The people behind Empire.

I have spent more than 25 years in recruitment and search, and what has kept me in this business is pretty simple. I enjoy people, and I love to talk.

I like getting to know what drives someone, understanding what a client is really trying to build and bringing the two together when the fit genuinely makes sense. Over the years, I have worked with organizations across Canada and the U.S., from large multinational companies to growing businesses and public-sector organizations.

Technology has always been one of my deepest areas of expertise, but my experience extends well beyond it. I have recruited leaders, professionals and specialized talent across financial services, manufacturing, construction, consulting and other industries, supporting both permanent and contract hiring.

Relationships have been part of my life long before recruitment. I grew up in a small town playing hockey and worked my way through A, AAA and junior hockey. Some of my earliest lessons about teamwork, trust and competition came from those years, and they have stayed with me throughout my career.

Years later, I got to experience it all again from the other side. For roughly 15 years, much of family life revolved around my kids and hockey, early morning practices, games, tournaments and countless hours at the rink. Watching them develop, build friendships, compete and grow made it feel like things had come full circle.

That experience shaped a lot of how I think about people. Talent matters, but so do attitude, commitment, teamwork and having the right people around you. The same is true in business.

Recruitment has changed enormously over the years. The technology is better, information moves faster and there are more ways than ever to find people. But I still believe the fundamentals have not changed: understand the role, know the market, be straightforward with people and build relationships that last.

I have also always enjoyed developing people within recruitment. Coaching, mentoring and helping recruiters become better at understanding clients, assessing candidates and building relationships of their own.

Today, that is what I want Empire Resource Group to represent: an experienced team using modern search tools and market intelligence, without ever losing the personal side of the business.