HARTFORD – Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford’s largest annual women’s and men’s events will focus on the intersection of Jewish values and leadership.

Alexa Forsyth Jenkins

The women’s event, Voices, will feature guest speaker Lieutenant Commander Alexa Forsyth Jenkins of the U.S. Navy, and will be held Monday, Sept. 11 at Beth El Temple in West Hartford. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception and kosher dinner buffet at 5:30 p.m., followed by the program and dessert.

The men’s event, Visions, will feature guest speaker UConn Athletics Director David Benedict, and will be held Tuesday, Oct. 17 at The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford. The evening begins with a cocktail reception and kosher buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m.; program and dessert to follow.

Both Jenkins and Bendict will share how their Jewish upbringings have influenced their approach to leadership, service, and teamwork under pressure.

David Benedict

The first Jewish woman to command a U.S. Naval warship, LCDR Jenkins currently serves as the commanding officer for USS TORNADO (PC-14) stationed in Mayport, Florida. A 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, her work has taken her to the Arabian Gulf, the South China Sea, the Gulf of Guinea, the Gulf of Aden, and the southern coast of Somalia, where she participated in carrier strike group operations, counter-piracy, partnership-building missions, and unmanned aerial vehicle deployments. Previously, she commanded USS CHINOOK (PC-9) based in Manama, Bahrain. She also holds an MBA from the Kenan Flaglar School of Business at UNC-Chapel Hill. Jenkins is the niece of West Hartford resident Nancy Gitlin.

To register or for more information, visit bit.ly/Voices2018RSVP or call (860) 727-6119.

David Benedict is a second-generation football player and coach. He was a linebacker at Southern Utah, where he earned his bachelors degree, and a graduate assistant football coach at New Mexico Highlands, where he earned his masters degree. In March 2016, he joined UConn as director of athletics. At Visions, he will discuss how his family’s Jewish values have influenced his approach to winning and share his thoughts on UConn’s prospects this year.

For more information or to register, visit bit.ly/Visions2018RSVP or call (860) 727-6119.