Anne Sofarelli - Director of Human Resources
Confidant. Accommodating. Generous. Smart. Caring.
Anne currently handles the benefits, policies, reviews, hiring and management of over 60 people. She thinks of each employee as her client. She ensures that all of their needs are taken care of and in return that they’re doing what they’re supposed to do.
In any business, it can be tough to navigate the various personalities and personal issues that inevitably are a part of day-to-day life when you have so many people all trying to work together. This can be especially true in a stressful industry like construction. But Anne manages to keep things as smooth as possible and keeps our ship moving forward, and she makes it look easy.
“We’re not quick to hire around here. We’re very selective and are looking for that ‘Wow’ factor. It takes a while, but when we find that person, it is a true joy to have them join our team. It gives me a sense of satisfaction and it adds to my level of comfort that the dynamics of the company will remain smooth and the level of service will remain high.”
“Construction is hard work. Anne makes sure everyone is well compensated and has enough free time, which gives us a balance that makes that hard work easier.”
– Tom Lail, Sr. Project Manager
Anyone who works with Anne quickly learns that her position within the company is unrelated to the fact that she’s married to the president. She began working as a part of the team over 15 years ago when the company was growing quickly and John and Russ knew they needed help and that she had the perfect personality, background and training for the job, including:
- Received her Masters in Business Administration from the Crummer Graduate School of Business at Rollins College with concentrations in Human Resources and Finance.
- Has a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Vermont.
- Taught middle-school English in Texas and Florida.
- Was an officer and Assistant Vice President at Bank of America where she managed trust accounts and estates and served as a trainer for entry level managers.
“She has an open door policy and is very in tune with all of our working relationships.”
– Cherie Jones, Pre-Construction Department
Anne and her husband John live in Lake Mary with their three children; JJ, Rachel and Rebecca. They are active members of Nativity Church in Lake Mary where she has been a Finance committee member, prepares meals for members in need, coordinates the annual BETA drive and is active with religious education. She is also the President of the Parent’s Organization at their children’s school. She has served as an active member of the Funds Distribution Committee for the Heart of Florida United Way for many years. She encourages us all to be volunteers and give back to our community, and she gladly leads by example.
“At J. Raymond, it’s my job to ensure that we all ‘Work to live, but aren’t living to work.’ We need a good balance in our lives. With balance, we’re more productive at work, better people to our families and friends and more available to those in need within our communities. It all comes together to make us better people.”