Jacobson Employee Spotlight – Q4 2023

Posted by The Jacobson Group

At Jacobson, we know our team members are the driving force behind our company’s ongoing success year after year. As 2023 comes to a close, we’re taking a moment to appreciate the dedicated individuals committed to helping our clients reach their talent goals. Below, we highlight just a few of our Jacobson team members and their roles.

Get to Know Jacobson

Employee Spotlight - PIrvingPAM IRVING
Marketing Communications Assistant, 29 years at Jacobson

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Alma Mater: Robert Morris University

Describe Your Role: I work with the marketing team as the marketing communications assistant. I'm responsible for assisting with conference coordination, mass email prep and various other duties. 

Favorite Dessert: Apple pie and vanilla ice cream

Jacobson in Three Words: Professional, Loving, Dedicated

Random Fact: I have four sons, two of whom are identical twins. 

One Thing That Recently Made You Smile: Making someone else smile

Last Song You Listened To: "In da Club" by 50 Cent

Employee Spotlight - SCallozzoSUSAN CALLOZZO
Senior Vice President, Director of Finance, 5 years 10 months at Jacobson

Hometown: Herscher, Illinois

Alma Mater: DePaul University - Go Blue Demons!

Describe Your Role: I am in charge of the accounting department and all that entails. I am also a member of the executive leadership Team.

Jacobson in Three Words: People, people, people

Career Advice You Would Give to Your Younger Self: I would not. I received excellent career advice from others and learned so much from just living the experience, I wouldn’t trade that for anything.

Last Song You Listened To: "Roll with the Changes" by REO Speedwagon

Favorite Thing About Working at Jacobson: I love working with Rick and Greg and all the Jacobson employees.  What a great bunch of smart people who are a pleasure to collaborate with.

Favorite Movie: "Iron Giant"

How You Balance Your Career and Family: I have a very supportive husband and we are a team.

What You are Most Proud of in Your Career: I am most proud of the relationships I have made during my career with colleagues and employees. One of my most enduring friendships is with a former co-worker.

Weirdest Job You Have Ever Had: In the 1980’s I was a gas jockey. I pumped gas, washed windshields, and checked fluids and tire pressure at a full-service gas station.

Employee Spotlight - MAbateMIKE ABATE
Client Advisor, 1 year 7 months at Jacobson

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio AKA "The Land"

Alma Mater: I am a Cincinnati Bearcat and a lifetime fan of The Ohio State Buckeyes!

Describe Your Role: I am a managing director within our Executive Search practice. My area of focus is the property and casualty industry and I'm responsible for business development and sales production for C-suite level searches. 

Favorite Sports Team: All Cleveland sports: Browns, Indians and Cavs, and of course The Ohio State Buckeyes!

Jacobson in Three Words: Respected Insurance Organization

What You Are Most Proud of in Your Career: Running distribution for a top 15 insurance carrier was pretty good for a kid that couldn’t spell insurance straight out of college. Along with that, paying it forward, I’ve been blessed to have many incredibly talented mentors in my career. I hope I was able to play the same role for some along the way.

Favorite Thing About Working at Jacobson: The incredible and genuinely supportive executive search team

Random Fact: I was a pretty decent singer growing up. I got that from my dad. 

Weirdest Job You Have Ever Had: I’m not sure it would fall under the weirdest job category; however, I grew up in a family-owned Italian restaurant. I started washing dishes at the age of 7 and moved up to waiting tables at 11. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment above the restaurant.

Last Song You Listened to: "Light My Love" by Greta Van Fleet

One Thing That Recently Made You Smile: Friends golf trip, always a great time filled with legendary stories and jokes

Career Advice You Would Give to Your Younger Self: I would be much more balanced with my career and focus on family. Early on, I missed too many events when the kids were younger. If I had to do it all over again, I would have been much more balanced AND committed to making both a priority.  

View previous editions of our Employee Spotlight here. For monthly Employee Spotlights, follow our Facebook page.