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

Linda Karchem, Director of Client Services

Linda’s professional career began two decades ago at Vista Del Mar Child & Family Services where she was hired to work in the Recreation Therapy Department providing therapeutic programming for clients ages 8-18 in the residential and out-patient programs. Majoring in Music Therapy and classically trained in Viola, this opportunity proved to be a perfect match. Throughout her 18-year career at Vista Del Mar Linda held six positions to include Director of Volunteer Programs, Transition Home Manager (Live-in), Coordinator of Volunteer, Religious & Cultural Programs, and Admissions Coordinator. She also trained hundreds of staff and volunteers as an in-house CPR & First Aid instructor. In the last few years Linda managed multiple short and long term psychiatric homes for adults along with teams of staff as Program Director for Didi Hirsch Mental Health, and Director of Client Operations for PCH Treatment Center. She earned her Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy degree at Arizona State, and a Certificate in Human Resources Management from Loyola University.
lkarchem@jlatrust.org

Alyssa Wallack, Outreach