Jennifer began her career in accounting at the Dallas office of Deloitte & Touche in January of 1990. She was well respected for her drive, intelligence, and dedication to her clients throughout her career with Deloitte. These traits were exhibited early on in the corporate tax and international tax areas, but her true calling was to be found in Global Employer Services (GES). Jennifer's excellence was evident by promotions received during her career: first to manager in 1994, senior manager in 1998, followed by director in 2004. As a tax director she led the Mid-America region's GES co-sourcing practice and the Dallas GES tax practice. Jennifer was loved and admired by both her colleagues and clients, and had an unusual ability to take a colleague or client relationship and turn it into close, caring friendship.
Her ability to recognize excellence in others and inspire those around her to achieve their true potential will continue to be the legacy of her professional career. She spent countless hours and energy dedicated to the recruitment and retention of professionals on Deloitte's behalf. Her recruiting was focused on high achieving students at the University of Notre Dame and the University of North Texas, but especially at the University of Texas. However, once these students were identified Jennifer was dedicated to making their dreams come true. She helped them to recognize potential within themselves and was never one to back down from any young professional's lofty aspirations. Her professional legacy will continue to be seen in those individuals that she recruited and mentored regardless of where their professional careers have taken and will continue to take them.
Jennifer's untimely death came at a time when she was set to start a new chapter in her life. She was a few short weeks away from beginning fresh in San Jose, California. The move to California was to provide Jennifer with a change of pace, a change of scenery, and a new adventure. She was looking forward to the new challenges that the Silicon Valley would offer her from a professional standpoint, sampling wine with friends from the many vineyards around San Jose, and soaking up the beautiful California sunshine. She was ready to take on the world.
Jennifer's love of and devotion to her family was evident to anyone that knew her. She never missed an opportunity to visit with family, especially her nieces and nephews whom she adored. Her immediate family was always conveniently close by in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, but she also had a large extended family in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Jennifer is survived by both her parents, Tom and Ruth; her brother Geoff, his wife Deleigh, and their daughters, Krystal Venable, her husband Jody, and their daughter Kayleigh, and also Ashleigh Holland and her son Ayden; her sister Julie, her husband Joe, and their children J.T. and Joanna; and finally also by her brother Jack, his wife Angie, and their daughters, Abby and Katie.
Jennifer lived her life to the fullest, and although she had a demanding career she never missed an opportunity to indulge in one of her favorite passions. Perhaps this list would be topped by attending a hockey game played by her beloved Dallas Stars. Jennifer became a Stars season ticket holder shortly after the team moved to Dallas and would entertain family, friends, and clients at these games. But her passion for hockey did not end at simply attending Dallas games. . .she was on a mission to visit every NHL hockey arena. She and close friend, Varsha, would embark on hockey "road trips" to watch the Stars play in different cities. While she unfortunately did not get to finish this journey, one of her favorite moments came in 1999 following the Dallas Stars win of the NHL championship, when she got to hold the Stanley Cup.
The richness with which Jennifer had lived her life is exemplified in the many experiences she enjoyed. She loved a good steak with a nice glass of wine. She loved Tiffany’s blue boxes. She enjoyed traveling from Alaska to Hawaii to Greece to India to Europe to her beloved Vegas. She enjoyed scrapbooking and shopping – especially for new shoes. She loved concerts – Robbie Williams, U2, Madonna, and Jimmy Buffett. And she loved her cats, Kate and Leopold – and many can remember how distraught she was at the death of Marbles and Turbo.
Jennifer was working in London during the summer of 2007 when she died unexpectedly on July 30th. She will always be remembered for her ability to bring out the best in people, her infectious laugh, and the love and passion which guided her life.