Jill Knittel

President & CEO

Jill Knittel is the President & CEO of JK Executive Strategies.  After working in the search & recruiting industry for decades, Jill set out to build a new type of search firm in 2017, focused on a personal approach with transparent processes.  With 20+ years in direct hire and retained search experience, she has completed successful national searches for: CEOs, Executive Directors, CFOs, COOs, CHROs, VPs of Sales, among others.  In addition to search work, Jill provides consulting to her client companies related to succession planning, strategic planning, compensation and executive coaching.

Today, her team partners with companies across the country providing executive & leadership search to help companies identify and hire talent to move their companies forward.  Demonstrating just how effective her unique approach to hiring is, Jill has expanded her team exponentially in 7 years’ time with search specialization in non-profit, higher education, manufacturing, distribution, real estate, private equity and professional services amongst other industries.

  • MBA, St. John Fisher University
  • BS Accounting, St. John Fisher University
  • Board Member, Executive Committee Member, Immediate Past Chair, Hillside Family of Agencies (2017 – present)
  • Board Member, Monroe Community College Foundation (2024-present)
  • Board of Trustees – St. John Fisher University (2013 – 2024)
  • Honorary Board Member of Bivona Child Advocacy Center
  • Member of Vistage International
  • Athena Organizational Finalist by the Rochester Chamber of Commerce in 2024
  • 2023 and 2022 Greater Rochester Chamber Top 100 Fastest Growing Companies
  • 2022 Circle of Excellence Honoree from the Rochester Business Journal
  • 2020 Small Business Person of the Year Award from the Rochester Chamber of Commerce
  • 2019 Woman of Excellence Honoree from the Rochester Business Journal
  • Accounting Alumna of the Year, St. John Fisher University, 2015
  • Finalist for the Women’s Council Athena Award, 2014
  • Forty Under 40 award from the Rochester Business Journal, 2006
  • Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR)
  • Enneagram Application Certification
  • TTI Success Insights DiSC Certified
  • TTI Success Insights 12 Driving Forces Certified