Management Team

Greg Bernhardt

Greg is a proud Michigan native and a product of its public school system. After graduating from Oak Park High School, he received his undergraduate BA from Ohio University. He returned home to obtain his Masters degree from The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

After studying Semiotics in Paris, Greg decided to follow English film theorist/filmmaker Peter Wollen to New York, where he was accepted to a PhD program at New York University. He thereafter began his journey in Personnel Placement, which has culminated in his current 20-plus year love affair with the profession. After joining Essex Personnel, Greg was asked to head up an accounting placement division. That group eventually spun off into a separately owned firm, Cross & Guard, Inc., of which he was a founding partner.

Greg now takes on his current challenge at AscendHire. In forming this new firm he looks forward to having the opportunity to provide personalized service without cutting corners. Greg remains in the trenches of personnel placement, where he continues to make a difference in the lives of his candidates and the success of his clients.

Tony Vigliotti

Born in Italy,Tony came to America at the age of seven and grew up on Long Island and graduated from Carle Place High School. Tony attended Hofstra University where he received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. After graduation, he joined Abraham & Straus, a leading retailer, as a Department Manager. Tony was subsequently offered an opportunity to work in the recruitment industry and joined Cross & Guard Inc. where for the next 20+ years he specialized in financial and accounting recruitment with an emphasis on temporary and consulting services for his clients.

JP Lake

Born to a French mother and an American father, Jean-Pierre ( JP ) grew up in Switzerland. He graduated from the International School of Geneva and returned to NYC to study marketing and business management. He ultimately earned two degrees., one from NYTC and the other from St Francis College where he graduated at the top of his class.

While still in college, JP was hired at the largest single-unit staffing agency in New York. He started there as an assistant account executive and climbed up the ranks of the corporation to ultimately run the financial recruiting division for many years. It is with over 20 years of experience that JP joins AscendHire as a partner. He has a strong background in managing staff, recruiting, operations and IT. He works closely with many clients in diverse industries and has developed many long term relationships with applicants. Two areas he is especially fond and proud of are: the Medical recruitment department and Business Management talent recruitment. He is very active in both of those departments as well as handling many operational tasks for the firm.

When asked what he likes best about the business, he says helping my clients fill their jobs and the industry's fast pace always makes the days fly by. JP's interests are skiing, cars, and flying.