Women to Watch, Financial Services | Jennifer Hogencamp, BlumShapiro
Jennifer Hogencamp, BlumShapiro’s only female partner in its 80-person Cranston office, appreciates the public accounting firm’s environment, where teamwork, trust and open dialogue create strong, positive working relationships.
In addition to mentoring others to help them make progress in their careers, she also contributes to the firm’s bottom line. She established the firm’s hospitality practice in 2014. Today, it represents a $2 million line of business.
With 10 male partners, Hogencamp expressed pride in serving as a role model for the younger generation.
“You can have a family and a successful career and be energetic … though it’s tough,” said Hogencamp, who has two children.
Fortunately, things are changing, she says, and women are seeing their value to the public accounting industry recognized. It’s no surprise, then, that she is the sponsoring partner of the firm’s Women Who Lead!, an initiative focused on mentoring and empowering women to attain equal leadership positions within the firm and educating men and women to recognize and address workplace biases.
‘You can have a family and a successful career and be energetic… though it’s tough.’
JENNIFER HOGENCAMP, BlumShapiro partner
One of PBN’s 40 Under Forty in 2016, Hogencamp co-chairs the Best Buddies board and is actively engaged in the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, which named her Volunteer of the Year in 2017. Under Hogencamp’s presidency, the New England Chapter of Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals has increased its membership by 10 percent, funded more than $12,000 in college scholarships for students considering hospitality careers and is working to establish a Johnson & Wales University student chapter.
A captain of her Division II field hockey team at Bentley College, Hogencamp gained self-confidence and leadership skills by playing college sports. She’s observed those skills, as well as the ability to work well on a team, in other professional women who played college sports. “Being an over-achiever in athletics … carries over to everything,” she said.
Hogencamp truly cares about the people at the firm. She mentors them, takes them under her wing and counsels them, said Greg Cabral, BlumShapiro Rhode Island office managing partner.
With an eye on the bottom line, she said, “If people are happy and enjoy their work, the monetary growth will come.”