Our Talent Tribute Monthly Feature is designed to celebrate the phenomenal staff that serve our Members.
Before becoming a key player in VALLEYLIFE’s finances as a Finance Assistant, Jennifer Jensen had the opportunity to really connect with the heart of the organization, the Members. When she first started at VALLEYLIFE as a Day Service Float in 2017 she knew that she wanted to be a part of something larger than herself. Having spent the majority of her career in administrative accounting, making the switch to full-time caregiving was quite the adjustment, but her love for the lives she helped impact was instant.
After two years in Day Services and a promotion to Lead Tech in 2018, Jennifer returned to her finance roots after seeing an opening within VALLEYLIFE’s Finance Department in 2019. Ever since, she has had the opportunity to serve even more VALLEYLIFE Members in a whole new way, by assisting in the allocation of funds toward their needs. In her seven years with the organization, she has consistently been moved by how loving and accepting Members have been, not only to her but to everyone they interact with. Although her current role no longer involves daily interactions with Members, she still enjoys any chance she has to connect with Members around the main campus.
Outside of VALLEYLIFE, Jennifer lives with her husband of 28 years and their dog. The pair have two adult daughters who have moved into their own homes. Despite having been born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Jennifer has spent nearly three decades building a home for herself and her family in Arizona. Some of her hobbies include traveling, gardening, and volunteering.
After asking her a few questions, here is what Jennifer had to say about her VALLEYLIFE experience.
1. How would you describe your ideal day at VALLEYLIFE?
I like to have a good flow to the day, so my ideal day would be any day that I feel like something has been accomplished. I also love any chance I get to interact with Members, like when I get to see DTA 2 Members in passing on campus.
2. What has your time at VALLEYLIFE taught you over the years?
I think I’ve learned a lot from our Members. I’ve learned to not judge a book by its cover and that we all have a lot to offer in our own way.
3. Can you tell us what you enjoy most about interacting with Members?
I’ve enjoyed just learning to live in the moment, which is something you learn from the Members. I think it’s easy for us to get caught up in all our worldly concerns and the Members really change your focus to just living in the moment and not worrying about all those things.
4. What skills or qualities do you think are most important for success in your position?
To be successful I think you have to be open to interruptions in your day and listening to others input.
Regarding my current role, you would definitely need to be able to think analytically, have good time management as well as attention to detail, strong math skills and be able to work with a wide variety of people. In terms of VALLEYLIFE as a whole, you need to have the ability to learn, communicate with teammates, and be patient with, and respectful of, our Members.
5. Lastly, what do you hope to accomplish or learn in your future at VALLEYLIFE?
In my future here at VALLEYLIFE I hope to deepen my understanding of newer billing systems and their capabilities to be able to address issues and provide reporting as efficiently and effectively as possible.
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