You pass them in the halls, see their faces on Teams calls, and exchange emails. You know their job title and department and might even know their extension by heart. But do you truly know who you’re working with? Get to know Pat O’Hagan, one of our Vice Presidents and Tandym’s Employee of the Month for December 2024!  

Who are you?

I was raised in a hardworking, blue-collar family, where my parents—my mother, a waitress, and my father, a construction worker—instilled a relentless work ethic in us from the very start. There were no silver spoons in our household, just determination and a deep love of family. Growing up in Hawthorne, New Jersey, alongside my four siblings—an older sister, two older brothers, and a younger sister—family was everything.   

I attended Hawthorne High School, where football became a defining part of my life, a passion I carried into college. Eventually, I built a family of my own—three children and now two grandchildren, with another on the way. My father and father-in-law were strong influences in my life, but perhaps the most enduring connection has been with my wife, whom I’ve known since we were seven years old. I went to Catholic school, and she went to public, but that never kept us apart— I mean, we’ve known each other for 53 years!  

One thing to know is that coaching has been a lifelong calling, whether in basketball, baseball, or football, mentoring not just my kids but many others along the way. Being a coach, a mentor, and a team player is at the core of who I am—”we” and “us” have always meant more to me than “me.” While I raised my family in Wyckoff and lived for 30 years, I later bought the house I grew up in, renovating it so my mother could transition into a nursing home. Now, I find myself back in the very home that shaped me, reflecting on a life built on hard work, family, and the values that have always guided me.  

In your opinion, what’s the best beach town on the Jersey Shore and why?

That’s a great question. If I’m thinking about the old school days, I have to go with Wildwood. It’s where I used to go growing up. The beaches were clean and massive and the bar/restaurant scene was always great. But nowadays, it’s Manasquan. In the summer, it doesn’t matter if you’re older or younger, there’s a little something for everyone out there. If you’ve never been, you have to go. It’s the place to be in Jersey in the summer.  

Who were your heroes/inspirations growing up?

My heroes have always been my mom and dad—plain and simple. I was never one to idolize athletes or celebrities because I didn’t need to look beyond my own home for inspiration. My father set the tone for our family with his strength and integrity, while my mother, an immigrant who came to this country on a one-way ticket, built a life through sheer determination. They taught us the true meaning of love and hard work, lessons that have stayed with me every step of the way.   

Now being back in the house where we grew up feels like a full-circle moment. In our family, problems weren’t left to linger—whenever something needed to be addressed, my dad would say, “That’s kitchen table material,” and we’d sit down together to work through it. Family dinners weren’t just a routine; they were the foundation of who we were, a time to connect, share, and strengthen the bond that has always defined us.   

Where’s the best place to get a sandwich in the State of New Jersey?

Easy. ‘Angelina’s Italian Deli’ in Hawthorne, NJ. It’s an old-school Italian shop with authentic recipes and the best chicken cutlets you’ll ever have. The food is fresh every day too. I brought a bunch of sandwiches to the Parsippany office one day and everyone went crazy for them. I’m going to have to bring some to the NYC office for you all.  

How did you get into the staffing industry?

When my career in sales first began, I was primarily in industrial sales, which meant constant travel—packing my suitcase on Sunday and returning home on Thursday. Over time, I found myself losing touch with my family, and I knew something had to change. My older brother, Jim, along with Bob Keegan (SVP at Tandym) and Andrew Lahn (VP at Tandym), were working at a staffing firm, and Jim encouraged me to give it a shot, insisting it would be a great fit. I took his advice, got interviewed by Bob and Andrew, and in 1998, I made the switch. From day one, I fell in love with it. Dave Muller (President of Tandym) started just a month before I did, and we sat back-to-back, pushing each other to be better every single day. The competitive drive, the camaraderie, and the energy of the job—it all clicked for me. More than two decades later, I’m still at it, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  

Off the top of your head, what’s the best sporting event you’ve ever attended?

Easy. The Giants vs Patriots Super Bowl in Indianapolis. It was a once-in-a-lifetime type of event and I just had to go to it. My two sons and I flew into Chicago, rented a car, and drove to Indianapolis from there. Surprisingly, we ended up sitting with the entire Giants family and some other celebrities. Do you know the rapper J. Cole? Well, this was before he was very well-known and he sat behind us and we were talking to him the whole time. And, of course, the icing on the cake was the Giants winning. My sons and I will remember that experience forever.  

Did you find Tandym or did we find you?

In many ways, Tandym found me. My friendship and professional partnership with Dave kept us connected over the years, and when the time was right, he wanted me to come in and, as he put it, “be Pat O’Hagan.” His vision was simple—bring my experience, train people, mentor them, and help them grow. More than anything, he wanted me to make an impact. I owe a great deal to Dave for putting me in this position, and after all these years in the industry, I can confidently say this is the happiest I’ve ever been. The past three years have been the best of my career. Dave is my ride-or-die, and with Bob & Andrew, it was like getting the band back together.  

Being successful for a couple of decades, what is your Sales approach with clients and what advice would you give to the younger people at Tandym?

My approach is simple: make it clear that you’re establishing a mutual partnership that will be a win-win for both sides. I go into every call, meeting, etc. with the same message, “Let us prove ourselves.” I like to say that I’m not the smarter guy in the room at times, but no one in that room is going to outwork me. 

I try to instill that mentality and accountability in everyone who works with and for me. Courage is key. This industry is tough as nails and, if you don’t have courage, you’ll be overwhelmed and then some. So I always tell my team, as long as you outwork the competition and work together, who’s going to stop you from succeeding?  

You’re a veteran of the industry with a great sense of humor. What’s the funniest situation you’ve been in that you can share?

I’ve got plenty. One that vividly sticks out that some of the guys talk about to this day didn’t take place at the office. When we were at my old company, a few of us after work went to a taping of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” with Regis Philbin. Now, before I go further, let me preface that this is quite some time ago in the sense that we were wearing 3-piece suits to the office.   

Before the show was about to begin, they had an MC there to tell jokes and get the crowd hyped up. He sees a group of dudes in 3-piece suits and singles me out and challenges me with, “If you can sing the entire theme song to ‘The Jeffersons’, I’ll give everyone in this crowd a free t-shirt.” He clearly saw the suit and thought I didn’t have it in me. Boy was he wrong! I belted out the entire song perfectly and had the crowd singing and clapping along the whole time. When I was done, I handed him the mic and said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover. Now give these people their free shirts.” The place went nuts. That was a fun day.   

Apparently, the Pat O’Hagan summer BBQ parties are legendary. How much work does it take to be a great host and throw one of these shindigs?

They really are just a labor of love. Just like everything with me, it goes back to my mom & dad. When they moved from the Bronx to New Jersey in 1969, my dad wanted to keep all his friendships and relationships intact, so they were the originators of the party. There’s never been a Memorial Day Weekend without an O’Hagan throwing a party.  

I mostly took over that tradition when my parents couldn’t throw the parties anymore. And a big shout out to my wife who is an absolute trooper when it comes to all of these yearly gatherings. She’s my host partner and is fantastic with everything. Last year, we had over 100 people. I’m hoping my Tandym family shows up this year for one!  

What are your goals for 2025 and beyond?

For me personally and my team, it’s not only to meet but exceed any and all numbers we’re supposed to hit for the year. And to do that, we have to continually go out there and find good, solid business for our company that is worthwhile. Tandym is going to have a lot to offer our partners in 2025 and beyond and it’s important to promote those things – especially our Client / Candidate Portals and TaskHuman. Those specific aspects of our business are going to differentiate us from our competitors and we need to show our clients how.  

With my team, we’ll celebrate our wins, and mourn our losses, but no matter what, we’ll keep going. It all goes back to what I said earlier: outwork the competition and things will fall right into place. And of course, I want everyone to enjoy the process along the way. This industry takes courage, and our teams and leadership have tons of it. It should be a great year!

When you’re channel-surfing, what movie do you always stop for and watch at least some portion of?

I was going to say “The Departed”, but I’ve got to switch it to “The Town”. Any time it’s on TV I watch at least some portion of it. I especially love the scene where Ben Affleck’s character is trying to recruit Jeremy Renner’s character into doing one job last without going too much into the details of that said job. That scene epitomizes what I’m about: friendship and loyalty. And to be frank, that’s kind of how I want people at Tandym to feel about me. No matter the problem or the issue, I want people to know that they can come to me with anything and that I’m willing, ready, and able to help them out in that time of need.