Diversified Search Group Expands Non-Profit Practice
October 15, 2021 – Diversified Search Group (DSG) has expanded with the addition of Kim Dukes as managing director in its non-profit practice. Ms. Dukes brings to the role 25 years of experience creating balanced talent pools to drive better placement outcomes for organizations in the non-profit space, the firm says. “Kim’s addition to the team comes at a perfect time,” said Katie Bouton, president of DSG. “Uniting our resources with Kim’s as we continue to strive for equality of opportunity and accuracy of representation in the non-profit world enables us to move that much closer to achieving tangible, systemic change in the sector and beyond.”
Ms. Dukes joins DSG from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where she served as the diversity and inclusion talent strategist. There, she designed and implemented strategic recruiting programs focused on broadening diversity and inclusion into hiring procedures. Ms. Dukes also served as the co-founder and managing director of DSP Executive Search, a veteran-owned diversity search firm, where she focused on helping clients address recruiting gaps and reinvent the way they view the hiring process. Over the last 15 years, she has trained countless domestic and global talent acquisition teams on diversity recruitment. In addition, she has facilitated discussions on race and racism through the social flashpoints during the pandemic.
“The legacy and commitment to inclusion that Diversified Search Group has always brought to executive recruiting has never been more important than it is today,” said Ms. Dukes. “I am excited and honored to join this firm and look forward to bringing my expertise in strategic diversity recruiting to continue to enhance the leadership teams of our clients.”
Ms. Dukes was named 2014 Volunteer of the Year by the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA), received the Strong Women Strong Girls’ Spark Award, and recently won NEHRA’s Frank X. McCarthy Diversity Champion Award. She is a graduate of McKinsey Academy’s Black Executive Leadership Program.
Diversified Search Group is a family of recruiting firms serving specialized sectors. The firm was founded almost five decades ago by Judith M. von Seldeneck for the express purpose of placing diverse candidates in client organizations. It is today the largest U.S. female-owned and founded firm in the executive recruitment industry.
Recent Growth
In June, DSG appointed Aileen K. Alexander to the newly created position as vice chair and leader of the firm’s global corporate practice group. “Aileen Alexander is an innovator,” said Ms. von Seldeneck. “Her exceptional experience and industry insights will contribute significantly not only to our rapidly growing firm, but also to our clients as we cultivate new leadership for a changing world.” Ms. Alexander joins the firm from Korn Ferry, where she co-founded and co-led the firm’s global cybersecurity practice and was managing partner and leader of its Philadelphia office, where Diversified Search Group is headquartered.
“Our firm is – and always has been – focused on building authentic, long-lasting relationships with leaders,” said Dale E. Jones, CEO. “Aileen’s reputation as a leader in the industry who puts people first will help us to drive even greater collective impact for our clients. We are delighted that she has chosen Diversified Search Group to help further our mission of shaping the recruiting industry for the next generation of leaders.”
Diversified Search Group Adds Veteran Recruitment Leader as a Managing Director
Diversified Search Group has expanded with the addition of veteran talent strategist and career coach Amy Shea as a managing director in the non-profit practice. “I am honored to have worked with Amy as a client, and an employee at Koya Partners, in her capacity as a career coach for over a decade serving non-profit clients around the country, and now as part of DSG,” said Katie Bouton, president of Diversified Search Group. “We could not be more thrilled to have her expertise and her dedication to cultivating new leadership for a changing world.”
Diversified Search also recently added three managing directors – Steve Edwards, Robin Goolsbee and David Kuguru – to its burgeoning non-profit, corporate and life sciences practices. Following an accelerated demand for new leadership in the wake of the pandemic, the search firm says that it has seen a 30 percent surge in business and market growth in all sectors. Mr. Edwards joins the firm’s non-profit and connected leadership practices, based in Chicago. Before joining Diversified Search Group, Mr. Edwards served as chief content officer of WBEZ Chicago Public Media, Chicago’s NPR News station. Ms. Goolsbee joins the corporate and life sciences practices, also based in Chicago. For the last eight years, Ms. Goolsbee has served as a senior principal with Business Talent Group, the largest network of independent consultants in the U.S. Mr. Kuguru joins the corporate practice, based in Washington, D.C. He came to Diversified Search Group following time with T-Mobile/Sprint, serving as director of internet of things sales.
Earlier this year, the firm added veteran search executive Margaret Resce Milkint as a managing director and leader of its global insurance practice, in Chicago. “Margaret brings not only a wealth of experience, but also so much more,” said Mr. Jones. “Her strategic thinking, unparalleled market knowledge and emotional intelligence will be invaluable assets as we recruit and place tomorrow’s leaders in healthcare and insurance.”
“As someone who has been a strong advocate for women in business since the founding of the firm, I am always thrilled to welcome an outstanding, accomplished woman into our company,” said Ms. von Seldeneck. “Margaret’s key leadership abilities and experience – and her commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, which mirror our own – will be invaluable.”
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media