Leadership

Sandra Ala is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Florida Qualified Supervisor. Sandra graduated with her master’s degree in Psychology as a Mental Health Counselor in 1999 for Carlos Albizu University. Sandra began her career with Jewish Family Services of Miami and continued to grow within the agency during her 23 years. Sandra leadership experience entails supervising and mentoring program managers, program implementation and budget management. Throughout her career she has provided direct services such as case management and therapy to clients. Sandra has a great understanding of the importance of cultural sensitivity and working with culturally diverse populations. Additionally, Sandra’s knowledge and practice of person-centered services with trauma informed practice (PCTI) is a focal point of the care and philosophy of her therapeutic approach. Under Sandra’s leadership, mental health professionals have been trained to work with clients who experienced immigration related trauma, as well as survivors of sexual violence, domestic abuse, and cultural/generational trauma.  

Barbara Welte-Di Pietro came to Goodman JFS from the Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center where she experienced the many facets of the non-profit ​industry. She also brings 20 years of for-profit experience, including owning her own business. She graduated with her Bachelor degree from Lynchburg University and continued her education in business at Walden University where she obtained her Master of Business Administration and Accounting. Although she is skilled in finance, her true commitment is to the non-profit mission and making a difference in the community.

Prior to joining Goodman JFS as the Director of Strategic Development, Judy Ranan was the Director of Major Gifts in the Southeastern Region for the Parkinson’s Foundation. Before that, Judy worked as Executive Director for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and as Executive Director for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Los Angeles. Prior to moving into the nonprofit world, she was President of Television at several television production companies in Los Angeles and also worked in television development and production at NBC and Imagine Entertainment. Before relocating to Los Angeles, Ranan was a book designer and graphic designer in Boston.

Jonathan Feliz has over 16 years of Human Resources experience, seven of which were spent in various management positions at Hilton Hotels. Feliz serves as an important strategic partner and fundamental link between the agency’s leadership team and its employees. A native of the Dominican Republic, Feliz holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in Dominican Republic and a Master of Science in Human Resources Management from Centro de Estudios Financieros CEF in Madrid, Spain. He is also certified by the HR Certification Institute.

Allison Golden, Psy.D. is a Florida and New York Licensed Clinical Psychologist, as well as a Florida Qualified Supervisor, who received her Bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, and her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Golden specializes in working with children and families, and clients of all ages, who have experienced trauma, stress, crisis and grief. She is Infant Mental Health Endorsed in the state of FL, and nationally rostered in Child-Parent Psychotherapy. She has experience training on mental health related topics nationwide, and consulting with organizational leadership on responding to crises, program development, and supporting staff well-being.

Eric Troy is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Qualified Supervisor with the State of Florida in the fields of Mental Health Counseling and Marriage and Family Therapy. He also received graduate training in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, AZ and EMDR therapy at Trauma Recovery, EMDR/Humanitarian Assistance Programs in Hamden, CT.

Ross Adel oversees the daily operations of The Dorit & Ben J. Genet Cupboard food pantry which serves over 600 homebound seniors, Holocaust survivors and those suffering from food insecurity within Broward County’s Jewish community. Adel brings over 25 years of food and beverage experience and holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Johnson & Wales University where he was a member of the Silver Key Honor Society and member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

Nadine Neree began at Goodman JFS as a temporary Intake Coordinator and became a full-time Financial Assistance Care Manager. In December 2022, she was promoted to Financial Assistance Manager. Prior to joining Goodman JFS, she worked at Chrysalis Health as a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Counselor and then as an Outpatient Therapist. Neree received her Bachelor & Master degrees in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University.

Brett Engle, PhD, LCSW, is the Silver CARE Program Manager at Goodman JFS and provides older adults with trauma and family caregivers with counseling, socialization and other assistance. Dr. Engle received his Bachelor’s in Psychology and Master’s in Social Work from Boise State University. He received his Ph.D from Florida International University, where he was awarded a National Institute of Health grant to complete his dissertation on adolescent commitment language as a predictor of therapeutic outcomes. Dr. Engle has been a therapist for over 20 years, a motivational interviewing trainer, and an Assistant Professor at the FIU Wertheim College of Medicine. He specializes in mindfulness-based trauma and anxiety treatments.

Currently Manager of the Domestic Abuse Program, Thalia Rydz has worked with survivors of domestic abuse since the beginning of her career. She received her Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University and her Masters in Social Work from Barry University. She is a licensed clinical worker and utilizes Solution Focused Brief Therapy as well as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work with clients.

Darrelle Buckley has been involved in the Jewish community for many years and is an avid participant with organizations such as Make-A-Wish Foundation, Relay for Life, Toys for Tots, Different Brains and Dance Marathon. Buckley was employed with Temple Beth Torah as a preschool teacher for twelve years and as an assistant director with St. Andrew Early Childhood Center. In 2019, she joined Goodman JFS as the RAK PAK manager. Buckley expanded the RAK PAK to include men’s and boy’s clothing, undergarments, much-needed hygiene products, and diapers due to the lack of those basic essentials. She attended Nova Southeastern University for a Child Development Associate credential in Early Childhood Education.

Allison O’Mara joined Goodman JFS after serving as North Broward Director for the Jewish Federation of Broward County. At Federation, she was the catalyst for a presence in North Broward, led several Momentum Israel trips and directed their Horizons Leadership Program for emerging professionals. A South Florida native, with a formal education in Child Development, Allison has deep roots within the community she calls home. O’Mara started her career at SOS Children’s Village of Florida and later established herself in the Jewish nonprofit space at Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, launching their Jewish Volunteer Center.

Rebecca Reichert brings more than 20 years of experience as a Grant Writer, serving numerous nonprofit organizations and managing different programs. She worked for the Florida Association of Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA) as Director of Development, as Program Manager with the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), and as Prosperity Services Director at Catalyst Miami. Before joining Goodman JFS, she was Senior Manager in Grants Administration for The School Board of Broward County. Reichert attended The George Washington University for a Master’s degree in International Affairs with a concentration in International Business, International Law & Organization, and International Political Theory. She also went to Knox College for a Bachelor in Economics and International Relations and studied abroad at the University of Barcelona.