SPRINGFIELD –  On Feb. 1 Samantha Dubrinsky will begin her new role as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Springfield Jewish Community Center (JCC). Dubrinsky is preceded by Michael Paysnick, who has served as the JCC’s CEO since 2008. Paysnick retired at the end of 2020.

According to Dubrinsky, Paysnick has been a great help and ally when it comes to her taking over his position.

“He has been such a tremendous resource. He’s so open and available and willing to talk through what the future may look like. What I admire most about Michael and his leadership is that he is so excited for a fresh perspective at the J. That’s one of the first things that he said to me when we met. I think that is such testament to his leadership and how much he cares for the community and really wants what’s best for it,” she said.

Dubrinsky was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. In her previous roles she served as the CEO of the Levite JCC in Birmingham and also spent seven years in a variety of leadership positions at the Birmingham Jewish Federation.

The move to cold and snowy New England will be a big change from what Dubrinsky is used to, though one she said she is ready for.

“I always said if I was going to leave Birmingham, because my family’s here, this is where I’ve grown up, it would have to be something really special. And I found that in Springfield. It reminds me of Birmingham in some really great ways,” she said.

According to Dubrinsky, raising a child in Birmingham became something that she and her husband weren’t sure they wanted to do, especially after the events and protests that took place last summer. Her husband is Black and together they have a 20 month old biracial son. Although Dubrinsky said she loves Birmingham, she knew relocating to Springfield was right for them.

“There’s a lot of progress and a lot of change that is happening there, but my family is just ready for something different,” she said. “Going to Springfield, seeing the community, the warmth and the opportunity that’s there, it just felt right immediately.”

Dubrinsky said she is most looking forward to meeting the community and learning about what makes Springfield and the JCC so special to them. She said she hopes to understand their stories, build relationships and really dive into what the JCC’s future looks like.

“I’m excited to meet everyone and have conversations and I know that’s going to be a little more challenging given COVID, but hopefully it’s only a little more challenging for a little bit longer,” she said.

After her role as CEO begins, Dubrinsky plans to hit the ground running. She said she has begun thinking of some initiative programs and has been talking to JCC staff virtually, she said.  

“I’m already working with the staff remotely just to make sure that when I start on February first, we can just go full steam ahead,” said Dubrinsky.

For now, Dubrinsky said she has already bought some cold weather gear to help her adapt to Springfield and is looking forward to beginning her new role next month.

“I would be lying if I didn’t say it’s a nerve wracking time just in general, but I am very, very excited. We’ve all been through so much over the past year and just being able to come out of this renewed, fresh and ready for change really lays the groundwork for a lot of new opportunities. That is what is so exciting and energizing to me,” she said.

Those interested in learning more about Dubrinsky and the Springfield JCC are encouraged to visit their website at https://www.springfieldjcc.org/.