Christopher D. Jagel

Christopher D. Jagel

CEO/Partner, Harris Beach PLLC

Years in current role: 6 as CEO; 25 as partner

What was your biggest challenge in 2022?

Finding our way back to feeling normal. We’ve all dealt with quite a bit these last few years: COVID, inflation, war, changing labor markets and practices, political and social divisiveness, just to name a few. We know the world is not going back to the way things were before COVID. So, our focus has been on using these changing times to prepare for a future that looks and feels so different from what we have known. We made great progress in 2022 toward this new ever-changing normal, and now we’re looking to identify and realize additional benefits from those changes as we move forward.

What are your priorities for 2023?

Continuing to grow our people and capabilities to meet the needs of our clients and making sure that everyone who is part of our team feels valued, because everyone here is valuable, and continuing the terrific collaboration and friendship among our people, which has seen us through both trying times and successful times. We all had all kinds of crazy these last few years. Our culture has been a source of great stability and comfort throughout and brought us much closer together. I’m focusing on sustaining, maintaining and nurturing our terrific culture while growing our firm.

What advice would you give young professionals in the Rochester business community?

Develop relationships. Get involved. Make a difference. Engage in the things that you believe in and that are important to you. Don’t just be a name on a donor or board list. Look for opportunities to contribute and develop and display leadership.

What do you think will be different about the Rochester community in five years?

I hope that downtown revitalization will be humming along, benefitting the city, the county and the surrounding area. I think the relocation of Constellation Brands to Rochester will make a huge difference. I’m also excited to see the ROC The River initiatives come to fruition, capitalizing on the fact that a major river flows through the city’s heart. These changes will generate momentum for our entire region, and I believe that the value of our community spirit, the quality of life in this area and the many benefits of our region will start to be more broadly recognized and respected.

What is your favorite way to relieve stress?

My favorite way to blow off steam is to get together with family and close friends — and have fun on purpose, in many different ways.

This profile is part of Rochester Business Journal's Power 100 list for 2023. Information used in this profile was sourced from the honoree. View the full list at rbj.net.