The board of trustees of the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County has appointed Paul Freedman as its new executive director.

Freedman succeeds Mel Cohen, who will retire next month after serving in the post since the agency’s inception in 1976.

Freedman, who lives in Lawrenceville, has served as executive director of the Burlington County chapter of the Red Cross for the past seven years.

“I know it was hard for the search committee to find someone to replace Mel,” Freedman told NJ Jewish News. “But I’m looking forward to working with the board of trustees, the staff, the donors, and the clients.”

And, he said, he hopes to take the agency to new heights.

“This board has the energy to take JF&CS to a new level,” said Freedman, who acknowledged that there is a shortage of board members at many not-for-profit organizations throughout the country.

“No one is to blame — time has become a very precious commodity in our society,” he said. “So many households have two wage earners who also care for their families with a hands-on approach. Devoting time to yet another activity, such as a board of trustees, is hard. But JF&CS has a full board and the energy level is high.”

Freedman has already met some of the board members and staff and said he plans to meet with the others during his first several months in office.

“It was great to meet with them — I think we hit it off right away,” he said.” Everyone has the same mission, which is to move the agency forward.”

Freedman said he plans to compile an agency assessment, which will highlight its strengths and indicate areas that may need improvement.

“After everyone has read it, we’ll all decide where the agency goes from here,” he said. “But I know we have to continue to be visible. The community needs to know we’re here and can make a difference in their lives. I want to establish a partnership with the board of trustees and the community.”

And as Cohen begins edging toward his retirement, he said, he plans to work with the JF&CS board and staff members to ease the transition.

“This is all bittersweet for me,” he said. “The past 30 years have been quite a journey. But one thing has always been clear — the agency’s staff has been the key to our success and growth, and I know that will continue.”