The AJO Story
We Help Organizations Succeed by Helping People Succeed.
Andrew O’Connor Sr. was a proud and ethical individual who with his wife, Betty, raised a family of seven children; six sons and one daughter.
AJO was established in 1983 by the grandparents of the current President, Shannon O’Connor Bock. In common with many outplacement industry “founding fathers,” Andrew Sr. and Betty O’Connor coupled their human resources background and expertise with a desire to provide assistance to individuals in career transition during the recession of the early 1980s.
They embarked upon a journey to create a very special company that would deliver a service to individuals who were in need of emotional, strategic and transitional support to get them through a very difficult time in their lives and careers. Services initially included help with resume preparation and other self-marketing tools, but quickly broadened to address needs for vocational/educational guidance, career assessment, entrepreneurial interests, networking, interviewing, and job offer negotiation.
Today AJO partners with individuals, teams and organizations to reach broader goals, resulting from expanding services into executive coaching and team and leadership development. This expansion also extends to our geographic reach as we serve the delivery needs of our clients in national and international locations.
The company moved to its current location at 6 Century Drive in Parsippany, NJ in 2008, to accommodate the growing team of executive coaches and consultants.
Impact of Family Values on the Business
With values instilled by respective parents and grandparents, Andy Sr and Betty shared a love of our country and the opportunities afforded to all Americans. Coupled with their deep spirituality, a strong work ethic, integrity, respect and discipline, they balanced a hectic work/life by sharing equally in day-to-day operations of running a start-up company while concentrating their love and time on their children, several of whom were in high school and college in those early years, never missing a family celebration, holiday or commitment to church or community.
It’s those values the company is built on: honesty, empathy, emotional support, hard work, dealing with reality and, most important of all, accountability and responsibility for oneself. In combination with the support and resources the firm provides, AJO continues to support individuals through a trying time in their lives.
Building Bench Strength: Why It’s Essential for Organizational Longevity
The long-term health of an organization depends on more than just hitting today’s goals; it’s about ensuring you have the right leaders in place to guide what’s next. That’s where bench strength comes in. Bench strength is the depth and readiness of your leadership pipeline. It’s what enables an organization to weather transitions, scale with […]
Getting the Most Out of Your 360 Process: A Guide for Leaders
Strong leadership stems from a practice of lifelong learning, and one of the most powerful tools for leadership growth is the 360 feedback process. A well-run 360 offers something leaders rarely get: an honest, structured view of how they show up across levels and relationships. The input is not just from their boss or a […]
Rethinking Coaching: Developing Talent That’s Already Thriving
Coaching was once viewed as a remedy for performance issues. But what if we went further? What if coaching was not reserved for moments of struggle, but used strategically to support people who are already excelling? At AJO, we see meaningful impact when coaching focuses on helping high performers grow, whether they’re stepping into more […]
Are you ready to transform? Contact us today.
