Goldberg is off and running as AJL’s interim executive director
Arthur L. Goldberg recently accepted the position of interim executive director of the Agency for Jewish Learning, satisfying the agency’s desire for a professional to run the educational organization while it considers its future needs.
Goldberg recently served as chief financial officer for Clear Skies Solar, Inc., a public company in the solar energy field. While at Clear Skies, Goldberg negotiated a $20 million credit line and terms of major installation contracts. Additionally, he created financial, administrative, HR and IT infrastructure as well as managed internal and SEC financial reporting, budgets, cash forecasting and contract administration.
Prior to his work at Clear Skies, Goldberg served as CFO of several other companies over the past two decades. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago as well as degrees from the New York University School of Law.
The AJL is hoping to rely upon Goldberg’s past successes, as he takes a leadership position vacated by Ed Frim.
AJL president Steve Moritz said that after Frim’s departure, a selection committee identified six candidates for the interim position. Goldberg had recently moved from Westchester County, N.Y., to Pittsburgh in order to be closer to his daughter, Dr. Deborah Gilboa, and her family. In addition to Goldberg, the committee spoke to several other candidates.
From the conversations, “Art stood out,” said Moritz. After meeting with the selection committee, Goldberg met with various stakeholders, including members of the AJL’s board of directors and Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. Moritz claimed that Goldberg again received glowing reviews.
“We were fortunate that Art was here and available,” said Moritz.
Goldberg has been in the position roughly two weeks and is already making his mark. Moritz said that Goldberg has been working on “things pertaining to the daily heartbeat of the agency.” In addition to providing financial oversight and guidance pertaining to operational and management issues, Goldberg has been publicly representing the agency at events such as at the Federation’s recent agency executives meeting. Moritz said that it is has been “great” for Goldberg to “step in and take that role.”
Goldberg is still orienting himself to the AJL and Pittsburgh’s Jewish community. Beyond running programs and maintaining the agency’s financial viability, Goldberg explained that he is “learning what the AJL does and how it fits into the overall Jewish community.”
“I’m learning about the programs,” he said, “going into things more [deeply]. It’s a learning process.”
While Goldberg is still acquainting himself with particulars, he is sure of one thing: “Without Jewish education,” he said, “Judaism will disappear in a few generations. If we don’t teach kids, Judaism will vanish.”
Adam Reinherz can be reached at adam.reinherz@gmail.com.
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