Our Team

Michael Hopkins, MSW

Chief Executive Officer

Since starting as CEO of Jewish Family Service in January 2012, Michael has led JFS through multiple collaborative strategic planning processes, an $11M capital campaign resulting in the client-centric Joan & Irwin Jacobs Campus, and a $50M endowment campaign. Under Michael’s leadership, JFS has earned Charity Navigator’s highest rating for the 15^th year in a row, an achievement that less than 1% of nonprofits nationwide can claim.

Michael has been a Jewish Communal professional for over 40 years, strengthening communities across the country. Prior to JFS, Michael served as Executive Director of Nehirim, a national Jewish LGBTQ organization, and CEO of Jewish Community Center MetroWest, one of the largest JCCs in the country located just outside of New York City. Michael has also worked in the Jewish communities of Pittsburgh, PA, Columbus, OH, Tucson, AZ, and Richmond, VA.

Throughout his career, Michael has focused on the needs of vulnerable community members who are often left out or left behind—often our youth, older adults, and most recently, asylum seekers and refugees.

Michael has a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Yeshiva University. He is a Board Member of the Network of Jewish Human Service Associations and of the San Diego County Continuum of Care, which addresses homelessness in San Diego. Michael is an avid artist and dedicated yogi.

Dana Toppel, LCSW, MBA

Chief Operating Officer

As Chief Operating Officer, Dana Toppel provides overall leadership for the impact-driven, multi-service organization with the bold vision of building a stronger, healthier, more resilient San Diego. Dana joined JFS in 2009 as director of older adult services, served as the divisional director of clinical services in addition to the chief program officer prior to assuming the role of chief operating officer in 2015.

With almost two decades of experience working with a variety of populations in both direct service and management capacities, Dana has a proven track record of program development, revenue generation, change management and leading strategic, innovative, high-impact organizations. Prior to joining the JFS team, Dana worked as a director, consultant, and therapist for the San Diego LGBT Community Center, University of California at San Diego, and San Diego Youth & Community Services.

Dana is dedicated to advancing equity and participates in local, regional, and national conversations to advance efforts related to inclusive leadership, professional training, and ensuring access to opportunity for all. Currently she also serves as Chair of San Diego for Every Child, as a Commissioner on the California Commission of Aging and is the Founder of Make Work Work For Moms.

In 2016, Dana was recognized as one of San Diego’s “100 Most Influential Leaders”, as an “SD Metro Mover and Shaker”, and by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber as a “79th Assembly District Woman of the Year”. In March of 2019, she was recognized by Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins as a Women’s History Month Honoree.

A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Toppel holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a master’s degree in social work and a master’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University. She is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of California.

Bernadette Griggs

Chief Financial Officer

As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Bernadette oversees the fiscal integrity of JFS and Charitable Adult Rides & Services (CARS). With more than 30 years of experience in finance, primarily in the education sector, Bernadette brings the expertise and a passion for serving the community. She has worked for Grossmont/Cuyamaca Community College District, Southwest Community College District, and the LA County Office of Education. Formerly she was with the Pasadena Unified School District, where she was the Chief Business Officer and was integral in developing the strategic direction and managing the finances of the school district.

In 2023, Bernadette was named CFO of The Year in the nonprofit sector by the San Diego Business Journal.

Originally from Belize, Bernadette is an SDSU alum and holds a master’s degree in business administration, certification from the California Association of School Business Officials for Chief Business Officers, serves as an adviser to the board of Optimist Club International, Belize Branch, serves on the board of a charter school, and is chair of the CFO cohort for the Network of Jewish Human Services Agencies (NJHSA).

Kea Spurrier

Chief Advancement Officer

Kea sets strategy for and oversees the work of JFS’s Development, Institutional Giving, and Marketing teams, which secure nearly $50 Million to support annual operations. Kea has worked in philanthropy for more than 25 years raising funds for education, conservation and the environment. Prior to joining JFS Kea led San Diego Zoo Global’s first comprehensive campaign, raising a total of $532M for conservation projects in 45 countries and two facilities. Kea expanded undergraduate scholarship programs and built a nationwide network of regional chapters for alumni of University of California, San Diego. Kea holds a master’s degree in leadership and nonprofit management from University of San Diego and is a board member for Association of Fundraising Professionals, San Diego.