Meet Ryan Fehrman, Federation's Interim CEO!

We are excited to welcome Ryan Fehrman as the Interim CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh! We had a chat with Ryan to learn more about what inspired him to go into nonprofit work, what his role entails, and what he likes to do for fun.

Q: How long have you lived in the Triangle? What brought you here?

A: I was born in California. I first came to the Triangle in the Fall of 1993 as an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill. I’ve lived in various parts of the Triangle since then, except for brief stints in Washington, DC and Atlanta. I’ve mainly lived in Chapel Hill and Durham, though I’ve worked in Raleigh multiple times.

Q: How did you get into nonprofit work?

A: When I was an undergraduate, I had an epiphany during my junior year that everything I was doing in my life was for me. I decided to start volunteering at the Interfaith Council for Social Service in Chapel Hill. I had double majored in political science and psychology, but I wanted work experience before going back to grad school. I really enjoyed volunteering and thought nonprofits could be my career. I went back and got a Master’s in Public Administration with a focus in nonprofit management in 2004. Since then, I’ve been in leadership roles for organizations providing direct service and helping people in crisis.

Q: What interested you about taking the role of Interim CEO for the Jewish Federation?

A: There was an opportunity to provide leadership for a nonprofit that builds community. I thought I was a good match for the organization’s needs and my skill set. Growing up, many of my best friends have been Jewish. I’ve spent time with friends and family celebrating Jewish holidays. I didn’t realize as a young person that my friends parents were normalizing Judaism for me. A lot of hatred comes out of ignorance, so I appreciated that my friends’ parents were so deliberate about sharing their faith in an empowering way.

I’m conscious of what the last 15 months have looked like in regards to Israel, and it’s been a hard time for many people who identify as Jewish. I just wanted to feel like I was deliberate about supporting folks with that identity and helping an organization that had a real need. I want to be a good steward to this organization and leave it in a better place than I found it.

Q: What are some of your goals that you will be working towards during your time as interim CEO?

A: There’s a scope of work that the board shared with me, and that is to make sure that the organization continues to have strong leadership in a time of transition. There’s a real emphasis on finding a permanent CEO for the Federation and supporting the organization. There’s been conversations about making sure that we are supporting the organization's strategic vision and that it’s on track to reach its goals—many of which involve engagement as the Jewish population grows. We want to make sure that the organization is stable and sustainable moving forward.

Q: What do you want our community to understand about you and your role?

A: I’m not Jewish, but no one is perfect! While I won’t be the permanent hire, I enjoy meeting with folks and talking to them. I want to meet people who are members and partners in the community. I’m going to do outreach to key supporters. But if you are reading this and thinking, “I’d really like to meet Ryan,” and you are willing to take 30 minutes to get together for coffee, I’d love to do that. I want to meet folks and grow my network with folks that are passionate about helping this organization be successful in the long term. I can be reached at ryan.fehrman@shalomraleigh.org.

Q: Where is your favorite place to go in the Triangle?

A: It varies by season. I love going to Bulls games in the spring. I love Duke Gardens as things start to bloom. I love being outdoors and hiking and paddling. If the weather is hot, my favorite place is on the water, rivers and lakes—ideally with my son and some fishing poles. I’m a big foodie, and I love enjoying the amazing restaurants we have in the triangle. I love to swap stories about favorite restaurants.

Q: What's a fun fact about you?

A: I love cooking. There’s a Zen in cutting vegetables. Preparing meals for people that you care about is a very basic way of showing love. I love making nice dinners for friends and families, especially grilling when the weather allows. I’ve visited many state parks in North Carolina, Virginia, and some in South Carolina. If there’s ever a long weekend, I’ll probably be out of town in a tent or cabin with my family. I love visiting new places, and camping is a cost-effective way to do that. I'd also add that I’ve got a four-year-old Goldendoodle named Scout, and she might be the nicest dog in the Triangle!

If you would like to contact Ryan Fehrman, email him at ryan.fehrman@shalomraleigh.org.