SkyWater Search Partners Appoints New Marketing Leader
February 26, 2020 – Minneapolis-headquartered executive search firm SkyWater Search Partners has named McKaela Baldus to lead its newly expanded marketing practice division. With over a decade of experience as a Twin Cities marketing recruiting leader, McKaela is uniquely positioned to help SkyWater achieve its 2020 growth plans in this segment.
“We’ve been looking at expanding our marketing practice for some time due to the market demand, but wanted to make sure we vetted many candidates with a variety of backgrounds within the industry before making this hire,” said partner Adam Hoffarber. “We pursued McKaela based on her sterling decade plus reputation in the Minneapolis marketing recruiting space, along with our shared values and cultural fit with our team. We’re excited that she’s joining SkyWater, and look forward to her driving the expansion of our marketing practice.”
Previously, Ms. Baldus served as managing director at Creatis, where her leadership skills and keen eye for top marketing talent helped the organization grow into one of the Twin Cities’ largest marketing staffing agencies. For nine years she managed the staffing division of Creatis, including accountability for the financial success of the division, managing the budget and forecast, hiring/training/developing relationship managers and staffing specialists, account development, process improvement, systems implementation and serving on the leadership team utilizing EOS (entrepreneurial operating system).
At SkyWater Search Partners, Ms. Baldus will be expected to leverage her deep understanding of marketing leadership and relationship management, as well as her trademark drive to “get clients what they need, the first time, every time,” to expand the practice, said the firm.
“SkyWater’s steady growth, dedication to uncovering hidden local talent, and mission to drive modern workplace culture in the twin cities, is what drew me to the company initially,” said Ms. Baldus. “From the minute I walked through the door I felt that I was walking into a place with positive energy, where employees enjoy coming to work and genuinely enjoy connecting clients with top candidates.”
“Once I understood what makes SkyWater different—offering seven different recruiting disciplines, consulting on common workplace issues and a focus on being a full-service partner to our clients—I knew this was the next step in my career,” Ms. Baldus said. “My purpose is to put renewed focus on the marketing and communications discipline to round out our professional services, and add to the growth already underway at the organization.”
Growing Search Firm
Using a multi-level matching process, SkyWater Search Partners specializes in identifying the potential fit between each individual’s needs, work style, and career aspirations and the employer’s vision, values, and workplace culture. As part of its 2020 growth strategy, SkyWater is expanding its marketing and human resources recruiting practices, solidifying its presence in all major executive recruiting segments, including accounting and finance; information technology; engineering, operations and supply chain; sales; marketing; human resources; consumer packaged goods; and construction.
SkyWater began the year by naming Ben David as head of its construction, architecture, and engineering recruiting practice. He brings extensive experience and a broad professional network with him to his new role, where he will expand SkyWater’s client relationships with Minnesota’s top organizations in the construction-related industries.
Prior to joining SkyWater, Mr. David spent six years with Minneapolis-based Rauenhorst Recruiting, where he served as accounts project manager, developing their online presence and campaigns, and director of research and development. Before that, he was an architectural draftsman with Charles Cudd De Novo Architects, where he worked on custom luxury homes in the Twin Cities.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
