30 years of experience in the JCC world, which is invaluable as JCC Association moves into its next chapter. As we pursue new models of collaboration and sustainable growth, Barak’s leadership will be instrumental in creating continental impact, strengthening our mission, and ensuring the JCC movement thrives for generations to come.”
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