Staff

Michelle Wolf, Founder and Executive Director

With close to three decades of experience working in the Jewish, non-profit and governmental sectors, and with a focus on social services/special needs, she is uniquely positioned to provide the professional leadership to launch this program. She was previously the Transitions Coordinator at Bet Tzedek from 2012-2014, and in that position, she created a 42-member coalition of agencies intersecting the developmental disabilities and aging worlds. Previously, she was Director of the Caring for Jews in Need department at the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. She also writes a monthly column for the Jewish Journal on special needs/social services issues.

mwolf@jlatrust.org

Janet Algazi, Customer Service Representative

Janet joined the team at JLA Trust through Volunteer Match. Initially recruited for her Spanish interpreting skills, Janet quickly displayed competency working in a larger capacity, and was quickly promoted to a paid position as Customer Service Representative. Her creative and professional attributes have been a great asset to the mission of JLA Trust and our Spanish speaking community. Janet is also a well respected and accomplished photographer, and has exhibited her pieces in Atlanta, Frankfurt and Tokyo.

jalgazi@jlatrust.org

Denise Klein, Trustee

Denise Klein, CPA, is a licensed private fiduciary serving as conservator, trustee, and estate administrator for vulnerable members of our population. Prior to entering this career niche, she worked as a CPA for over 25 years in public accounting, private industry, and primarily in family business offices handling trust & estate, financial, and insurance matters. She grew up in Rochester, NY, earned a BS in Accounting from the University of Rhode Island, and a certificate in Professional Fiduciary Management from California State University at Fullerton. Hobbies include yoga, Mah Jongg, needlepoint, and spectator sports, especially the LA Dodgers.

Ron Parks, Executive Manager

Ron has joined our team as Executive Manager overseeing financial operations and budgeting as well as taking on the challenge of streamlining our administrative practices and office procedures. A native Californian, Ron practiced law in British Columbia, Canada for many years before finding his way back to California. Most recently, Ron was Business Manager for a Los Angeles Real Estate Investor and Philanthropist overseeing a portfolio of properties valued in excess of $50,000,000 while at the same time providing business and administrative oversight to local and international philanthropic projects and initiatives. Ron is excited about JLA Trust being the next chapter in an already interesting life.

rparks@jlatrust.org

William Powell III, Director of Programs and Services

Working in social services for over 10 years, William has held various positions within an array of settings. He spent years providing Supported Employment and Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) case management services at Community Connections, Inc., a Washington, DC based, outpatient mental health clinic. Following his time in the outpatient setting, he led Providence Hospital's (Washington, DC) psychiatric unit's case management and social work department. In addition to his mental health experiences, William managed one of LA County's largest contracted Office of Diversion and Re-entry (jail in-reach) programs as well as program managed a 40-bed, medical, interim housing site funded by LA County's Department of Human Services. When not engaged in social pursuits, William has been contracted and worked with some of the country's leading opera houses including LA Opera, Washington National Opera, and Chicago Lyric Opera.
wpowell@jlatrust.org

Kathryn McGraw, Intern

.Kathryn started her education at Pierce College in Woodland Hills Ca in 2012. Her goal was to become a Pre-school teacher so she could work at her daughters school. She quickly found that she wanted to pursue her Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and move beyond working in a Pre-school to working with children suffering with emotional trauma. After receiving her AA in child development from Pierce College she enrolled and was accepted in California State University Northridge, (CSUN) majoring in Family Studies. During this time Kathryn became a licensed foster parent with the county of Los Angeles and fostered 6 children and adopted her son. This experience inspired her to pursue a Masters in Social Work. She saw a need for Trauma-Informed Care for foster children. She is now in her second year of the MSW virtual program at the University of Southern California, (USC). She will graduate in August 2020 with the hopes of opening her own non-profit in Los Angeles called the Trauma Network for Foster Youth. She is interning at Jewish LA Special Needs and Trust as part of her education.
kmcgraw@jlatrust.org

Tina Stevenson, Customer Service Representative

Tina has worked in law offices as a Legal Assistant/Paralegal for many years, mainly in family law, not only using her top-notch organizational and problem- solving skills, but communicating with all parties in an effort to bring harmony to difficult situations, leading her to her position as Customer Service Representative. She is musically gifted, studied piano and voice, and has been entertaining all her life - for the past 28 years at Canter’s Kibitz Room on Wednesday evenings.

tstevens@jlatrust.org

Alyssa Wallack, Outreach

While still only a high school Junior, Alyssa has an amazing commitment to serving her community. A first-class student, Alyssa is also a staunch advocate and is active in numerous clubs, societies, and outreach programs both in and out of school. Alyssa puts forth her very best effort in whatever she becomes involved in and has shown herself to be a talented contributor to the social media presence of JLA Trust.

intern@jlatrust.org