05/01/2019
J. David Heller Named Jewish Federation of Cleveland Board Chair
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The Jewish Federation of Cleveland announced today that J. David Heller has been named board chair for the 2019-2022 term. Heller, 53, is president and chief executive officer of The NRP Group LLC, a fully integrated, premier apartment developer, general contractor, and property manager.
“David has been a standout leader of our Cleveland Jewish community for many years and we’re confident that he’s the right person to take the Federation to new heights as our new board chair,” said Erika B. Rudin-Luria, president of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland.
Heller has been actively involved in Cleveland’s Jewish community for more than 25 years. He has served as an officer of the Federation from 2007-2016, and most recently served on the Executive Committee of the Federation’s Board of Trustees. As the 2013-2014 General Campaign Chair, Heller rallied community members to raise more than $58 million during the two-year period for the Federation’s Campaign for Jewish Needs, the annual fundraising campaign that serves Jewish Cleveland and the global community. He is a past chair of the Federation’s Government Relations Committee, past president of Jewish Education Center of Cleveland, past president of Ohio Jewish Communities, and past vice president of Gross Schechter Day School.
Serving the Greater Cleveland community, Heller is a current board member at Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Cuyahoga Community College, and United Way of Greater Cleveland. He is also the immediate past chair of Northeast Ohio Medical University.
“It is an honor to serve the Cleveland Jewish community in this capacity,” Heller said. “Despite what the headlines might have you believe, it really is a great time to be a Jew, especially in Cleveland – one of the best Jewish communities in the world. I am excited to begin my tenure on the heels of a new strategic plan, which was designed under Gary Gross’ leadership, and I look forward to working with the Board, Erika, and Federation professionals to bring this plan to life.”
Heller succeeds Gary L. Gross, whose tenure as board chair ended on April 30, 2019. The Federation’s new slate of officers also includes Vice Chairs Beth Wain Brandon, Lynne M. Cohen, James A. Ratner, Neil R. Waxman, and Daniel N. Zelman, Treasurer Dara G. Yanowitz and Associate Treasurer Jeffrey Weiss. Heller and the new slate of Federation officers were elected at the April 30 Board of Trustees meeting.
