Healthcare

Managing Partner

Craig Buffkin

Craig Buffkin, the firm’s founder, serves as the Managing Partner, and as Head of the Private Equity and Transformation Practices, where he is actively involved with client engagements and business development. He has completed search work at the board, executive and senior level both nationally and internationally for a wide range of private, public, venture-backed, and private equity-back companies.

Before founding The Buffkin Group, which would later become Buffkin/Baker, Craig was a director in a national technology search firm with five offices and over 75 consultants. Before entering the search profession, he spent over 5 years as a turnaround specialist and over 10 years in marketing services. His last turnaround became a roll-up of seven healthcare companies with an eventual sale to a large public healthcare entity.

Craig holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He and his wife Heather reside in Nashville, TN with their three children, Caroline, Charlie, and Francie. He is an avid golfer and fisherman.

Partner

Susan O’Hare

Susan O’Hare serves as a Partner and Practice Leader at Buffkin / Baker.

Susan has over 30 years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry. Her robust insights and knowledge of the inner workings of healthcare organizations has made her a recognized expert in the industry. Susan focuses on national networking and building trusted client relationships through service delivery and insightful consulting.

Susan focuses her consulting at the board and executive level on matters related to leadership search, compensation, and to provide strategic direction on issues relating to organizational structure at the executive level. Susan is known as a trusted advisor with a vested interest in cultivating relationships through her accessibility, timeliness, and client-centric approach.

Prior to joining the consulting profession, Susan held healthcare executive leadership positions for more than a decade, including the role of Senior Vice President of Specialty Hospitals at Erlanger Health System, where she had total responsibility for strategic direction, program development, and operations for revenues of over $350 million and 1200 FTEs. For 8 years of that time, she was the CEO of Erlanger Children’s Hospital.

Before joining the team at Erlanger Health System, Susan had a progressive nursing leadership career in several hospitals and physician offices with clinical expertise in pediatric hematology/oncology.

Ms. O’Hare holds a BS in Secondary Education/Mathematics from Tennessee Technological University and a MSN in Nursing in Child Health from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a Registered Nurse in Tennessee. Current certifications include being a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She is a member of the Chattanooga Downtown Rotary Club, AONE, The American College of Healthcare Executives, Women Business Leaders of the US Healthcare Industry Foundation, and Sigma Theta Tau. Susan resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Partner

Jen Coleman

Jen Coleman serves as a Partner of the firm and is engaged in executive and senior-level assignments. She is actively involved in the firm’s Healthcare, Private Equity, and Digital Transformation Practices. With over 15 years of experience, Jen has expertise in working with public and private companies, and private equity backed companies to attract executive leaders in a competitive market. She brings her consulting to work directly with clients to understand their needs and goals in filling critical gaps in leadership and delivering successful outcomes.

Prior to her career in executive search, Jen was employed in Treasury Management with Fifth Third Bank where she was responsible for client presentations, analysis, and training of treasury products. Before moving into Treasury Management, Jen spent three years in Institutional Sales for Fifth Third Securities and also managed corporate seminars and customer relations, organized trade shows, and developed new marketing materials for the subsidiary.

Jen graduated with honors from Wittenberg University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication. She also holds an Advanced Certificate in Executive Search and Leadership Consulting from Cornell University, School of ILR. Originally from Ohio, Jen moved to Nashville in April of 2006. She is a 7-time marathoner and member of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training. She played collegiate volleyball and has continued her passion for the sport as a club volleyball coach. Jen resides in Nashville with her husband Brian and daughters.

Partner

Jackson Ross, PRC

Jackson Ross serves as a Partner for the firm where he is actively engaged in searches for our Healthcare, Private Equity, and Digital Transformation Practices. He is a passionate results-driven leader with over 20 years of experience building brand awareness across the healthcare and digital continuum. Innovative strategy and loyal customer servitude have generated a history of exceeding client expectations and market share growth through roles in sales management, business development, corporate accounts, and general management. Jackson’s broad experience in both mature and entrepreneurial environments provides him with a strong foundation to drive enterprise growth, quality, and culture for Buffkin / Baker.

Jackson has extensive expertise in establishing relationships that result in customer-focused outcomes and increasing organizational efficiency. In 2014, he launched and operated the IT business unit for Vaso Healthcare, a Healthcare IT firm focused on the Diagnostic Imaging modalities, cyber security, and Radiology workflow. As General Manager, Jackson was responsible for all aspects of business operation. Prior to his time with Vaso Healthcare, he spent 12 years in corporate accounts and management-related positions with Siemens Healthcare, including the business development of corporate relationships for the GPO and IDN community. Jackson has received multiple awards and industry recognition for his ability to architect client solutions that meet and exceed the business and the financial needs of his customers.

Most recently, Jackson served on the leadership team for United Imaging Healthcare and was responsible for launching the US operations of Shanghai-based United Imaging Healthcare. In his role of Vice President of Strategic and Corporate Accounts, Jackson was instrumental in supporting the staffing, finance, information security, and commercial development for United Imaging’s nationwide business.

Jackson holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing from the University of Mississippi. As a native Nashvillian, Jackson enjoys time at home with his wife and two boys, and most any outdoor-related activity.

Partner

Jami Herzberg

Jami Herzberg is a Partner at the firm, bringing over 30 years of experience in human resources consulting and operational leadership. She serves as a trusted advisor to client organizations, specializing in human resource strategic management, engagement strategies, executive search, and leadership development.

Jami dedicated eight years to Atrium Health, one of the largest integrated, not-for-profit healthcare systems in the United States. Under her tenure, Atrium Health earned recognition on Forbes Magazine’s list of “America’s Best Employers” and was named by Fortune as one of the “20 Best Workplaces in Health Care.”

As Vice President of Human Resources, Jami led the Workforce Relations Team, driving system-wide engagement strategies and initiatives while collaborating with leaders to meet performance metrics. She also oversaw the administration of the annual teammate engagement survey across the system. Before her time at Atrium Health, Jami spent 18 years at Integrated HealthCare Strategies, a national healthcare human resource consulting firm. There, she provided comprehensive human capital consulting services, including engagement strategies and executive search consulting, to client organizations nationwide.

Jami holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Wichita State University and a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Kansas. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the HR Certification Institute, a senior professional within the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP), and a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Additionally, she serves as a Board member, Executive Committee member, and former Chair of the Mission Services Committee for Goodwill Industries of Southern Piedmont.

Partner

Brad Veal

Brad Veal is a Partner at Buffkin / Baker, where he works closely with clients to guide them through the entire recruitment process. He serves either as the lead consultant or as part of a collaborative team, offering consultative support and tailored solutions.

With over 25 years of experience in the healthcare executive search industry, Brad brings a wealth of industry-specific knowledge. He played a pivotal role in the development and rapid growth of a top five healthcare leadership solutions firm, where he served as executive vice president of Executive Search. As part of the company’s executive leadership team, he contributed to operational assessments, growth initiatives, market analysis, and strategic planning.

Brad possesses extensive CEO search leadership experience, ranging from critical access hospitals to large health systems. He has also developed interim services and overseen interim engagements. His recent projects include placements for CIOs, CFOs, CEOs, COOs, CHROs, and executive directors.

With a deep understanding of both client and candidate needs, Brad has conducted hundreds of healthcare searches, from executive suites to vice-presidents and directors, as well as interim placement services. He has partnered with a diverse array of healthcare organizations, from critical-access facilities to tertiary care environments.

Based in Kansas City, Brad holds a Master of Business Administration from MidAmerica Nazarene University and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Associate Partner

Ryan Baggett, CDR

Ryan Baggett has been in engaged in executive search, recruitment, and business development for over 20 years and is based out of our Nashville office. Ryan is an Associate Partner within the firm, where he is a key member in Healthcare, Private Equity, Digital Transformation, Academic Medicine, Entertainment, and TMT practices. In addition, he is an AIRS Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR), utilizing search techniques that enable him to locate diverse candidate pools using a variety of resources, including the internet.

He takes a highly professional and consultative approach with his clients and candidates, relating to clients and candidates as partners and maintaining communication with them long after he’s made a placement. He provides candid advice, market guidance, and consistent feedback throughout the recruiting and hiring process.

Ryan has conducted hundreds of searches in his career for the positions of CEO, COO, CFO, CIO, CTO, CMO, CAO, President, GM, and other senior-level roles nationally and internationally for a wide range of private, public, venture-backed, and private equity-backed companies.

Before joining Buffkin/Baker, Ryan was a national recruitment executive for Maxim Healthcare. Responsible for the full-cycle recruitment efforts, management of 100 healthcare professionals, payroll, compliance, and HR strategy. Before entering the recruitment and search industry, he worked in business development and management roles for Troon Golf. In addition, he planned and facilitated NCAA championships and PGA-sanctioned events.

Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi, where he was a member of the Ole Miss football team.

Senior Associate

Britt Adams

Britt Adams serves as a Senior Associate and joined the firm in 2017. She previously worked at Ethicon, a medical device sales company, where she executed clinical education and training regarding Ethicon’s key platforms including wound closure, endo-mechanical, energy, and biosurgery/hemostatic adjunct products. She leads Professional Development Training for new hire sales classes, members of the field sales organization, and divisional managers.

Britt was born in Georgia and raised in Knoxville, TN. She attended Middle Tennessee State University, graduating in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a minor in Business Administration. She now lives in Nashville and in her free time enjoys hiking, yoga, swimming, and spending free time with family and friends.

Senior Associate

Ashley Stephens, CDR

Ashley Stephens began her career with Buffkin Baker in August of 2022. She primarily sources and engages executive talent for health systems, AAMC institutions, not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals, and medical groups with physician executive and healthcare executive searches.

She continually strives to provide quality, detailed service to candidates and clients. Her love for people, attention to detail, and passion for recruiting create the perfect skill set to serve our clients. She is an AIRS Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR), utilizing learned AIRS search techniques to locate diverse candidate pools using a variety of resources.

Ashley is originally from Clearwater, Florida. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her daughter and husband in the hills of Nashville, TN.

Senior Associate

Ben Williams, CDR

Ben Williams is a Senior Associate at Buffkin/Baker based out of our Nashville office, where he plays a key role in supporting partner-led teams, conducting in-depth research, and delivering a diverse slate of high-caliber candidates to clients. With over three years of experience in executive search and recruitment, he has led numerous searches for VP, SVP, and C-suite executives, specializing in healthcare services and technology, primarily for private equity-backed organizations. Leveraging his expertise, Ben connects top talent with industry-leading companies.

As an AIRS Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR), he is dedicated to fostering inclusive hiring practices, using strategic sourcing techniques to attract, engage, and place diverse talent.

Since joining the team, Ben has led executive engagements with top organizations, including United Vein & Vascular Centers, Radon Medical Imaging, Spiras Health, HCTec, Monogram Health, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, and K-LOVE/Educational Media Foundation.

A Nashville/Brentwood native, Ben earned his BA in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring Nashville’s growing food scene, staying active outdoors, and cheering on the Nashville Predators. He also loves spending time with his fiancée, Emma, and their dog, Bella.

Senior Associate

Brandon Ferguson

Brandon Ferguson is a Senior Associate who collaborates with others to design and implement targeted searches for positions within client organizations across the nation. His expertise spans various aspects of the executive search field, including the development of marketing strategies, candidate sourcing and interviewing, building national networking relationships, and providing support to both candidates and clients.

With extensive retained search experience across diverse industries such as financial services, accounting, nonprofit, and healthcare, Brandon is a seasoned recruiter with eight years of experience specifically in the healthcare sector. The initial five years of his career were dedicated to business development and human resources. He later applied his skills to fulfilling executive and director-level positions through partnerships with large-scale healthcare systems and other industries.

Due to the COVID pandemic, he transitioned to consulting for various industries as an independent contractor. In 2011, the North American Journal of Psychology recognized his research in human behavior. Brandon excels at and enjoys meeting new people, fostering relationships, solving problems, and contributing to the overall growth of his organization.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southeast Missouri State University and a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Lindenwood University.

Senior Associate, CDR

Emily Perkins

Emily Perkins is a Senior Associate and a seasoned recruitment consultant with nearly 20 years of experience. She is passionate about facilitating sound, mutually beneficial placements for candidates and clients, leveraging her comprehensive understanding of the recruiting process and a client-centered approach.

She previously held the position of Director of Executive Recruitment at the American Medical Group Association (AMGA), where she collaborated with healthcare organizations to recruit C-level executives, physician leaders, senior management, and faculty in academic medicine. Additionally, she served as a Senior Recruiter at Cejka Search, focusing specifically on executive healthcare search and placement.

Emily is dedicated to supporting the needs and goals of both clients and candidates throughout the recruitment process. She utilizes her extensive network of healthcare professionals and her profound knowledge of the healthcare industry to identify the right leaders for the right positions. Emily earned a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts from the University of Missouri – Kansas City.

Senior Associate

Pat Neds, CIR

Pat Neds, CIR, is a Senior Associate specializing in the coordination of research activities and collaboration with other consultants to design and execute targeted searches for leadership positions within healthcare organizations across the nation. This includes large integrated systems, community hospitals, medical group practices, faith-based health systems, and academic medical centers. Pat enhances the executive search process by identifying, developing, and maintaining a robust network of healthcare executives and organizations.

She earned her Bachelor of Science in Human Resources Management from Rockhurst College in Kansas City and Friends University, Kansas City Campus. Additionally, she holds a Professional Recruiter Certificate and is credentialed as a Certified Diversity Recruiter. Furthermore, Patricia is a Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) through AIRS, a recognized leader in recruitment training.

Project Coordinator

Abbie Buffkin

Abbie Buffkin serves as a Project Coordintor supporting the Healthcare Delivery team to ensure the needs of each search assignment are successfully achieved.

Previously, she worked for a real estate company where she was responsible for conducting market research and leading survey calls. Additionally, in her role, she collaborated with the property management team to develop new strategies to increase resident experience.

Abbie was born and raised in South Georgia and graduated from Samford University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. At Samford, she was a member of the Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, where she served as the Rho Delta Chapter, Internal Philanthropy Chair focused on a yearlong strategy of goals to raise funds and awareness. In her free time, Abbie enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending with friends and family.

Project Coordinator

Grace Watts

Grace Watts serves as a Project Coordinator supporting the Healthcare Practice to ensure the needs of each search assignment are successfully achieved.

Grace graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in Human Relations. She was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.