Jennifer Garigen is a woman to watch. After 17 years of service to AP Professionals, she is growing the business expanding into new territory, while raising money for research and a cure for pulmonary hypertension.
17 Years of Career Success
As a St. John Fisher College undergrad in 2000, Jennifer began her career with AP. Over the years, she has grown within the company making her way from receptionist to director. Her years of experience have allowed her to become an extension of many client company HR Departments.
She achieved and maintains this relationship by regularly connecting with hiring managers by phone and email, or even meetings over lunch or a morning coffee. Jennifer also takes the time to make onsite visits to better educate clients on AP services, and to better educate herself on the company’s environment and culture.
On the other side of the staffing spectrum, Jennifer also pays equal attention to the needs of candidates. She enjoys learning about candidate’s paths and how they progressed through their career. Taking the time to sit down with each to learn about their experiences, interests, and goals empowers her to create a perfect fit between client and candidate.
Assisting candidates successfully progress through the interview process and watching them become integral players within a company brings Jennifer great fulfillment. The icing on the cake is finding that after time, candidates placed in entry level roles have been promoted and become hiring managers.
The PHight for her Son
Jennifer takes pride in not only her professional successes, but also her successes in being a working mom caring for a child with a rare disease. The mother of two successfully led a committee creating the annual PHight for LifeWalk, raising more than $30,000 towards a cure for pulmonary arterial hypertension, an incurable disease her son was diagnosed with at age 4. Three years later, Jennifer is engaged in efforts associated with creating a community of awareness, fundraising a cure.
Jennifer’s advice to someone starting out in their career? Surround yourself with people who bring out the best in you in all aspects of your life, just as she did. With the right attitude, drive, and community, you are set up for success.
(Photo: Kristen Zale Photography)
Excerpts from Democrat & Chronicle, Woman to Watch feature, by: Arlene Hisiger, 7:03 a.m. ET May 14, 2017 Woman to Watch features outstanding young women who are community servants and rising stars in the Rochester area. Arelene Hisiger, a Rochester-area freelance writer, requested to feature Jennifer after her Democrat & Chronicle “On the Move” profile was published.