Meet the Team

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Also known as...

Gpa and AJ

Andy O'Connor

President, A.J. O'Connor Associates

Andy O'Connor

President, A.J. O'Connor Associates

Andy's focus is on building new, and maintaining existing client relationships, some of which date back to the company's inception. Celebrating 34 years in business in 2017, Andy has expanded AJO's service offerings and broadened our footprint to achieve global reach in more than 20 countries.

Most Unusual Job: Crawling into catch basins and cleaning them out as a summer helper for the DPW.

Favorite Pastimes: Hanging out at the Jersey Shore, Avid Skier, and Cyclist, Annual Police Unity Tour Rider/Marshal.

Little Known Fact: Appeared on the front page (as Police Officer O’Connor), giving Charlie the monkey a drink of water from a water fountain after he escaped from the University.

Professional Bio

Shannon Bock O'Connor

Senior Vice President

As Senior Vice President, Shannon is responsible for AJO’s strategy, driving key initiatives that strengthen our brand and service offerings. She leads efforts to attract key talent to support our client needs, expand our service capabilities, and grow our business. Shannon ensures she remains personally connected to as many clients as possible. She looks forward to leading AJO’s newest group, Advancing Women Leaders, which launches in late 2019.

Most Unusual Job: Working as a wardrobe assistant for the cast of Richard II, (a rather stinky endeavor).

Favorite Pastimes: Chasing after her two crazy little boys, escaping to the theatre, reading, shopping and spending time at the NJ shore with family and friends.

Little Known Fact: Shannon is a professionally trained singer (but we can't get her to sing to us).

Professional Bio

Read more and contact Shannon Bock O'Connor

Also known as...

LB and Magic

Laura Berwanger

VP, Career Transition Services

Laura Berwanger

VP, Career Transition Services

As the Vice President of Career Transition Services, Laura is the central point of contact for AJO's clients. It's her goal to ensure we exceed the expectations of every client and every individual in outplacement services. She manages a talented coaching staff, fostering an environment of engagement and collaboration.

Most Unusual Job: Hair and nail model in college.

Favorite Pastimes: Traveling to other countries and learning about different cultures, foods, local practices, and languages.

Little Known Fact: Laura practices meditation daily.

Professional Bio

Annmarie Fairweather

VP, Talent Development

As an accomplished leader, Annmarie heads AJO's Talent Development Practice, leading a team of executive coaches and senior consultants in support of the team and leadership development needs of our client organizations. She is also a key contributor to AJO's networking forums, including Coaches Forum, HR Leader Exchange, and Advancing Women Leaders.

Most Unusual Job: In high school, Annmarie volunteered as a hospital candy striper where she gained the experience of helping people ... but quickly learned she fainted easily at the sight of blood.

Favorite Pastimes: She is passionate about hospitality, entertaining in style for family and friends. She enjoys learning new things, new places, and adventures that offer the opportunity to expand her perspective. She is always in the middle of reading several books and regularly practice yoga, it’s her way to relax and restore.

Little Known Fact: Annmarie served on a panel of industry experts on the critical issue of Human Trafficking in Tourism at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Conference.

Professional Bio

Read more and contact Annmarie Fairweather

Also known as...

JoJo, Moms. "The Money Police"

JoAnn Graziano

VP, Finance & Administration

JoAnn Graziano

VP, Finance & Administration

As Vice President of Finance and Administration, JoAnn ensures seamless delivery and client satisfaction in all areas of her responsibility, working closely with our customers, external service providers, associates and the community.

Most Unusual Job: As part of a company audit, JoAnn had to count thousands of White Castle hamburgers.

Favorite Pastimes: Walking/hiking with her two dogs, landscape design and travel.

Little Known Fact: JoAnn trained in automotive repair and spark plug maintenance.

Professional Bio

Pam Grosicki

VP, Marketing & Communications

Pam is responsible for all things related to marketing and communications at AJO, including our website, blog and social media marketing. She also supports AJO's strategic initiatives and new service development.

Most Unusual Jobs: Making cotton candy at a beachfront kiosk/cafe (known as candy floss in the UK) and other summer jobs on the production lines of Yardley and Matchbox Toys factories.

Favorite Pastimes: Shopping, hiking, magic puzzles and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

Little Known Fact: In 2025, Pam will have lived half her life in the U.S. and the other half in the U.K. which explains the funny accent.

Professional Bio

Renee Guzanek

Manager, Curriculum Development

Renee is enthusiastic about learning and has focused on people development for over 25 years. Since 2013, she’s been designing and developing learning programs for AJO's clients, often serving them in the dual roles of instructional design and program management.

Most Unusual Job: Dinner cook at a large nursing home when she was just 19 years old – with no institutional cooking experience.

Favorite Pastimes: Drinking craft beer, living life out loud with family and friends and home renovation.

Little Known Fact: Owner of a very large collection of children’s books, thanks to a short career as an elementary school teacher.

Professional Bio

Suzanne Russo

Operations Manager

Suzanne is responsible for IT support, vendor management point-of-contact, technology support, reporting and analytics.

Most Unusual Job: In her senior year of high school Suzanne worked for a credit reporting agency verifying the employment of mortgage applicants.

Favorite Pastimes: Spending time with family and friends, hiking, baking and days at the beach.

Little Known Fact: At age 7 Suzanne appeared on a TV show “The Mary Kelly Puppet Party” that aired on a local station on Sunday mornings.

Amy McPeek

Content Marketing Specialist & Office Manager

Amy is AJO's Content Marketing Specialist & Office Manager. When she's not ensuring our daily office operations are running smoothly, Amy keeps busy working on our marketing initiatives, leveraging her creative and communication skills.

Most Unusual Job: Worked as a production intern on-set at the soap opera, “One Life to Live” and taught art, science, and dramatics at a summer camp.

Favorite Pastimes: Interior design, photography, summers at the shore.

Little Known Fact: Amy figure skated competitively and played piano for 15 years.

Professional Bio

Vanessa Aliaga

Project Manager

Vanessa is responsible for project management across all AJO practice areas. She manages the resources that make our large and complex programs successful, serving as an important interface between AJO's design and delivery systems and our operational systems.

Most Unusual Job: A boutique where I was lucky enough to model its clothing.

Favorite pastimes: Loves to dance, take long walks, and spend time with family and friends. Loves to entertain at home.

Little Known Facts: Vanessa was offered the opportunity to join a female freestyle dance group in the 80s. She was also interviewed by Geraldo Rivera after the 1993 World Trade Center where she worked at the time of the bombing.

Professional Bio

Laura Bogaards

Manager, Client Engagement

Laura supports our Executive/Leadership Coaching and Team & Leadership Development practices, juggling all the balls that keep day to day operations running smoothly.

Most Unusual Job: Reader for the blind while in college.

Favorite Pastimes: Tennis, Skiing, Bird Watching, Hiking, Listening to NPR.

Little Known Fact: Laura was an attorney in a previous career.

Fred Bunsa

Senior Consultant & Executive Coach. HR Studio Podcast Host

Fred is a Senior Consultant & Executive Coach with AJO. He is also a key member of the HR Studio Podcast Team, having hosted many of our podcasts.

Fred's passion is helping companies develop their leaders and teams. He has a way of truly understanding the needs and value drivers of clients. He is skilled at connecting the talents and capabilities of the firm to enable clients to grow their people and reach their goals.

Most Unusual Job: Copy Editor for a sky-writing company.

Favorite Pastimes: Family reunions at Long Beach Island, music, running, stand-up comedy, audiobooks and walking by Faith.

Little Known Fact: Fred met his wife in Algebra I (the first time he ever developed an interest in "figures"). He is blessed to have 7 children -- no twins; no adoptions; 1 wife...

Professional Bio

Kyle O'Connor

HR Studio Podcast Founder & Host

Kyle leads and hosts AJO's HR Studio Podcast, providing digital content to the HR Community in general, and to new and aspiring HR leaders in particular.

Most Unusual Job: Selling cutlery.

Favorite Pastimes: Traveling the world, meeting new people, the great outdoors, working out and learning.

Little Known Fact: Kyle lived in Buenos Aires for 6 months in college and while there, he learned how to tango.