Blair LaCorte
Chief Executive Officer of XOJET

"David Nosal and Robert Fong came highly recommended so I was excited to work with them for a search at TPG. I was very impressed with their attention to detail and time and effort they put into understanding our needs. They invested a great deal of time upfront asking the right questions to make sure they understood the full scope of our operation and exactly what we were looking for in a candidate. Their early due diligence allowed them to not only pursue qualified candidates, but to also confidently convey the mission and culture of our company to those candidates.

"Robert and David were always perfectly aligned in their communication and advice. They presented cohesive and consistent messages without sacrificing their individual opinions. Their style allowed me to feel comfortable with the search and confident in their abilities to find and place the best fit for our specific needs.

"At the end of the day, Robert and David’s number one attribute is that they are effective. I would welcome the chance to work with them again."

Kim Folsom
Chief Executive Officer of ShowUhow

“Don Parker first started working with ShowUhow as an advisor to help us navigate our organization’s leadership needs. As a new start-up, we wanted to create a leadership platform that would guide our human capital decisions in a cohesive way. With his incredible industry expertise, Don provided clear direction and sound advice for our executive leadership challenges. With his help, we were able to build a highly-skilled team that fit right into the vision of our organization.

“After reaping the gains of his seasoned experience firsthand, we hired Don in a recruiting capacity to place a key executive. Don’s preexisting relationships and connections to major industry players definitely contributed to the timeliness and efficiency of the search. His responsiveness, unbelievable industry knowledge and impressive network without a doubt set him apart from other recruiters I have worked with in the past.

“Working with Don has been a great experience. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to fill a key senior or C-level position for their organization.”

Tom Morizio
President of ACIST Medical Systems Inc.

“I initially worked with Susan Oliver and the Nosal Partners’ team as a candidate for the position I currently hold at ACIST. During the interviewing process, Susan kept me well informed every step of the way. She asked for my feedback and observations in regard to the actual interviews and did an outstanding job of relaying ACIST’s company culture. Susan spent a great deal of time explaining issues that existed in the company, the specific nuances in company culture, and even detailed the relationship between ACIST and the parent company in Italy. I felt thoroughly prepared for each and every step of the interviewing process and was very happy that I didn’t find any surprises once hired.

“I was so pleased with my interactions with Nosal Partners that I hired Susan and the firm to help locate a head of research and development for ACIST. Susan and her team brought the same tenacity and seasoned experience to the search that I had previously benefited from as a candidate. Nosal Partners did a deep dive on the position description to explicitly detail what kind of candidate we were looking for and helped us to understand what type of candidate we should be looking for. Nosal Partners knew exactly how to manage the search process and were exceptionally explanatory in every aspect of the search. Everything from finding a candidate to evaluating that candidate was expertly handled.

“Both of my experiences with Nosal Partners were great – no doubt due to their diligence and informative approach. This will definitely not be the last time I look to Susan for help with our executive leadership needs.”

Ed Emma
President and Chief Operating Officer of Jockey

“I have worked directly with David and Terri on multiple occasions to fill key leadership roles at Jockey International. They both spent a lot of time figuring out exactly what type of candidate we were looking for, and why those specific traits made sense for our organization. They completely understood our needs and company culture. As a result, we didn’t waste time screening unqualified candidates.

“My communication with David and Terri was constant, informative, focused and extremely beneficial. We worked on a weekly basis through formal conference call updates, as well as candidly when I needed specific information about the search process or individual candidates. The amount of attention and availability they afforded was absolutely extraordinary.

“The first time I worked with Nosal Partners, I was absolutely amazed by the fact that the gentleman whose name is on the letterhead was on every call, every week, no matter what time of day. Regardless of if he was just about to board an airplane or on the other side of the globe, he made it a point to be there. David has an unparalleled ability to make you feel like you are his only client.

“Both David and Terri are incredibly smart, perceptive, high-integrity individuals who are dedicated to finding the best fit for an organization. They truly provide a first-class, end-to-end service that is a benchmark for the industry.”

Peter Benoit
Human Resources Director of Delcath Systems

“Susan Oliver is a consummate executive recruiter and has provided strong slates of candidates for key leadership positions at Delcath Systems. Her organizational skills, professional demeanor and upbeat personality have made the search more efficient and abbreviated the recruitment process.

“Susan thoroughly researches the requirements of each position and quickly understands our strategic needs. In doing so, Susan has attracted and delivered highly-competent candidates who fit our organization both professionally and culturally. Susan is one of the most spirited and committed recruiters in the field.”

Betsy Atkins
Board Member of Polycom, Inc., Chico’s FAS, and Reynolds American Inc.
Advisor of British Telcom
President of Baja Corp LLC

“What sets David apart is his incredibly fast delivery of distinctly capable, talented, and effective individuals.  His network and access are exceptional, as are the speed and quality of his execution.

"David has a very well-defined process with clear, measurable steps and milestones that he always exceeds.  His follow-though is outstanding; everything is absolutely always done on time.  You can set your watch to David’s commitments.   With David, you will never be embarrassed or surprised, and can put your credibility on the line with confidence.

"David grasps the complex set of quantitative as well as soft, qualitative requirements for a position.  He is an expert at performing the due diligence required to assess a candidate’s skill set and strengths, and has outstanding acumen in discerning the true ability behind credentials on a resume.  As a result, you don’t accidentally recruit someone who is not truly capable.

"David has a clear, crisp, definitive communication style from both a client as well as a placement perspective.  He can distill, explain, and present a company and position clearly and persuasively.”

Scott Peterson
Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Select Comfort Corporation

“We initially began working with Nosal Partners to fill two very key and senior roles at Select Comfort: the Chief Information Officer and the Vice President of Research and Development positions. Both assignments were difficult, national searches. We needed high-caliber talent with experience in multiple industries, who would fit into our company culture and also be willing to relocate to Minneapolis.

“The partners on the Nosal Partners team took a very strategic approach to both assignments. They didn’t focus exclusively on the role; the search consultants also examined the broader business context, our company business model, our competition, as well as our customers. They understood the proverbial big picture, enabling them to attract quality candidates, assess them against the job spec and evaluate their ability to make a difference within the company.

“Of course, strategic thinking is great, but at the end of the day, the search team also needs to fill the position. I was thoroughly impressed with Nosal Partners’ ability to deliver exceptional, high-integrity candidates for two tough assignments in a very timely manner. From an execution standpoint, the search partners were extremely responsive, always returning calls very quickly. They paid attention to small details and nuances to provide superior service without sacrificing time.

“David Nosal as well as his partners remained very involved throughout the process. But unlike what often happens in large firms, David did not over-delegate to junior associates. They are highly-personable and capable people that want to do the job the right way.”

Harold Goldstein
Group Vice President, Global Human Resources, Lam Research Corporation

"I was looking for a search firm to help us fill two key positions in our company and David Nosal’s name was highly recommended. We met, he quickly understood our culture and needs, and effectively and efficiently helped us fill the jobs successfully.

"His company’s customer responsiveness is outstanding in that they adapted their processes to meet our needs seamlessly. After the hires, David stayed in touch with us to assure a successful assimilation."

George Hoyem
Managing Director, Blueprint Ventures

“The people and quality client service at Nosal Partners are perhaps the most important differentiators. The firm has a level of professionalism and support that is rarely found in the search business. David Nosal in particular is available and responsive virtually 24/7. And contrary to what one finds in many search firms, David and the other senior people in the firm always stay closely involved in their assignments rather than passing them off to more junior people for execution.

“The team’s professionalism makes an impression on candidates, too. Candidates develop a feel for the partnership and sense that David and his crew are players. I think this helps draw the best talent into the searches.

Mark Lundstrom
CEO of BioScale and former CEO of Ripcord Systems

“I have been a client of Robert Fong since 1996 and have now worked with him on executive searches across four different companies and in sectors spanning satellite communications, consumer/retail internet, B2B internet, and life sciences. He has conducted searches for me in Seattle, Boston, New York, and London. Robert has helped me find talent for some of the most obscure technical specialties as well as for C-Level positions.

“The relationship is always very efficient; Robert quickly understands - and even helps me better articulate - my true requirements. As a result, he presents promptly a short-list of very suitable candidates. Once candidates are in the pipeline, Robert also maintains search momentum by queuing them up sequentially for the interview process. He does a great job of matching candidates to culture. Robert’s academic background in engineering also gives him an edge in gaining an understanding of the requirements of technical organizations and technical managers.

“Across disciplines, industries, and geographies, I have been consistently happy and excited about Robert’s work and very impressed with his results.”

Jeff Clarke
Chief Operating Officer, Computer Associates

“I have known David in both a client as well as a candidate capacity.  His knowledge of companies throughout the industry is extraordinary.  David also has access to a rich pool of leading and up-and-coming talent, and has always been able to provide not just one great candidate, but two or three. 

Steve Hoffman
Chief Executive Officer, Assurz

“Louis La Rocca has helped me hire a number of key leadership team members. He is highly personable and meticulous. Louis takes the time to understand your business and its culture, as well as all strategic intents around a hire, and works tirelessly to develop a great slate of candidates. He also knows how to make a position really come alive for candidate in a very professional way.

Rick Gilbert
President & CEO, Kineto Wireless

“David’s attention to detail in understanding clients and their underlying requirements is by an order of magnitude superior to what I’ve experienced with other recruiters.  David uncovers the strategic, operational, and financial drivers of a company’s decision to hire, providing the insight necessary to make the right match from a client as well as a candidate perspective.  He also has very high ethical standards.  David won’t suggest or force a placement that he doesn’t truly believe is the right fit.

“David is extremely good at getting back to candidates very quickly.  You never feel left in the dark about status.  He is respectful of your time.  I can’t say enough about him.”

Lewis Carpenter
Chief Operating Officer of Aventail Corporation

“Robert Fong really focuses on understanding a client’s business requirements. Through his probing questions and sound advice, he also helps the client gain an appreciation of the many variables involved in making a successful hire.

“Robert uses the same care when screening candidates, focusing on quality as opposed to quantity. As a result, the client doesn’t waste time talking to candidates that aren’t right for the position.”

Bob McLaughlin
Chairman of the Board, Meridian Automotive Systems

“What sets David apart from other executive recruiters is his keen appreciation of a value system for identifying superior-performing people.  He grasps and can enhance position requirements according to company needs, and has a unique gift for determining the true ability of the people that he screens.  He has always been able to deliver very competent people.

"David is completely dedicated to his clients, and engenders that same spirit of responsiveness within his organization.  Anyone else on his team that I’ve worked with has been similar to David.  He attracts first-rate people.”

Dr. C.S. Park
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Maxtor Corporation

“David has a unique ability to understand the big picture. Instead of focusing exclusively on the mechanical details involved in recruiting, David always tries to understand basic context in which the need for a search arose. His insight into circumstances, as well as the effectiveness of an individual within the organization, is as broad as it is deep. David is truly a trusted advisor.

"In this industry, post-placement support is critical to an individual’s chances of success in a role and longevity within the company. David follows-up regularly after the hire is completed and is not afraid of stepping in to ensure that the placement receives any needed executive coaching support. The client has a very complete sense of satisfaction.

"David has an intelligent and non-intrusive way of relating to people that makes them feel comfortable sharing confidential information. His understanding of and respect for confidentiality enables him to advise clients in particularly complex and sensitive cases.

"A solid, comprehensive reference check is always part of David’s process. He validates not only what is on the resume, but also information that is relevant to the position itself. As a result, we know what to expect from an individual. Instead of just highlighting strengths in order to sell a candidate, he also points out areas for improvement.

"In our business, deep industry knowledge is critical. David is able to discern and articulate the degree to which professionals are aligned with a particular segment in our industry.

"David has developed a unique methodology for understanding the hiring environment and circumstances, and for identifying the right people in the organization to evaluate the candidate. He has an elaborate screening process which he conscientiously follows to ensure that the right candidate is singled out and vetted through interviews and references. His processes are very strong and interactive in every respect.”