James Staudt Named United Hebrew Board Chairman

James Staudt, a prominent Westchester attorney and partner in the firm McCullough, Goldberger & Staudt, has been named the chair of United Hebrew of New Rochelle’s Board of Directors, Rita Mabli, President and CEO of United Hebrew, announced today. She also announced that Liz Healy, Vice President, Industry Platforms and Blockchain, IBM, and Bruce Gordon, MD, Westchester Eye Associates, were appointed as new members of the board.

In his new role, Staudt will help to ensure United Hebrew’s vitality and industry leadership, while remaining true to its mission of meeting the wide-ranging needs of today’s seniors and an evolving healthcare environment. As he points out, converging trends—healthcare reform, advances in medicine and technology, and an aging population with complex and chronic conditions, are causing a growing demand for the services that United Hebrew provides.

“We’re in a hugely dynamic moment for eldercare."

“We’re in a hugely dynamic moment for eldercare,” notes Staudt. “People are living longer and they want to stay active and vibrant. We know how to help them do that.”

Mabli said the new appointees have the vision and leadership needed to drive the organization forward.

“Jim Staudt has the experience, and the heart, to help guide United Hebrew as we continue to expand our reach in the region,” she said. “We are fortunate to have someone of his caliber at the helm, and equally fortunate to have Liz Healy and Bruce Gordon lend their expertise to our board.”

About James Staudt

Staudt was drawn to serving on United Hebrew’s board after providing legal services to the organization through his work as the head of McCullough, Goldberger and Staudt’s Municipal Practice group. Each time he visited the campus, he noticed that every staff member—from the CEO to the custodians—stopped to engage with every resident they encountered over the course of a day. And on every floor he visited, he saw residents involved in an array of activities, such as art, music, or pet therapy. The level of engagement was significant.

“I encountered staff members on every level taking the time to care very personally for the residents here,” he said. “This begins with Rita Mabli, whose outstanding leadership permeates the entire organization. I didn’t hesitate to get involved, and now, I’m ready to take up the mantle and help them fulfill their mission in any way I can.”

Coming from a large family, Staudt said his parents were fortunate to have many individuals to help care for them in their final years.

“Not every senior is so fortunate. So, it is critical for families to have access to quality caregivers and healthcare providers as they age,” he says.

Staudt noted that he expected to have a smooth transition from board member to board chair, because of the extraordinary leadership and commitment of the board’s previous leaders—some of whom served for many years, following generations of family members before them. “I can’t take their place, but I will stand on their shoulders and carry on their work,” he says.

Staudt has practiced land use and real estate law throughout eastern New York including representation of lenders in complex building loan transactions and representation of private and public entities in land use matters. He has represented religious institutions and municipalities in RLUIPA actions and has regularly lectured on RLUIPA and other land use topics. He was General Counsel to the former Sound Federal Savings and a member of their Board of Directors.

Staudt has been an active participant in the legal community. He is a past president of the Westchester County Bar Association Foundation, a past member of the Westchester County Bar Association Attorney Client Economic Dispute Committee, and former Co-Chair of the Westchester County Bar, Real Property Section. He is admitted to the New York State Bar; U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Staudt received his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and a B.A., magna cum laude, from Boston College.

About Bruce Gordon

Bruce L. Gordon, MD, founder of Westchester Eye Associates and a Board Certified Ophthalmologist, has been an integral part of the Westchester medical community since 1973. He received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and went on to earn his medical degree from S.U.N.Y Downstate College of Medicine. After an internship and surgical residency in the U.S. Public Health Service, he completed his residency in Ophthalmology at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, later becoming an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, treating both children and adults. Dr. Gordon was honored with the prestigious Downstate Alumni Association’s Master Teachers Award in Ophthalmology and has been recognized as a Top Doctor by numerous consumer publications.

Dr. Gordon served as Chief of Ophthalmology at the former St. Agnes Hospital and is now at White Plains Hospital. He is the former President of the SUNY Downstate Alumni Association, College of Medicine, Board of Managers, and the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the SUNY Downstate Alumni Fund. He feels privileged to practice Ophthalmology alongside his son, James Gordon, MD, his son-in-law, Neil Katz, MD, as well as his fellow clinicians Allen Greenbaum, MD, Seth Potash, MD, Smitha Voleti, MD and AnnMary Abadir, OD.

About Liz Healy

Liz Healy brings over 20 years of consulting, strategy, operations and business transformation experience to her new role on United Hebrew’s board. She began her career at Deloitte Consulting focused on strategy and operations consulting. She moved to IBM and became a Partner in the Global Business Services consulting organization. In her current role at IBM, she works within a new unit, Industry Platforms, focused on building disruptive solutions for industries.

Healy says she was moved to become involved at United Hebrew after witnessing the high quality care and compassion that several of her family members received there.

“Our family greatly benefited from the short and long term stays at United Hebrew. With each stay, I have been more and more impressed with the leadership, medical team, nursing, caregiving, facilities, physical therapy, activities and services," she says. “United Hebrew has been an essential part of the healing process and long term care for our family, and I feel truly blessed to have United Hebrew in our life. It’s an honor to serve and impact the future direction of United Hebrew because of its deep commitment to its residents and the community."

Healy received a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University where she was Captain of the Women's Crew Team. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Ursuline School in New Rochelle and is Chairman of the Education Committee. Healy lives in New York City with her husband, Jim Reichbach, and has three daughters, Caitlin, Emily and Ella Rose.