his own community. You also can see
his mind working a mile a minute as he
multi-tasks at his desk, yet keeps you in
sharp focus.
You can tell he's a down-to-earth person
ready to roll up his sleeves and get down
to work. You sense his door will always be
open and that he'll be a hands-on, acces-
sible executive.
He loves sports, especially the thrill of
skiing. A photo of him on the powder in
Colorado fills his computer screen. In the
same breath he talks of trying to find time
for a personal trainer, he'll tell you one of
his vices is candy, that he eats it all day
and knows what kind is available in each
Federation department.
He drives a paid-off 8-year-old Lexus
with 100,000 miles, but plans to switch to
an American car. A bachelor, he will blush
when asked if people fix him up on dates
(they do), and then muses that starting
this hectic job would leave little time for a
family. He adores children, though, espe-
cially his niece and nephew who simply
call him Uncle.
Kaufman is an easy-going guy, a buddy
you'd catch a ball game with,
someone with an incredible
storehouse of "useless informa-
tion" gleaned from the Internet,
a history buff, a person who
believes having fun is important.
He's also a man who gives deep
thought to how he can best serve
the community he loves.
"I wear three hats:' he
explained. "I'm a manager run-
ning a business with 106 employ-
ees plus agencies. I'm the mayor or ambas-
sador of the community — reaching out,
being accessible, building community. And
I'm a philanthropist raising money to help
those in need with dignity and to main-
tain a strong community
"I can do all three well, but not alone.
Others on the team add value and collec-
tively we have to do well at all three:"
His "mantra" for Federation is built on
three goals: strengthening Jewish identity,
building Jewish community and growing
Jewish philanthropy. These building blocks
are intertwined, he says.
A major goal is to spark a movement
toward ensuring our community's high
quality of Jewish life and ability to help
those in need.
"We've been a bit over-reliant on major
donors to bail us out time and again:'
Kaufman said. "We don't have as many
giants of the community on the horizon.
It will take a collective effort to replace
them — maybe 10 or 100 to replace one.
Our challenge is to get as many people
involved as we can in these three areas.
"My generation didn't have galvanizing

events like World War II, the Depression,
the founding of Israel to build a sense of
team," Kaufman said. "So a lot of this will
be by example.
"Thousands in the community are
involved in building our Jewish future.
They need to get others involved by ask-
ing them. People are looking for some-
thing bigger than their own self-interest.
Bringing others along allows them to
experience the same feeling of making a
difference'

Into The Future
When Kaufman was working on the
IsraelSixty film documentary about the
history of Detroit's Jewish community
what became clear to him was the depth
of our historical legacy locally, nationally
and internationally
"Federation has played a central role as
a builder and convener of the Jewish com-
munity as well as meeting its needs for
a long time he said. "I think a lot about
balancing that history with our rapidly
changing demographic environment, the
economy, society and technology
"We can't just throw out years
of collective expertise. It's a
balancing point between tradi-
tion and stability, innovation
and risk. All decisions are made
through that prism. What does
history teach us and where can
we add value?"
Sound judgment from lay
and professional leadership and
funding from community
donors have kept Federation
stable and able to meet the growing needs
of the community through dismal eco-
nomic times. On the table now is a plan to
analyze Federation and agency operations
to learn where expertise and systems can
be shared.
Some of these synergies, such as
joint purchasing, are under study by
Federation's 2020: Clear Vision task force.

"In every
position I have
seen him take,
Scott has
undertaken the
responsibility
of that position
with the utmost
seriousness.
He always does
his homework, seeks and accepts
advice, and listens well. He is
always thoughtful, never impulsive
but also ready to act when action
is called for."
– David Page,
former Federation president

"Scott is a
mentsh; a very
devoted and
talented pro-
fessional who
has a great
heart for all
members of our
broad Jewish
community."
– Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld,
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah/
Southfield

at a price. If you have the guts to step out
and try something it would be wrong to
think you won't make some mistakes."
Kaufman says he's not afraid to take
calculated risks.
"In a world that's changing as fast as
ours, you have to try new things to stay
ahead of the curve:' he said. "When you
lead, you can't be afraid of failure or you'll
never succeed:'

In Love With Israel
Scott Kaufman has been to Israel 16 times,
often leading missions, and says he trea-
sures each experience.
Kaufman is enthusiastically on board with
"My favorite thing is going with first-
the process.
timers," he said. "If I won the lottery, I'd do
"It's too early to get into specifics, but
just that. I hope I never tire of that great
economic realities dictate that we have to
way to connect with Jewish identity."
look at operations and the expense side
Matt Lester of Bloomfield Hills went to
communitywide," he said. "There shouldn't Israel for the first time on a mission with
be any sacred cows.
Kaufman.
"Our population is down one-third from
"He was a great role model; I couldn't
its peak and our infrastructure is mostly
get enough of him:' Lester said. "Before
the same. We owe it to our donors to do
that I was not involved in Federation
that kind of analysis."
except as a check writer:'
In recent weeks, two top professionals
Now Lester is a Federation vice
from the Associated: Jewish Federation of
president and co-chair of the Israel and
Baltimore visited Detroit to share consoli-
Overseas Committee.
dation plans they have successfully imple-
"Scott is a smart, dedicated role model;'
mented in their community
he said. "What really sets him apart is his
"We can learn from them:' Kaufman
compassion and his Jewish soul."
said. "I like doing a project after a couple
Kaufman says his friends tell him "the
others so we can learn from their mis-
Israel Scott is the best Scott" because he's
takes, but I don't want to be the last guy to so energized.
do it because then it's too lat'
"I have had the opportunity to be a par-
He cites examples of where efficiencies
ticipant on three trips to Israel that Scott
can be gained by centralizing: property
staffed and have sat in awe of his passion
management, technology, human
and wealth of knowledge that
resources, marketing.
he shares with his group:' said
"But these can't just be dollar-
his sister, Robin Trepeck of
driven; they have to make sense
Huntington Woods.
because of quality of service'
"One of many examples was
Kaufman stressed. "Our job is
at Mount Herzl in 2000. When
to create a better and stronger
our Israeli tour guide (who
Detroit community"
fought in the Six-Day War)
And he believes strongly in
got so choked up at Rabin's
bringing all the stakeholders
Tomb that he had to walk away,
together to look at the issues, and
without skipping a beat, Scott
Matt L ester
thinks Federation is uniquely
flipped to one of the many dog-
suited to do that.
eared pages in the book he was holding and
"There is no magic-bullet solution, but
read us the perfect passage from Rabin's
a combination of a lot of ideas:' Kaufman
funeral that captured the essence of Rabin
said.
and the way our tour guide was feeling."
Being innovative also means being will-
ing to make mistakes.
Hometown Boy
When Kaufman and partner Brian Siegel Kaufman was born in Detroit and lived in
opened Joe Dumars' Fieldhouse in Shelby
Lafayette Park until he was almost 7. Then
Township, they invented the first indoor
the family moved to Huntington Woods.
league sports facility. Others came to learn
"It was a special place, like growing
from them.
up in 'Mayberry, he said. He's still in the
"Scott is willing to take some chances,
Woods, a few blocks from his childhood
and he'll get some right and some wrong:'
home. His sister, Robin, lives nearby with
Siegel said. "This is a time for taking some her husband, Lee Trepeck, and their chil-
chances and re-visioning things that have
dren, Jamie, 8, and Andy, 5.
been done in a certain way. That comes
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