Karen Schmidt is a Managing Partner with Kaye/Bassman International and oversees all training initiatives and ongoing career development organizationally. On behalf of Next Level Recruiting Training and the Next Level Exchange, Karen is a frequent consultant to search firm owners who have a greater vision of growth, hiring and training. She also serves as the Director of the Kaye/Bassman Foundation, responsible for all fundraising efforts supporting Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and Baylor Cancer. Since inception, the Foundation has donated over $1,200,000 to these deserving charities.

When joining Kaye/Bassman in 2001, Karen specialized in the search and recruitment of professionals for clients in the Commercial Construction, Specialty Contractors and Real Estate Development markets. She finished in the top five project staff in 2004 and 2005, achieved the distinction of becoming a Pacesetter within the company and reached a personal production of over $1,000,000 before transitioning into a leadership role. In 2006, Karen pioneered the redevelopment of Kaye/Bassman International’s corporate training program and subsequently created the Next Level Foundation Program compiling best practices from industry trainers and big billers from around the globe. Past speaking credits include The Fordyce Forum, the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS), the Texas Association of Personnel Consultants (TAPC) Texas Tour, the Mid Atlantic Association of Personnel Consultants and the North Carolina Association of Staffing Professionals.

Karen graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas with a degree in General Business. In 2010, Karen was recognized by the Dallas Business Journal’s “40 Under Forty,” a list of rising young leaders in the Dallas area.

Jeff is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of Kaye/Bassman International and Next Level Exchange and Co-Managing Director of Sanford Rose Associates International. Jeff has helped Kaye/Bassman-Sanford Rose Associates grow into the 11th largest search firm in the Americas and Next Level into the world’s largest training firm exclusive to the recruiting industry with over 1000 clients in 30 countries. His organization has won national awards for philanthropy and workplace flexibility and has been named the #1 “Best Company to Work for in Texas” four consecutive years.

During his 25 year tenure in the industry, Jeff was named one of the most influential leaders in the staffing industry as well as awarded the 2013 Knutson Memorial Award for Lifetime Achievement in recruiting. He is considered an industry expert having appeared on CNN, FOX, Bloomberg and NBC; and is quoted regularly in publications including USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Time and Fortune. Jeff is also a frequent speaker within the staffing and human resources community and has been featured in dozens of international training meetings and videos. He lives in Dallas with his wife, Tracy, and their three children.

Erin is the Senior Director of Clients Services for Next Level Exchange and Director of Training for Kaye/Bassman International. Erin joined Kaye/Bassman in 2007 as a Senior Search Consultant specializing exclusively in the Consumer Products industry focusing primarily in sales and sales support roles. In 2011, she launched Next Level Exchange’s sales team and now oversees the team of Client Service Directors who showcase Next Level’s array of services throughout the recruiting industry.

In addition to her role with Next Level Exchange, Erin also serves as the Director of Training for Kaye/Bassman, facilitating the Foundation Training Program to new hires and conducting ongoing learning and development throughout the organization. This core training program applies to all associates at each stage of career progression, from the basic recruiting fundamentals, to effective marketing techniques, to more sophisticated curriculum for long-term development.

Erin graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and minor in Communications.

Christine Geiger brings an uncommonly long and successful career as a professional Search Consultant, Trainer and coach. Working with Christine as a Trainer and Coach is like hitting the Texas lottery. You’ll benefit from nearly three decades of expertise garnered from Christine’s mega millions in personal production. Simply put, her training produces winners. Christine’s tenure and track record position her uniquely within the search industry as Senior Director of Training for Next Level Exchange (NLE) and Senior Director Network Development for Sanford Rose Associates International (SRAI). Seasoned Recruiters rely on Christine for guidance, clarity and motivation as they seek to cultivate equally long-standing careers in professional search and consulting. New Recruiters rely on her for expert instruction in the fundamentals essential for a strong trajectory into search.

Her passion is to pay it forward and make a positive difference in the lives of others. She is driven to share her wisdom and experiences with others seeking to grow as high-performing, career Search Consultants and Search Firm Owners across the globe. Christine partners with Erin Bent – another powerhouse NLE/SRAI Trainer and Coach – in delivering foundational through advanced full 360 search and search firm growth strategies and training.

In 1989, Christine was graduated from The Moody College of Communication at The University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors of Science in Communication. Christine has two children and resides in the Dallas area with her husband and Mindy the Chihuahua.