Technology/Digital

Partner & Practice Leader

Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson is a Partner and Practice Leader, where he collaborates closely with CEOs and Boards of prominent biotechnology, high-tech, and Fortune 500 companies to identify HR needs and conduct essential HR leadership searches. His notable clients include Alphabet, Intel, Northwestern Mutual, StockX, Qualtrics, Interactive Brokers, Mozilla, ServiceNow, Kraken, Ford, Samsung, Mars, Rakuten, and Health Equity, among others.

As an internationally recognized thought leader in human resources (HR) management and retained executive search, Tom contributes to various industry publications. He is celebrated for his strategic leadership, global expertise across diverse industries, ability to forge strong partnerships, comprehensive planning, and precise execution.

A Fulbright Scholar, Tom holds an M.A. from the University of Toronto and a B.A. from Penn State. He began his professional journey in retained executive search with Sullivan & Company, now part of Heidrick & Struggles. He has previously held senior executive positions in global talent acquisition and human resources at leading firms in the financial services sector. Tom is married to Barbara, a consultant in the pharmaceutical industry.

Partner

Beth Ann Namey

Beth Ann Namey is a Partner and a highly skilled executive search consultant specializing in HR and People functions. She has a proven track record of success in collaborating with innovative startups and established enterprises across diverse sectors. Her keen ability to understand the unique needs of organizations, identify top-tier talent, and deliver exceptional results makes her an invaluable partner for clients aiming to build high-performing teams. Beth Ann has successfully conducted numerous HR leadership searches for both U.S. and global companies, focusing on roles such as Chief Human Resource Officers, Chief People Officers, and Heads of People. She has also been instrumental in developing verticals in Talent, Total Rewards, and HR Business Partner functions, demonstrating her expertise in these critical areas.

Her impressive client roster includes notable companies like Workday, NuBank, Northwestern Mutual, Waymo, New Relic, X the moonshot factory, Western Digital, Rakuten USA, Profisee, Datavant, SeekOut, GRAIL, Clover Health, Peak Design, and Vuori. These organizations have relied on Beth Ann to deliver results, and her deep insights, assessment skills, and commitment to client satisfaction have established her as an indispensable asset in their talent acquisition strategies. Moreover, her unique combination of discipline and grace, cultivated during her early career as a professional ballet dancer and coach, distinguishes her in the executive search industry. This background has equipped Beth Ann with a sharp eye for detail and a profound understanding of the importance of adaptability and performance under pressure.

Beth Ann graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Mary’s College of California and is currently based in Nashville, TN.

Partner

Jim May

Jim May is a Partner at the firm, with an impressive career in executive recruiting that spans over a decade. He has established himself as a trusted advisor and a go-to resource for top-tier organizations seeking exceptional leadership talent.

A passionate advocate for human resources (HR) and organizational success, Jim possesses expertise in HR, Finance, Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies, Operations, and other critical leadership roles. This diverse skill set allows him to provide a unique blend of talent acquisition and strategic consulting in every search he undertakes.

Earlier in his career, Jim held various talent acquisition positions, further enhancing his capabilities. He has successfully conducted searches for both U.S. and global companies across a wide range of industries, including notable names such as lululemon, Grail, Quantcast, Bluberi Gaming, Kyverna Therapeutics, Synaptics, Sirona Medical, Datavant, Clover Health, Academy of Art University, Schneider Electric, and Total Quality Logistics.

Jim earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising with a specialization in Communication Sales from Michigan State University and is a certified Professional Resume Writer. He currently resides in the Cleveland area with his wife, Kaitlyn, their son, Hudson, and their dog, Winnie. In his leisure time, Jim enjoys hiking in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park with his family or spending a day on the golf course.

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.

Principal

Jeannine Centanni

Jeannine Centanni, CTR, serves as a Principal focusing on searches in our Technology/Digital Practice. Additionally, she is an AIRS Certified Technical Recruiter (CTR). Utilizing the AIRS search techniques helps recruiters understand technical recruiting and the sourcing landscape to support an effective IT recruiting strategy, from research to communicating with candidates.

Residing in Charlotte, NC, she comes to us with a diverse background, including experience in consumer products merchandising and marketing with both Maybelline and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products. She also has experience in human resources, training, and recruiting, and most recently worked in professional development with Cornell in the technology and data sciences verticals. Jeannine was born in New Jersey but has called Charlotte, NC home for the last 20 years. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and a minor in Marketing. In her free time, she enjoys watching sports (especially football) and wandering through local festivals and farmers’ markets with her three daughters.

Principal

CJ Mione

Carolyn (CJ) Mione, SHRM-SCP is a Principal with over 20 years of experience in HR, leadership, and people development across various industries. She possesses an understanding in talent and organizational development, having successfully led executive searches for organizations such as Community Solutions, Profisee, InfoTrack, Kraken, Freedom Financial, Mozilla, Rakuten, Informatica, and NYC Health + Hospitals. Prior to her current role, CJ served as the HR Manager of Organizational Development and Training at Baptist Health South Florida. In this capacity, she and her team crafted the foundational elements for organizational excellence, developing and executing strategies, programs, and processes that encompassed mission, vision, values, performance management, succession planning, and a comprehensive diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiative.

CJ has also held positions focused on HR, talent development, and organizational development at BenefitMall (formerly CompuPay), World Fuel Services, American Express, and AT&T Wireless. She earned a B.S. in Business Management from the University of Phoenix, along with a Talent Management Certificate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Certification in Training and HR Development from Florida International University College of Business. She is certified by SHRM as a Senior Certified Professional and the AI + HI Specialty Credential.

Outside of her professional endeavors, CJ is an active member of SHRM, Transform and ATD. In her leisure time, she enjoys quality moments with family and friends, caring for her rescued Beauceron named Koda, as well as traveling, boating, and engaging in home improvement projects.

Senior Associate

Caroline Steadham

Caroline Steadham is a Senior Associate who collaborates closely with the search team and clients to coordinate interviews and meetings, generate search reports, and manage the candidate pipeline throughout the entire search process. She has been instrumental in successfully placing candidates at notable organizations such as Terumo, Neiman Marcus, Achieve, Cape Analytics, Synaptics, and Public Storage.

Previously, Caroline served as a Human Resources Coordinator at HealthPlanOne, where she led the onboarding process, conducted audits, and prepared ad-hoc reports, company engagements, and compensation plan distributions. Her earlier roles include Designated Hitter at Walgreens and Human Resources Intern at The Kennedy Center Inc.

Caroline earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with a minor in Human Resources from Sacred Heart University, where she was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, an international business honor society that helped her expand her professional network. She is based in Shelton, Connecticut.

In her leisure time, Caroline enjoys traveling to the Bronx for Yankees games and visiting the New Haven area for pizza. She is also passionate about volunteering with her alumni association, taking long walks with her dog, and spending quality time with her family.

Associate

Rachel Kang

Rachel Kang is an Associate, working with the Technology/Digital Practice. In her role, she works closely with candidates and clients to coordinate interviews and meetings, and manage the candidate pipeline throughout the search.

Before her current position, Rachel worked as a Talent Coordinator at Adaptive Biotechnologies, a leader in immune-driven medicine, where she facilitated recruiting operations by coordinating candidate interviews, managing new hire offers, and conducting background checks. Her previous roles include Creative Assistant at Accent Creatives, Clinical Research Coordinator at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, and Certified Nursing Assistant at Seattle Children’s and Merrill Gardens.

Rachel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Public Health from the University of Washington. She resides in Seattle, WA, and in her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, dancing, knitting, painting, and playing the bass. On weekends, Rachel loves to explore the city with her retired racing greyhound, Mac.

Sr. Project Coordinator

Adelina Idrizaj

Adelina Idrizaj joined the Buffkin/Baker firm in November 2021.

As a Sr. Project Coordinator, she works with our Technology/Digital Practice, supporting the tactical workflows and the needs ensuring search assignment deliverables are achieved.

Adelina previously worked as an Intern Case Planner at a foster care agency. A New York native, Adelina graduated from Lehman College in the Bronx with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work and History with a minor in Aging. During her free time, she enjoys traveling and going on walks with her husband.