Salem —   Robert Powell of Swampscott was elected president of the Board of Overseers of The Jewish Journal/Boston North at the newspaper’s annual meeting on November 5.
Powell — who spearheaded the launch of the newspaper’s new interactive website in October — received kudos from board members for that achievement and for his election. He pledged to continue the work that outgoing President Laurie Jacobs had begun and to initiate several additional goals.
A widely experienced financial journalist, Powell is currently the editor of MarketWatch/DowJones’ Retirement Weekly. He pledged to bring a business model to the Journal and professionalize the newspaper “without losing our family feel.”
On a more emotional level, Powell wishes to create “raving fans,” a term borrowed from Ken Blanchard’s best-selling book of the same title. Powell explained that he wants the newspaper’s advertisers and other stakeholders to go beyond being satisfied customers and become advocates of the newspaper and the services they receive from the Jewish Journal.
Saying that each board member brings his and her own experience and expertise to the table, Powell intends to tap their unique gifts to enrich and improve the newspaper.
“We need you to join committees,” Powell told the board. “It’s important for you to give us time. Everyone has a role to play. Just use your imagination.”
The board thanked Laurie Jacobs for her two years at the helm of the Journal. An author and lawyer, she devoted many hours every month toward its betterment. Under Jacob’s leadership the Journal Board undertook a community survey and a strategic planning process, the results of which pushed the paper to expand and enhance its web presence. With a grant from the Goldhirsch Foundation, Jewish Journal.org was built and launched during her tenure. Jacobs further led a series of outreach meetings, expanded the Journal’s editorial committee, and played a pivotal role in the Journal’s yearly fundraiser.
Publisher Barbara Schneider praised Jacobs’ presidency, the fond partnership the two had forged, and Jacobs’ consistently balanced and intelligent counsel.
Board member David Greenberg was presented with the Journal’s first Publisher’s Award for his work in making the Journal’s website become a reality.
When presented with it, Greenberg spoke about the “unsung board member” who was not present at the meeting, Michael McClung, the web designer who brought Greenberg and Powell’s concept to life. Greenberg also credited the Journal staff for putting the creators’ dream into practical use.
Joining the Journal’s 22-member board are five new local residents.
Ken Drooks of Marblehead is the Journal’s new treasurer. He is a certified public accountant who founded his own business and eventually sold it to American Express. He is now a managing member of Shuman & Epstein, LLC.
Jay Duchin of Lynnfield founded Duchin Productions, a broadcast, corporate and web video production service. An inventor and designer of custom camera mounts for the film and video industry, he also co-founded the Women’s Riding School for advanced motorcycle riding.
Lisa Kosan of Beverly is managing editor of Connections magazine, a publication of the Peabody Essex Museum of Salem. She has many years’ experience with daily newspapers and operates her own editorial consulting business.
Bonnie Weiss of Salem has worked in health care management for many years. Fluent in Hebrew, Weiss studied and worked in Israel, where she taught Iraqi Jewish children. She sits on several local boards, is a wine consultant and organizes wine tastings.
Scott Solomon of Swampscott is a vice president of Sharon Merrill Associates with 20 years experience in business journalism, financial services and corporate communications. He also holds a law degree.
Other office-holders are: Izzi Abrams, Vice President; Norman Sherman, Clerk; and Joan Lawrence, Recording Secretary.