Showcasing Your Chamber Board Members: Jennifer Bull

Jennifer Bull Accounting & Audit Principal of DHL&S

 "Work hard and enjoy what you do, not only in business, but in any field that you work in. That is the best advice I  have received and one I can give to others," said Jennifer Bull with a warm smile as we sat in her office at DHL&S. Jennifer has worked as a certified public accountant since 1997, and started working at DHL&S right after graduating from  Sacred Heart University in 1994, "I attended several interviews with public accounting firms and supervisors, but it wasn't until my interview at DHL&S that I realized I would love to work here, I just clicked with everyone," said Jennifer.
    But Jennifer's passion for accounting was long before her years at the University or at DHL&S, it was her time working at her family's business and her classes in high school that she realized that her career was set in accounting, "I always liked numbers, I took courses in high school and always knew that accounting was something I was passionate about," said Jennifer.  It was when an outside accountant came into her family business to get some information,  that he helped Jennifer make my  her final decision about the career that I wanted to work in. "When it came to picking a major at the university I was heading towards managing, but he gave me really good advice, 'If you chose accounting you are flexible to go into marketing, but if you chose marketing you will be stuck,' and it was that advice that allowed me to chose a major that gave me more career opportunities," said Jennifer. Jennifer is just as passionate about being a part of the community as she is with Accounting, and that is seen with her involvement with Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce and her involvement with non-profit organizations. 
              Jennifer has been with Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, serving on the Board of Directors as Treasurer for several years, and has described the Chamber as a place for learning, networking, and a place to make personal connections with other individuals who share the same passions in their careers and have become good friends. "When I say connections, I mean friends I can call not only go for business help and connections,  but friends who I have created a strong bond with within the Chambers networking groups. I ask them for advice not only in business but with personal problems. And that is a wonderful thing," said Jennifer Bull. The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce has allowed for Jennifer to grow in her business because of the learning she has received from others, "when I described the Chamber as a place for learning, it truly is a place for learning. I have gained different ways of looking at things, listened to different point of views, and gained a new level of persepective. That is one of the great things about the Chamber is how they bring people together, they help the community, and they reach out to business around them, how Bill Purcell helps business connect with other resources" said Jennifer. Beyond the Chamber, Jennifer is involved in multiple non-profit organizations and helping the community. She serves also as the Board of Directors of the Valley United Way, where she is also a member of their Finance Committee and the Vice-Chairwoman and the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Chapter of the American Red Cross. 
               An interesting fact  that many might not know about Jennifer Bull, is that outside her work at DHL&S, she is an avid runner. She is passionate about being frequently active in road races that benefit various Charities. Jennifer describes running as her mediative practice, she enjoys setting goals for herself. A recent goal she set was  to run a half-marathon at the end of tax season, " Two years ago, I made a goal to train during tax season and at the end of tax season to be able to run half a marathon. Well, I met my goal and on Sunday, April the 19th, I run 13.1 miles. I am the type of runner who does it because it is something I love to do, I set small goals for myself and follow them through," said Jennifer. 
                Jennifer resides in Milford with her husband, Michael Simon, and their two sons, Tyler and Matthew. Jennifer loves being a mom,"besides working here at DHL&S, and running, I am also a very active mom. I spend my free time taking my sons to their baseballs games and other events. Family is also an important part of my life," said Jennifer. Jennifer strives to achieve the small goals she sets within her own life, but as she demonstrates within her work at DHL&S, her involvement in the community, and her involvement with her family, with an excellent effort one can also achieve their goals whether no matter how small or large they are. 

- Intern Stephanie Chang

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