meet jen newman

What’s your role at Elevate?

As founding Principal of Elevate, I am focused on ensuring a great client experience for every client and bringing in new business. I also provide fractional Chief Business Development Officer services along with recruitment strategy, training, strategic visioning, pursuit strategy, and general business consulting.

Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?

Growing up, my dad was a regional customer service manager for General Electric. I loved going to work with him as a kid and then working summers for him in the call center. He taught me three things that have stuck with me:

• Customers don’t care who was right or wrong, they just want their problems solved.

• You never know what is going on in someone else’s life so always be kind, even if they’re not.

• Proper motivation and mentorship helps others grow their skills and empowers their success.

My dad was a true servant leader. He could diffuse an angry customer in a matter of seconds with kindness, empathy, and by delivering a solution. He met with his employees regularly to ask them how he could help them versus how they could help him – this went beyond work to their personal goals and their family life. And when he received bonuses for the success of his division, he would spend some of that money and plan a celebration with his team.

What is something you are proud of?

I am proudly building an A/E/C family legacy with my two sons. Ethan is a Transportation CAD Designer in Florida and Josh is a Mechanical Commissioning Engineer in Virginia (and travelling the world). I may have taken them to work a few times when they were young ... looks like it stuck.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?

Last year, I was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was a scary time and a tough year of treatment, but with it came an abundance of blessings. I was able to witness the incredible network of champions I have in my corner: my amazing husband; the best business partner I could have; our team at Elevate; caring and compassionate clients and colleagues across the country; generous neighbors; a loving and supportive church family; and countless friends (and even strangers) around the world who all showed their support in such wonderful ways. Through sharing my experience, I’ve been able to encourage others to place an importance on health screening and, since then, I’ve supported others through their cancer diagnosis and treatment.

What is the best place you have travelled to, and why?

I love seeing different places and their unique cultures and only have three US states and three continents left to explore. By far (and so far), my favorite trip was a two-week safari in Kenya, Africa last year with 22 friends to celebrate my 50th birthday and completing chemo to beat cancer. While the animals were simply majestic, the best part was the people. We all fell in love with the warm, caring people of Africa. Despite having so little and many literally fighting for survival, the locals were the most joyful people I’ve ever met. If you haven’t been to Africa, put it on your must-do travel list!