Admin Team

Alexander Herzog, LCSW

Executive Director

Before coming to JFS Clifton-Passaic, Alexander “Ozer” Herzog was the Chief of Social Work Service for the Veterans Administration Health Care System New Jersey. In that position, he oversaw 160 employees comprised of social workers, psychologists, nurses, and administrative staff located across two medical centers and 10 community-based clinics, working in a range of programs from the emergency room, med-surg and primary care to acute, residential and outpatient mental health programs.

As a senior leader in the VA, Mr. Herzog regularly wrote and implemented medical center policies and procedures, as well as responded to Congressional and White House inquiries. He worked closely with HR, compliance and risk management and utilized metrics such as SAIL, RVUs and other productivity measures.

After earning a BA in Psychology from Emory University, Mr. Herzog lived in Israel for six years where he completed an intensive 2-year study of Gestalt Therapy. He then returned to America to attend Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

Mr. Herzog began at the Veterans Administration in a homeless services program in NJ and was the lead clinician on a large SAMHSA grant. He received extensive training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Drs. Aaron and Judy Beck in Philadelphia and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) from Dr. Marsha Linehan. Mr. Herzog also received in-depth instruction of Motivational Interviewing to become a trainer. When working as a Senior Social Worker at the Bronx VA’s Intensive Outpatient and Opiate Treatment Program, he was part of the rotation to train psychiatry residents and fellows in Motivation Enhancement. In that role, he also coordinated interdisciplinary teams of psychiatrists, nurses, psychologists and vocational rehab specialists.

Mr. Herzog left the Bronx VA to lead the Post-9/11 Returning Veterans, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Caregiver Support Programs back in VA New Jersey. He was recognized for his leadership and high scores on annual employee surveys and became a regular instructor at New Supervisor’s Orientation.

Mr. Herzog was asked a few years later to take on managing 45 employees in various mental health programs along with his aforementioned duties. His ability to juggle competing demands while maintaining a level-head earned him respect and attention from senior management. Thus, when the Chief of Social Work Service position became vacant, he was appointed Acting Chief which became official a few months later.

Mr. Herzog served as President of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Passaic and continues to assist with coordination of its evening learning program. Joining JFS is a natural culmination of his passions for clinical work and service to community.

Marisol Alvarez

Director of Finance

Marisol graduated from Instituto Superior de Estudios Comerciales in Mexico City with a degree in Business Administration, and received certificates in both Marketing from ITESM and in Finance from Universidad Anahuac, in Mexico City. She is also a certified Non-Profit Accounting Professional from FMA Institute in New York. Marisol worked for Merchants of America, Inc. in Cozumel, Mexico as General Manager of four Jewelry Stores, as well as in New York City as Regional Manager for Mexico, Turks and Caicos, and Belize. Marisol has been a valuable part of the JFS family since 2011 and enjoys knowing that her work is part of a greater purpose to help those in need.

Manny Espinoza

Building Maintenance Supervisor

Manny has been working at JFS since 2011 as the Building Supervisor and Driver for the Club Sequoia senior program. He is responsible for the all general maintenance and is always happy to help out — with a smile and a friendly conversation.

Maureen Gaccione

Administrative Officer

Maureen (Moe) grew up in Passaic and has worked within the community ever since. She worked at NJ Physicians, LLC for 17 years and then at St. Mary’s General Hospital 9 years. Moe has been working in the JFS front office since 2016 and greets each client when they arrive. Moe enjoys working at JFS and appreciates the family feel of the organization. She is gifted to be able to help others even in a small way; welcoming each client with a smile and wishing them a good day on their way out.

Chani Gold

Administrative Assistant

Chani grew up in Detroit, Michigan and has been working remotely from Israel her entire working career. Prior to working for JFS, she worked for 5 years for a medical billing company in Lakewood, NJ as the billing specialist for therapy billing. Chani is very excited to join the JFS family!

Penina Goldman

Community Relations Coordinator

Dena Hager

Director of Operations

With a background as a Certified Public Accountant, Dena has worked with multiple companies to help shape and modernize their business model. Her involvement helped each businesses become more profitable and productive. Dena has unique problem solving skills and has a knack for setting realistic and achievable goals for each company, while interacting with both the staff and clients. Dena’s vision evaluates all aspects of the business and helps to move the company to the next level.

Prior to working at JFS, Dena was a mathematics teacher for over 15 years, becoming an integral part of the school and played an important role in each of her student’s lives and accomplishments. Dena is so pleased to continue to work with the people of her Passaic-Clifton community.

Craig Johnson

Grants Manager

With 22 years of experience, Craig Johnson is a seasoned veteran in grant writing, program design and senior-level project management. He joins JFS from South Florida, where he served as Executive Director for ArtServe, one of the nation’s original arts incubators; Craig was responsible for the organization’s rebranding and current vision wherein the arts are used as a vehicle for social change. Prior to his work with ArtServe, Craig was the CEO of the Center for Contemporary Dance, a nonprofit community dance organization he co-founded and spearheaded for 17 years. He earned national recognition for the organization with multiple awards from the National Endowment for the Arts and awards for statewide contributions to arts education, social change and innovation in the arts. Additionally, Craig was a consultant for numerous arts organizations throughout the state, working to improve companies in all phases of their evolution. Craig brings to JFS specialization in vision crafting, entrepreneurial thought leadership, fund development, strategic planning and community building. With the goal of empowering nonprofit employees to be agents of change, Craig is a staunch proponent of diversity, inclusion and equitable access to resources that improve our quality of life.

Genesis Lopez

Receptionist

Genesis is a recent graduate from Rutgers University, majoring in Health Information Management, and has been in the healthcare field for 9 years. She enjoys working as a receptionist and greeting each client as they come in with a smile.

Alice Kayzerman

Director of Client Accounts

Alice graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, and joined the JFS team in 2016.

As the Director of Client Accounts, Alice is a highly efficient and accurate accountant and is motivated to increase collections, streamline processes, and automate tasks whenever possible. She is responsible for all insurance related tasks, and is an expert in Microsoft Suite, a spreadsheet wizard, and master of Valant and New Jersey Medicaid.

Prior to coming to JFS, Alice held positions as Financial Analyst, Senior Accountant, and Mental Health Insurance Claim Specialist.

Alice is a talented cellist and a member of the Livingston Symphony Orchestra and the Bergen Philharmonic. Her JFS colleagues are fortunate to hear Alice’s musical performances in and out of work.

Robyn Reiken

Practice Manager

Robyn received her Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and received her law degree from Boston University School of Law in 1985. While practicing law, she won numerous Summary Judgements helping her clients avoid costly trial litigation fees; judges commented from the bench that her legal briefs were among the best they had read, a commendation most attorneys will not receive in a lifetime of legal practice.

Robyn left the demanding practice of law to raise a family, and in 2010 she began what was to be a temporary administrative position at JFS. In this position, she evaluated the efficiency of systems and processes, and made recommendations that increased agency revenues, including streamlining billing procedures and credentialing clinicians with insurance companies. Soon, Robyn’s duties expanded to include supporting the Psychiatric Department in managing communications, scheduling, prescription renewals, prior authorizations, follow up and record keeping for 200 patients.
Robyn serves as the Legal Program Coordinator for Project SARAH, working in collaboration with the Project Director to connect survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault with attorneys who specialize in these areas. Robyn is grateful to be able to use her legal expertise to advocate for survivors, assisting them in understanding legal documents, attorney recommendations and court procedures. What began as a temporary position has evolved into a critical role with JFS, and Robyn is honored to be part of fulfilling the agency’s mission.

Deena Schwersenski

Director of Marketing and Communications

With a background in Corporate Communication and Graphic Design, Deena has years of experience designing print and web graphics. Deena has worked with many non-profit organizations to help them create a high-quality brand with their marketing materials. Deena designs invitations, logos, and advertisements for JFS’s fundraising events and support groups, as well as any internal graphic needs. She maintains the website, updates multiple social media platforms, and facilitates advertising with print publications and online groups. Deena strives to ensure that everything with the JFS logo on it has a recognizable and professional look.

Jeanae Stamper

Grants Coordinator

Jeanae completed her undergraduate degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Public Administration, at Southern New Hampshire University. Before joining the JFS team, she worked in a variety of administrative roles however, she always wanted to give back to the community. Jeanae is currently working on her Masters in Business Administration at William Paterson University, and is looking forward to building a career in which she can serve the community.

Carol Sufian

Managing Director of Project SARAH

In the dynamic realm of organizational leadership and strategic development, Carol emerges as a seasoned executive renowned for her knack in shaping and propelling entities to unprecedented heights. Throughout her illustrious career, she has consistently showcased proficiency in constructing robust infrastructures, amplifying profit margins, and cultivating unparalleled brand recognition.

At the core of Carol’s professional narrative lies a story of transformative leadership. Her strategic vision, adept relationship cultivation, and innovative thinking converge to forge lasting impacts for the organizations fortunate enough to benefit from her guidance. In a landscape where change is constant, Carol stands as a beacon of success, steering nonprofits towards prosperity with a blend of foresight, collaboration, and ingenuity. Carol looks forward to expanding on the stellar service delivery that Project SARAH has been providing in the community and throughout New Jersey.