Stephanie Besa-Kallens
Operations and Family Programs Associate
Hello!
I have spent years thoughtfully working towards living a meaningful Jewish life. As a Chilean Jew, it is imperative to me to be part of an organization that prioritizes diversity and inclusion not only in their ethics but also in their practices.
I have quite a varied background. I started my career as a behavioral management specialist, working one-on-one with autistic children, then shifting to general preschool-age children. I eventually shifted career paths, which led me to almost a decade in the restaurant industry. I’ve gone from the front of the house, to the back of the house, to behind the scenes in administration and marketing. Right before the pandemic began, I decided to take a break from the industry and heed my parents’ calls to help run their auto repair business which I did for about two years.
I have lived in the Bay Area all of my life and enjoy chatting about local lore. When I'm not taking care of the back end of things for Jewish Gateways, I'll most likely be doing a puzzle. I also love to cook (Chilean food especially), watch horror movies, and read Jewish literature.