Smart Business Magazine, December 2019

December 2019 Smart Business Cleveland 57 J ohn Litten leads West Side Catholic Center a Cuyahoga County social service agency and homeless shelter that offers food clothing shelter and advocacy Beyond that it offers a path to self sufficiency to those in need at no charge regardless of religious affiliation In 2017 Litten was chosen from among 100 applicants to succeed the previous executive director standing out due to his demonstrated passion leadership strategic thinking and ability to inspire others Rather than maintaining the status quo at the 40 year old center in his first two years Litten has led significant change restructuring its administration to promote a more cohesive culture completing a building campaign and initiating a comprehensive strategic planning process Most significantly he oversaw the establishment of a new programming initiative and social enterprise by taking over the management of Ohio City Pizzeria The nonprofit pizza shop adjacent to the West Side Catholic Center campus provides practical employment opportunities and training for the organizations homeless clients as well as funding to help the center fulfill its mission In just a few short years Littens leadership has raised the centers profile attracted new volunteers and donors and expanded its efforts to break the cycle of poverty for clients Hes established a strong sense of trust and collaboration with his staff volunteers and board sharing a long term strategic vision that will see the West Side Catholic Center continue to expand its mission and impact lives throughout Northeast Ohio John Litten Executive Director West Side Catholic Center N O N P R O F I T E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R O F T H E Y E A R ONLY OFFICE FURNITURE MANUFACTURER CLEVELANDS MOMENTS FROM HOPKINS AIRPORT P 216 898 0080 With Gratitude Our team is honored to be recognized by Smart Business as a 2019 Medical Mutual Pillar Award honoree We applaud our fellow honorees for their meaningful work and service throughout the community Visit cjn org subscribe to start your free 6 week trial 125 CJN ORG Candlelighting 4 48 p m Shabbat ends 5 49 p m 18 CHESHVAN 5780 NOVEMBER 15 2019 JFNAs Fingerhut in Germany You could still see the bullet holes in the door JANE KAUFMAN STAFF REPORTER jkaufman@ cjn org @ jkaufmanCJN A month after the Yom Kippur attack on a synagogue in Halle Germany Eric D Fingerhut described the atmosphere as still very raw and emotional The president and CEO of Jewish Federations of North America spent time in the synagogue that came under fi re from the outside Armed doors held back the shooter from entering who shot and killed two people outside A man identifi ed as Stephan B 27 was arrested in Zeitz about 31 miles from Halle after the shootings according to The Associated Press Authorities said his motives were both anti Semitic and far right extremist ideologies When I was there you could still see the bullet holes in the door where the gunman tried to get in Fingerhut told the Cleveland Jewish News Nov 8 after landing in Washington D C We talked to one couple that had been in the synagogue And the husband had when he saw what was happening had run to secure the back door had closed the back door so that they could be safe on all sides because of course they didnt know how many shooters there were They only knew they were under attack And the emotions from that were signifi cant Fingerhut the former Hillel International CEO who grew up in Greater Cleveland and served as an Ohio state senator and U S congressman said his mission had three purposes to stand in solidarity with the Jews of Halle to address slow German police response and to bring back lessons to the JFNA SLOW POLICE RESPONSE Fingerhut said he hoped to prod the government of Germany together with the secretary of state and the chairman of the executive of The Jewish Agency for Israel to take these threats to the Jewish FINGERHUT 4 ISRAEL UNDER ATTACK TERRORISTS UNLEASH 360 ROCKETS Timeline Tuesday Wednesday Israel targets two senior commanders of Islamic Jihad killing one Bahaa Abu el Atta and his wife as they slept in their Gaza home Islamic Jihadists fi re hundreds of rockets into Israel some reaching Tel Aviv Dozens of Israelis treated for injuries Israel responds with airstrikes killing at least 25 Cease fi re discussed FOR THE LATEST VISIT CJN ORG Local reaction Page 6 Heaviest fi ghting in years Page 31 Photos Associated Press AUDI MENTOR www audimentor com 8599 Market Street 888 456 1947 Dream Car or Snow Machine 2019 Audi Q5 HOW ABOUT B TH