Rob Goodman Named Director of Jewish Federation's South Hills Engagement Initiative

Rob Goodman has joined the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh as director of the Federation’s South Hills Engagement Initiative. Goodman brings to the Federation more than 27 years of experience in event, entertainment, and sports marketing, branding, sponsorships, media relations, and facility management, as well as a detailed history of Jewish volunteerism.

As director of the South Hills Engagement Initiative, Goodman is working to build and strengthen relationships among, community leaders, groups and institutions that have a common goal of increasing participation in Jewish life. Pittsburgh’s South Hills is home to approximately 3,000 Jewish households.

The Initiative includes all South Hills communities, ranging from Peters Township and Canonsburg to Pleasant Hills, South Park, Bethel Park Carnegie, Greentree, Mt. Lebanon, Upper St. Clair, Scott Township and South Fayette.

“Rob’s incredibly impressive communication experience and skills – coupled with his genuine passion for Jewish life – are ideal for this new role,” noted Jeffrey Finkelstein, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh. “The South Hills is home to a vibrant Jewish community that Rob already knows well. He will be working closely with groups to identify opportunities for Federation support, further engagement and ways to complement and enhance existing activities.”

Goodman most recently served as senior vice president of marketing for the Pittsburgh Power Arena Football League Club and spent more than six years as assistant general manager/director of marketing at CONSOL Energy Center and Mellon Arena.

Prior to moving to Pittsburgh’s South Hills, Goodman spent almost seven years in New Orleans with SMG, serving as General Manager of the Pontchartrain Center, a multipurpose sports & convention facility in Kenner, LA, & as the Sr. Marketing Manager for the Louisiana Superdome & New Orleans Arena.

Rob began his professional career with the Omaha Royals Triple-A Baseball Club and has also held positions with George Washington University Athletics, the Omaha Racers CBA franchise, Omaha-based entertainment and marketing firm, Monster Productions, and Radio Disney & ESPN radio stations in Omaha.

When Goodman moved to Pittsburgh in May, 2006, he immediately immersed himself into the Jewish community. He served on the Federation’s Jewish Community Life Council and co-chaired the marketing committee of Pittsburgh Hillel JUC’s “Campus Superstar.” He was also on the Board of Trustees at Temple Emanuel in Mt. Lebanon for four years, where he co-chaired the youth team and technology task force.

While in New Orleans from 1999-2006, Goodman served on the Board of Directors for the JCC and Tulane Hillel, was a member of the Federation’s Lemann-Stern Young Leadership Development Program and the Budget and Allocation and Young Adult Division Campaign committees. In Omaha from 1989-1999, Rob was a BBYO advisor, co-chaired a Federation Super Sunday and served on the Board of Trustees at Beth El Synagogue. Rob has also visited Israel twice on leadership missions representing the Omaha and New Orleans communities.

A native of the Philadelphia area, Goodman earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education degrees from Temple University. Rob resides in Upper St. Clair with his wife, Lisa, and their four children, Isabel (18) Suzanna (15), Shoshanah (13) and Noah (11).