Talent Connections is an HR search firm focused exclusively on HR placements— from CHROs to HR business partners. This specialization enables us to deliver what other firms can’t: high-fit, high-quality HR leaders in days, not months.
After 27 years and 2,000+ HR searches, Talent Connections knows how to find HR talent that fits the moment you’re in—not just the role you need to fill. Here are a few examples:
After 27 years and 2,000+ HR searches, Talent Connections knows how to find HR talent that fits the moment you’re in—not just the role you need to fill. Here are a few examples:
Our candidate pool is rooted in decades of relationships and connections across the HR community. From established executives to emerging talent, get access to HR leaders who are selectively open to the right opportunity—and the right environment.
Because our HR search experience spans a range of industries, growth phases, and leadership needs, we know how to tailor each search to surface candidates who truly fit your environment.
Explore the placement stories below to learn how we’ve helped organizations find the right HR leader in moments that mattered.
When Lippert engaged us to lead its CHRO search, the goal was clear: find a leader who could support continued growth while strengthening a deeply people-first culture. With a global footprint of 140 manufacturing facilities and 12,500 employees, the role required both enterprise leadership and cultural alignment.
We partnered closely with CEO Jason Lippert and the executive team to define the ideal profile—someone who could balance operational scale with purpose-driven leadership. Through a focused search, we identified and placed a CHRO equipped to lead a complex global organization while reinforcing Lippert’s commitment to its people.
With the right leader in place, Lippert is well-positioned to sustain growth while continuing to invest in its culture and workforce.
As a growing organization, Enlace Health recognized the need for a strategic HR leader to drive talent initiatives, enhance company culture, and support business growth. Understanding the significance of this inaugural role, our team conducted a targeted search to identify a leader from a progressive health company who could shape and scale the HR function from the ground up.
Our candidate, Amanda Allen, stood out as the perfect fit, bringing a wealth of experience in HR leadership, talent strategy, and organizational development.
With her expertise, Enlace Health is well-positioned to cultivate a high-performing workforce and a dynamic, people-first culture.
Cousins Properties engaged Talent Connections to place a Head of HR who could elevate its people strategy and culture. Our initial placement of Deborah Schwarz proved highly impactful, helping to build a strong HR foundation within the organization.
When she later stepped away to pursue consulting, Cousins once again partnered with us to identify her successor. Drawing on our deep knowledge of the company, we led a targeted search and placed Francis Wetherington to continue building on that momentum.
The result: seamless leadership continuity and a strengthened HR function positioned to support Cousins’ ongoing success.
As a private equity-backed organization, East West Manufacturing needed a Head of HR who could support rapid growth while maintaining a strong cultural foundation. With their current leader stepping away on great terms, the company faced a critical transition point.
We partnered closely with the CEO and outgoing HR leader to define the profile needed for a PE environment—someone who could move quickly, scale effectively, and align people strategy with business outcomes.
Through a focused search, we identified and placed a high-impact HR leader who seamlessly stepped into the role and sustained momentum—continuing to strengthen its people strategy while driving performance and value creation.
When Inspiritus engaged us, they were navigating a period of growth and transformation. To provide stability while their long-term HR structure took shape, we delivered interim HR leadership support. We then placed their first Head of HR, who established a more cohesive people strategy while strengthening engagement across a diverse and growing team.
As the organization continued to evolve, we partnered again to place a second HR leader to guide a large-scale transformation and support continued alignment across the business.
This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting nonprofits with HR leadership that drives both cultural strength and operational transformation, enabling them to serve more communities and create lasting impact.
When Veritiv established its new headquarters in Atlanta, the company needed to quickly build out a high-performing HR team to support the transition and future growth. With more than 10 roles to fill across HR Business Partners, Compensation, Talent Management, Labor Relations, and contract recruiting, speed and precision were critical.
Talent Connections led a targeted, multi-role search, leveraging deep market insight and an established network to deliver high-impact talent across levels. We successfully placed both full-time leaders and contract recruiters to support immediate and long-term needs.
With the right team in place from day one, Veritiv was positioned to scale effectively and support continued business success.
When Microsoft Corporation needed to hire software test engineers across the country, the challenge was both high-volume and highly specialized. In a competitive market shaped by rapid innovation and demand from companies like Google, speed and precision were critical.
Talent Connections deployed a team of senior IT contract recruiters to operate as an extension of Microsoft’s internal team. We focused on sourcing and qualifying hard-to-find technical talent, delivering a consistent pipeline of candidates ready for consideration.
While other firms stepped away, we continued to deliver—leading Microsoft to expand our partnership into additional recruiting initiatives.
"They consistently provide talent
that aligns with our culture"
“Talent Connections has been an invaluable partner, delivering high-quality candidates that perfectly fit our needs, often with just a quick phone call. They understand our business and unique challenges – consistently providing talent that aligns with our culture. They don’t just throw resumes at us – every candidate they recommend is top-notch, saving us time and ensuring we have the right people in place to grow. Their responsiveness and deep knowledge of the HR landscape, especially in Atlanta, makes them stand out from other firms.”
"An emphasis on quality
of candidate and company culture fit"
“During our headquarters transition to Atlanta, Talent Connections was instrumental in helping us staff two critical positions within my team. A highlight to share is Talent Connections is not only about speed to fill, but really put an emphasis on quality of candidate and company culture fit which was appreciated!”
"They’ve consistently been there... helping us
navigate leadership transitions and periods of growth."
“I always know where to turn when our organization faces HR challenges—Talent Connections is my go-to. They’ve consistently been there, offering expert guidance and helping us navigate leadership transitions and periods of growth. What stands out is their ability to identify what we really need and provide candidates who fit both the role and our culture. Whether it’s interim support or finding the right executive, Talent Connections steps in to ease the pressure and help us succeed.”
"They understand the talent space and
have worked hard to help me be successful"
“I have had the pleasure of working with Talent Connections for many years. They have been a trusted partner with me and the organizations that I have worked for. They have supported me by providing Contract Recruiters, leading Talent development and training sessions for my teams, and providing a platform for networking and exploring best practices through a variety of national and local speakers and panels. They understand the talent space and have worked hard to help me be successful. Beyond that, they are [some of] the kindest and most thoughtful people that you could ever hope to know and work with!”
"They took the time to understand our
background, culture, and specific needs of the role"
“Talent Connections was a tremendous time-saver for me. They took the time to understand my background, the company’s culture, and the specific needs of the role. Their approach was thorough—they carefully filtered through candidates before presenting only the most qualified ones. What I appreciated most was their ability to not only meet the technical requirements of the job but also find candidates who were a strong cultural fit. The entire process was handled with great efficiency and professionalism, and they delivered exactly what I needed.”
“[They] presented some great candidate...we wished we could hire all three!”
“[They] presented some great candidates – we liked them all and wished we could hire all three!”
"A trusted resource not only for me,
but for our Talent Acquisition organization"
“[They] are absolutely amazing and a trusted resource, not only for me but for our Talent Acquisition organization, and that’s why we will continue to use them. I met them through their suite of products and services, and that’s how we’ll continue to leverage them. And not just because we have become friends over the years, but because of the quality of work they’ve done and the consistency of work they will continue to do.”
"We didn’t have to worry about making a bad decision, only the best decision"
“We cannot applaud Talent Connections enough for the quality of their work. We didn’t have to worry about making a bad decision, only the best decision.”
with 100+ combined years of HR search experience
across key HR,
Talent Acquisition, and
Total Rewards roles
at organizations ranging from small businesses to Fortune 50 companies
average on initial slate of high-fit candidates
Tom Darrow, SHRM-SCP
Founder & Principal
Superpower: Connector-in-Chief
Tom brings 35+ years of experience to helping organizations hire strategic, high-impact HR leaders. As founder of Talent Connections, he has led over 2,000 HR searches since 1999. He also built Career Spa, gained business experience at Price Waterhouse and Accenture, and has served in numerous leadership roles across SHRM, ATAP, and other HR organizations.
Teela Jackson
SVP of HR Search
Superpower: HR Talent Magnet
Teela has 25+ years of experience leading HR search engagements and partnering with executive teams on talent strategy. As SVP of HR Search, she plays a key role in shaping client engagements and delivering high-fit HR leaders aligned to business needs. Teela is an alumni honoree of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40, and she stays active in the HR community via SHRM, ATAP, and SHRM-Atlanta.
Allis Fox
Director, Talent Delivery
Superpower: Relationship Cultivator
As Director of Talent Delivery, Allis partners closely with clients to deliver high-fit talent aligned to their needs. Known for her consultative style, she builds trusted relationships and executes searches with speed and precision. Allis also helps create career development opportunities for HR professionals as an AACA board member.
Jim Hartsook
VP, Augusta, GA Office
Superpower: Captain Coach
Jim provides executive coaching at CareerSpa, helping leaders clarify career direction and build actionable plans for what’s next. He brings nearly 40 years of HR and recruiting experience, including 28 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he led training and recruiting initiatives and supported its recognition on Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For.
Amber Brinkman
Brand Strategy Consultant
Superpower: Growth Compass
Amber Brinkman is Founder of Brinkman Consulting and Brand Strategy Lead for Talent Connections, where she drives brand, marketing, and content strategy. Her work focuses on data-driven growth, brand visibility, and client retention. With experience across brand and agency environments, she brings a strong perspective in the recruitment space, advising a range of recruiter clients.
Jen Grimes
Onboarding & Payroll Lead
Superpower: Smooth Operator
Talent Connections partners with FoxHire as Employer of Record for contract talent, managing onboarding, payroll, and compliance. Jen serves as our dedicated representative, working closely with our team to support EOR processes, ensure compliance, and provide guidance to both clients and workers throughout each engagement.
Noldy Alexandre
IT & Cybersecurity Consultant
Superpower: AI Cyber-Shield Architect
Noldy Alexandre, M.S., is Founder and Principal of NetScan Solutions and a Senior IT & Cybersecurity Engineer. He designs and secures enterprise IT environments, with expertise in cybersecurity architecture, infrastructure, and risk-aligned strategy. Noldy has led initiatives across professional services, nonprofit, and regulated organizations, delivering practical, secure solutions. He holds a Master’s in Cybersecurity and CompTIA Security+.
We start with understanding the business context behind the role and clarifying what your organization truly needs next. Since many clients come in with evolving or unclear role definitions, this helps align all stakeholders on the right candidate profile.
Because we’re embedded in the HR community, we never start from scratch. We leverage proven search methods and our unrivaled network of HR talent–often surfacing a focused group of high-fit candidates within 2 weeks.
By streamlining all logistics and communications within our team, we keep searches moving while partnering closely with HR leaders and C-suite teams to refine needs and expectations as the search progresses. This allows clients to find the right placement as early as 6 weeks.
Searches span HR, Talent Acquisition, and Total Rewards—ranging from Heads of HR and CHROs, to functional leaders and manager-level roles, to interim and fractional HR support.
No. While many searches involve senior HR leadership, support also includes Director, Manager, and specialized roles depending on what the organization needs at the time.
An initial, focused slate of candidates is typically introduced within 10 business days. Timelines can vary slightly depending on the role and situation, but the process is designed to efficiently identify high-fit candidates.
Organizations typically engage us when internal TA teams are stretched, the role is difficult to define, confidentiality is important, or prior efforts haven’t produced the right candidates.
Yes, all the time. Our support often complements internal teams—particularly when hiring demand increases, roles are specialized, or additional bandwidth is needed.
Our sole focus on HR allows for deeper market visibility, stronger relationships with HR talent, and a clearer understanding of what works in different organizational situations. That combination leads to stronger, better fits that generalist firms struggle to produce.
Our team has all been in HR, which also gives us the ability to better discern fit.
We’re also known for placing HR leaders who stay and have strong, long-term impact.
Fit is evaluated across experience, leadership style, and alignment with your organization’s culture. Our process is designed to narrow in on candidates who not only meet the requirements of the role, but are positioned to succeed within your specific business environment and needs. Our extensive search experience has taught us how to bring the best HR talent to our clients’ unique needs.
Because we focus exclusively on HR search, we’re able to support organizations across a range of industries—including Professional Services, Healthcare & Healthcare Tech, Consumer Goods, Manufacturing, Non-Profit, Technology, and more.
This is common. Many organizations begin with an evolving or unclear scope. Early conversations help define the role based on the company’s current structure, goals, and challenges. Our role through the search is to bring you a range of HR competencies, skills, culture fits, and compensation fits to show you what the market will bear. We consult with you through the assessment process to ensure you make the best hire decision.
We primarily operate on a retained search model, which allows us to prioritize your search and deliver the strongest results. One third of the fee is due as we initiate the search, the second third is invoiced when the search moves to the interview stage and the final at the end. We only charge the fee on the base salary of the chosen candidate. In certain situations—such as multiple hires or when candidates are already in play—we can tailor our approach. Let’s connect to determine what makes the most sense for your search.
Yes. We provide a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the candidate leaves the organization within 90 days for any reason, we will do a replacement search for no additional fee. In our 27-year history of completing over 2,000 searches, we’ve had this situation only a few times. The guarantee period can also be extended for an additional 5% fee if elected at the search inception.
Either complete the form or use the links below to contact Tom Darrow, SHRM-SCP, and he’ll follow up within 1 business day.
With over 35 years of professional human resources and talent acquisition experience, Tom helps his clients find strategic and impactful HR leaders. Talent Connections has conducted approximately 2000 HR searches across the US since the company’s founding in 1999, and those placed have impressive retention rates. He has built two successful companies himself–the other being an outplacement services and executive coaching firm, Career Spa. His previous work with global professional services firms Price Waterhouse (now PwC) and Accenture shaped Tom with substantial depth and business acumen. His infinite knowledge in human capital, hiring processes, and career management best practices is nationally acclaimed, and he’s often sourced by the media.
With a huge heart for service and a need to give back to the human resources profession, he has served nationally as Board Chair for the SHRM Foundation and Inaugural Board President for the Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals (ATAP). In the Atlanta area, he served two years as President of SHRM-Atlanta and is the most recent recipient of the SHRM-Atlanta Lifetime Achievement Award. He is deeply invested in the community as well, serving on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, The Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV), the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG), and he founded the Atlanta HR Prayer Breakfast ministry. Tom holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame.
When he isn’t solving people and business challenges, he enjoys traveling, concerts, golf, spectator sports, and spending time with family and friends. He is a shareholder and season ticket holder of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Anyone who knows him knows that Tom also loves to make people laugh with his gift of humor. He made his stand-up comedy debut at The Punch Line, the premier comedy club in the Southeast.
Teela has a passion for people, talent and organizational culture. She has partnered with C-suite executives to lead thousands of searches over the course of her 25+ year career in Talent Acquisition. She has a reputation as a trusted partner and leader to support organizational HR and business transformations. Teela has been instrumental in building Talent Connections into the organization it is today and is often referred to as “The HR Talent Guru.”
As SVP of HR Search, Teela has served as a strategic partner to HR executives and collaborated with senior leadership to evaluate and identify key HR talent needs in alignment with company goals and transformations. The leaders that she places have staying power, exhibiting high retention rates. With the multiple repeat clients that result, she has a passion for finding top talent, including established leaders, rising leaders, and hybrid or hard-to-find talent. Before joining Talent Connections, Teela held key positions in corporate talent acquisition with Georgia-Pacific, Turner Broadcasting, and CIGNA.
Given her investment and success in the human resources industry, Teela has served as a volunteer leader with SHRM Georgia State Council and is active in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals (ATAP), and SHRM-Atlanta. As the first African American female President of SHRM-Atlanta, Teela founded their Rising Leaders Community as well as the SHRM-Atlanta Scholarship Fund.
Teela is also an alumni honoree of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 and a supporter of numerous non-profits. She has served as a Board Member for the Brian Jordan Foundation (retired Braves and Falcons players), and she has been featured in various news and media outlets.
Teela earned an MBA from Mercer University and a BA in Business/Human Resources that she attended on a full academic scholarship from The University of Tennessee – Martin. Originally from Nashville, Teela has called Atlanta home since 2000.
Amber Brinkman is the founder of Brinkman Consulting and serves as Talent Connections’ Brand Strategy Lead, overseeing the strategic development of brand, marketing, and content initiatives.
Her work with Talent Connections focuses on crafting data-driven strategies that drive growth, increase brand awareness, and strengthen client retention. With experience on both the brand and agency sides of marketing, Amber brings a unique perspective, particularly in the recruitment industry, where she has worked with a diverse range of recruiter clients since launching her business in 2021.
Beyond consulting, Amber is actively involved in the Atlanta marketing community through volunteer, board, and mentorship roles—which earned her AMA Atlanta’s Marketing Rising Star award. She holds a B.S. in Social Entrepreneurship from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro and is passionate about supporting local animal shelters through fundraising and supply drives.
Whether collaborating with clients, guiding teams, or mentoring future leaders, Amber combines her expertise with a genuine passion for helping others succeed.
Talent Connections partners with FoxHire as our Employer of Record for Temporary/Contract Workers. FoxHire is an Employer of Record that handles all of the onboarding, payroll, and compliance during each assignment.
As a dedicated partner in providing Employer of Record (EOR) services, Jen is our assigned Representative. She plays a key role in ensuring smooth operations for Talent Connections. Jen works closely with our recruitment team, guiding them through the nuances of EOR solutions to ensure that companies can expand their workforce efficiently while staying fully compliant with labor laws and regulations. She also assists the Workers with any questions they may have throughout the entire process while being employed with FoxHire.
Noldy A. Alexandre, M.S., is the Founder and Principal of NetScan Solutions, LLC, and serves as a Senior IT & Cybersecurity Engineer and Global IT Administrator. He brings extensive experience designing, securing, and managing enterprise IT environments, with a focus on cybersecurity engineering, cloud and on‑prem infrastructure, and risk‑aligned IT strategy.
Noldy has led cybersecurity and IT initiatives for organizations across professional services, nonprofit, and regulated environments, delivering solutions that align operational needs with established security control models and operational best practices. His expertise includes security architecture, endpoint protection, vendor management, incident readiness, and policy development.
He holds a Master of Science in Cybersecurity from Liberty University, a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies from Carver Bible College, and the CompTIA Security+ certification. Through NetScan Solutions, Noldy provides hands‑on leadership, clear communication, and trusted advisory services to help organizations operate securely and confidently.
At Talent Connections, we are passionate about helping mission-driven organizations build the HR leadership needed to expand their impact. When Inspiritus, an Atlanta-based nonprofit, engaged us, they were at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation.
To ensure stability and forward momentum as its long-term HR structure evolved, we partnered with Inspiritus on interim HR leadership support. We then placed their first Head of HR, who brought strategic focus to culture, engagement, and organizational alignment. This leader helped lay the foundation for a more cohesive people strategy– guiding the organization toward a future-of-work model while strengthening employee engagement across a diverse and growing team.
As Inspiritus continued to evolve and elevate its HR strategy, we partnered with them again to place a second key HR leader who was equipped to guide the organization through the next phase: a large-scale transformation and organizational alignment. This leader played a critical role in positioning Inspiritus to expand services across its footprint and ensuring the organization could continue delivering on its mission at an even greater scale.
This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting nonprofit organizations with HR leadership that drives both cultural strength and operational transformation, enabling them to serve more communities and create lasting impact.
Talent Connections specializes in helping organizations solve complex, high-volume hiring challenges, especially when the talent is scarce and the stakes are high. When Microsoft Corporation needed to identify and secure software test engineers across the country, they engaged multiple firms to support the initiative, including Talent Connections.
The objective was clear but challenging: source, qualify, and deliver highly specialized technical talent in a competitive market shaped by rapid innovation and aggressive hiring from peer companies like Google. Speed, precision, and consistency were critical.
To meet this demand, Talent Connections deployed a team of senior-level IT contract recruiters with deep experience in technical sourcing and evaluation. Working as an extension of Microsoft’s internal team, we focused on identifying hard-to-find candidates, rigorously qualifying them, and delivering a strong pipeline of talent ready for consideration.
While other firms struggled to keep pace and ultimately stepped away from the engagement, Talent Connections remained committed and continued to deliver results. Our consistency, quality, and ability to operate under pressure led Microsoft to expand the partnership, inviting us to support additional, experimental recruiting initiatives.
This engagement highlights our ability to execute in demanding environments, delivering specialized talent solutions that help organizations stay competitive—even in the most challenging hiring markets.
At Talent Connections, we partner with enterprise organizations to build flexible, high-performing recruiting functions that can scale with business demand. When The Coca-Cola Company needed to significantly increase hiring volume, they faced a critical challenge: how to expand their recruiting capacity without taking on the cost and rigidity of full-time hires.
Initially, Coca-Cola engaged a division of a global retained search firm to source contract recruiters. However, the cost structure mirrored executive search pricing, making it an unsustainable solution for a high-volume hiring need. The team began exploring a more efficient, scalable approach. That’s where Talent Connections came in.
Leveraging our deep bench of experienced contract recruiters, we partnered closely with Coca-Cola’s internal team to deliver talent that not only met the technical requirements of the role but also aligned with the culture and pace of their organization. Our model provided access to high-quality recruiting professionals at a more flexible and cost-effective margin.
The result was a scalable recruiting solution that could adapt to fluctuating hiring needs without compromising on quality. Many of the contract recruiters we placed stayed engaged for over a year, becoming trusted extensions of the internal team and playing a key role in driving high-volume, high-quality hiring outcomes.
This partnership reflects our ability to deliver flexible talent solutions that help large organizations scale efficiently while maintaining the integrity of their hiring process.
At Talent Connections, we know that finding the right HR leaders for top-tier institutions requires a deep understanding of culture, talent, and mission. When Yale University engaged us to lead searches for two critical HR leadership roles, we partnered closely with their Head of HR to identify exceptional talent for the team.
These searches required relocation to Connecticut, and we worked diligently to identify candidates who could not only deliver at the highest level but also thrive within Yale’s distinguished, purpose-driven culture. Through this collaboration, we successfully placed two incredible leaders who have become integral members of the HR team: the Head of Talent Acquisition and the Head of Total Rewards.
Both leaders have assimilated seamlessly into the university’s culture, making meaningful contributions to their teams while advancing their own professional growth. The client expressed strong satisfaction with the partnership, and the placements continue to reflect the impact of strategic HR leadership in the education sector.
This story highlights our ability to deliver transformative HR talent across industries – including higher education – where culture, mission, reputation and excellence matter most.
At Talent Connections, we understand that high-performing organizations require equally exceptional HR leadership. When King & Spalding engaged us to lead HR management and leadership searches across multiple locations in the U.S., they were seeking talent capable of thriving in a highly intellectual, high-expectation environment.
We partnered closely with firm leadership to identify top-tier HR leaders who could operate as true strategic partners, supporting a workforce of some of the most accomplished attorneys in the world. This required individuals with the ability to navigate complexity, influence at senior levels, and align people strategy with business performance in a unique and demanding professional services setting.
Through our targeted and thoughtful approach, we successfully placed high-impact HR talent across key markets, strengthening King & Spalding’s ability to support its people, enhance leadership capability, and sustain its reputation for excellence.
This engagement reflects our expertise in delivering HR talent across multiple levels for organizations where the bar is exceptionally high and the impact of getting it right is even higher.
At Talent Connections, we value long-term partnerships with leaders who trust us to help build and elevate their teams at every stage of growth. One of our most meaningful partnerships reflects this in action: supporting a C-suite HR leader across two organizations – first Aaron’s, then BrandsMart – during pivotal moments of transformation.
We initially partnered with this leader to help strengthen and elevate the HR function within Aaron’s, aligning talent strategy with the evolving needs of the business. Through this work, we helped transition the team toward a more strategic, business-aligned HR model.
Following a major acquisition, this leader stepped into a new role as Chief Operating Officer of the acquired company. As they took on this expanded leadership responsibility, they once again turned to Talent Connections – this time to rebuild and transform the HR team within the new organization.
Together, we led the shift from a transactional HR structure to a true business partner model, placing high-impact HR leaders across field and corporate environments to support the company’s growth and operational goals.
This story reflects our commitment to partnering with exceptional leaders over time, supporting them as they grow, evolve, and continue to build stronger organizations wherever they go.
At Talent Connections, we know that replacing an exceptional HR leader is about more than filling a role – it’s about honoring a legacy while preparing for the future. When Holder Construction engaged us to lead the search for a successor to their long-tenured Head of HR, a respected leader who had spent 8+ years building a strong foundation, the importance of getting it right was clear.
Rather than making a direct replacement, the company took a thoughtful and strategic approach – seeking a successor who could step in, learn the business, and carry that legacy forward. We partnered closely with the executive team to identify a high-impact HR leader, placing her in the role of Head of Benefits, Compensation & Wellness with a clear path to succession.
When the Head of HR retired, she was immediately promoted to the top role, ensuring continuity, stability, and momentum for the organization. Now, more than eight years later, she continues to build on that legacy – leading with strength, evolving the HR function, and making a lasting impact on the business.
This story reflects our ability to identify and place leaders who not only step into big shoes, but confidently grow into them and elevate what comes next.
Many times, Talent Connections partners with companies at pivotal moments of growth – when evolving leadership and infrastructure are critical to competing at the next level. When a marquee, household-name technology company engaged us to lead the search for their first Head of Total Rewards, it marked a significant step in their evolution following the appointment of a new CEO.
As the organization scaled toward 1,000+ employees, they recognized the need to transform their rewards strategy – moving from a startup-style, scrappy approach to a more sophisticated, competitive total rewards structure that could attract and retain top talent in a highly competitive tech market.
We partnered closely with their leadership team to identify a top-tier Total Rewards executive, ultimately recruiting a standout leader from one of the most respected companies in the city. This individual brought immediate credibility and the required expertise to lead a comprehensive compensation, benefits, and equity programs transformation.
The impact was felt quickly – enhancing the company’s market confidence, competitiveness, and ability to attract elite talent, while building a scalable rewards infrastructure to support continued growth.
This search highlights our team’s ability to deliver specialized HR leadership that enables companies to scale with intention and compete at the highest levels.
Talent Connections specializes in partnering with executive leadership teams to place HR leaders who can drive business performance at scale. When Lippert engaged us to lead their Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) search, the stakes were high, and the opportunity was even greater.
Working in close partnership with CEO Jason Lippert and his executive leadership team, we led a highly strategic search to identify the right leader. Specifically, we set out to find someone who could support Lippert’s continued growth in revenue and market share while also strengthening its deeply purpose-driven, people-first culture. With a footprint spanning 140 global manufacturing facilities and 12,500 employees, this role required a CHRO who could operate at both enterprise scale and human-level impact.
We focused on identifying a leader who could balance operational excellence with cultural stewardship – someone capable of leading a complex, global HR organization while staying true to Lippert’s commitment to supporting employees’ individual and professional goals. Given the significance of the role, relocation was essential, and we successfully delivered a candidate ready to step into this critical leadership position.
This search reflects our ability to partner at the highest levels of an organization to deliver transformative HR leaders who not only meet the moment, but help shape the future of a global, leading business.
At Talent Connections, we understand the unique demands and pace of private equity-backed organizations, where the right leadership is critical to driving performance and value creation. When East West Manufacturing – a global, private equity-owned manufacturing company – needed to hire a new Head of HR, they partnered with us to ensure a seamless and strategic transition.
Their current Head of HR was stepping away on great terms to pursue an entrepreneurial path in consulting, creating an important inflection point for the business. We worked closely with the CEO and the outgoing Head of HR to align on the expectations of a PE environment – speed, scalability, and a sharp focus on business outcomes – while also honoring the strong culture already in place.
Through this highly-collaborative and targeted search, we identified and placed a high-impact HR leader equipped to thrive in a private equity setting. Not only did they quickly integrate and maintain momentum. They also continued to elevate East West Manufacturing’s people strategy in support of growth and value creation.
This engagement highlights our ability to partner with private equity-backed companies and their leadership teams to deliver HR talent that drives results at every stage of the investment lifecycle.
At Talent Connections, we know that the right HR leader can be a game-changer for an organization. When Georgia Urology needed to hire their first-ever Head of HR, they partnered with us to find an executive who could shape their people strategy and help drive business success.
We identified and placed Dan Fellner – a standout HR leader who quickly became an integral part of the executive team, bringing strategic vision, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to organizational culture. In just six months, following the retirement of the organization’s CEO, Dan was promoted to Chief Executive Officer – a testament to his leadership impact and ability to drive results at the highest level.
This success story highlights the power of strategic HR leadership and reinforces our expertise in placing top talent that not only thrives in their roles, but also transforms organizations from the inside out.
At Talent Connections, we take pride in helping purpose-driven organizations build high-impact teams. When Habitat for Humanity, one of the most respected nonprofit organizations, needed to outsource their entire recruiting function, they entrusted us with the responsibility of finding top talent to support their mission.
With a focus on both corporate and field roles, we became an extension of their team – delivering skilled professionals who could drive their vision forward. From hiring strategic leaders at headquarters to placing critical roles in the field, we ensured Habitat for Humanity had the right talent in place to support communities worldwide.
This partnership not only reinforced our expertise in nonprofit talent acquisition but also demonstrated our ability to seamlessly manage and elevate an organization’s recruiting function, allowing them to focus on what matters most: Building homes, communities, and hope.
At Talent Connections, we understand that strong HR leadership is the backbone of a thriving workforce. When Aaron’s newly appointed Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) set out to elevate their field HR function, they needed a strategic partner to help build a team that could drive business success at scale.
With a focus on upgrading HR Business Partners and HR Managers across stores and regions nationwide, we worked closely with the CHRO to assess talent needs, identify high-impact HR leaders, and deliver professionals who could enhance employee engagement, strengthen culture, and support operations in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.
Through our targeted and strategic hiring approach, we successfully rebuilt and upgraded Aaron’s field HR function, ensuring the company had the right talent in place to lead their workforce forward. This partnership not only strengthened their HR capability. It also positioned the national retailer for long-term success in an increasingly competitive industry.
At Talent Connections, we take pride in not only placing top talent, but also in fostering meaningful partnerships that support career and leadership growth. Our work with Hemophilia of Georgia is a perfect example of how strategic HR hiring strengthens a purpose-filled organization.
We initially placed Lisa Williams Coleman as Director of HR. She quickly made an impact, leading to her well-earned promotion to VP of HR then to Chief HR Officer. Recognizing the importance of building a strong HR team, she turned to Talent Connections once again – this time, to help her find a critical right-hand leader to serve as her number two.
By understanding the organization’s mission, culture, and evolving needs, we successfully placed a talented HR professional who could seamlessly support Lisa and drive key initiatives forward. This collaboration underscores our commitment to building great HR teams with incredible leaders who trust us to build their teams.
At Talent Connections, we don’t just fill roles – we build lasting partnerships that help great companies thrive. Our relationship with Cousins Properties, a marquee name in commercial real estate, is a perfect example.
Cousins trusted us to place Deborah Schwarz – its pivotal Head of HR who played a critical role in shaping the company’s talent strategy and culture. When she later decided to pursue a consulting career, she departed on great terms – leaving behind a strong HR foundation.
Recognizing the impact of our first placement, Cousins once again turned to Talent Connections to identify their next Head of HR, ensuring continued leadership and stability within their organization. By deeply understanding their culture, goals, and the evolving needs of the business, we successfully placed Francis Wetherington –another outstanding HR leader who carried their vision forward.
We are proud to be a trusted partner in helping Cousins build and sustain a best-in-class HR function.
At Talent Connections, we believe that great companies are built by great people. That’s why we take pride in placing HR leaders who drive lasting impact – leaders like Marlo Gillette, who has been a leader at NASCO for over 18 years.
When NASCO needed a strategic HR leader to help shape its workforce and culture, we connected them with Marlo as an HR Director. Over the years, she has played a key role in strengthening NASCO’s HR function, fostering a people-first culture and driving talent strategies that have fueled the company’s long-term success. Her leadership and vision helped position NASCO as a thriving organization, and today, she serves as Head of HR, leading the charge in building an engaged and high-performing workforce.
Marlo’s journey exemplifies how the right HR leadership can make a lasting difference in an organization’s growth and success. We are honored to have played a part in this partnership and look forward to NASCO’s continued success under her leadership.
At Talent Connections, we specialize in helping companies build best-in-class HR teams, especially during times of transformation. When Veritiv made the strategic move to establish its new headquarters in Atlanta, they needed the right HR talent in place to ensure a smooth transition and long-term success.
With 10+ full-time HR roles to fill – ranging from senior HR Business Partners and Compensation roles to Talent Management and Labor Relations roles, plus a team of contract recruiters – Veritiv turned to Talent Connections for expertise and execution. Leveraging our deep network and market insights, we quickly identified and placed high-impact HR professionals who could support the company’s expansion and growth in Atlanta.
Our ability to deliver quality talent, at speed, across multiple levels ensured Veritiv had the right people in place to drive business success from day one. As Atlanta continues to thrive as a business hub, we take pride in being the go-to partner for companies looking to build exceptional HR teams in this competitive market.
At Talent Connections, we excel at solving complex hiring challenges. When Delta Air Lines needed to scale its HR function rapidly, they turned to our Recruitment Process Outsourcing team to get the job done.
With a nationwide need for 200+ HR professionals, Delta sought a strategic partner who could ensure speed, quality, and efficiency – all of which we delivered. Our dedicated project team executed a streamlined, high-touch recruitment strategy – identifying and placing top HR talent across the country while maintaining the highest standards of excellence.
The result? Every role was filled on time with top-tier candidates who were the right fit for Delta’s culture and goals. This project not only met immediate hiring demands. It also strengthened Delta’s long-term HR infrastructure with exceptional talent.
From high-volume hiring to strategic workforce solutions, Talent Connections is proud to help great companies like Delta build and scale with confidence.
At Talent Connections, we thrive on helping organizations build strong leadership foundations. That’s why we were honored to serve Enlace Health in the successful placement of their first Head of HR.
As a growing organization, Enlace Health recognized the need for a strategic HR leader to drive talent initiatives, enhance company culture, and support business growth. Understanding the significance of this inaugural role, our team conducted a targeted search to identify a leader from a progressive health company who could shape and scale the HR function from the ground up.
Our candidate, Amanda Allen, stood out as the perfect fit, bringing a wealth of experience in HR leadership, talent strategy, and organizational development. With her expertise, Enlace Health is well-positioned to cultivate a high-performing workforce and a dynamic, people-first culture.
