Leadership

Biography of Jennifer Lake, SPHR-SCP

Jennifer is a fierce advocate of community development, sustainability and social impact. As President and CEO of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes (GFL), Jen leads a nonprofit social enterprise with influence spanning more than 20 counties across New York State including mission-driven programs such as 211/LIFE LINE, 988, Goodwill Vision Enterprises, and the Goodwill Learning Academy, among other services.

With an annual budget exceeding $57 million and a team of more than 750 employees, Jen strategically continues to advance GFL’s mission of elevating people, community and planet for a good today and better tomorrow. Last year alone, her commitment to sustainability kept 27.6 million pounds of useful items in circulation, repurposing for a second life. Not to mention, GFL’s mission programs impacted more than 184,000 people throughout New York State.

Jen believes that companies have a responsibility not only to generate profits but also to create positive societal change. Nationally, she is part of the Vision Serve Alliance Board, the State Employment Resources for the Blind Board, a member of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling and Co-Chair for the Textile Advocacy Subcommittee. Jen also chairs the Goodwill Industries International’s Circularity Committee as well as leads the Goodwill Northeast Circularity Hub, a collective of 11 Goodwills, representing 1/3 of the US population. She previously served as President at the National and local level for the National Human Resources Association.

An avid volunteer, Jen is involved with numerous local community-focused initiatives including serving as the Board Chair of The Child Advocacy Center of Greater Rochester, a Board Executive Committee member of TogetherNow and Rochester Broadway Theater league, a member of the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative Steering Committee, a member of Monroe County’s 911 Operating Practice Board, and a proud member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council.

Before taking the helm at Goodwill of the Finger Lakes, Jen held positions at the Lauder Corporation, Warner Brothers, and Spherion Professional Services, where she gained valuable experience in both the public and private sectors. This broad understanding of business operations, coupled with a deep empathy for social issues, has shaped her leadership philosophy.

Jen lives in Rochester, New York with her husband, daughter, and cat.