JOE GROSS was recently named the new director of Syracuse Jewish Family Service (SJFS). He will lead the 130-year-old human-service agency, which is an affiliate of Menorah Park of Central New York. As the agency’s executive director, Gross will be responsible for the agency’s overall administration including staff development, financials, and reporting. The director works closely with the board of directors, the CEO of Menorah Park, and the community to develop and implement programs that realize the agency’s mission and vision, as well as secure its professional and community identity as a go-to expert in issues of individual and family wellbeing and complex later-life issues. Gross, who holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree from Earlham College in Indiana, was most recently the associate executive director of AccessCNY. Gross has worked as a consultant to Senior Whole Health of Syracuse and Albany, has served on the Long Term Care Council of Onondaga County, and was just re-elected to the Jamesville-Dewitt school board as chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Policy Committee, as well as serving on an ad hoc outreach committee with Town of DeWitt representatives. SJFS says it helps individuals and families in the Jewish and general communities of Central New York maximize their self-determination, realize their potential, and live with dignity. The agency implements programs that seek to preserve and strengthen individual and family well-being.

The Friends of the Rosamond Gifford Zoo has hired GINA RAPASADI, of Clay, as director of philanthropy. She is responsible for cultivating and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders to build effective strategies and sustainable revenue for major gifts in support of the zoo’s mission and strategic plan. Originally from Canastota, Rapasadi attended Plattsburgh University for event planning. Two years into her degree, however, the major was changed to hotel restaurant tourism management. She adapted to the change and while she garnered a unique set of skills, she knew hotel and restaurant management was not her passion. After college, Rapasadi began working at the Rescue Mission Alliance of Syracuse, where she spent 17 years. She started her career in that nonprofit’s development department — steadily working her way up, taking over events and volunteer services. While incredibly passionate about her work with the Rescue Mission, she knew it was time to start the next chapter in her life. As a zoo member, Rapasadi and her son have been frequent zoo visitors for years.