For this week’s Feature Friday, meet …
NAME: Jennifer A. Barefoot, Chief Experience Officer
TITLE/COMPANY: Cohere
WEBSITE: https://coherelife.com/
Jennifer A. Barefoot is the brand and culture champion of Cohere. She has more than 20 years of storytelling experience, and has dedicated her career to bringing clarity to brands. She’s held roles with DMB Community Life (now Cohere), DMB Associates, Sonoran Institute, American Civil Liberties Union, and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
Tell us about Cohere …
Cohere is a placemaking and community management firm serving large-scale master planned communities for over 25 years. Dedicated to cultivating connected, thriving neighborhoods, Cohere operates on the belief that community is not a luxury, but a necessity for human connection and well-being. More than just a full-service HOA management company, Cohere is on a mission to bring the life-changing power of community to the world.
What does being a Chief Experience Officer mean to you on a day-to-day basis?
I would describe myself as the beating heart of Cohere. I have the honor of giving voice to the people behind the places, talking with residents in the communities we manage and employees in our Cohere community regularly to understand their stories, hopes, and challenges. My ability to listen deeply and translate that insight into brand culture, employee experience, and community engagement shapes Cohere’s human-first reputation. At Cohere, our people and partnerships are everything and that’s my day-to-day focus and joy.
Why do you love what you do?
Throughout my career—whether I was in journalism, health education and advocacy, or community development—I’ve been driven by making meaningful connections. More than just networking, it’s about building trust and creating space where everyone feels they can show up authentically. People are messy. Community is messy. And I love getting in the mess and working together to find better and lasting solutions. This is challenging work; it’s also fun and incredibly rewarding.
What’s one project you’ve worked on that you’re especially proud of?
I am proud and excited about Cohere’s first-ever Community Impact Report. It’s a new way for us to talk about the very real, measurable ways community life affects people’s well-being. We’ve always believed that great neighborhoods are more than parks and pools; they’re about how people connect with each other. And now we have the data to back this up.
Our recently released report compares thousands of residents living in neighborhoods with strong social infrastructure to those without, and the differences are striking. We found the neighborhoods with engaged, activated residents have a 22.6 percent higher overall well-being, a 21 percent higher mental health, and a 15 percent higher sense of safety. It’s proof that the way neighborhoods are managed can truly shape how people feel. It’s proof that Cohere’s approach is changing lives.
We’ve heard you’re an experience junkie. Favorite experience?
My approach to life is simple: start with “yes.” Shared experiences—travel, music, adventures, meals—are my favorite. My current favorite experience—this past summer I shared a two-week trip to Thailand with my son. It was an incredible, all-sensory cultural experience of food, architecture, language, Buddhism, etc. Since our return, Ryder and I, plus his sister, Kaelyn, are slowly exploring all the Thai restaurants in the Phoenix Valley together.
Still on your bucket list?
I don’t see the point in waiting to experience life. I have what I like to call my “Book of Life,” and I’ve been working on it for years. Ride on an airboat; learn to knit; see Oasis in concert … check. Travel to Australia and New Zealand; learn to speak Spanish fluently; experience an Olympics on the ground … these, and so much more, are in progress.
You’ve been involved in a lot of nonprofits. Why is giving back important to you?
When I think about community, I picture it as one interconnected system. If one part isn’t healthy, the rest can’t thrive. Many of the nonprofits I’m involved with advocate and resource the underserved, the most vulnerable parts of our community system.
Additionally, I’m motivated by my children. We need to model the way and leave a legacy that honors all humans. I believe that people are inherently good and that they are doing the best that they can in this moment. Connection to each other, to information, and to resources is critical to being our best selves.
Favorite places around Scottsdale?
I love being active and even better if I can do it outdoors (or on the ice—see later response). The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is one of my favorites, specifically The Gateway Loop for hiking or biking. We are so fortunate to have beautiful mountain access and views in all directions. I enjoy good food with good company. There are so many great spots; my go-to is Andreoli’s Italian Grocer. I also dig dive bars and hope to discover all of them in Scottsdale.
Do you have a favorite book, podcast, show, or quote that inspires you?
I’m a veracious learner; I read, listen, follow, and reference a few leaders on the regular—from Esther Perel to Simon Sinek, Priya Parker to Will Guidera, and Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy to Monica Lewinsky.
If I had to distill all of my favorites into one nugget, it would be co-creation. A key guiding principle of our work at Cohere that’s inspired by Margaret Wheatley who said it best: “people own what they help create.” It’s “true north” for me and for Cohere.
One thing we’d be surprised to learn about you …
I play ice-hockey several times a week in co-ed and women-only beginner leagues.
A figure skater in my youth and a life-long hockey fan (I was born in Canada—Gretsky is the greatest! Go Leafs!), I jumped on the opportunity to learn to play the game five years ago with the Coyote Growler program designed to expose adults to the sport. I was hooked on the game and the people—it’s a fun and supportive community and an exhilarating sport.
