|
||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
Bill Jeu de Vine, Vice President, Business Development
Bill Prendergast, Vice President, Business Development
Jim Bulger. Vice President
Jim Hartsook, Vice President
Rod Chally , Director
Teela Jackson, Director of Talent Delivery
Gary Shaar, Director
Ginger Wallis, Senior Talent Consultant
Mary Reany, Director
Vernesha Smith, Talent Coordinator
Principal
Email: TomDarrow@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-992-3701
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 21 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 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. He currently serves on the Board of Advisors for the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. 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 founded and leads the Atlanta HR Prayer Breakfast. 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 Murphy, NC and Smyrna, GA with his wife Anne and their three dogs and parrot. He enjoys golf, Notre Dame football, Christian music, shows at the Fox and Alliance theaters, eBay shopping, spending time with family and friends, and comedy. In 2004 he made his stand-up comedy debut at The Punch Line, the premier comedy club in the Southeast. Tom is also a minority owner of the World Champion Green Bay Packers.
Bill Jeu de Vine
Vice President, Business Development
Email: BillJeudeVine@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 404-271-6591
Fax: 770-992-3521
Bill brings a Client focused attention to the Business Development initiatives for Talent Connections. Bill’s career encompasses 20+ years of Leadership, Business Strategy, Sales Process, and Human Resources success. As President at AMPF/AMCI, a consumer products company, Bill initiated a targeted Sales focus across his national team to increase customer interaction, build sales processes consistent across the organization and increase customer contact to grow the brand. In this role Bill lead a team of General Managers operating 5 locations across the US. In the Healthcare Services arena, Bill lead a specialty immunization services company to build the brand, grow revenue, build a customer base and grow the service awareness across the US. Bill’s background includes start-up experience where he served as Director of Sales for FANMATS, a consumer products company, selling to Fortune 100 companies, multi-store chains and independent retailers. Bill grew sales to $2,000,000.00+ in the first 18 months.
From 1997 to 2003 Bill lead the recruiting practices and leadership development initiatives as Manager, Staffing and Development at Larson-Juhl, a Berkshire-Hathaway subsidiary. In this role, Bill initiated an entirely new national sales recruiting process and strategy, built the recruiting criteria, identified the key criteria for performance success and worked collaboratively across the organization to drive the process. Partnering with Operations leadership, Bill pioneered a Leadership Development program to drive the company’s efforts in building their internal talent base, quickly fill critical talent needs and build the company’s team member competencies.
Bill is active in career mentoring and business networking as a board member for the St. Brigid Business Connection Group and he volunteers with the Christ Centered Career Group (C3G) at Northpoint Community Church – both located in Alpharetta, GA. In addition, Bill is active in the Atlanta Catholic Business Conference, the Kettering Executive Network, the Furman Business Breakfast series, Hith Tech Ministries and the Men of St. Brigid.
Earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Furman University in Greenville, SC, Bill chose to stay in the southeast after growing up in south Florida. Bill, his wife Laura and their daughter Hampton live in Alpharetta where they are active with travel softball, school activities and enjoying the outdoors. They enjoy golf, tennis, tent camping, trips to the beach and their Boxer, Samantha.
Bill Prendergast
Vice President, Business Development
Email: BillPrendergast@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 404-862-1591
Fax: 770-992-3521
Bill is an accomplished human capital executive with over 31 years of experience with one of the world’s premier professional services firms, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). His experience includes 28 years in national, regional and local human capital leadership roles, including 19 years as a human capital partner. Bill is passionate about helping others, particularly individuals who are focused on improving their job performance and those who are in career transition, and is attentive and responsive to each individual’s unique situation. Bill has a wealth of human capital management experience, particularly in the areas of competitive talent acquisition, strategic workforce planning, effective performance management and compensation, talent and leadership development, succession planning, training, and career transition and outplacement. Bill also possesses expertise in alumni relations and corporate social responsibility.
Bill is a leader and relationship builder. He enjoys new challenges and builds high performing teams. He leads new projects of substantive complexity with significant team and one-on-one interaction. Bill is a business developer. He is an effective listener and problem-solver. He is an informed risk-taker with an appetite for change. Bill is loyal and possesses strong ethics, values, interpersonal insight and enthusiasm.
In his 11 years in national human capital roles with PwC (1998 to 2009), Bill assumed leadership of the largest and most comprehensive training of human resources partners and professionals in the firm’s history; designed and launched a sweeping strategic alumni relations initiative; developed and managed innovative college relations community service projects; designed and led a new job description writing project for 1,300 positions affecting 25,000 client service professionals; created and managed a broad intern/college relations initiative; and led the redesign of the employee departures process.
From 1991 to 1998, Bill served as the human capital partner of the Southwest and Southeast Regions, respectively, among the firm’s largest markets. In these roles, which included 27 offices, 250 partners and 2,500 employees, Bill was responsible for all aspects of PwC’s human capital management. He built high-performing human capital teams at both regional and local levels and improved the bottom line through strategic and competitive talent acquisition, improved talent management and executive performance, and enhanced effectiveness of human capital processes. Bill was appointed to the firm’s 10-person National Ethics & Business Conduct Compliance Office.
Prior to joining the Southwest Region as human capital director in 1990, Bill was a human resource and operations staff member, supervisor, manager and director in New York City, the firm’s largest office, from 1981 to 1990. From 1978 to 1981, Bill served on the firm’s New York audit staff.
Bill is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he was recently inducted as a Lifetime Member of The 1842 Loyalty Society. Bill is an active supporter of The Westminster Schools in Atlanta and enjoys running, world soccer, reading and music.
Bill and his wife, Ellen, are the parents of two children, Caitlin and Justin.
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.
Jim Hartsook, Certified Coach and SPHR
Vice President
Email: JimHartsook@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 803-439-6055
Fax: 770-992-3521
Jim is currently Vice President of Executive Coaching and HR Consulting with Talent Connections. His objective is to help every individual and organization he works with achieve their highest potential and overcome the obstacles that may be holding them back. Jim is a certified coach and holds the HR certification of SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources). His specialties include Executive and Leadership Coaching; Life and Career Coaching; and HR Consulting, including Team Building, Creating a Great Place To Work, Talent Selection (Interviewer Training), Rewards & Recognition, and Diversity Training.
Jim has 30+ years of human resources and administrative experience including strategic planning, leadership development, coaching, mentoring, recruiting, training, compensation, resource deployment, budgeting, benefits, evaluation, diversity/EEOC and legal issues. He holds a Masters degree in College Student Personnel with an emphasis in Guidance & Counseling and a bachelors degree in Education.
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; 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’s achievement of being listed on Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Place to Work designation for 7 years in a row. Jim taught numerous courses and training sessions on leadership development, teaming, interviewing skills, performance improvement, and legal issues nationally, regionally and locally. He has taken PwC’s training initiatives to Australia and Canada to roll out to the partners in those countries. Jim also co-chaired the team that combined the PW and CL recruiting initiatives during the merger of the two firms. Throughout his time with PwC Jim 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 Coordinator of Student Activities, Director of the Student Center, Coordinator of Student Employment, and University Conference Coordinator.
Jim holds membership in a number of professional organizations including the International Coach Federation; the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM); the Tampa Bay Professional Coach Association; Tampa HR (Tampa Chapter of SHRM);the Georgia Coach Association; and CSRA (Augusta Georgia Chapter of SHRM).
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
Director of Talent Delivery
Email: TeelaJackson@talentconnections.net
Telephone: 770-979-4265
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: 770-992-6181
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
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.
+
+
+
+
