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Jen Gatto – Giving Heart, Contagious Spirit

Echoing Hills Welcomes Jen Gatto, New Employee Engagement Manager Bringing a Giving Heart and Contagious Spirit Jen recently said goodbye to her role as Program Director of EchoingU of Northeast Ohio and hello to her new role, Employee Engagement Manager. It was hard to say goodbye to the position she has loved for almost five years; however, she is excited to begin this new chapter.

“For the last couple of years, it has been my dream and goal to be at the corporate office,” shares Jen. “My husband, David, and I came down here one day and fell in love with the campus. We felt drawn here. We began coming out regularly and praying on Cross Hill.”

In her new role, Jen will assist in building a strong, qualified workforce. She will work with current team members across the state to learn more about who they are and what they enjoy about Echoing Hills. Along with research, she will use this information to help attract new team members to the organization.

“God keeps placing the word bridge on my heart and mind,” Jen says. “I feel like that is a part of my new role – a bridge between corporate and our five regions.”

David has begun a new role too, caretaker for Camp Echoing Hills.   Together, Jen and David will not only serve at Echoing Hills but will also live on-site.

“We knew this is where God wanted us to be,” says Jen. “We are so excited to be on this journey together.”

Jen began her professional career working for Children’s Services of Columbiana and then Stark County. She worked for nine years before deciding she needed a change to be more available for her children. While figuring out her next move, Jen taught – subbing, teaching CPR and first aid, and leading a beginning ballet class at A Time to Dance (an inclusive, Christian dance studio that welcomes students of all abilities.

While teaching at A Time to Dance, Jen was asked to teach a movement class for individuals with disabilities. She was nervous at first; however, it didn’t take long before she felt a connection with those she was teaching. She realized she wanted to serve individuals with disabilities.

Jen began to volunteer at First Christian Day services before a role became available. Through this organization, Jen found her professional passion, her future husband, and her mentor, Beth Humbert!

One day, Beth pulled Jen into her office and shared that she wanted to see her grow professionally. As Jen says, “she pushed me out of the nest.” Beth connected Jen with someone at Echoing Hills, where she applied for a job and began the interview process. And, as they say, the rest is history.

“When I interviewed, I asked if Echoing Hills was a business, organization, or a ministry,” recalls Jen. “Tim Neville (now the CEO/President of Echoing Hills) drew a three-legged stool for me and shared it was all three. He expressed how you needed all three, in balance, to function properly. That right there sold me.”

Jen is excited about her new role and is proud to be a part of Echoing Hills.

“Echoing Hills is who they say they are. It’s an honor to serve God by being a part of someone’s life intimately. All this while serving alongside wonderful, Christian people.”

When not serving others with a giving heart and contagious spirit, Jen can be found talking or spending time with her children (daughters Katarina and Gabby; son, Cole; and step-daughter Grace). She also enjoys crafting (you can often find her making cards or working with her Cricut), leading worship at church, listening and singing to music, or reading anything related to True Crime.

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To learn more about exciting career opportunities at Echoing Hills, visit ehvi.org/careers. Join us as we revolutionize lives where people live, learn, connect, play, and worship!

Love. Learn. Worship.

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