You just can’t help but smile when you’re around Jeffrey. As the leading Community Manager at Bond Collective Greenpoint, his passion for people, innovation, and hospitality resonates within the space and the members who thrive there. We couldn’t be prouder to announce him as this month’s Employee of the Month!
-Virgilio Mendez, Community Manager at Bushwick
VM: When did you start at Bond & what were you doing before?
JJ: I started with Bond Collective towards the end of August 2021. Prior to joining Bond Collective, I was Vice President of a full scale, luxury travel & life-style firm based in NYC.
VM: What was your first impression when you started?
JJ: I was able to experience 2 of our NYC locations before I joined the BC team. So I knew a little bit of what 55 was like, but it wasn’t until I first met with our co-owner, Shlomo, that I had my first real impression solidified. I felt that it all clicked and that Bond Collective had unique, genuine, current and like-minded qualities I wanted to be a part of for the next phase of my career.
VM: What influenced you to get into this type of work?
JJ: I have always been passionate about hospitality, travel, and food & beverage. From the time I was 12 years old, I loved being in the kitchen, creating culinary experiences for my family. That really set the foundation for what would become my profession.
VM: Where did you go to school and what did you study?
JJ: Shortly after I finished High School, I enrolled in Nassau Community College and their International Study Abroad Program for Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts. It was an amazing opportunity at that age to spend as much time as I did in Italy. Years later, I moved to Florida as I had the chance to further my college degree at Florida International University.
VM: If you could make a sudden career change, what would it be?
JJ: If I could make a sudden career change, I would want to be on the PGA Tour winning/dominating golf tournaments all over the world and earning a spot on the USA Team for the 2025 Cup that’ll be held at Bethpage Black!
VM: What is your favorite Bond Collective location and what makes this location special to you?
JJ: I really do love how our Greenpoint locations lets people see how authentic & creative our Design Team can be! You know you’re in Brooklyn when you step foot in our Greenpoint space. Something that makes Greenpoint special to me is when I hear from our members that they came back to the space just to have dinner and relax. Like their workday was over and they may have even gone home. They just want to be here and utilize the amenities that are at their disposal.
VM: What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
JJ: Learning how to improve upon things I may already know and doing them more efficiently and learning new things and applying them to something I knew nothing about.
VM: Any tips on being productive or staying awesome?
JJ: If it isn’t in writing it doesn’t exist. So, WRITE IT DOWN!
Read the book “Getting Things Done”. You’re welcome.
VM: When you’re not working, what’s your favorite pastime?
JJ: As a father of 2 young children, my pastimes have certainly changed! When I’m not working, I’m usually with my wife and kids doing whatever my wife tells me to do! #HappyWifeHappyLife
VM: Do you have any pets?
JJ: Yes, Remi! She is a 25 lb cockapoo. She is turning 11 years old in November.
VM: If you could have a dream location anywhere, where would you go?
JJ: I’d contact my brother-in-law, Roman Chiporukha at Space VIP and book a seat for the 2023 International Space Station Mission. Then, after my astronaut fix, I’d become an aquanaut and go see the Titanic ship wreck.
VM: Favorite Movie?
JJ: Impossible for me to narrow it down to just one favorite but Gone in 60 Seconds, Blow, and Rounders are certainly very high up there on my list.
VM: If you could meet a famous person, past or present, who would it be?
JJ: Sorry, but I’m going to ask for three people! I’d love to spend 24 hours with Johnny Cash, Anthony Bourdain, and Christopher Wallace.
VM: Biggest takeaway so far working at Bond Collective?
JJ: Witnessing the gamut of members we have in our space that are thriving and hearing them share their victories all because of the value that Bond Collective offers them.
VM: Any big plans on the horizon?
JJ: Yes 100%! I’m extremely proud, encouraged and excited to continue collaborating with our Members, Communities and our entire BC team to make our locations better and better everyday. So I urge people to head over to your nearest BC location and come in for a tour and see for yourself that we are not only your best option, but how we become an asset to you, your team and your business needs.
VM: If there is one thing that you could tell your younger self today, what would it be?
JJ: Jeffrey, life won’t always be like it is right now! You’ll have tremendous wins, achieve things personally and professionally that will make you proud, you’ll travel the world and meet people that’ll make you understand a lot about life and the world. You will however experience loss, grief, sadness, many failures and disappointments. But, here’s a secret, one day not too long from now, you’re going to marry a woman so incredibly amazing, you could have never even dreamt about her! The two of you will have 2 extremely happy & very healthy children that you’ll one day be able to share all of this & more with!
