Executive Assistant & Board Liaison Julie Olson started working at JFS in 1980. This year, we celebrate both her 35th anniversary and retirement on June 19. Julie graciously spoke with us about her extraordinary tenure.
How did you end up working at JFS?
My father’s family was Jewish but not very religious. When my uncle passed away, I remember thinking that he was the last of our practicing Jewish relatives, and I didn’t want to lose that part of our cultural identity. At the time, I didn’t know what that would look like.
About four years later, I found JFS through a classified ad. They were hiring an Office Manager/Executive Assistant. I applied and was invited to come in for an interview. When I arrived, I was told the position had been filled. Since I had driven from Everett to the JFS office on First Hill, they were nice enough to grant me a courtesy interview. I met with then CEO Irv Goldberg. By the end of our conversation, he offered me the job.
When you accepted the job, what was your mindset?
This was my first foray into the job market since having children six years earlier, and I thought it would be a nice way to reenter the work force. If you had asked me then, I would have guessed I’d stay at JFS for about five years. My children were four and six years old when I started, the same ages as my two grandchildren now.
What’s kept you at JFS for 35 years?
I often say 50 percent of your work life is who you work with. I love working with people who share my values. I’m continuously struck by the young people who decide to work here because they believe in what we do. Like all of us at JFS, they want to make a difference in the world.
What lessons have you learned that you’ll take with you?
- People are more or less the same, regardless of their status in the community.
- Any one of us is just a step away from needing help from an agency like JFS.
- Always be kind to people. You never know who they are or what they’ve been through.
What are you most proud of – both in your work at JFS and the agency on the whole?
When I started at JFS, we had 12 employees. Today, our staff is over 100. By the time I retire, I will have worked closely with 20 JFS Presidents and hundreds of Board Members, helping to guide them through their responsibilities and forming lasting friendships with several of them. Through all this growth, we’ve remained focused on finding the best way to help the people we serve, in addition to looking for ways to further meet the community’s needs.
I’d also like to think that by working here I’ve been a good role model for my children and grandchildren. Over the years, they’ve all come to volunteer at JFS events. My granddaughter has a great time at the Food Sort.
What’s next for you?
I’m looking forward to expanding my role in the jazz community, spending more time with my family and traveling.
By Jenelle Birnbaum
Violinist, hiker and all-around arts nerd Jenelle Birnbaum is the JFS Marketing Coordinator. Outside of that, she enjoys speaking French and vegan cooking.
