Meet Our Staff
Communications & Donor Relations
- Laurie Gottlieb, Director, Marketing and Annual Fundraising
- Lara Daly, Donor Database/Web Content Management Specialist
- Kelly O'Brien, Public Relations Associate
- Barry Rudel, Development Officer
Laurie Gottlieb
Director, Marketing and Annual Fundraising
Laurie Gottlieb is the director of marketing and annual fundraising for JF&CS. In this capacity, she directs and oversees marketing and individual fundraising policies, objectives and initiatives for JF&CS and the agency's four divisions: Career Development Center, Family Hope Connection, Squirrel Hill Food Pantry and Squirrel Hill Psychological Services. This includes initiatives that increase awareness of the agency and its individual programs and services through advertising, public relations, marketing communications collateral and outreach.
Responsibilities also consist of all community fundraising initiatives for the agency including annual appeals for the agency and the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry, ongoing giving programs such as tribute cards and Food Pantry centerpieces and all special events.
Prior to joining JF&CS, Laurie worked in the for-profit sector, acting as marketing director for two different high technology companies in the Pittsburgh area. Before that, she did management consulting in D.C. for four years.
Laurie has bachelor's degrees in both business administration and applied mathematics/operations research from the Tepper School and Mellon College of Science, respectively, at Carnegie Mellon University and a master's in information science from the University of Pittsburgh. She sits on the board of directors of the National Council of Jewish Women and Tree of Life Congregation.
Lara Daly
Donor Database/Web Content Management Specialist
Lara Daly is the Donor Database and Web Content Management Specialist. In this role, she is responsible for logging all annual donations and tribute gifts that come in through Jewish Family & Children's Service and the Squirrel Hill Food Pantry. Lara is part of the marketing staff and helps with internal and external communication pieces including weekly emails to our friends and donors regarding our programs and services, a monthly newsletter for the Food Pantry and acknowledgment of all donor gifts. Lara is also responsible for updates and content changes for the agency's websites.
Lara previously worked in several other non-profits including the American Lung Association, CCAC Educational Foundation, Catholic University School of Law and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation. She has experience in fundraising including donor relations, database management, special event planning, annual fundraising, volunteer management and website content.
Lara earned her bachelor's degree in political science and public administration from Slippery Rock University.
Kelly O'Brien
Public Relations Associate
As Jewish Family & Children's Service's public relations associate, Kelly O'Brien helps to share the great work that is done here every day with the community, staff and board. Working with the rest of the marketing team, she helps to plan and write communications directed at both the media and the individuals we serve. From pitching reporters to brainstorming outreach for each of our service areas, Kelly can be found chatting it up with all those in her path. She also co-chairs the JF&CS Continuous Quality Improvement committee and coordinates the monthly staff Brown Bag Lunch & Learns.
While JF&CS is her first "official" venture into nonprofit work, Kelly has lent her communication skills to many organizations in Sarasota, Fla., her previous home. She served as a volunteer on the planning committees for the annual fundraisers of an art organization and JF&CS of Sarasota. Before joining JF&CS, Kelly worked at an advertising agency and supervised public relations for a national consumer home goods client.
She earned her bachelor's degree in agricultural science from the Pennsylvania State University. She's an active alumna and serves as president of the Ag Advocate Alumni Group. A Pittsburgh native, Kelly can be found paddling in Western Pennsylvanian waterways when she's not working (and the weather cooperates).
Barry Rudel
Development Officer
Barry Rudel is the Development Officer for JF&CS. In this role, Barry is an integral partner in our efforts to raise the visibility and support of JF&CS as we expand our services to vulnerable populations in our community.
Barry has extensive background in all aspects of fundraising. His experience includes work with United Jewish Communities; American Cancer Society, Weizmann Institute of Science and; the Jewish Federations in Palm Beach and in Philadelphia.
Barry holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He is currently the Vice-Chairman of the Rauh Jewish Archives of the Heinz History Center.
