Chris Nufer Builds Meaningful Second Career as JFS Richmond Counselor

Chris Nufer didn’t plan to start over later in life—but he found a deeply rewarding new path as a counselor at JFS Richmond.

Before joining JFS Richmond, Nufer spent more than 30 years in advertising, running a small radio creative boutique with national clients. In 2006, he sold the business, thinking retirement was next.

“It wasn’t any fun,” he said. “It was boring.”

Living in Manhattan at the time, Nufer was inspired by a close friend enrolled in a mental health counseling program at Columbia University. Though he missed that application deadline, he was accepted into Brooklyn College’s Mental Health Counseling program. Two years later, he earned his degree and launched an entirely new career in mental health counseling.

“I started in the mental health field in 2010,” he said, “after changing careers later in life.”

Nufer joined JFS Richmond through a professional connection with Lisa Asiamah, who had supervised him previously. She knew he was passionate about launching the F.A.M.I.L.I.E.S. Program, a caregiver support initiative his former employer couldn’t implement. When JFS sought a new counselor, she encouraged him to apply.

“I interviewed for the position and told them about the F.A.M.I.L.I.E.S. Program,” Nufer said. “They put the grant in, and the reason I came to JFS was to launch the program.”

The F.A.M.I.L.I.E.S. Program at JFS Richmond is an evidence-based support service specifically designed for primary caregivers of loved ones with memory impairments. Its goals are helping caregivers postpone or avoid placing their loved one in a nursing home and reducing the risk of severe depression and anxiety often caused by caregiving stress.

Through structured support, education, and engagement, F.A.M.I.L.I.E.S. equips caregivers with practical tools, guidance, and emotional reinforcement, empowering them to navigate one of life’s most challenging roles with confidence and resilience.

Today, Nufer combines his clinical expertise with decades of professional experience, proving that it’s never too late to find a meaningful second career while making a difference in others’ lives.