Category: Kavod Connections
Surlow Award Recognizes Employee Excellence
Throughout his life, one thing that Maurice Surlow understood was the power of great customer service.
Living well into his late 90s, Maurice spent a brief time living at Ovation Jewish Home. According to his great niece,
Debbie Zucker, the care he received from the nurses and dietary aids left an impression on him.
“(Maurice) was born in Hungary, had a family of eight siblings, and came to Milwaukee in the early 1900s when he was eight years-old,” Zucker said. “As an entrepreneur, Uncle Maury worked very hard operating Roxy’s Dress Store, a woman’s clothing store, and several other businesses. He worked for everything he had.
“Through all of his hard work in life, and savvy investments, philanthropy and helping support the Milwaukee community became near and dear to Uncle Maury’s heart.”
Debbie’s father, Bob Zucker, suggested to Maurice that an awards program be started in his name to honor the hardworking and dedicated staff at Ovation Communities.
The Maurice Surlow Award for Employee Excellence recognizes Ovation Communities staff members who provide superior quality of care to residents and their families.
“Our society doesn’t understand how important and valuable caregiving is as a profession,” Zucker said. “It means a lot to our family to be able to honor caregivers, whether they are nurses, CNAs working their way up, or people in the dietary department. It means a lot to honor working people.
“Uncle Maury worked his way up,” Zucker continued. “He wasn’t born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He appreciated the hard work of people who go the extra mile, while connecting with other human beings in a human way. That kind of stuff wasn’t lost on him.”
Established in 2000 and awarded three times a year, this summer the Surlow and Zucker family awarded Sabrina Stewart, CNA; Belaynesh Bekele, CNA; Katie Waara, Jewish Home Admissions Manager; and Elizabeth Kayser, Activities Specialist, the Maurice Surlow Award for Employee Excellence for all of their care and commitment shown to residents.
Staff members who receive the prestigious award are nominated by their peers, residents and families. They are recognized at a ceremony where they are given a plaque, a celebratory lunch and a monetary gift.
“Maurice Surlow was a man who cared deeply about people and supporting his community,” said Michael Sattell, Ovation Communities President and CEO. “We are very grateful to have the opportunity to celebrate people, who go above and beyond their everyday responsibilities, in a public way with
their community, friends and family.”
Coming Full Circle: From Fundraiser to Resident
Stan Holland is a loyal resident of Ovation Communities. However, his loyalty is not only rooted in his current experience as a resident of Chai Point, but as a former board member and the husband of current Jewish Home resident Ceilia “Cese” Holland.
Although Stan has done a significant amount of work for Ovation in the past, it is the work that is done for him and his wife today that keeps him loyal.
In the late ‘80s, Stan was encouraged by his good friend Burt Zucker to join the board of directors. With Zucker serving as President of the Jewish Home and Care Center Board, and Stan’s other good friend, Bob Hirsh, or “the king” as Stan referred to him, serving as Vice President, it was an offer he just could not refuse.
“It was almost like a get-together of good friends,” Stan said.
During his time on the board, Stan received significant guidance from fellow board member Phil Rubenstein who was known for being both kind and generous, while leading through his actions. Although Stan did not know Rubenstein too well initially, the two quickly became close, and Rubenstein suggested Stan become the Head of the Membership Committee for Chai Point.
Stan held the Head position for two years, where he and the members served as fundraisers and constant promoters of Ovation Chai Point.
“[We promoted] what a wonderful resource Chai Point was, what remarkable work it did, and to make people aware of the fact that these services didn’t come cheaply,” Stan said. “These services require extensive effort and support, not only financial support, but community support. That, we felt, was our mission — to promote the value and make people feel necessary.”
Thirty years ago, Stan knew the importance of Ovation Communities’ mission of inspiring older adults to lead richer and more meaningful lives through outstanding care and services.
Yet, he was not surprised by the quality of care because he has always trusted the skills of the people involved, such as Michael Sattell, who Stan knew as a young boy.
When Stan and Cese were confronted with her abrupt memory loss, they turned to the Jewish Home and never looked back.
“[The staff has] been remarkable to my wife and that attentiveness is so important,” Stan said. “I think frustration is the underlying issue with memory loss. For everyone involved. No matter how frustrated Cese gets, or I get, the staff has done a wonderful job of teaching us how important family is in this situation.”
While Cese is receiving the outstanding care she needs through the Jewish Home, and her nurse Sabrina, Stan found his own support by moving into the place he helped raise money and awareness for 30 years earlier.
“I needed that support, and I got it from Chai Point residents… lots of them,” Stan said. “Every day when I visit Cese, they all ask me, ‘How was Cese today?”
After 71 years of marriage — and counting — the two are able to see each other every day and reflect on the blessings in their lives, such as the multiple volunteer experiences the two have participated in.
While Stan has given much to Ovation Communities, he remains thankful for what has been given to him, such as the great care Cese receives and the people that showed him how to be a kind and generous leader.
“We are thankful to this community for the opportunity,” Stan said. “Thanks to the Jewish Home for everything. Believe me when I say, you have our gratitude.”
From the Desk of Jay Frank, Chairman of the Board
Dear friends, family, volunteers and residents,
Michael Sattell has graciously allowed me to use his space in this issue of Kavod to share some thoughts. The in-person Golden Alliance Dinner, accompanied by the tour of Kavod Terrace, the new memory care community, provided an opportunity to re-experience in person the remarkable facility that is home to our residents. It was my first taste of how Ovation would emerge from the pandemic.
The sheer beauty of the facility, attention to detail, art collections and displays are all testaments to Michael Sattell’s keen sense of class and his devotion to our residents and our community. During his service of more than a decade, he has created a unique legacy. His integrity has helped lead Ovation to be a destination of choice. Establishing Kavod Terrace included a total reconstruction of its quarters and attainment of an entirely new license. It fulfills a decade long goal of adding a dedicated memory care unit to our continuum of care. We are grateful for Michael’s contributions in this milestone.
In July we announced the Board of Directors began a transition process that would redesign the position that Michael currently holds as President of the Jewish Home, Chai Point, and the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation, as well as CEO of Ovation Communities. Instead of a CEO of all three entities, the Board made the determination that Ovation would be better served if the President’s responsibilities focused specifically on operations, leaving the development work and financial support aspect to a separate Foundation President. In part, this decision is based on the immense responsibilities of the President of the Jewish Home. A year ago, as part of a reorganization, we eliminated the position of Chief Operating Officer. Those job functions were largely absorbed by Michael as President of The Jewish Home and Chai Point.
The most important job we do is providing services to our residents, and we believe that must be the sole focus of the President. While the Foundation is critically important, we believe that the Jewish Home, and Chai Point, would be better served when it has a President solely focused on the mission, with the collaboration of a separate Foundation President.
As we move through the transition process, Michael agreed he will continue to serve in his role while we implement the needed changes. We do not know the exact timing, but we anticipate the new person could take over as early as the first of next year.
We are grateful for the legacy that Michael is leaving at Ovation. But perhaps his greatest gift is helping to preside over this transitional time. Much as Moses handed over the responsibility of the Jewish people to Joshua, Michael will be able to pass on his legacy and his charge.
I hope you enjoy reading about all of magic going on at Ovation! Thank you for allowing me to serve as the Chairman of the Board.
Jay M. Frank
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Ovation Communities New Website Coming Soon
Ovation Communities recently partnered with Lightburn, a Milwaukee based digital agency, to develop a new interactive, approachable, and informative website that is poised to launch in the coming months.
“What started off as simple improvements became a whole new design and functionality,” said Michael Opitz, Ovation Communities Director of Technology and Security. “With technology continuing to develop and evolve at rapid speed, we decided it was time the old website got a total refresh.”
The new site makes it easy for users to find and digest the information they’re looking for through the use of video, images and descriptive written content. It is also easier to navigate and offers an all-around better user experience.
“We are very excited about the launch of our new website,” said Ryan Berlin, Ovation Communities Public Relations Manager. The new website is informative, fun, interactive, and a representation of the services Ovation has to offer.”
“Everything on the new site is very free flowing and intuitive; each click has a purpose.”
The updated website is “service forward,” and goes in depth while explaining Ovation’s offerings and what makes each community unique.
A “Resident Life” section includes an abundance of digital content showcasing daily happenings within Ovation’s communities. The new “Where to Begin” page helps users better navigate the site.
Ovation Employees Recognized for Excellence in Resident Care and Customer Service
The Maurice S. Surlow Award for Employee Excellence was established in 2000 and made possible at the direction of his extended family, including Jim, Bob and Burt Zucker. Mr. Surlow was
born in Hungary and immigrated with his family to Milwaukee in the early part of the 20th century.
At his passing in 1997, he left a major bequest to the Jewish Community Foundation of Milwaukee Jewish Federation. A portion of that bequest is annually directed to the Jewish Home and Care Center Foundation. Originally working closely with Bob and now his daughter Debbie Zucker, a team of staff members who made special efforts to care for residents with the best customer
service are selected.
The Spring 2022 Maurice S. Surlow Award for Employee Excellence winners are:
Cathy Thornton, C.N.A. and
LaToya Bradley, C.N.A,
holding awards; (Bianca Floyd,
Laundry Aide, not pictured.)
Accompanied by Scott Kwiatkowski,
Patty Anderson, Katie Quintanilla.
Jody Steingold, Resident
Assistant, accompanied
by Trish Cohn and
Cheryl Buckman.
Ovation Communities Public Relations Manager: Get to Know Ryan Berlin
Ovation Communities is thrilled to welcome Ryan Berlin to the team. Ryan joined Ovation in January 2021.
Having a passion for people and storytelling, Ryan Berlin, Ovation Communities new Public Relations Manager, knew immediately that Ovation Communities was the place for him.
After moving to Milwaukee in 2016 with his wife Adrienne, Ryan knew that he wanted to expand on his career. A journalist by trade, Ryan graduated from Central Michigan University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism.
“When we moved to Milwaukee, I was looking for something more career wise,” Ryan said. “I had worked as a writer, journalist and magazine editor. I knew I was looking to take the skillset I already had and add to it.”
Ryan, his wife Adrienne, brother Stu, and children Maxine and Eli, enjoy their annual trip to Sobelman’s for Maxine’s fourth birthday.
Post-graduation, Ryan kicked off his career in journalism working at a small-town newspaper in Mount Pleasant, Mich. While working as a journalist Ryan was exposed to the public relations side of communications and decided to pursue it as a career.
After making the switch to PR, Ryan worked for two years as the communications director for the American Power Boat Association before being promoted to the director of operations.
While working as a writer for a trade magazine in Milwaukee, Ryan went back to school to get a master’s degree in public relations from Kent State University.
“When I got my master’s degree, I bounced around a little bit professionally,” Ryan said. “It took me some time to find my niche within public relations. I worked for a couple of different agencies and agency life just wasn’t for me. I wanted to work directly with people, working toward a specific mission and Ovation has given me the opportunity to do that.
“My favorite part about working in public relations is being able to tell a story through an organization’s mission, vision and core values,” Ryan continued. “I believe this positively impacts both the residents and the community as a whole.”
Ryan is a one-person department at Ovation, and his role focuses on promoting all aspects of the organization. This includes managing digital and print advertising and developing different campaigns that align with Ovation’s overall mission.
Some of Ryan’s main duties include working with and engaging residents, overseeing external communications, managing and updating social media platforms, producing content for the quarterly newsletter and updating the website.
“Jumping into this position and getting to talk with residents and listen to their needs and telling their stories has been one of my favorite aspects of the job,” Ryan said. “I love engaging with the
residents and the rest of the team, it feels great to be part of a community both here at Ovation and in Milwaukee.”
One of Ryan’s main goals for the future is expanding Ovation’s social media presence. He wants to highlight the activities, events and living that goes on at Ovation. He would also love to see Ovation’s social media presence expand to platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
While serving the Ovation community Ryan plans on continuing to position the organization as an industry leader in assisted and senior living.
“I want to break the stigma of senior living facilities being referred to as a ‘home.’ Ovation isn’t just residents sitting around, there is so much life here that I want to showcase and highlight,”
Ryan said. “I want to show the community what life is really like here and the care and expertise that Ovation has to offer.”
Teen Ovation Board Wins Jewish Programming Award, Blueprint For Facilities Worldwide
In the midst of the pandemic, and faced with a lack of intergenerational engagement with our elders, the Jewish Home and Care Center, under the guidance of VP of Development, Tanya Mazor-Posner, created a new teen led organizational board, Teen Ovation.
Designed to teach leadership and career skills, while fostering relationships with residents and other teens by participating in discussions and activities, the board has been awarded the Association of Jewish Aging Services Jewish Programming award.
“I’m so proud that we won the Jewish programming Award from the Association of Jewish Aging Services at its most recent National Conference,” Mazor-Posner said. “Teen Ovation has been recognized as a model for other organizations to follow.”
“I love that we finally have a teen leadership group that really works in tandem with our older adults and our community,” Mazor-Posner continued. “Our board is about getting teens together whether they are Jewish or not. Our teens come from different schools, different walks of life, have different backgrounds, and different experiences. Teens of all faiths and backgrounds ranging in age from 13 to 19 are eligible to apply.”
Just one year after its creation, Teen Ovation’s impact has been felt not just at Ovation Communities, but throughout greater Milwaukee.
New co-presidents, Eliana Tabak (sophomore at Nicolet High School), Maddie Weber (senior at Homestead High School), and Joey Arnstein (8th grader at Bayside Middle School), are looking to expand on Teen Ovation’s presence within the community.
“I think that under leadership from a teenager, this can become more widespread and reach other teens,” Tabak said. “I hope that under my leadership Teen Ovation can be a model for other facilities, both Jewish and non-Jewish, in its ways of connection and intergenerational learning.
“We hope that soon we can begin to organize more community projects and hold larger-scale events with the residents,” Tabak continued, “My goal is to get as many actively involved members to continue the legacy of Teen Ovation.”
Gathering monthly, Teen Ovation board members participate in various social, mitzvah, and intergenerational activities such as, a summer picnic where the teens made garden decorations to add to one Ovation’s outdoor resident garden, safe in-person gathering with Ovation residents, and making hand-made Rosh HaShanah cards for each resident.
In addition to building friendships, Teen Ovation is designed to help teens learn communication and leadership skills, while also participating in fundraising activities and sensitivity training in volunteering with older adults.
“I think it’s so important to hear from everyone on their opinions and lives,” Weber said. “I hope to learn the life skill of communication. Not everyone communicates in the same way or has the same ideas, but I want to be able to hear out every idea I can on any topic or situation.”
“You never know where the next good idea is going to come from, and I think we underestimate the power of a good conversation with a wiser person.”
If you or any teen you know is interested in joining the Ovation Communities Teen Ovation board, please contact Tanya Mazor-Posner at [email protected], or call 414-721-9260.
Ovation’s Healthcare Team Supports Community’s Needs From Medicine to Daily Life
Medical directors Dr. Raul Mateo and Dr. Nancy Reeder are a critical part of Ovation Jewish Home’s interdisciplinary medical care team, working alongside with the nursing department, led by Director of Nursing Laura Bauer. We recently sat down with Dr. Mateo and Dr. Reeder to learn more about what makes this partnership so successful.
Q: How is Ovation’s medical team structured to support resident care?
Dr. Mateo: Our responsibility as medical directors is to oversee and implement the high quality of care that is needed at a senior living community like Ovation. It really goes far beyond the two of us and takes the entire nursing team to complement and fulfill what we do. We wouldn’t be able to do it without Laura and the rest of the nursing team.
Q: How did you get started in this profession and what brought you to Ovation?
Dr. Mateo: I started my career in family medicine and quickly fell in love with geriatrics and pursued it as a specialty. Nita Corre asked me to fill in temporarily at the Jewish Home when the last medical director retired, and I’ve stayed for 30 years! I immediately felt part of the community and loved the way it ran; I just never left.
Dr. Reeder: My background is in internal medicine and my interest in geriatrics was sparked when a friend and I cared for a 92-year-old neighbor. I realized that at any age, if you get the right support from your medical team and community, you can have a good life. Dr. Mateo and I became acquainted through Milwaukee’s medical community and several professional groups. I’ve always looked up to him as a mentor, and I’ve enjoyed working alongside him as part of Ovation’s team for the past 15 years.
Q: It’s unique to have two medical directors on staff. Tell us a bit about that.
Drs. Mateo and Reeder: We’re both certified medical directors, which is rare in the field, and actively involved with the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. We’re lucky to be able to work together to support each other and Ovation’s residents.
Q: What do you enjoy most about working with Ovation?
Dr. Mateo: The satisfaction I get from caring for the residents. You really get to know them, and they become part of your family and part of your life. Just spending time listening or having dinner together sometimes does more for a person’s overall wellbeing than any medicine I could prescribe. It gives me a real sense of happiness. Also knowing the staff are so united, work so well together and support each other is very satisfying. Every time I leave Ovation I feel like a part of me stays behind.
Dr. Reeder: Walking into Ovation is just like coming home. Engaging with residents and hearing about their days and their lives adds a whole other dimension. I’m always struck by Ovation as being the most enjoyable place to do what I’m doing. Everyone on the team strives to do their very best and I’m always confident the residents are well cared for.
From The Holocaust to Outer Space: The Story of Ilan Ramon
Born in 1954 to Holocaust survivors Eliezer and Tonya Wolfferman, Ilan Ramon grew up to become Israel’s first astronaut. On Sunday, May 8, 2022, Holocaust educator David Bitan shared the inspiring story of Ramon’s family ties to the Holocaust and his journey to outer space.
“When we’re talking about the Jewish people and the establishment of Israel,” Bitan said, “the story of the Ramon family beautifully describes the connection between the Holocaust disaster and this unbelievable achievement of being the first Israeli in space.”
Inspired by his family’s survival of the Holocaust, especially his mother’s survival of Auschwitz, Ramon joined the Israel Air Force (IAF) and accumulated thousands of hours of flight time. He was the youngest fighter pilot to participate in the 1981 bombing operation of Iraqi nuclear facilities and worked his way up to the rank of Colonel by 1994.
In 1997 NASA was preparing a flight crew for the Space Shuttle Colombia, due to his flight experience and the recommendation of his superiors, Ramon was selected to join the crew. As a Payload Specialist for the crew of seven and their research and experiment mission, Ramon and the Space Shuttle Columbia launched on January 16, 2003.
“Spending 15 days in Space, Ramon honored his heritage and religion by observing the Sabbath and requesting Kosher food for the mission,” Bitan said. “In addition, Ramon brought with him an Israeli flag, a copy of the Israel Declaration of Independence, the Torah, and maybe most symbolically a picture drawn by Petr Ginz who perished in the Holocaust.”
“Petr Gintz was deported to Auschwitz where he was eventually killed, but his drawing survived,” Bitan continued. “Imagine at 14-years-old, a little boy drawing earth from the moon, and who is going to fulfill this vision? This unbelievable dream? This is how influenced by the Holocaust Ilan Ramon was and how important it was for him to represent the Jewish and Israeli people as the first Israeli astronaut.”
After 15 days, 22 hours, 20 minutes and 32 seconds in space, Space Shuttle Columbia began to prepare for reentry. Upon reentry, on February 1, Columbia suffered catastrophic damage and exploded just 39 miles from landing at Kennedy Space Center. There were no survivors.
According to an official investigation, it was determined that upon launch the space shuttle orbiter’s left wing was damaged when part of the polyurethane foam insulation on the external tank broke off. The heat shield was compromised due to damage sustained during the initial ascent. The heat of reentry was free to spread into the damaged portion of the orbiter.
Posthumously, Ramon was awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush in 2004.
“This is one of the things that represents the achievements of Ilan Ramon as a great leader for the Jewish People and the State of Israel,” Bitan said. “As the only foreigner ever to get this award from the President of the United States, is an unbelievable honor.”
Through his family and his achievements, Ilan Ramon’s legacy continues to strengthen and grow. Prior to her death in 2018, Rona Ramon set up and organized the Ramon Foundation, in honor of her husband and son, Asaf.
“Asaf was following in his father’s footsteps and was often recognized as one of the best young pilots in the IAF,” Bitan said. “At 21 years-old and six years after the death of his father, during a training exercise, Asaf tragically lost his life.”
According to the Ramon Foundation website, “Based on the educational paradigm of Ilan and Asaf Ramon, we have built an impressive network of educators who work from the Upper Galilee to the Southern Negev in Israel. This combination of incredible leaders work to inspire and educate young adults and students alike.”
Ovation Communities Recognized For Partnership with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
In August of 2014, Ovation Communities partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee College of Nursing in an effort to improve the quality of life, human dignity, and healthcare outcomes for residents and older adults worldwide. Now, In recognition of eight years of research and collaboration, Ovation Communities has been awarded the UWM College of Nursing Community Partnership Award.
“Beginning with Dr. Christine Kovach, and now with Dr. Maurad Taani, the research we have been able to help facilitate has been inspiring,” said Ovation Communities President and CEO Michael Sattell. “We are honored to be able to contribute to the betterment of our community and for seniors in long-term care facilities around the world.”
The Community Partnership Award recognizes individuals or organizations who have been engaged in collaborative activities to address community needs and health issues in society.
Submitted for the award by Dr. Taani, said the criteria consists of three main objectives. “The first is demonstrating sustained partnership and meaningful contributions in collaboration with the college of nursing at UWM,” Dr. Taani said. “Second is to demonstrate creative approaches to building partnerships with the College of Nursing at UWM. Lastly, we had to showcase collaborative partnership activities which assist in fulfilling the mission of the college of Nursing at UWM which benefits the broader community.”
Funded by a grant from the Jewish Home and Care Center, research has primarily focused on alleviating the range of human suffering that comes in the context of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
Retiring in 2020, Dr. Kovach was succeeded by Dr. Taani, whose research focuses primarily on improving lung health, strengthening respiratory muscles, and increasing physical ability in older adults.
“I was mentored by Dr. Kovach over the years,” Dr. Taani said. “When the opportunity arose to build on the work she had done at Ovation Communities, I jumped at the chance.
“The partnership provides the necessary resources, facility, and access to residents, that fosters and helps promote research and improve health outcomes and quality of life in older adults,” Taani said. “It’s a win-win for everybody; for residents, students, researchers, UWM, and Ovation Communities. I can’t thank Ovation Communities enough for this partnership and collaboration. We are working to keep this going for the foreseeable future.”