For over three decades, Jeff has helped Kaye/Bassman International win Best Place to Work, workplace flexibility, and philanthropy awards while also propelling the firm to become the largest single-site search firm in the US.

Fostering an environment of servant leadership, retention is unparalleled; over three dozen partners have been with the firm for over a decade. In 2007, Jeff used his Recruiting Training DVD set as a launching pad to grow what is now the world’s largest training and consulting firm in the search and staffing industry.

In 2012, he led the acquisition of Sanford Rose Associates and helped grow the number of offices by over 250% while growing the network revenues by over 1500% in less than a decade.

For nearly 30 years, Greg has been recognized as one of the most innovative voices in the recruiting industry. A recipient of the NAPS Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the recruiting industry, he has presented hundreds of workshops and keynote addresses, consistently rated as one of the top presenters at every event he attends.

Greg consults with many nationally known recruiting and staffing firms where he helps those organizations improve their overall recruiting processes. He is an expert in creating and establishing both permanent and contract recruiting divisions, where his knowledge and processes have taken producers and firms to new levels of productivity. There are very few Trainers/Consultants who are true “students” of our industry the way Greg is and the knowledge he can share drastically improves recruiting production.

Karen Schmidt entered the search industry in 2001 as a recruiter with Kaye/Bassman International, the largest single-site search firm in the Americas. After achieving Pacesetter status within the company, Karen pioneered the redevelopment of the organization’s recruiting training program, which was subsequently launched through Next Level Exchange to the entire search and staffing industry. Since the program was developed, recruiters from over 3,000 search firms in over 30 countries have been trained by this comprehensive program.

Since the acquisition of Sanford Rose Associates in 2012, Karen has worked with search firm owners as their chief architect, helping them map out their visions for future success. Working with Karen and team, firms who had achieved at least $2M in production in 2020 averaged more than 100% increase in production in 2021 alone. As visions require execution, Karen and her tenured team help leaders achieve their fullest potential and the fullest potential of those they serve within their firms.

As Senior Director of Hiring, Training and Professional Development, Erin oversees all three areas and teams within Kaye/Bassman International, Next Level Exchange and Sanford Rose Associates. Erin began her career in search as a recruiter in the Consumer Products industry and served her clients and candidates for well over a decade before transitioning to a leadership role within the organization. Erin’s experience in search created a natural pathway for her to mentor and train new recruiters entering the industry, as well as tenured recruiters desirous of elevating their competencies and capabilities. Due to Erin’s depth of experience, search firm owners rely heavily on her insights and guidance as they onboard and grow the next generation of leaders within their firms. Erin brings with her not just her own best practices from running a successful search practice, but the best practices gathered from coaching and consulting recruiters and owners around the globe.

With over 25 years’ experience in the recruiting industry, Dan brings a unique blend of business acumen, industry perspectives, and executive search expertise that continues to drive growth at DRI and Starfish Partners. Under Dan’s leadership, DRI’s revenues grew from under $4 million to just over $30 million in a decade. Dan has led strategic initiatives, company culture and growth, resulting in DRI being recognized as a top workplace and top recruiting firm by Forbes, Hunt Scanlon, Inc, Northcoast 99 and more.

Dan was named in Crain’s Cleveland Business Magazine’s ‘Forty Under 40,’ co-founded the Ohio Recruiters Association (ORA), Cleveland Chapter and has been the keynote speaker at several national events.

Christine Geiger brings a robust, successful career of over three decades experience as a Corporate Trainer, Coach and Search Consultant. During her long tenure as a Search Consultant serving the pharmaceutical and biotechnology markets, Christine positively impacted companies and candidates alike by placing hundreds of physicians and scientists. Just as astute pharma and biotech leaders sought her deep industry knowledge and extensive expertise, so do search firm owners and recruiters regarding search industry best practices. Christine currently leads Facilitated Foundation Training, having trained over 1,000 new and experienced recruiters since 2016. She is also Coach to Sanford Rose and Dimensional Search offices, passionately supporting them from tactical guidance to strategic growth and profitability.

Darren leads a team of digital marketing experts who are inbound marketing certified and deliver solutions ranging from branding to new lead generation specifically to the search and staffing industry. The Next Level Marketing Communications team understands the nuances or recruitment marketing and consult to improve and accelerate brand recognition, market visibility and lead generation with a proven inbound marketing methodology. His marketing career began in 1988 in a Fortune 500 retail firm. In 1993, Darren founded the MCD Group, providing broadcast media production and consulting, web development and IT solutions to the financial services, entertainment, technology and recruiting/staffing industries. Darren provides specific consultative guidance, strategy, and tangible outcomes in the realms of branding, digital marketing, visibility growth, and inbound lead flow initiatives to search firm owners and stakeholders.

Post degree, Nick spent several years working in the financial industry, followed by over 25 years in the executive search industry. Nick holds the responsibility for the creation, design, application and integration of new and existing programs and services, information technology infrastructure and global operations. He serves his clients with guidance related to strategic expansions, operational infrastructure, and financial consulting. He has been published and quoted in numerous business publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Dallas Morning News, CNN, CNBC, Fox Business and has been recognized as a leading consultant to the search industry for operational and financial solutions.