The P.J.W. Restaurant Group announced the addition of Jenifer McGonigle as Director of People and Talent Development. In this newly created role, McGonigle will apply her years of experience to further develop and grow the Human Resources structure for the group’s 1,600 employees in 19 restaurants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and the Haddonfield-based corporate headquarters. With plans for accelerating growth and doubling the restaurant group’s current size, McGonigle will apply her skills in talent management to help position the group for future growth. She will report to Jim Fris, Chief Operating Officer.

Before joining P.J.W. Restaurant Group, McGonigle occupied several roles over 16 years at Aramark. Most recently, she was Aramark’s Director of Organizational Effectiveness and Change Management. Prior to that, she served as Senior HR Director designing and implementing HR strategy in the Aramark Higher Education business.

“We are thrilled to have Jen as part of the P.J.W. family,” says Jim Fris, COO. “Her extensive experience in developing talent for fast-paced, high-growth organizations makes her ideal for our group. I’m excited for her to bring her dynamic energy to our teams.”

McGonigle began her career in the retail industry where she spent 13 years at Toys R Us, opening stores, recruiting and training managers and developing talent. During that time she served in four different geographical regions as an HR leader navigating through high-growth markets and regional downsizing.

McGonigle holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Penn State University and is a Certified Executive Coach from The Hudson Institute, Santa Barbara, CA She lives in Mickleton, New Jersey with her husband.