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ABOUT US > OUR TEAM
More Than Just Good Looks
With more than 200 years of recruiting and human resources experience among the core team, it's no wonder that some of the nation's leading companies are turning to Talent Connections for recruiting advisement, staffing and search. Rest assured that you will receive only seasoned professionals during your engagement. Meet the core team:
Tom Darrow, Principal
Susan Kent , Director
Wally Boehm, Vice President
Jim Bulger. Vice President
Diane Ford, Vice President
Jim Hartsook, Vice President
Melissa Waterman, Vice President
Rod Chally , Director
Teela Jackson, Senior Talent Consultant
Gary Shaar, Director
Ginger Wallis, Senior Talent Consultant
Mary Reany, Director
Vernesha Smith, Talent Coordinator
Principal
Email: TomDarrow@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-552-1550 EXT. 111
Fax: 770-992-3521
Thomas M. Darrow is the Founder and Principal of Talent Connections, LLC (www.talentconnections.net). Since 1999, the Atlanta based professional services firm has specialized in recruiting—including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, HR consulting, and contract recruiting. Current and past clients include The Coca Cola Company, Habitat for Humanity International, Cingular, ADP, Booz Allen Hamilton, Deloitte, Newell Rubbermaid, Microsoft, McKesson, and Emory Healthcare. Talent Connections was named in 2007 and 2008 to the Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest growing private companies for realizing 1700% revenue growth.
In March, 2009, Tom teamed with nationally recognized recruiting and career transition experts to launch Career Spa, LLC (www.careerspa.net). The career transition company is revolutionizing the way unemployed and misemployed workers are equipped to assess and proactively manage their career transitions.
Tom has over 19 years experience in the Human Resources and Recruitment profession -- including 9 years with the global professional services firms of Price Waterhouse (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) and Andersen Consulting (now Accenture).
He is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the Atlanta Chapter (SHRM-Atlanta). He was the 2006/2007 President of SHRM-Atlanta, the largest city Chapter in the country out of 577 Chapters and served on the Board of Directors from 2005-2008. Under his leadership as President, SHRM-Atlanta’s membership increased 60% to over 2600 members and the Chapter launched two programs that won a 2007 SHRM Pinnacle Award for membership growth and a 2008 SHRM Pinnacle Award for the Mayor’s Youth Program. At the National level, he serves on the SHRM Foundation Board, is a charter member of the Board’s Advisory Council, and served on the SHRM Staffing Management Special Expertise Panel from 2005-2008. He is the Founder and former Chair of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) Recruiting Society and has served on the TAG Board of Directors from 2005 through 2009. From 2005 through 2007, he was the Inaugural President of the TAG Leadership Council and served on the Executive Committee of the Board.
Tom earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame. He speaks nationally at conferences and workshops on topics related to improving corporate recruiting processes and career transition best practices, and has been quoted in publications including BusinessWeek, Inc. Magazine, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Washington Post, and HR Magazine and had been interviewed on National Public Radio (NPR) and WXIA TV – Channel 11 in Atlanta.
In addition to his leadership in the Human Resources and Recruiting profession, Tom is dedicated to community service through many volunteer activities. As a lead volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta, he served as a Big Brother from 1991 to 1998 and was honored as the Big Brother of the Year in Gwinnett County in 1996. In 2002 he served on the Board of Directors and was Chair of the Ambassadors for Big Brothers Big Sisters. In 2001, he was voted the Ambassador of the Year. In 2005, he was the Co-Chair of the Arby’s Charity Tour golf tournament which raised a record $285,000. From 2003 through 2005, Tom served on the Board of Directors for The Partnership Against Domestic Violence. He has been a Host Committee Member of High Tech Ministries since 1999. Tom is leading a team to launch the first annual Atlanta HR Prayer Breakfast that will take place February 25, 2010. Tom has also a leader and speaker in the Crossroads Career Network career ministry since 1997. In 2008, Tom was nominated for the Turknett Leadership Character Award in the CEO category and was a finalist for the North Fulton County Chamber of Commerce Small Business Person of the Year Award.
Tom lives in Roswell with his wife Anne and their three dogs and parrot. They occasionally rest at their cabin in Murphy, North Carolina (www.mountainmajesty.com) or their houseboat on Lake Lanier. He enjoys golf, Notre Dame football, concerts at Chastain, shows at the Fox and Alliance theaters, eBay shopping, Christian music, spending time with family and friends, and comedy. Tom is a minority owner of the Green Bay Packers. In 2004 he made his stand-up comedy debut at The Punch Line, the premier comedy club in the Southeast.
Vice President, Business Development
Email: SusanKent@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-552-1550 EXT. 212
Fax: 770-992-3521
As Vice President, Business Development, Susan is focused on building customized recruiting solutions that enable companies to build world-class recruiting functions.
Susan has thirty years experience in Human Resources within the energy industry at Southern Company, Georgia Power Company, and most recently at Mirant, a global competitive energy provider. She has led two recruiting functions in these corporate environments and has experienced the challenges of recruiting during times of growth and times of rightsizing. Susan was a Principal Consultant in Organizational Effectiveness & Staffing at Southern Company, designing and implementing efficient and compliant recruiting processes during times of transition. She also led leadership development and professional development programs, succession planning, and overall talent review processes.
Susan understands the client’s perspective, especially when there is a need to hire quickly and with quality, while managing budget constraints and executive expectations. She’s a proven business ally - - someone who can empathize with client’s needs, seek win-win solutions and build business relationships based on integrity.
Susan has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management from Georgia State University, and has held numerous leadership positions in both professional and community organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys golf, ALTA tennis, volunteering for mission work through her church, and vacationing at the beach. Susan and her husband, Ron, reside in the Smoke Rise community of DeKalb County. They also enjoy college sports as their son, Jesse, is a junior at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Wally Boehm
Vice President
Email: WallyBoehm@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-789-1601
Fax: 770-992-3521
Wally Boehm brings a wealth of HR leadership and expertise to Talent Connections. Boehm has over 30 years of Human Resource and Leadership experiences working with nationally recognized organizations such as Matteson Partners, Inc., First Data Corporation, Pepsico, Cigna Healthplan, Owens Corning Fiberglas and Modine Mfg Co, including the past 10 years with ADP.
During his tenure in Human Resources, Boehm has partnered with many executives as a trusted advisor to develop, transform and drive strategic human resource practices in a variety of organizations. He has played a major role in recruiting executive talent, developing human capital planning strategies inclusive of succession planning processes, bench strength analysis, leadership development programs and metrics based compensation initiatives which drive
business results. His deep content knowledge of Change Management has helped organizations successfully drive cultural change initiatives in creating an Employer of Choice (EOC) best practices environment which links to drive shareholder value. With these practices, he has successfully transitioned and integrated companies through mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.
Boehm has played a unique role in recruiting and building organizations throughout the US, the Middle East, and India during his tenure with a variety of blue chip companies. Wally brings a unique way of looking at and working with multi-cultural environments. His wealth of experience in HR best practices, hands on approach, along with his ability to understand the business requirements, makes him a valuable contributor in any engagement.
Wally earned his BA in Business from Carthage College, where he was recognized by “Who’s Who”, among college students. Professionally, his work has been recognized with several high honors of distinction. ?e Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) published Boehm’s gold book article, “Creating Performance Incentives – Metric Linked Bonus Payouts”, as a world-wide best
practice. As a result, the Atlanta chapter of SHRM presented Wally with the HR Professional Excellence award for transforming the Human Resources function. ?e Atlanta Business Chronicle recognized the ADP National Accounts business unit while Wally was DVP of HR, as one of the top 5 best places to work in Atlanta.
Over the past several years he has spoken globally on a variety of HR related topics such as: “Leveraging Talent, Transforming the HR Function to a Shared Services Environment,” “Utilizing the Balance Scorecard Approach to Drive Business Results” and “Be the Asset your CEO Can’t Live Without.” Wally has served on the local Atlanta chapter Board of Directors for the Human Resources Leadership Forum and SHRM.
Jim Bulger
Vice President
Email: JimBulger@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-314-4891
Fax: 770-992-3521
Jim Bulger draws on more than 25 years experience in Human Resources leadership roles and a background within a variety of industry segments to produce HR programs that maximize workforce contributions to the achievement of corporate goals. With a proven track record in companies recognized for their highly productive work environments, accelerated revenue growth, and effective management practices, Jim has designed and delivered HR strategies that result in heightened levels of productivity, efficiency, and employee engagement. He has built and advanced company cultures that are responsive, communicative, collaborative, and solutions-oriented. With a career that began in operations management and progressed into Human Resources, Jim focuses on a real-world approach that successfully aligns HR initiatives with operational and corporate priorities to produce bottom-line results.
Jim has led HR teams in retail, technology, business services and sales environments and in both private and public companies ranging in size from start-up to more than 20,000 employees. He has held senior management and executive-level HR leadership roles within MailExpress, Benchmark Brands, E3 Software, Vanstar Technology, Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate, and Toys R Us.
Jim is an active member of numerous industry organizations, including the Society for Human Resource Management. He has been a panelist and guest speaker on human resource and management topics for various professional, business, and community organizations. He is a graduate of Northern Illinois University with a degree in Communications. A former radio broadcaster, Jim also has provided voice-overs and narrations for a variety of community, church, and business presentations. He and his wife, Nancy live in Woodstock, Georgia where she is the Director of their church’s preschool. Jim’s favorite ways to relax away from work usually involve golf, music, beach getaways, and time with family and friends.
Diane Ford, SPHR
Vice President
Email: DianeFord@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 404-428-6115
Fax: 770-992-3521
As one of our talented business consultants, Diane Ford offers clients over twenty years of generalist human resources and leadership experience. Diane’s career has primarily involved building human resource departments for start up phase telecommunications companies. She has also spent time in the printing and transportation industries.
Most recently Diane was the vice president of human resources for DataPath, Inc., a satellite telecommunication company. Diane was responsible for building the human resources team, establishing policies and procedures, numerous compliance issues and labor law requirements for over six hundred employees operating in a multi state / international environment. Before joining DataPath, Diane created the first human resources function at BeavEx Inc., the nation's leading same-day scheduled delivery company. Prior to BeavEx, she was director of human resources at RF Solutions, a venture capital start-up specializing in semi conductors (802.11 chipset design). In the early 1990s, Diane was part of the start-up team responsible for Panasonic's first wireless engineering design center in the United States. Before that, Diane held various human resources management positions in the Atlanta area. Diane holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in labor relations from Grand Valley State University. In her spare time she enjoys horseback riding, bicycling and golf. Diane and her husband, Barry, reside in Johns Creek. They have two sons, Darrell and Eric, who are both attending college.
Jim Hartsook, SPHR
Vice President
Email: JimHartsook@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 813-484-6755
Fax: 770-992-3521
Jim Hartsook has over 40 years of human resources and administrative experience including strategic planning, leadership development, budgeting, recruiting, training, compensation, resource deployment, benefits, counseling, mentoring, evaluation, diversity/EEOC and legal issues.
Jim worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers for 28 years serving in various HR and recruiting roles including HR Leader for the National Administrative Center in Tampa Florida, HR Director for the National Finance Group; Southeast Director of Human Capital for the Technology, Information, Communications, Entertainment and Media (TICE) Industry Group; East Region Recruitment Director including NE, Metro and SE; Director of Human Resources and Administration for the Atlanta Group of offices; Southwest Region Director of Human Resources; Member of the National Recruiting Advisory Council; and Member of the National Human Resources Advisory Board. He has developed many programs that assisted PwC achievement of being listed on Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Place to Work designation for the past several years. Jim taught numerous courses & training sessions on leadership development, teaming, interviewing skills, performance improvement, and legal issues nationally, regionally and locally. He has taken Firm training initiatives to Australia and Canada to roll out to the partners in those countries. At various times while with PwC Jim has had offices in Houston, Atlanta, NYC, Washington DC, and Tampa.
Prior to PricewaterhouseCoopers, Jim spent 10 years with Deloitte Touche. His responsibilities at DT included: Director of Human Resources for South Florida; Southeast Region Recruiting Director; National Director of Diversity Recruiting; and Member of the National HR Advisory Council. He completed two tours of duty in the National Office in New York.
Jim also spent three years at Illinois Wesleyan University where he served as the Director of the Student Center, Coordinator of Student Employment, University Conference Coordinator, and Coordinator of Student Activities.
Jim holds an undergraduate degree in Education and master's degrees in Higher Education Administration with an emphasis in Guidance and Counseling from Bowling Green State University.
Melissa Waterman, SPHR
Vice President
Email: MelissaWaterman@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-614-3196
Fax: 770-992-3521
As Vice President, Melissa creates and deploys Human Capital and HR strategies that align people resources with corporate business strategies.
Melissa's career has spanned 25 years and a variety of industries. She served as VP of HR for eShare Communications (Software), for Kids II, Inc. (Baby Products), O'Sullivan Industries (Furniture), and Proudfoot Consulting. She was previously head of HR for Innotrac Corporation (Fulfillment/Customer Service) and recently served as Director of Corporate HR for Carter's/Oshkosh (Childrens Wear). Melissa also has experience in Not-for-Profit, Healthcare, Avionics, Manufacturing, and the Financial sectors. She has deployed people solutions in circumstances ranging from start-up organizations to high-growth, M&A, and down/right-sizing situations. Focused on the bottom-line impact of intangibles, Melissa operates under the philosophy that business and employees achieve optimum results with thoughtful and aligned human capital strategies.
Melissa is a career-long member of SHRM, has served on the Advisory Board to the Gwinnett County school system, is a past Foster Parent and a current member of the Board of Advisors for The Ritz HR Group. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Psychology from North Georgia College and State University and is currently pursuing her MBA from the Chapman Graduate School of Business at Florida International University. An early adopter of the HR professional certificate, Melissa earned her SPHR in 1997 and was certified as a Human Capital Strategist (HCS) in 2009.
A native of Georgia, Melissa lives northeast of Atlanta in Gwinnett County with her husband Randy. She has three daughters; Megan, Christa, and Jamie. Melissa enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, riding motorcycles, gardening, and writing.
Director
Email: RodChally@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 904-371-3104
Fax: 770-992-3521
As a Director of the Jacksonville Practice for Talent Connections, Rod is responsible for business development and project management of recruiting solutions including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, process consulting and contract recruiting. He focuses efforts in Jacksonville as well as serving clients nationwide. Rod has worked with clients in professional services, financial services, retail, manufacturing and healthcare.
Rod brings to Talent Connections an extensive resume of human resources and recruiting expertise. Most recently Rod served as a Director of Executive search for ATS Services, a Jacksonville-based company providing recruiting solutions for more than 30 years. He was responsible for relationship management and business development of executive search assignments with leading, global clients. Previously, Rod recruited senior-level sales and marketing executives for Accenture in North America. At Ernst & Young, he was a human resources consultant providing retained, executive search services and organization development consulting services for clients. Additionally, he served as Vice President of Human Resources for a division of a leading apparel company, Hart Schaffner Marx. During his career, Rod has recruited positions from the Director/Manager level to CEO’s for companies in a variety of industries.
Rod received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Personnel Management from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois. He enjoys spending spare time on the wonderful golf courses of NE Florida. He also enjoys watching college and professional sports with favorites being football, basketball and golf. His wife, Pam, has worked most of her career in college administration currently serving as the Dean of the College of Health at the University of North Florida. Their favorite time away from work is with their children and three granddaughters in Jacksonville and Atlanta. For 10 years Rod has served as Chair of the Personnel Ministry at Palms Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville Beach.
Teela Jackson
Senior Talent Consultant
Email: TeelaJackson@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-552-1550 EXT. 216
Fax: 770-992-3521
Teela Jackson focuses on recruitment of executive level Human Resources professionals for Talent Connections. Teela has more than ten years in agency and corporate recruiting in the areas of human resources, information technology, accounting, legal, marketing, procurement, and engineering and has proven ability in sourcing and placing top talent across industry lines, at all levels.
She began her recruiting career with CIGNA Healthcare, a Fortune 100 provider of benefits where she was responsible for recruiting for a large, high-volume call center and claims service center. Following her corporate experience in Tennessee, Teela moved to Atlanta and began working with a national search firm that specialized in placement of HR talent. During her tenure with the firm, Teela developed and implemented new sourcing and recruiting processes that ultimately resulted in the successful addition of two divisions and the ability to focus on clients’ needs in other areas.
Following her search firm experience, she worked for Georgia Pacific, a Fortune 100 forest products company, where she was responsible for recruiting for their corporate office and 55 field locations. Teela has full life cycle corporate and agency recruiting experience and has been most complimented for her ability to listen to a customer’s needs and provide top-notch talent quickly.
Teela earned her master’s of business administration – management from Mercer University and her bachelor’s of science – human resources from The University of Tennessee. A native of Nashville, she enjoys spending time with her daughter and husband, reading, making beaded jewelry and is active in her church.
Gary Shaar
Director
Email: GaryShaar@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-674-4685
With more than ten years of experience in contract recruiting and executive search and more than 20 years in government and corporate leadership roles, Gary has a wealth of know-how and contacts. He has conducted hundreds of searches in his career across a number of industries and is excellent at defining job roles and placing long-term candidates in them. He is expert in finding and hiring hard-to-fill skill sets.
A former Navy officer and pilot, Gary holds a master's degree in finance and management from Webster University and a bachelor's of science in biology from Rutgers University. He is co-chairman of the TAG Recruiting Society and on the leadership teamfor the the Roswell United Methodist Church jobs ministry. Gary enjoys traveling, weight training and quality time with his 13-year-old daughter.
Ginger Wallis
Senior Talent Consultant
Email: GingerWallis@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-552-1550 EXT. 217
Fax: 770-992-3521
As a past right-hand to the owner of two small businesses herself, Ginger Wallis adds a great deal of assistance to those interested in growing their own businesses. It takes more than just rolling up your sleeves; it requires the addition of good talented people to help you get there. Ginger has 17years of recruiting and search experience in the areas of human resources, technology, accounting and administrative assistance. She also has 11 years of staffing industry management experience in the areas of contract and permanent placement. It's a role she takes quite seriously at Talent Connections, and she proves to exceed client expectations time and time again.
Ginger has a bachelor's of science in business - human resources from Auburn University. She is a volunteer with the Job Seekers Network and Crossroads Career Network. She also has developed and delivered training programs for the staffing industry. When given the opportunity, Ginger loves to spend time with her husband and two young daughters. She is active in her church and children's school and also enjoys bike riding, swimming and hiking.
Mary Reany
Director
Email: MaryReany@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-552-1550 EXT. 214
Fax: 770-992-3521
Making sure client needs are met and expectations are surpassed is Mary's top priority when it comes to Talent Connections. With more than 15 years of experience in professional services consulting, she has what it takes to bring Talent Connections to the next stage and is responsible for the company's marketing and business development efforts.
Mary has managed some unique programs that give Talent Connections a broadened look at recruiting and business development. She designed and implemented student recruitment programs for the University of Phoenix, the nation's largest private university, specializing in the education of working adults. She has a plethora of expertise in building project teams responsible for the delivery of consulting services, especially for human resources executives. In addition, she has developed strategic marketing solutions for high profile companies and directed teams implementing global business-to-business events and trade show programs.
Mary holds a bachelor's of arts in political science - public administration from UCLA. She has lived in France for a year and enjoys time with family and friends, a good book, UCLA Football, time in the garden and a quiet hike in the North Georgia Mountains.
Talent Coordinator
Email: VerneshaSmith@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 404-474-0505
Fax: 770-992-3521
Vernesha first joined the Talent Connections team four years ago as a part of the Habitat for Humanity RPO project . Vernesha has managed applicant tracking systems, written job descriptions, found creative advertising venues, and assisted with the recruiting process for Talent Connections.
As Talent Coordinator, Vernesha is focused on making sure that Talent Connections has accurate contact information for our strong network of more than 14,000 contacts, keeping our network informed of full-time and contract opportunities, updating the resources section on our webpage with key human resources and recruiting events, and supporting our marketing and branding initiatives. Vernesha plays a crucial role in enabling our Senior Talent Consultants to effectively fill their open positions in record time.
Vernesha earned a bachelor’s of science in business-human resources from Georgia Southwestern State University. In her spare time, Vernesha enjoys playing various sports, traveling, and spending time with her family.
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