About Us
Our StaffA team of experienced professionals dedicated to treating each person with compassion, care and dignity.
Dedicated to Service
Meet Our Team
Social Worker
Ashley Franklin, LCSW
Ashley earned her masters degree through the University of Tennessee School of Social Work. Prior to joining JFS, she worked in an adolescent treatment center and school systems. She joined the JFS team in 2018 provides services to the community including counseling, case management, family life education programs, and more.
More About Ashley →
Ashley’s experience encompasses program design, direct practice, and establishing community resources. In 2005, she became the first district wide Social Worker for Franklin Special School District and was there for 13 years. She developed and implemented the first district food pantry for the school system and was a founding board member of the NOOK (Needs Of Our Kids). She served as a member of several committees including Coordinated School Health, and WCS/FSSD School Safety Board. Another accomplishment is developing a partnership with a local animal shelter to enable adolescents to work with animals and develop better socio-emotional skills.
Ashley is an empathetic and compassionate social worker who takes a strengths- based approach to helping her clients. She connects and builds trust quickly with clients through her down to earth and authentic style.
She is intentional in her work with children, adolescents, adults and families. She implements Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, as well as a Family Systems approach to help clients focus on their goals and overcome barriers in life.
Ashley enjoys working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, life adjustments, addiction, and marriage and family issues.
615-354-1662
Controller
Kevin Goughary
Kevin joined the JFS staff in late 2020, and possesses extensive financial experience in both nonprofit and corporate environments. Prior to working in the world of non-profits, Kevin led the finance department of EJ Footwear. At JFS, Kevin continues to utilize his experience to serve a greater purpose as the financial arm of the JFS team!
More About Kevin →
From its inception, Kevin directed all financial and operational functions of Soles4Souls, a charitable organization distributing shoes and clothing to people facing abject poverty or natural disasters–both locally and internationally. Subsequently, in co-founding a nonprofit with another Nashville professional, he continued to serve the needs of people in developing nations. That organization, ToolLife, provided tools and other resources to help create sustainable livelihoods through skills training.
615-354-1646
Clinical Director
Toni Jacobsen, LCSW
Toni received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Tennessee and has nearly 30 years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She utilizes a versatile approach to therapy and is passionate about working together with individuals and families to address issues that are interfering with their daily their lives.
More About Toni→
Toni is a licensed clinical social worker and is the Clinical Director at JFS. She began her career in the mental health field in 1989 facilitating abuse prevention groups for children. She has worked with abused/neglected teenagers in a group home through the YWCA, as a Child and Family Therapist for The Guidance Center and as a Clinical Director at Camelot Cares before coming to JFS. Toni volunteered to serve on the Williamson County Child Fatality Review Team and to be a board member for First Steps. She joined Jewish Family Service in 2000 and provides a range of services to the Jewish and general community including counseling, family life education programs, financial assistance, adoption, support groups, as well managing the kosher food box, school supply and Hanukkah gift programs.
Toni has over 28 years of field experience with a wide range of populations and utilizes an eclectic approach including cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy with children, supportive and short-term problem focused therapy. Toni has expertise addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, parenting issues, behavioral problems, dysfunctional families, marital discord, and divorce.
One of her passions is working together with individuals and families to address an issue that might be causing dysfunction in their lives. Sometimes we can control what is happening around us and can make positive changes while other times all we can do is survive the storm. Toni works with her clients to increase their ability to cope through teaching positive coping skills.
Toni enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, volunteer work and creating new things.
615-354-1672
More About Ashley →
Ashley’s experience encompasses program design, direct practice, and establishing community resources. In 2005, she became the first district wide Social Worker for Franklin Special School District and was there for 13 years. She developed and implemented the first district food pantry for the school system and was a founding board member of the NOOK (Needs Of Our Kids). She served as a member of several committees including Coordinated School Health, and WCS/FSSD School Safety Board. Another accomplishment is developing a partnership with a local animal shelter to enable adolescents to work with animals and develop better socio-emotional skills.
Ashley is an empathetic and compassionate social worker who takes a strengths- based approach to helping her clients. She connects and builds trust quickly with clients through her down to earth and authentic style.
She is intentional in her work with children, adolescents, adults and families. She implements Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, as well as a Family Systems approach to help clients focus on their goals and overcome barriers in life.
Ashley enjoys working with individuals struggling with anxiety, depression, life adjustments, addiction, and marriage and family issues.
(615) 354-1662
More About Kevin →
From its inception, Kevin directed all financial and operational functions of Soles4Souls, a charitable organization distributing shoes and clothing to people facing abject poverty or natural disasters–both locally and internationally. Subsequently, in co-founding a nonprofit with another Nashville professional, he continued to serve the needs of people in developing nations. That organization, ToolLife, provided tools and other resources to help create sustainable livelihoods through skills training.
(615) 354-1646
More About Toni→
Toni is a licensed clinical social worker and is the Clinical Director at JFS. She began her career in the mental health field in 1989 facilitating abuse prevention groups for children. She has worked with abused/neglected teenagers in a group home through the YWCA, as a Child and Family Therapist for The Guidance Center and as a Clinical Director at Camelot Cares before coming to JFS. Toni volunteered to serve on the Williamson County Child Fatality Review Team and to be a board member for First Steps. She joined Jewish Family Service in 2000 and provides a range of services to the Jewish and general community including counseling, family life education programs, financial assistance, adoption, support groups, as well managing the kosher food box, school supply and Hanukkah gift programs.
Toni has over 28 years of field experience with a wide range of populations and utilizes an eclectic approach including cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy with children, supportive and short-term problem focused therapy. Toni has expertise addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, parenting issues, behavioral problems, dysfunctional families, marital discord, and divorce.
One of her passions is working together with individuals and families to address an issue that might be causing dysfunction in their lives. Sometimes we can control what is happening around us and can make positive changes while other times all we can do is survive the storm. Toni works with her clients to increase their ability to cope through teaching positive coping skills.
Toni enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, volunteer work and creating new things.
(615) 354-1672
Executive Director
Pam Kelner
Joining the organization in 2010, Pam’s business background combined with her “social worker heart” has made her a perfect fit for the role of Executive Director of JFS. She has helped the agency grow in many ways including developing new programming, grant writing, fundraising, marketing, and board development.
More About pam →
Pam graduated from Boston University with a BA in Marketing and Finance. Upon graduation, she began a 14 year career at Bloomberg Financial Markets in New York. At Bloomberg she held many different positions in the Sales and Marketing division ranging from management to conference planning, electronic trading and training for all new sales recruits. After moving to Nashville in 2005, she became certified to teach Pilates and owned her own business, @ Home Pilates, which offered private and small group Pilates lessons to clients either in their homes or in her home studio.
Pam currently serves on the board of Congregation Sherith Israel as Treasurer, Akiva School, AgeWell’s Leadership Council, inclusion tennessee, and serves as the Board Chair for the local board of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).
Pam was named a Women of Influence in Nonprofit Leadership by the Nashville Business Journal in 2019 and Nashville Pride Ally of the Year in 2022.
615-354-1644
Office Manager
Patrice Turner
Patrice joined the JFS staff in October 2024. Receiving her bachelor’s degree in business administration from Philander Smith University, Patrice has over 15 years of experience in the public sector.
More About Patrice →
Patrice is a proud mother of two daughters and married her childhood sweetheart. Her experience also includes being a Private Caregiver/Certified Nurse’s Assistant for senior patients.
Reigning from Gary, Indiana, she moved to Nashville in 2015. Patrice is also well versed in Fine Arts, Music, and Dance with concentrations in oil painting, charcoal drawing, classically trained in piano, and ballet. She was also a Juvenile Court Caseworker for Shelby County Tennessee in 2006 and a Deputy Court Clerk for the Shelby County Chancery Court. There, she found her calling to service families in need.
Patrice is passionate to provide hands-on management office operations and development. Her motto is to always be “People Focused” and helping anyone in need to the best of her ability.
615-356-4234
Helping Hands Program Coordinator
Nancy Dorman
Nancy coordinates JFS senior programs including the Helping Hands Program, Helping Hands: Dementia Enrichment, Golden Lunch Bunch, Religious Programming, Cyber Seniors, Jacob’s Ladder, and Low-Vision Aid. She enjoys building relationships with both the seniors our programs serve and the volunteers who are essential to the success of these programs.
More About Nancy →
Nancy joins the JFS Nashville team after a 35-year career as a civil servant with the state of Tennessee. She is a native Memphian with an M.S. degree in recreation administration from the University of Memphis and an undergraduate degree in religion from Rhodes College. Her career in parks and recreation includes experience in park resource interpretation, training and management; grant writing; and volunteer management.
She also is a swim instructor and lifeguard at the Gordon Jewish Community Center, with a particular interest in teaching adult beginner swim lessons. She is excited to coordinate the meaningful programs that JFS has developed for seniors in our community.
615-354-1686
More About pam →
Pam graduated from Boston University with a BA in Marketing and Finance. Upon graduation, she began a 14 year career at Bloomberg Financial Markets in New York. At Bloomberg she held many different positions in the Sales and Marketing division ranging from management to conference planning, electronic trading and training for all new sales recruits. After moving to Nashville in 2005, she became certified to teach Pilates and owned her own business, @ Home Pilates, which offered private and small group Pilates lessons to clients either in their homes or in her home studio.
Pam currently serves on the board of Congregation Sherith Israel as Treasurer, Akiva School, inclusion tn, Age Well’s Leadership Council, and serves as the Board Chair for the local board of the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP).
Pam was named a Women of Influence in Nonprofit Leadership by the Nashville Business Journal in 2019 and Nashville Pride Ally of The Year in 2022.
(615) 354-1644
More About Patrice →
Patrice is a proud mother of two daughters and married her childhood sweetheart. Her experience also includes being a Private Caregiver/Certified Nurse’s Assistant for senior patients.
Reigning from Gary, Indiana, she moved to Nashville in 2015. Patrice is also well versed in Fine Arts, Music, and Dance with concentrations in oil painting, charcoal drawing, classically trained in piano, and ballet. She was also a Juvenile Court Caseworker for Shelby County Tennessee in 2006 and a Deputy Court Clerk for the Shelby County Chancery Court. There, she found her calling to service families in need.
Patrice is passionate to provide hands-on management office operations and development. Her motto is to always be “People Focused” and helping anyone in need to the best of her ability.
(615) 356-4234
More About Nancy →
Nancy joins the JFS Nashville team after a 35-year career as a civil servant with the state of Tennessee. She is a native Memphian with an M.S. degree in recreation administration from the University of Memphis and an undergraduate degree in religion from Rhodes College. Her career in parks and recreation includes experience in park resource interpretation, training and management; grant writing; and volunteer management.
She also is a swim instructor and lifeguard at the Gordon Jewish Community Center, with a particular interest in teaching adult beginner swim lessons. She is excited to coordinate the meaningful programs that JFS has developed for seniors in our community.