CRC Names Terri Grossman as Its Next Executive Director

June 6, 2025 | St. Louis, MO

Central Reform Congregation has named Terri Grossman, a passionate and collaborative leader with a long record of accomplishment in the St. Louis Jewish community, as its new Executive Director. 

Grossman will assume her new role on July 14, succeeding Sarah Kirschner, who has served as CRC’s Interim Executive Director since January, 2024.  

As Executive Director, Grossman will oversee most of the congregation’s non-rabbinical operations – including programs and facilities, finance and philanthropy, technology, early childhood education, and communications and marketing.  The position is therefore critical to the continued success of the congregation, which recently marked its 40th anniversary. 

“I am thrilled and honored,” Grossman said in accepting her appointment. “CRC is such an exciting and important part of the fabric of the St. Louis Jewish community. To be trusted with a leadership position there is for me literally a dream come true.”  

“Terri is an ideal choice to help CRC build on our growth momentum and serve our community in these challenging times,” said Paul Wagman, CRC’s board president.  “She is well known in our community as a selfless leader who empowers her staff while also providing clear direction. She combines a burning dedication to her work with a calm and deliberate manner. She is a superb communicator with an ability to simultaneously confront issues and minimize conflict.  And she ‘gets us’ – she is a perfect cultural fit with our congregation. We feel tremendously fortunate to have landed her.”

Grossman comes to CRC from the St. Louis Jewish Community Center (the J), where for the last two years she has been Chief Program Officer, overseeing such initiatives as Early Childhood Education, Day Camps, Sports and Recreation, and Camp Sabra, the J’s sleepaway camp at the Lake of the Ozarks.  Previously, she served as Executive Director and Director of Major Gifts for Camp Sabra, following a 14-year tenure as that camp’s Director.

A native St. Louisan, Grossman earned her Bachelor of Social Work from University of Missouri—St Louis and Master of Social Work at Washington University.  

The search that led to Grossman’s selection began in late February and attracted some 30 applicants.  The process was facilitated by Collaborative Strategies (CSI), a St. Louis strategy consulting firm.  The search committee included CRC Board members Dr. Mark Wrighton, David Lazaroff, Janet Rodgers, and Wagman, along with Stephanie Riven, a founding member of the congregation and founding Executive Director of COCA, the Center of Creative Arts.  

Outgoing Interim Executive Director Sarah Kirschner came out of a happy retirement to lead CRC’s office operations, saying at the time that she might not remain longer than six months.  Eighteen months later, her impact has been transformative.

Under her leadership, CRC has seen the creation and enhancement of key staff positions, improved HR policies and rationalized pay, and a significant boost in both office performance and morale.  

“We all owe Sarah a huge debt of gratitude,” Wagman said. “She has pulled off quite a feat – creating the kind of operation we can feel very good about turning over to an outstanding successor like Terri.”