The AJO Story

We Help Organizations Succeed by Helping People Succeed.

Founded on a Commitment to Partnership

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.

Transformation
by Design

READ THE AJO BLOG

AJO’s 40th Anniversary Celebration: An Event to Remember

On Thursday, April 27, AJO’s valued employees, partners and clients celebrated the company’s milestone 40th anniversary at a touching and memorable event at The Highlawn in West Orange., N.J. The event was packed with meaningful stories, heartfelt moments, great food and camaraderie all in commemoration of AJO’s four decades of success. We invite you to […]

Four Decades of AJO and Counting

Today, AJO will be celebrating its 40th anniversary with valued employees, partners and clients in a celebration held at The Highlawn in West Orange, N.J. This event marks a very special moment for the family-owned business which continues to stand the test of time as it persists in its mission to help organizations succeed by […]

A.J. O’Connor Announces 40th Anniversary Celebration

Family-Owned HR Consulting and Leadership Coaching Firm Celebrates Four Decades of Empowering Organizational and Personal Human Resources Transformations PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 25, 2023 – A.J. O’Connor Associates (AJO), the company known for helping organizations succeed by helping people succeed, today announced the celebration of its 40th anniversary as a family-owned, New Jersey-based business. Marking four […]

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