Our Team

A senior partner of a global consulting firm. The CFO of a leading regional bank. The CEO of a national franchise company. The CHRO of a well-known consumer products company. The CEO of a downtown development organization. A partner in a Big Four consulting and advising firm. The list goes on, but these are just a few of the experienced professionals you'll find at Gilman Partners.

Before we were successful recruiters, we were successful leaders. We have a deep understanding of your specific needs, the credibility to engage top passive talent (candidates return our calls), and the experience to vet applicants as though you were doing it yourself.

Learn more about our team of consultants who are focused on one thing: Helping you find, recruit and develop top talent.

View our team members by area of expertise:

Executive & C-Suite Management Finance & Accounting Manufacturing, Operations & Supply Chain Engineering Professional & Business Services Real Estate & Construction Nonprofit Leadership Human Resources Sales & Marketing Private Equity Economic & Community Development Candidate Experience Team All GP Team Members

Tom Gilman, CEO

Executive Leadership
EMail Tom
Phone: 513.842.5333

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Tom Gilman is the principal owner of Gilman Partners and serves as its managing partner and CEO. He has been building senior leadership teams at leading regional and national organizations for more than 40 years. He has been intimately involved in all levels of talent acquisition—sourcing, assessing and hiring—and has extensive access to senior executives throughout the region and nationally.

Tom’s career achievements were recognized in 2010 when he was chosen as an inaugural “Second Act” Award Winner and again in 2015 when he was selected as one of “20 People to Know in HR/Employment” by the Cincinnati Business Courier. He is recognized as a thought leader on talent-related issues, regularly contributing articles to the Business Courier and convening groups of executives to discuss current talent trends and related issues.

Prior to purchasing the firm, Tom spent 34 years (23 as a partner) as an innovative leader at Deloitte Consulting. Tom’s well-rounded experience working with organizations of all sizes – from helping small to mid-sized firms with business strategy to spearheading Fortune 100 technology implementations – gives him a unique perspective on the importance of putting the right talent in the right positions for success.

Active in the community, Tom is currently the Lead Director of the Board of Cincinnati Works. He is also a member of the Advisory Boards of Wright Brothers, Inc., Priority Dispatch and MarketVision Research. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Miami University.

Angel Beets, Co-Managing Partner

Talent Development
EMail Angel
Phone: 513.842.5334

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Angel joined Gilman Partners in 2018, bringing experience in marketing/communication, higher education, and training. She worked for public relations firms in Indianapolis, Chicago and the Greater Cincinnati area and was the Communication Manager for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. Passionate about education and lifelong learning, Angel served as Professor of Communication at Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana for a decade and has taught a wide range of communication courses at Indiana University East, Northern Kentucky University, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Sinclair Community College. She also leads CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) training sessions for for local businesses and leaders.

Angel received a bachelor's degree in Communication and Journalism/Public Relations from Ball State University and a master's in Interpersonal Communication from The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a member of Impact 100 and serves on the board of EC LEARN in Northern Kentucky. Angel is a graduate of Leadership Northern Kentucky and is proud to serve as president of the class of 2018. She's also part of the Leadership Cincinnati class of 2020/2021.

In addition to managing Gilman Partners' day-to-day operations, Angel oversees marketing and education inintiaves and serves as the director of GP Elevate, the firm's leadership development program designed to prepare high-potential leaders for executive roles.

Marci Pfeifer, Co-Managing Partner & COO

Executive Leadership, Real Estate & Construction, Finance & Accounting, Professional & Business Services, Sales & Marketing
EMail Marci
Phone: 513.842.5323

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Marci Pfeifer joined Gilman Partners in 2004 and became a Partner in 2012. She serves as the firm’s Chief Operating Officerand leads the Construction & Real Estate Practice.

Marci partners with clients to attract senior top-tier candidates for consulting, professional services, IT and other highly analytical positions. She also has deep experience recruiting for positions in Finance, HR, and Operations.

Prior to joining Gilman Partners, Marci spent ten years in management consulting with Ernst & Young and Deloitte Consulting, providing services in process design, technology and strategy for mid-market companies. She received a bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Dayton and an MBA from Miami University.

Barry Elkus, Partner

Executive Leadership, Sales & Marketing, Nonprofit Leadership, Real Estate & Construction
EMail Barry
Phone: 513.842.5331

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Barry joined Gilman Partners in 2007 and became a Partner in 2012. He co-leads the firm's Nonprofit Leadership Practice, leads the firm’s Marketing & Sales Practice and specializes in C-suite assignments. Barry has completed more than 200 searches for senior-level roles, building a robust network of business and nonprofit leaders throughout the Greater Cincinnati region.

Prior to joining Gilman Partners, Barry served as a marketing and business leader in several industries including healthcare, retail and franchise development. As a former CEO and marketing executive in two family-owned businesses, Barry has a unique perspective on the challenges of recruiting for family and privately held organizations. Barry received his bachelor's degree from Duke University and his MBA from Harvard University.

Julie George, Partner

Executive Leadership, Manufacturing/Operations/Supply Chain, Engineering, Sales & Marketing
EMail Julie
Phone: 513.842.5324

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In the more than 25 years Julie has been with Gilman Partners she has built many long-standing relationships with manufacturing companies in the Greater Cincinnati and Dayton areas. She became a partner in 2018 and heads up the firm’s Manufacturing, Operations and Supply Chain Practice as well as the Engineering Practice.

Julie received her bachelor’s degree in Organizational Behavior and Human Resources from Miami University of Ohio. She serves on the board of the European American Chamber of Commerce Cincinnati chapter, and has actively volunteered for 4 Paws for Ability in raising puppies to be service dogs.

Scott Hirko, Partner

Executive Leadership, Finance & Accounting, Real Estate & Construction, Manufacturing/Operations/Supply Chain, Engineering, Professional & Business Services, Private Equity
EMail Scott
Phone: 513.842.5314

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Scott Hirko began his second stint at Gilman Partners in June 2014 and serves in an Executive Recruiter role focused on finding top talent for his clients. He has developed a specialty in manufacturing to complement his background in accounting, finance and consulting searches.

Scott has more than 25 years of HR and recruiting experience. His background is rooted in consulting and business management. He spent the first 20 years of his career at accounting and consulting firms: Deloitte and Ernst & Young. He has managed recruiting and HR teams and hired well over 2,000 people in his career. He has worked as an auditor, recruiter and HR leader. Scott specializes in finding top-tier talent beyond the job description, placing candidates who provide well-rounded experiences for our clients.

Scott has a BSBA in Accounting from Bowling Green State University. He volunteers at St. Francis DeSales in Lebanon and serves on the Board of Directors at Bishop Fenwick High School.

Rick Maier, Partner

Executive Leadership, Finance & Accounting, Professional & Business Services; Private Equity
EMail Rick
Phone: 513.842.5313

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Rick joined Gilman Partners in 2012 and became a Partner in 2014. He leads the firm’s Finance and Accounting Leadership and Private Equity practices and specializes in C-suite assignments. He joined the firm from Snap Vector Consulting where he advised privately-held companies on financing, operational and product pricing issues and provided coaching to executives. Prior to that he served as CFO for a global manufacturer of branded products and enjoyed a diverse career with Midwest Regional bank as CFO, Ohio/Kentucky Regional Manager and Leveraged Finance Group VP.

Rick earned his undergraduate degree at The Ohio State University and Masters of Management degree at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is a CPA (inactive). Rick serves on the advisory board of Ark Malibu Group, an M&A advisory firm, and is an active member and former president of the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.

Michele Plessinger, Partner

Executive Leadership, Finance & Accounting, Manufacturing/Operations/Supply Chain, Nonprofit Leadership, Human Resources, Professional & Business Services
EMail Michele
Phone: 513.842.5321

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Michele joined Gilman Partners in 2004 and became a partner in 2018. She is the co-leader of the firm’s Nonprofit Leadership Practice and specializes in Partners’ CFO, accounting and finance searches, in addition to HR and operations-related searches.

Prior to joining Gilman Partners, Michele worked for Deloitte, where she built extensive expertise as a Human Resources Business Partners and recruiting for the consulting, finance, and accounting industries. She has more than twenty years of experience in recruiting and human resources, spanning industries such as manufacturing, health care, professional services and technology.

Michele leads Gilman Partners’ use of behavioral assessments, most recently integrating Predictive Index into the interview process. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Human Resources from Penn State University.

Chuck Aardema, Executive Recruiter

Human Resources, Professional & Business Services, Engineering, Sales and Marketing
EMail Chuck
Phone: 513.842.5325

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Chuck Aardema joined the firm in 2017 with a breadth of business and human resources experience having served as the VP HR in the paper, consumer products, retail/wholesale, and food industries. He has an extensive background leading strategic organizational initiatives to improve profitability and optimize individual and team performance. His search work has spanned the length of his career.

Chuck leads the firm’s HR Leadership Practice and has worked on searches in multiple industries and functions including sales & marketing, finance, manufacturing, logistics, engineering, convenience/food, and real estate. He has worked in both the public and private equity sectors. Chuck spent the majority of his career in the paper industry with Mead and MeadWestvaco (now WestRock), and more recently held roles as VP HR for totes Isotoner and AdvancePierre Foods (now Tyson). He has handled corporate restructurings, mergers, and numerous acquisitions during his career.

Chuck received his undergraduate degree from Hope College and holds a master’s degree in Labor and Industrial Relations from Michigan State University. He also served for six years on the Board of Directors for the Employers Resource Association.

Sarah Benner, Search Operations Manager

Business & Professional Services, Manufacturing/Operations/Supply Chain, Real Estate & Construction, Nonprofit Leadership, Engineering, Sales & Marketing
EMail Sarah
Phone: 513.842.5338

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Sarah Benner joined the Gilman Partners’ team in 2015. In her current role she leads our research and candidate sourcing team. Previously, as an Executive Recruiter, she specialized in marketing, finance, engineering, manufacturing, sales and nonprofit searches. Prior to joining Gilman Partners, Sarah was the Recruiting Operations Coordinator for a staffing firm.

Sarah works remotely from her home in Portland, OR, but returns to the Cincinnati office regularly. She recently relocated from Knoxville where she took part in the 2019 Introduction Knoxville Fall Class, was a member of the Junior League of Knoxville, a Girls on the Run Knoxville Committee Member, and a member of Young Professionals in Knoxville. Sarah was part of the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s HYPE Connections class of 2017, served as a Mentor for Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and has been a participant of the Saturday Hoops program. Sarah holds a bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and has received the SHRM-CP certification.

Jenny Caccimelio, Executive Recruiter

Human Resources, Manufacturing/Operations/Supply Chain, Engineering, Sales & Marketing
EMail Jenny
Phone: 513.842.5340

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Jenny joined Gilman Partners in 2016, bringing more than 25 years of industry experience in human resources in an operations/production setting. She excelled as a business partner with her clients, providing expertise and guidance in all areas of HR, including talent acquisition and management, organizational development, compensation, and regulatory compliance. Her strong HR and industry background give her a unique understanding and perspective that benefits our clients even beyond her role as an executive recruiter.

At Gilman Partners Jenny specializes in human resources, manufacturing, operations, engineering, sales and supply chain searches. Jenny received her BSBA in Human Resources Management from Bowling Green State University. She is a Six Sigma Green Belt and has earned PHR and CCP certifications.

Joe Doyle, Recruiting Specialist

EMail Joe
Phone: 513.842.5315

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When Joe joined Gilman Partners in 2019 he brought more than 20 years of recruiting and staffing experience. Joe’s previous roles include Recruiting Operations Manager, Vice President of a staffing company, HR Coordinator and Talent Acquisition Systems Analyst. In his current role as Gilman Partners’ Recruiting Specialist, Joe supports our executive recruiters with intensive candidate and client research.

In the community, Joe has devoted a significant amount of his time helping Little Sisters of the Poor with planning and coordination of their special events, and he also helped plan the Great Greyhound Rescue Fund’s annual fundraiser.

During his free time, Joe enjoys going to Red's games, spending time with his dog, and playing guitar and bass, a hobby he has had since he was 12.

David Ginsburg, Senior Advisor

Executive Leadership, Economic & Community Development
EMail David
Phone: 513.560.4440

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David joined Gilman Partners as Senior Advisor in 2018 to help maintain, develop and expand business relationships in Cincinnati and throughout the United States. He leads the firm's Economic & Community Development Practice.

Before joining Gilman Partners, David served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Downtown Cincinnati Inc. since 2002, working to achieve the non-profit organization's mission of building downtown Cincinnati as a dynamic metropolitan center. He joined DCI near its inception in 1994 as VP of Retail Development and has been a key civic and industry leader. Prior to joining DCI, David spent more than 23 years in the retail industry with Marshall Field's in Chicago and U.S. Shoe in Cincinnati. He brings a unique combination of private- and public-sector experience as well an understanding of corporate and small businesses.

David has served on numerous boards including CEOs for Cities/Forward Cities, REDI Cincinnati, OKI Regional Council of Governments, the International Downtown Association, Urban Land Institute Advisory Board, Cincinnati Arts Association, Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber, Greater Cincinnati Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. David is a graduate of Leadership Cincinnati Class XX and attended Northwestern University.

Kaytlynd Lainhart, Engagement Manager

Non-Profit
EMail Kaytlynd
Phone: 513.842.5335

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Jeff Moore, Executive Recruiter

Real Estate & Construction, Manufacturing/Operations/Supply Chain, Engineering, Sales & Marketing
EMail Jeff
Phone: 513.842.5337

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Jeff joined Gilman Partners in 2011 and has experience sourcing, recruiting, and consulting on searches in industries including construction and real estate, manufacturing, supply chain, accounting, and nonprofit. Prior to joining Gilman Partners, Jeff worked as an HR Lead/Recruiter for Deloitte and was the HR Director for a regional construction company.

Jeff is a veteran of the United States Air Force and received his bachelor’s degree from Xavier University. He was a founding board member for the Cincinnati Community ToolBank. He also enjoys working with veterans, assisting in their transition and development, and is actively involved in various veteran programs throughout the region. Jeff loves to spend his free time with his family, golfing, camping, hiking, and playing fantasy football.

Julie Motsch, Recruiting Assistant

EMail Julie
Phone: 513.842.5327

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Julie joined Gilman Partners in 2018 with nearly 30 years of experience as an executive assistant to C-level leaders at organizations including Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority (SORTA) and 3DVision Technologies. In her current role, Julie supports the recruiting team and our COO with her strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

Julie is the Team Lead for Gilman Partners’ sponsorship of the Adopt a Class program. She serves as the liaison with the teacher of our adopted 2^nd grade class at Norwood View Elementary, coordinates our monthly classroom activities, attends all AAC sponsor functions, and ensures our journals circulate regularly between our adopted students and GP team members. Julie says working with Adopt a Class is one of her most rewarding experiences.

In her down time, Julie enjoys spending time with family, going to the movies and being outdoors.