Purple Squirrel Advisors

Weekly Wrap Up from Purple Squirrel Advisors! ? Carrie Schochet attended an event hosted by FEI Detroit (Financial Executives International) featuring Tony Colucci, CFO of Alta Equipment Company. Key takeaways include the dynamic relationship between a CFO and an entrepreneur, the importance of translating financial information to non-finance people, and that you don't have to be an expert in everything - just find an expert. ? Meaghan Brown attended ACG Detroit's "Transforming Delta into Alpha: A data-driven lens on the big shifts shaping the future of business" event featuring Bret Swango, CFA which explored the key megatrends reshaping the future of business, including the green transition, AI and the implications of flattening population growth. ? Meaghan Brown and Samantha Barber attended a March Madness event hosted by ACG Detroit's in partnership with Secured Finance Network – Michigan and established some new connections over basketball! Carrie also attended a March Madness event hosted by Aon and engaged in some high-quality networking. We look forward to nurturing the connections made at these events as the March Madness saga continues. ? Carrie Schochet also attended an event hosted by Entrepreneurs Organization Detroit at the Detroit Athletic Club where Bob Shenefelt (AKA Coach Bob) shared wisdom from his experiences in EO. Coach Bob has spoken at several EO events in the past and it's always a pleasure to learn from his wealth of knowledge! ? March Madness is a great reminder that strong teams drive success. If your company is looking to add top talent to its roster, let’s connect—we’d love to help you find your Purple Squirrel! ?? ???

Carrie Schochet’s second tip for job seekers: use LinkedIn’s “Open to Work”features! #JobSearch #OpenToWork

?? Blueprint for Hiring: Part 3 – Crafting Effective Interview Questions ?? The right interview questions can be the difference between a great hire and a missed opportunity. In part 3 of our Blueprint for Hiring series, we’re diving into how to craft purposeful, targeted questions that provide the insights needed to make confident hiring decisions. A thoughtful, structured approach to questioning ensures you’re evaluating the right things—skills, experience, and cultural fit—all while making the candidate feel understood. What you’ll learn in this blog: *How to design questions that align with the role’s key priorities: qualifications, experience, and problem-solving abilities. *The difference between behavioral and situational questions—and when to use each. *Why role-specific competencies must be front and center in your interview strategy. *How to evaluate a candidate holistically beyond their resume. ? How do you ensure your interview questions are aligned with the true needs of the role and uncover a candidate’s full potential? ?? Discover how to elevate your interview process with the right questions for better hiring outcomes: https://lnkd.in/eeg2sahv

Weekly Wrap Up from Purple Squirrel Advisors! ? This week, Carrie Schochet and Samantha Barber attended ACG Detroit’s Wine Down Wednesday at Hazel's in Birmingham. The event was a fantastic blend of business and fun—perfect for building new relationships and strengthening existing ones in the middle market space.?Check out some snapshots from our evening below! ? ??We found quite a few purple squirrels this week! A huge congratulations to our clients and candidates on these exciting new partnerships: - Executive Director for a non-profit member-based organization |Detroit, MI - Controller for a Private Equity-backed construction company | Chippewa Falls, WI - VP of Finance for a Private Equity-backed landscaping construction company | Texas ? If you're looking for top-tier talent or your next great opportunity, let's connect! ?? ???

Searching for a job? Carrie Schochet’s advice: leverage and expand your network! #jobhunt #layoff #network #executivesearch

?? Blueprint for Hiring: Part 2 – Designing a Structured Interview Process ?? In the hiring process, the interview is one of the most pivotal steps. But how do you ensure consistency, transparency, and a positive experience for both the candidates and your team? The answer: a structured interview process. In part 2 of our Blueprint for Hiring series, I’m diving into the importance of a well-designed, intentional interview process. It’s not just about evaluating candidates; it’s about creating an experience that fosters confidence, reduces uncertainty, and ensures that the best candidates rise to the top. Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll learn: *The key steps to building a transparent and effective interview process. *Why clearly defined interview roles promote collaboration and a fair evaluation. *How standardizing questions and using rating scales ensures consistency. *When and how to use case studies and personality assessments strategically. ? How do you ensure your interview process is structured, consistent, and provides an accurate reflection of candidate potential? ?? Read the full blog to discover how to design a streamlined interview process that benefits both your candidates and your team: https://lnkd.in/eDBTDrgR

Weekly Wrap-up from Purple Squirrel Advisors! ? The Purple Squirrel Team came together to celebrate Carrie Schochet as she received the Inspiring Impact Award from ACG Detroit! It was an incredible event, and we couldn’t be prouder of her well-deserved recognition. The event also featured an insightful keynote presentation by Stephanie Bickel, who shared valuable perspectives that resonated with the audience. ? ???We found a purple squirrel! We successfully placed a Chief Financial Officer at a PE-backed financial services company in Florida. ? We're still looking for our purple squirrel for some highlighted positions below! If you or someone in your network is a great fit for these roles, let’s connect: Estimator – PE-backed contractor | Salt Lake City, UT (Contact Natasha Nestorovski or Meaghan Brown) Branch Manager – PE-backed contractor | Salt Lake City, UT (Contact Natasha Nestorovski or Meaghan Brown) ? Let's keep the momentum going! ?????

?? Now Launching: CFO Search for a High-Growth, Entrepreneurial Company ?? At Purple Squirrel Advisors, we thrive on partnering with companies that are scaling, evolving, and making an impact. We’re excited to launch a?Chief Financial Officer (CFO) search?for a?fast-growing, highly entrepreneurial company?that is driving innovation in its industry. This CFO will be a?critical strategic partner?to the CEO, leading financial operations, capital strategy, and cost management in a complex,?manufacturing-driven environment. The ideal candidate will bring: ?? Deep expertise in?cost accounting and working capital management ?? A track record of?leveraging capital for growth ?? The ability to?drive financial strategy and operational efficiency We’ve had the privilege of helping this company build out its leadership team over the past 5 years, and every executive we’ve placed has thrived there. This is a?high-impact role?with a CEO who values innovation, agility, and long-term success. If you—or someone in your network—has the right mix of?strategic vision and financial leadership, we’d love to connect. Drop us a message or reach out directly to learn more! #CFO #ExecutiveSearch #Hiring #FinanceLeadership #Manufacturing #GrowthMindset #PurpleSquirrelAdvisors

??Introducing our Blueprint for Hiring Series Over the next four weeks, we’ll be sharing our Blueprint for Hiring—a strategic guide designed to help you attract, assess, and secure top-tier talent for your organization. From defining the role to the final offer negotiation, this series will break down key steps in the executive hiring process and offer actionable insights to help you hire with precision and purpose. We’re kicking things off today with… ?? Blueprint for Hiring: Part 1 – Effectively Define the Role ?? The first step to attracting the right talent isn’t in the interview room—it’s in how you define the role. In part 1 of our Blueprint for Hiring series, we explore how a well-crafted, customized job description is crucial to hiring success. Too often, outdated, generic descriptions fail to capture the essence of the role or company culture, leading to poor fits. In this blog, we’ll cover how to: *Focus on measurable outcomes: What business results will this hire deliver? *Go beyond the job description: Why culture fit and soft skills are essential. *Avoid "unicorn syndrome": Balancing must-haves with nice-to-haves. *Plan for the role’s evolution: How to hire for both today and tomorrow. ? Have you considered how the role you're hiring for today will evolve to meet your company's future needs? ?? Read the full post to start building a solid hiring foundation: https://lnkd.in/efAFPMGi

Weekly Wrap Up from Purple Squirrel Advisors as we close out the month of February! It’s been a busy and rewarding week for our team, filled with interviews and exciting conversations—including some hosted at our home office in Troy! There’s nothing quite like witnessing the moment a candidate and client connect firsthand, when skills, values, and opportunities align. ? Carrie Schochet and Samantha Barber attended ACG Detroit's NextGen Speed Networking event at StartupNation and were able to create fast-paced yet meaningful connections. Events like these prove that quality connections don’t have to take hours—they just need the right space and energy! ? ?? We found a purple squirrel! We helped a repeat client grow their team by hiring a manager in Bloomington, IN. It’s always rewarding to strengthen long-term relationships and deliver the right talent to meet our clients’ evolving business needs. ? We're looking forward to helping more companies find their purple squirrels during the month of March!