Our Team

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.

Managing Partner

Martin Baker

Martin has been in the executive search profession for 25 years and is based in our Winston-Salem, NC office. Martin is a Managing Partner of Buffkin / Baker and is the Head of the Higher Education Practice.

He previously worked in the Atlanta office of Korn Ferry, where he developed search strategy and executed searches for numerous senior level appointments. He began his career working in London, England as a Research Associate with Saxton Bampfylde, an executive search and management assessment firm.

Martin has conducted searches for the positions of Chancellor/President, Provost, CFO, CIO, Vice President, Dean, Director, and Professor, having worked on over 375 searches throughout his career. Martin has recently represented a number of AAU institutions, land-grant universities, faith-based institutions, liberal arts colleges, and regional universities, where he has led searches spanning most functions and academic disciplines.

Martin currently serves on the Parents’ Council at Wake Forest University and on the Board of Directors of Old Town Club. He previously served on the Board of Directors of SciWorks (The Science Center and Environmental Park of Forsyth County in Winston-Salem), both the Alumni Council and the regional selection committee for the Presidential Scholarship at Wake Forest, and the Development Committee for the Children’s Museum of Winston-Salem. He recently served on the Athletics Advisory Council at Wake Forest.

Martin earned his bachelor’s degree from Wake Forest University.

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

David Alexander

David Alexander is Partner in the firm and the Consumer Practice Leader. With more than 30 years of executive recruitment and talent management experience, David is passionate about helping organizations find people who will thrive in their unique business and operating culture.

He has served as a senior human resources executive for such world-class firms as SAP, AT&T, Washington Mutual, Allied Signal, Gateway and Compaq. Most recently, David served as the Chief People Officer for Raising Cane’s, which grew from 10,000 to 20,000 global employees under his leadership.

After working in public and private companies across multiple industries, David understands the challenges that both high growth and high turn around environments pose for organizations. That experience drives his mission to find, strengthen and grow transformational leaders for clients, both as an executive search consultant and executive coach.

David is a graduate of Texas A&M University and has served as an officer in the United States Air Force. He and his wife Meri live in New Braunfels, Texas, enjoying their children and 2 grandchildren. When not supporting clients and spending time with his family, David enjoys hunting, fishing and serving his church as a worship musician.

Partner

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

Ken Carrick

Ken has managed numerous search engagements throughout his almost 40 years as a search consultant while cultivating a diverse roster of clients in the education, retail, nonprofit, manufacturing, healthcare, and government sectors. Ken was a student-athlete and graduated summa cum laude with a BA degree in accounting and business administration from Catawba College and earned an MBA from Wake Forest University.

Ken began his career as an accountant with Duke Energy and later worked for a national insurance company before entering the executive search profession. Prior to joining Buffkin / Baker, he served as president of a national retained search firm with dual headquarters in New York and Charlotte.

Ken currently serves on the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and Museum where he holds the position of Treasurer and is a member of the Executive Committee. He recently completed a seven-year term as a director on the Mecklenburg County ABC Board where he chaired the Audit Committee and served as a member of the North Carolina Association of ABC Boards’ legislative committee. He previously served two terms as a member of the Association of Executive Search Consultants (AESC)’s Council of the Americas board. Ken has been the President of the Catawba College Alumni Board, and on the boards of the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation, Greater Carolina’s Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Covenant Day School.

He has also been involved with numerous volunteer service groups, including in the special needs community, and youth sports associations in the Charlotte area. He and his wife have three grown children.

Partner

Roland Lundy

Roland Lundy serves as a Partner at Buffkin / Baker. He is the Head of the Non-Profit Practice and is actively involved in the operational aspects of Buffkin / Baker. He also dedicates time to client management and business development for the firm.

Prior to joining Buffkin Baker in 2001, Mr. Lundy was the President and CEO of Word Entertainment, a $130M worldwide Christian media company. During his tenure with Word, he oversaw notable artist careers such as Amy Grant, Sandy Patti, Point of Grace, and the award-winning Veggie Tales children’s video series.

Roland was elected to the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2015. He currently serves as the President of the Gospel Music Trust Fund, which provides financial support to individuals from the Christian industry who have financial hardships due to medical issues. He is the past Chairman of the Nashville American Red Cross board and has continued to serve on the Red Cross board for the past eleven years.

He is a graduate of Baylor University, where he was a four-year baseball letterman. He is married to Sarah, and they have two grown children. Roland is a “sports junkie” and loves to spend time at the beach and even more time with his two granddaughters.

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

Ann Yates

Ann Yates serves as a Partner in the Higher Education Practice. With a career spanning over two decades, she brings a commitment to quality client service and engagement, and an understanding of higher education and leadership.

Ann’s executive search career includes prior experience at two national executive search firms, most recently at ZRG Partners and before that at Witt/Kieffer where she served as a Senior Partner. She is well-versed in every area of academic leadership, enabling her to serve her clients broadly and across multiple functional areas. She has completed more than 300 executive-level searches throughout her career, including engagements for Presidents, Provosts, Deans, and Vice Presidents at leading public and private colleges and universities.

As a strategic partner, clients repeatedly rely on her expert counsel and aptitude for identifying talented, diverse, and dedicated leaders in mission-driven organizations. In particular, she brings a strong reputation for advancing women and candidates with diverse backgrounds.

Ann is a recognized thought leader, having contributed articles to the Chronicle of Higher Education and Inside Higher Education. Additionally, she has been an invited presenter at ACE Women’s Network and AACSB’s ICAM conference. She received her master’s degree in industrial psychology from the University of New Haven and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Bethany College.

Ann resides in Virginia with her husband and two sons.

Partner

Pelema Ellis, Ph.D.

Pelema Ellis is a Partner in the Higher Education Practice and splits time between our Los Angeles and Boston offices. Dr. Ellis brings 25 years of experience as an executive and strategic thought partner in higher education.

Dr. Ellis has served as a senior executive or staff member in various institutional settings: private and public research, public regional, liberal arts, community college, and faith-based. Dr. Ellis draws on this broad set of experiences to provide best-in-class executive search support that is personalized and grounded in care for your campus community.

Dr. Ellis holds a Ph.D. in higher education from the University of Michigan’s Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education, an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a master’s degree in higher education and bachelor’s degree in organizational psychology from San Jose State University. Dr. Ellis also attended Cabrillo Community College and earned a GED at age 23.

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

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 / Practice Operations

Chelsie Whitelock, CDR

Chelsie Whitelock serves as an Associate Partner where she is a key member of the Higher Education Practice and Academic Medicine in the Healthcare Practice. Chelsie, bringing 16 years of experience in Higher Education, joined the firm from Vanderbilt University, where she had several roles, including overseeing the Chancellor’s Faculty Fellows Program, managing the administrative staff of the Faculty Senate Office, and leading the recruitment of staff within Academic Affairs.​ Additionally, she is an AIRS Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR). Utilizing the AIRS search techniques enables our recruiters to locate diverse candidate pools using a variety of resources, including the internet.​

Prior to Vanderbilt, Chelsie was the Faculty Recruitment Manager in the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley. In this role, she was responsible for the recruitment process for all faculty hires within the Haas School of Business, overseeing the full lifecycle recruitment process and onboarding of new faculty members.

Chelsie graduated from Robert Morris University with a degree in Business Administration and Management. She relocated to Nashville in the summer of 2013 with her husband, Andrew, and their son, Finnegan.

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.

Associate Partner, Higher Education

Janny DeLoache, CDR

Janny DeLoache serves as an Associate Partner in the Higher Education Practice. For over 20 years, she has provided research, sourcing, and candidate development on numerous search engagements, with a particular focus in the areas of education, nonprofit, and governmental entities as well as sales and marketing. She also is active in client relations, consultations, and assisting clients with neutral site interviews. Additionally, she is an AIRS Certified Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter (CDR). Utilizing the AIRS search techniques enables our recruiters to locate diverse candidate pools using a variety of resources, including the internet.​ Janny attended Converse College, where she earned a BFA degree with honors and an MEd degree. Early in her career, she served as an Admissions Counselor and as Assistant Dean of Students at Converse, and later as Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs at Georgia Institute of Technology. She also worked in account services as Vice President for Marketing Outreach, Inc. in Atlanta, and as a Southeast Regional Manager for New York-based, US Concepts, Inc. Both firms specialized in the execution of marketing campaigns, sales/retail promotions, and special events for Fortune 500 firms.

Janny is a member of the Mint Museum Auxiliary, the Junior League, as well as an ENCORE! Life Member at the Children’s Theater of Charlotte. She has served on the Converse Alumnae Board and the Wofford College’s Parent Advisory Council. A recipient of the Converse 100 Award, Janny and her husband have two grown children.

Associate Partner

Jim May

Jim May is an Associate 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.

Associate Partner

Diane Fennig

Diane Fennig is an Associate Partner and a passionate connector at the intersection of opportunities and talent. With over 30 years of experience in universities and higher education systems, she has built a strong career foundation.

Diane remains a curious student, and her expertise in search and talent development, combined with her extensive network, forms the essential ingredients of her “secret sauce” for success. Her approach is further enriched by a generous serving of passion, grace, and gratitude.

Diane’s dedication to education is reflected in her academic achievements, which include a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology/Secondary Education from Marquette University, a Master of Science degree in College Student Personnel from Miami University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Educational Leadership/Organizational Behavior from the University of South Carolina. Over the past decade, she has also been actively involved with professional associations such as WACUBO and the Forté Foundation.

Sr. Director, Marketing & Operations

Jessica Carter

Jessica Carter is the Senior Director of Marketing & Operations, focusing on the firm’s marketing, communication, and technology initiatives.

With over 20 years of marketing experience, she previously held the position of Marketing Manager at Odyssey Behavioral Healthcare, where she managed content development for print and digital platforms, email marketing, advertising, all facility websites, social media, and branding. She also has a decade of experience in website content development and marketing campaigns in the insurance sector. Additionally, her background includes freelance writing across various industries and websites.

Jessica holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Belmont University and her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing. A Nashville native, she enjoys spending quality time with her family and is actively involved in several church ministries.

Sr. Director, Finance

RV Marcum

RV Marcum serves as the Senior Director of Finance, bringing over a decade of financial expertise, with experience managing consulting firm financials and as a manufacturing plant controller.

RV has developed a deep understanding of financial strategy, operational efficiencies, and business growth. His background allows him to provide data-driven insights and financial leadership that drive success for internal teams. He earned his degree from the University of Central Missouri, where he built a strong foundation in finance and business management.

Outside the office, he has a deep appreciation for the outdoors. An avid motorcyclist and fisherman, he finds both freedom and focus on the open road and the water.

Principal

Jeannine Centanni, CTR

Jeannine Centanni serves as a Principal focusing on searches in our 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 is a Principal with over 15 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, 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 and a Certification in Training and HR Development from Florida International University College of Business.

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

Principal

Ian Turnbell

Ian Turnbell serves as a Principal in the firm, specializing in executive searches in the Consumer Practice and focuses on finding outstanding candidates for director level to c-suite level positions.

Ian enjoys working with a team to discover top-tier candidates, while assisting those candidates in discerning and pursuing new opportunities. He has experience recruiting within a variety of industries and functions, including accounting, construction, consumer packaged goods, financial services, higher education, healthcare, industrial/manufacturing, nonprofit, private equity, retail and restaurant/food & beverage.

A servant leader, Ian strives to help others achieve their professional goals. Colleagues and clients alike recognize Ian’s enthusiasm and willingness to help.

Originally from Bowling Green, Ohio, Ian moved to Nashville in 2006. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Miami University and earned a MBA from Belmont University. He and his wife live in Nashville with their daughter and two sons. In his free time, Ian and his family enjoy hiking, music, and travel.

Principal

Evan Wescott

Evan Wescott serves as a Principal and member of the Consumer Practice where he works with clients across a variety of industries nationally.

Evan brings a passion for making human connections. As a recruiter, his goal is to build those connections with both clients and candidates. By partnering with consultants, coworkers, and clients, he identifies candidates’ career strengths and interests, matching them with clients’ business and leadership opportunities. Ultimately he strives to help organizations attract and sustain the right leaders in the right roles.

Evan earned a BA degree in theology and mathematics from Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He moved to Nashville in 2019, where he married his wife Elizabeth. He enjoys a variety of interests including Ultimate Frisbee, reading, board games, and canning.

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

Deanna Irizarry

Deanna Irizarry joined Buffkin / Baker in 2024 as a Senior Associate focused on our Healthcare practice, bringing over 15 years of recruiting experience from the Consulting, FMCG, and FinTech sectors. Originally from Philadelphia, she earned a degree in Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Her passion for helping others led her to a career in recruitment.

Having lived across the East Coast, Midwest, Costa Rica, and recently in Shanghai, China, she now resides in the Nashville area with her husband and son. Deanna enjoys traveling and exploring new cultures through food, as well as history, reading, and entertaining family and friends at home.

Senior Associate

Jennifer Conkle

Jennifer Conkle serves as a Senior Associate where she is a strategic team member focused on leading search execution in the Consumer Practice.

Jennifer previously served as a Search Consultant for Leapfrog Executive Search where she focused on leading search execution and developing market relationships. Leapfrog specializes in HR leadership roles for a variety of industries and clients across the US, and her projects included placing HR leaders in consumer goods, restaurant/retail, hospitality, banking, technology, industrial, and healthcare industries. Jennifer began her career in executive search with Ray & Berndtson, a global retained search firm. In this role, sher focused on placing technology executives across industries.

Jennifer graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Master of Science in Social Work and from Northwestern State University with a Bachelor of Arts. Jennifer resides in Texas with her husband, Troy, and their three children, Caroline, William and Matthew.

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

Daniela Florez

Daniela Florez serves as a Senior Associate, collaborating closely with our internal team, clients, and candidates to schedule meetings and establish effective points of contact between our search partners and clients. She plays a crucial role in facilitating interviews and ensuring that all action items are completed for a successful search process. Among the clients she has successfully assisted in closing searches are Asana, Eberl Claims Service, ThoughtSpot, and LeadVenture.

Daniela began her career as an intern on the Frederickson Accounting and Administration team, where she supported the back-office operations of the business. Prior to that, she participated in a two-year cultural exchange au pair program in Menlo Park, CA, where she lived with a family caring for twins during the pandemic. Earlier in her career, she was a Production Engineer Intern at one of Colombia’s most recognized food and coffee production companies.

She holds a Bachelor of Sciente with high honors in Industrial Engineering from Universidad de los Andes, one of Colombia’s top universities. In her free time, Daniela enjoys watching Netflix and discovering new shows, spending quality time with family and friends, exercising, and exploring new restaurants in the city.

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

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.

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.

Associate

Dinah DeWitt

Dinah DeWitt joined Buffkin/Baker in 2023 and serves as an Associate with the Higher Education Practice. She has a genuine love for people and desire to help them navigate their professional journeys.

Her passion for higher education and recruiting was formed during her time at the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University, where she served as a member of the Admissions and Career Management Center teams, as well as a Campus Recruiter for the Master of Accountancy program. After eight years at Vanderbilt, she continued to enhance her recruiting skillset at Ernst & Young as the Talent Management Recruiter for accounting profiles in the Southeast region within Campus Recruiting.

A Nashville native, Dinah now lives in the surrounding Washington, D.C. area with her husband and their young son, Henry. In her free time, she enjoys being with her family, architectural photography, traveling, baking new recipes, and exploring D.C. She earned her degree in Spanish from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee.

Associate

Tracy Cai

Tracy Cai is an Associate who collaborates closely with the executive search team to coordinate interviews and meetings, generate ongoing search reports, and manage the candidate pipeline throughout the entire search process. She has played a pivotal role in successfully placing candidates at notable companies such as Newsela, Cartiga, Shutterfly, Clover Health, InfoTrack, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Rain Bird, and Blueberi Gaming.

Before her current position, Tracy served as a Human Resources Assistant at Takara Bio USA, where she supported the recruitment lifecycle and onboarding process while also enhancing employee engagement through the planning and execution of company and employee-focused events. Her previous roles include Office Administrator at Shifamed and Event Operations Assistant at SEMI. Additionally, she interned with the food program Bon Appetit at Google, also known as Food+ by Compass.

Tracy holds a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality, Tourism, and Event Management with a minor in Business from San Jose State University. In her leisure time, she enjoys experimenting with new baking recipes, engaging in arts and crafts, and discovering new restaurants and places with friends. Looking ahead, she aspires to travel abroad and immerse herself in diverse cultures.

Marketing Associate

Maria Lancheros

Maria Lancheros is a skilled Marketing Associate with expertise in tracking key marketing analytics and KPIs, managing website content, and executing impactful social media campaigns. She plays a vital role in developing marketing materials, including essential resources for company branding in executive searches.

Prior to her current role, Maria worked as a Marketing Freelancer, where she supported small businesses by crafting engaging social media content, managing accounts, and formulating comprehensive marketing strategies. Her previous experience encompasses positions as a recruiter and HR assistant at a small sales and marketing consulting firm, as well as serving as a B2B sales representative for Quill, a subsidiary of the Fortune 500 company Staples.

Maria holds a Bachelor of Science in International Business, with minors in Marketing and Entrepreneurship, from The University of Tampa, and a Master of Science in International Marketing from Hult Business School. Originally from Colombia, she spent four years in Saudi Arabia and currently resides in Orlando, FL. In her leisure time, she enjoys weekends by the pool or beach, exploring new restaurants, watching sports, cooking, and traveling.

Research Manager

Dani Reiser

Danielle Reiser joined Buffkin / Baker in early 2022 as the Research Manager in the Higher Education Practice. She brings 10+ years of operational management experience in supporting the development, diligence, and execution of search activities in support of Partner teams and the firm. Previously, Dani worked as a marketing coordinator after earning her degree in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing at Southern New Hampshire University. Dani and her husband recently relocated from Central Illinois to Nashville where they enjoy the great outdoors, live music, and trying new cuisines.

Finance Associate/Travel Coordinator

Stacey Cougill

Stacey Cougill serves as the Finance Associate and Travel Coordinator, specializing in managing company and candidate travel arrangements as well as expense reporting

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Radio, Television, and Film from the University of Missouri – Columbia, followed by a Bachelor of Science in Dietetics from K-State.

Senior Project Coordinator

Kim Trama

Kim joined Buffkin/Baker in 2017 as an Administrative Assistant in the Higher Education practice. Before relocating to Nashville, Kim and her family lived in New York where she enjoyed a professional music career. She received a degree in paralegal studies and began her law experience in legal administrative management and family law in 2010.

Kim enjoys hiking, playing music, cooking, traveling, and visiting with her extended family. She has two children, Nick and Alyssa.

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.

Project Coordinator

Brianna Grutadaurio

Brianna Grutadaurio serves as the Project Coordinator, supporting the Higher Education team. Brianna brings over 3 years of Executive and Administrative Assistant experience to the role.

She was born and raised in Georgia, and graduated from the University of North Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. In her free time, Brianna enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends and family.

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.

Project Coordinator

Rachel Kang

Rachel Kang is a Project Coordinator, supporting the Technology/Digital Practice. In her role, she ensures the seamless transfer of new client information between teams, prepares materials for prospective clients, captures sales development data, and participates in lead generation activities.

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.