Vivian Seigel '76

Vivian Seigel ’76 manages one of the largest nonprofit, nonsectarian career-counseling organizations in the state, with nearly 30,000 clients, over 30 locations and a budget of $15 million.

Seigel came to Jewish Vocational Services (JVS) in 1977 as a career counselor, when the agency had fewer than 1,000 clients. When she took over as CEO in 1996, the agency had only 5,000 clients and a budget of just more than $1 million.

“The way of the future, for a nonprofit to survive in today’s competitive market, is to act and think like a business,” says Seigel. “We need to find new ways to support social service work without relying solely on private donations and foundation support.”

She spearheaded the expansion of JVS’ business and career services division due to the increasing numbers of unemployed professionals and businesses needing to streamline their hiring processes. The organization’s success rate is unparalleled in Los Angeles County with many people finding jobs within three to sex months, as opposed to the national average of around 18 months.

Seigel has also worked with numerous state and county agencies to address shortfalls in services to people with special needs, including co-authoring a bill to provide funding for employment services to individuals, allowing them to enter the workplace instead of relying on government support. JVS operates three WorkSource Centers – one in the mid-Wilshire area, one in the Antelope Valley and the other in Marina del Rey.

Seigel served as president of the International Association of JVS from 2001 to 2003, working with the 28 affiliated agencies across the United States, Canada, Israel and South America. She has also reached out to the community by forming successful partnerships with agencies like the California State Department of Rehabilitation to provide job services to people with disabilities and individuals looking to start their own businesses. She has also worked with Beit T’Shuvah to help people struggling with homelessness and drug addiction get their lives and careers back on track. In 1995, she established an award-winning program with Marriott Corporation, which prepared economically disadvantaged workers for jobs in the hospitality industry.

Seigel graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in sociology and then continued on to earn her master’s degree in counseling, which ultimately led her to her work at JVS. Attending UCLA is seemingly a family tradition for Seigel—her mother-in-law, brother, and younger son, who was a member of the 2001-05 UCLA football teams, all are UCLA graduates.

In an era where most people have six to eight career and company changes, Seigel has been with JVS for over 30 years, helping people achieve independence and stability through work. JVS will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2011.