This month’s Member Highlight is on a truly remarkable woman, Jeanne Bennett, owner of ATCO/Bennett Recoveries, Inc.
Jeanne volunteered her time as a Guardian Ad Litem for 13 years, as well as served on the Foster Care Review Board for 8 years. Additionally, she has been a Sunday school teacher and ran a Scout Pack for four years, where she won a citywide Scout Award.
We’ll never forget receiving a call from Jeanne stating she was in jail and needed money to be bonded out, when in fact, she was a part of a “jail” fundraising project for Multiple Sclerosis, raising money for her favorite charity. This is just one of many great memories we have of Jeanne.
Jeanne currently serves as the head of the DIVAs, a women’s group at Ft. Caroline United Methodist, where she also serves on the Board of Trustees and is involved in the spearheading of many events.
Professionally, Jeanne helped form the Florida Association of Licensed Recovery Agents and served in several positions on the board including President. She also served on the Board of Florida Association of Licensed Investigators and the American Recovery Association.
Jeanne started her business at home in 1970. She became a private detective in 1972, under the name of E.J. Bennett, so they would not know she was a woman. In fact, one association told her that no women were allowed. She sold her business in 2006 to one of her employees, who tragically was killed in the line of work. She came back and took the business over in May of 2012.
Where would this industry be without a woman like Jeanne Bennett? We’ll leave you with her favorite saying: “One hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in or the kind of car I drove…but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.” This certainly describes Jeanne.
Do you have an exciting hobby or are involved in raising money or awareness for a worthy cause? Please help us by submitting pictures and stories of those who deserve some recognition or those who are involved in projects of interest. We’d love to hear from you – submit your interesting stories and photos to rachel@wellingtongrouppr.com.