Management Team
Executive Director:
Lauren Schwartz, MSW
[email protected]
Lauren Schwartz joined Collat Jewish Family Services as Executive Director in March of 2011. A Memphis native, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Cornell University and a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania.
Lauren began her career at CJFS in 1992, providing counseling, case management, and financial assistance to clients. She created new community collaborations, offering parenting programs in schools throughout the Birmingham area, and she developed group programming in response to community needs. Lauren honed her agency administrative skills over six years as the Director of Advancement for the N.E. Miles Jewish Day School, where she was responsible for fundraising events, marketing and recruitment.
Since returning to CJFS, Lauren has moved the agency strategically toward a focus on Senior Adult Services, an area of gaping need in Birmingham. “After a lifetime of giving to our community, our older adults deserve our support, respect and care,” Lauren explains, “We strive to connect seniors to resources, keep them engaged, and allow them to age in place safely.”
With exceptional compassion and expertise, CJFS provides transportation, case management, counseling, financial management, in-home care, respite and more. Lauren is passionate about her work helping seniors age with dignity, but her most meaningful work is being the mother of three fabulous kids, Seth, Alex, and Jamie, and partner to her husband, Daniel.
Clinical Director:
Marcy Morgenbesser, LICSW
marcy@cjfsbham.org
Marcy joined CJFS in 2019 with more than 30 years of program leadership, management and clinical experience in behavioral health, medical and community service settings in Massachusetts. Organizations where Marcy has served in leadership roles include Advocates, Tufts Health Plan, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (formerly Harvard Community Health Plan), McLean Hospital and Massachusetts Mental Health Center. She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and received her Master of Social Work from Boston University.
Operations Director:
Carolyn Pevey
[email protected]
Carolyn Pevey joined the CJFS team in November 2015 as the Operations Director. She is responsible for upholding the fiscal policies put in place by the CJFS Board of Directors, overseeing the financial management of the agency, and serving as the Human Resource Manager. Carolyn has worked with non-profits for the past 10 years. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia Southern University.
Fund Development and Outreach Director:
Clay Ratcliffe
[email protected]
Clay Ratcliffe joined the CJFS team as Fund Development and Outreach Director in the summer of 2021. Clay focuses on fund development for all CJFS programs and services, and as well as overseeing Outreach programs and activities that work to further the mission of CJFS in our community. Prior to joining CJFS, Clay worked in development and donor relations for the YWCA of Central Alabama, and she has an extensive background in marketing and events.
