Leadership

Biography of Jennifer Lake, SPHR-SCP

Jennifer is the President and CEO of Goodwill of the Finger Lakes (GFL), a nonprofit social enterprise with an annual budget exceeding $57 million. She leads a team of over 750 employees and oversees services across 20 counties in Upstate and Western New York.

Under her leadership, GFL supports the community through programs like 211/LIFE LINE, a 24/7 information and crisis hotline, the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline, Goodwill Vision Enterprises for individuals who are blind or visually impaired, the Good Neighbor program, and various workforce development initiatives.

Jennifer has received several honors, including the '40 Under 40' award in 2016, 'Woman of Excellence' in 2022, and most recently, the "Executive of the Year" award from the Rochester Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America in 2024.

Her leadership extends beyond GFL as she serves as Chair of the Board for Bivona Child Advocacy Center and holds board positions with the Rochester Broadway Theatre League, TogetherNow LLC, and the Rochester Monroe Anti-Poverty Initiative Steering Committee. She also serves on the Monroe County 911 Operating Practices Board and is a member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council. Additionally, she previously held the role of President for both the local and national chapters of the National Human Resources Association.

Jennifer earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Learning and Human Resource Development and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. John Fisher College. She has also completed the Goodwill Industries International Executive Development Program, the Leadership Coaching Certification Program at the University of Rochester, and the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Workplace certificate program at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.

Jennifer lives in Pittsford, NY, with her husband and daughter.