Direct Recruiters Inc. Names Partners

February 5, 2025 – Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) has named Jess Marino, Stephen Benson, and Bradley Morrison as partners. “This recognition reflects their outstanding contributions to the firm and their dedication to delivering exceptional results for clients and candidates,” the firm said.
Since joining DRI in 2022, Ms. Marino has made an impact within the material handling, packaging, and food processing practice areas. With a strong foundation in recruiting and consulting, she has leveraged her expertise and emotional intelligence to relationships with clients and candidates. Before joining DRI, Ms. Marino was a recruiter for the aerospace engine repair industry with Component Repair Technologies.
“It is with immense pride and pleasure that I now call Jess Marino my partner within the Starfish Family,” said Cherie Shepard, managing partner, material handling, packaging & processing. “Jess’s accomplishments never come as a surprise, as her exceptional work ethic and meticulous attention to detail make her success appear effortless. As a key team player, Jess is often called upon to mentor our newest colleagues, a role she embraces with grace and expertise. Her natural ability to build meaningful relationships with clients, candidates, and team members consistently goes above and beyond, ensuring that everyone feels valued and important. I am thrilled for her and her growing family and look forward to witnessing her continued, exponential success in the years ahead.”
Mr. Benson has been with Direct Recruiters since 2017, starting as a project manager, being promoted to principal recruiter, then as recruiting director – HIT. Over the years, he has been instrumental in identifying and placing senior talent across sales, product management, customer success, engineering, and operations for healthcare IT companies. With a strong background in executive recruitment and the ability to work with high-growth, PE- and VC-backed healthcare software companies nationwide, Mr. Benson has become a trusted leader within the HIT team. He joined the firm from Cynergies Solutions Group.
Mr. Morrison joined Direct Recruiters in 2019 as a project manager on the healthcare IT team, being promoted in 2023 to principal recruiter. He has demonstrated an ability to understand both client and candidate needs, enabling him to relationships across the healthcare IT sector. Mr. Morrison previously served as an HR manager with Beechmont Country Club.
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“I am so proud to be able to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of my new partners, Bradley Morrison and Stephen Benson,” said Mike Silverstein, managing partner of healthcare IT and life sciences. “Both of these gentlemen exemplify our core values and are the consummate teammates both within our group and across all of Starfish Partners. They are both extremely skilled at their crafts, but they are even better people. I am thrilled for each of them and their families and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
Direct Recruiters Inc. Expands Food Industry Practice
Direct Recruiters Inc. (DRI) has expanded its capabilities and service offerings in the food and beverage practice area in collaboration with Owen Carryl, head of Starfish Partners food. “The synergistic partnership between Owen’s food practice and DRI’s extensive experience in food and related industries enables us to better serve our food industry clients across a broad range of roles and areas of focus,” said Dan Charney, president and CEO of Direct Recruiters, and managing director at Starfish Partners. “We are thrilled to collaborate with Owen and expand our presence in the food and beverage sector, offering comprehensive, customized solutions across the board.”
DRI assists medical device companies with recruiting, acquiring and retaining senior talent for mission-critical positions. They provide executive search, recruitment, and staffing services to fill roles in the medical device industry.
New Launch
In March, Direct Recruiters Inc. and INNOVA People, Starfish Partners companies, launched INNOVA Healthcare and INNOVA Tech staffing practice areas. “We have diligently been searching for the right firm to merge our existing staffing business with since the inception of Starfish Partners,” said Mr. Charney. “Joel Slenning and INNOVA People are the ideal partner based on their existing footprint in the hospital IT space. Additionally, their expertise in several other areas of hospital staffing will allow us to become a complete solution for our clients. Frank Myeroff, practice leader and managing partner of the Direct Recruiters existing staffing group will work closely with Joel to continue to grow this division for Starfish across leading medical centers and several other strategic markets that we have identified.”
Leveraging decades of experience in healthcare and technology recruiting and merging the staffing divisions of INNOVA People and Direct Recruiters Inc., this newly formed staffing company offers solutions, including contract, contract-to-hire, and temporary placements. In addition, they will offer customized staffing services encompassing consulting, sourcing, identifying, acquiring, onboarding, and retaining senior executives to organizations. Moving forward, the combined staffing companies will be operating under the INNOVA People brand.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media