Mark Phillips
Managing Director and Founder | Email
I began my recruiting career working for a small recruiting boutique called Beta Technologies serving the Financial Services sector in Chicago. We recruited for trading firms in the nearby exchanges and largely focused on finding object-oriented developers for them. We developed a knack for recruiting consultants out of the (then) Big Six and moving them into industry; I even worked a quant search or two!
I’ve been advising and searching in the Education and Education Technology industries since 2006. The switch from tech to Education has been profound and meaningful. I have been privileged to work with large companies trying to figure out how to stay competitive and small companies still looking for seed stage investment; administrative, top-down solution companies and academic and class-room focused companies; services and product companies and the inevitable meeting of the two, SaaS companies. While I work broadly in a narrow industry, the most important factor in my personal and professional life is that I get to work with some of the most talented and committed people I have encountered in my entire career. Being able to tie your work, however indirectly, to the noble goal of Education seems to draw the best, brightest, and the most committed. I am thankful for being able to play my small part and hope that, whether you read this as a candidate looking for your next role or a company trying to figure out the best way to monetize your investments in people, we can figure out some way to work together soon.
Schedule directly on my calendar at: Mark Phillips Calendar
Hannah Gay
enterED Partner | Email
Having worked in education in a variety of companies and capacities, I have seen overwhelming evidence that the right talent in the right position can radically enhance the success of educators, and, most importantly, students of all ages. I began my career in education teaching on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico as a 2006 Teach For America corps member, moving two years later to teach at STRIVE Prep charter school in Denver. Since then I’ve gotten my MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and had the chance to gain professional experience working for the education technology division of Chicago Public Schools, a local ed tech startup, and an international NGO in the education and technology space.
Through it all, I’ve been continuously inspired and impressed by the wide variety of talented individuals and positive energy in education that has surrounded me. However, I have also recognized that even for the smartest, most talented, and most well-connected individuals, entering this space and getting a foot in the door has been hard, especially when it comes to the ever-growing and high-impact space of education technology. This is why I’ve joined Mark to help build out HireEdu’s capabilities to help ensure that smart, passionate people can better connect with organizations in the education industry looking for them.
Erin Donnelly
Senior Search Consultant | Email
I came to the field of Education Technology Recruiting with a rich and varied background. I studied Social and Cultural Anthropology at UC Berkeley and brings an inquisitive love of the human experience to everything she does. I have worked as a Project Manager in the Archaeology and Interior Design fields and maintain a thriving studio art practice; I bring a unique vision to Hire Education’s team.
I delight in my current matchmaking role and enjoy putting my emotional intelligence to work in the service of a nationwide network of edtech-ers and educators. Mostly I like closing deals that change the lives of the people and companies I match.
David Quigley
Senior Search Consultant | Email
I joined Hire Education in Boulder, CO as a Senior Search Consultant in December 2011. Prior, I was a co-founder and leading sales representative of OneWire, a New York based company in the Talent Acquisition, Talent Management and Career Management space. The SaaS application allows employers, candidates, university/college career centers and students to manage the recruiting process more effectively. OneWire was created by the management of a wall street focused executive search firm named F.S. von Stade & Associates where I spent 12 years calling on candidates and clients in investment banking, private equity, hedge funds and asset management. The early years of my career were at Marsh, Inc., the international insurance brokerage division of Marsh & McLennan Companies. I was a team leader in the Casualty Division working closely with private equity groups and the merger teams at the investment banks. I was also a member of the Marsh’s Candidate Recruiting and Selection Committee. I graduated from Lake Forest College in 1987.
I have experience working large international companies and start-up’s, public and private companies, sales, marketing, operations and brokerage positions. My goal is to leverage my prior experiences to help clients build world-class organizations and consult with the top candidates in their field about their careers goals and objectives. I look forward to working with you.
Tracy Field
compilED Partner | Email
With 20 years of Human Resources & Recruiting experience, you could say I have a few stories. Like Mark, I started my career in Recruiting for Tech Talent; I’m from Chicago and I also worked for one of the (then) Big Six. But it was the EduTech industry where Mark and I finally crossed paths.
I’ve worked with over 100 companies across multiple industries in a dozen states, but the common thread throughout my career has been technology. And now, working with start-ups the last few years has to be one of the greatest experiences of my career.
Having worked both inside companies as an employee as well as working with multiple companies as a consultant, I have unique perspective and a true appreciation for the culture, voice and personality of each company. Plus it has provided me with skills and experiences that are tough to beat.
I worked full-time while attending Illinois State University. I knew HR was what I wanted to do before there was an HR undergraduate degree. As a Communications Major, I took any class that highlighted employees and focused inside the company. Since then I have concentrated on employment laws, interpreting these laws and helping companies navigate these laws.
My passion is helping companies take their HR & Recruiting practices to the next level, regardless of the stage or size of the start-up.
I have a lot of energy around demonstrating the value HR & Recruiting offers to start-ups and to their investors. HR doesn’t have to be the same old tired cost-center; it should be central to your competitive strategy! My goal at Hire Education is to balance recruitment’s “give you a fish” approach with an offering that “teaches you how to fish”. You’ll eat today and for a lifetime!