Meet the Jewish Home Leaders
Meet Board of Directors Chair, Michael Heslov
Los Angeles native Michael Heslov brings a personal connection and a passionate
vision to his post as chair of the Jewish Home's board of directors.
Co-partner in the high-profile commercial real estate firm, Soboroff Partners, Mr. Heslov is one of the youngest executives ever to serve as the Home's board chair. A board member since 2004, he was instrumental in the successful negotiations that enabled the Home to acquire the option to purchase property for the new Westside Gonda Healthy Aging Campus.
Throughout his career, Heslov has taken an active and philanthropic role in the Los Angeles community. He developed personal ties to the Home when his father, Arthur, received care for his Alzheimer's disease at the Home's Goldenberg•Ziman Special Care Center.
Witnessing firsthand the very real and positive change that compassionate care makes to caregiving families, Heslov was inspired to "give back to the Home." His involvement began with volunteering and philanthropy, and led to board membership.
Chairing the board's budget and finance committee and being a member of the executive committee have given Heslov what he calls "a front row seat to the daily operations, accomplishments, and challenges facing the Jewish Home."
Looking toward the future of senior care for L.A.'s growing senior community,
Heslov is optimistic and dedicated to helping the Home meet those needs through
a full continuum
of care.
"In order to remain financially healthy in today's environment," he says, "the Home needs to serve seniors of all means. We've made a great start with Fountainview and the upcoming Gonda Healthy Aging Westside Campus. These and future undertakings will help provide longterm financial stability for the Home."
Heslov, his wife Lynne, and their two daughters live in Westwood. In addition to his commitments to the Home, he is on the board of directors of Jewish Big Brother Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles (JBBBS LA), where he met and worked closely with immediate past Jewish Home Board Chair, Dave Swartz.
In stating his goals over the next two years, Heslov says, "I am looking forward to helping the Home carry out its mission of enriching the well-being of our elderly, regardless of their financial ability, in an environment reflective of Jewish ideals."
Meet CEO-President, Molly Forrest
Leading the nationally-acclaimed Los Angeles Jewish Home through the most ambitious
expansion in its history is Molly Forrest, who has served as the Home's chief executive
officer and president for the past 12 years.
Combining a potent blend of vision and pragmatism, energy and determination, Molly is working to ensure that the Home confronts the aging of our society and helps change the face of senior living in America. A veteran of senior housing and healthcare issues, she is well prepared for the Home to take a leadership role.
In the late 1970s Molly served in a governmental position in Oregon working to develop HUD and FHA financing for senior/handicapped subsidized housing. While in Oregon, she was also a nutrition supervisor for one of the state's largest programs providing home meals for seniors.
Upon joining the Jewish Home in 1996, Molly began instilling the philosophy that "getting old should be an opportunity for personal growth, personal connections, and family."
Under her leadership, the Jewish Home has seen remarkable growth and revitalization. It has expanded independent-living Neighborhood Home accommodations from 17 residents to 50.
Most recently, ground was broken on Fountainview at Eisenberg Village, the first new urban Continuing Care Community Retirement facility to be developed in California in over a decade and the fastest-selling CCRC in the history of the state.
Forrest also oversaw development and completion of the Home's award-winning 96-bed Goldenberg•Ziman Special Care Center, and the 239-bed Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer Medical Center, with an additional 10 beds in the Lisa and Ernest Auerbach Behavioral Health Center.
A graduate of Oregon State University, Molly is active in a variety of community organizations including the Association of Jewish Aging Services, the California State University Northridge (CSUN) Professional Health Care Administration Committee, the CSUN Alzheimer's Association Center Advisory Committee, the Geriatric Education and Research Organization, the Council of Agency and Federation Executives, and Tel-Aviv/LA Partnership Task Force.
She is a recipient of the Jewish Communal Professionals of Southern California Allan J. Kassin Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal Health Care Leadership Award, and the Jewish Free Loan Association Ben & Anne Werber Communal Service Award. She is a frequent guest speaker regarding geriatric issues for various leading healthcare, eldercare and nonprofit organizations.
"The fate of senior care tomorrow for much of the population is something we believe needs to be addressed today," Molly says. "As a result, we should provide the best — and that's what we try to accomplish every day at the Jewish Home."