JEWISHcolorado announced today that William (Willie) J.L. Recht has been hired to serve as the organization’s Chief Development Officer, beginning September 1, 2023. Recht returns to his hometown of Denver after seven years as the CEO of the Jewish Federation of the Sacramento Region and returns to JEWISHcolorado where he worked previously from 2010-2014 as the organization’s Major Gift Officer and head of Women’s Philanthropy.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Willie back to our community; he is a Jewish communal professional with incredible experience and with deep roots in Colorado,” said Renée Rockford, President & CEO of JEWISHcolorado. “His experience in managing and growing organizations’ financial resources will help ensure that JEWISHcolorado can continue to serve and connect the Jewish people in our state well into the future,” Rockford said.

“I am extraordinarily grateful for this opportunity to return and serve a community that has meant so much to me,” said Recht. “As a third generation Denverite with both a keen understanding of Colorado’s landscape and specifically the ethos that is Jewish Colorado, I am excited to step into this critical role at this critical time. I look forward to being part of JEWISHcolorado’s team as they work to build, enhance, and expand a thriving, diverse, and welcoming Jewish community,” he said.

Recht also has worked in development roles at the Pacific McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and at One Colorado. More than a decade ago, he also worked in community programming and outreach for Keshet, where he was instrumental in the launch of Pride Shabbat and the Queer Seder, two programs that continue today.

Recht’s volunteer and community involvement has included the American Leadership Forum’s Class XXIV; the Board of the Sacramento LGBT Community Center; the Children’s Museum of Denver, and as a participant in the Glass Leadership Institute through the Mountain States Region of the Anti-Defamation League. Recht is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he earned a degree in Political Science.

Recht will return to Colorado with his husband Peter and their two French Bulldogs.