Areas of Expertise

Our Expertise

Areas of expertise range widely and include searches for executives in the following areas:

Serving as Talent Advisor for Commissioner and Cabinet Level positions, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker Administration, City of Philadelphia
Foundations
Charities
Higher Education Organizations
Financial Services Firms
Investment Firms
Corporate Human Resources Departments
Pharmaceutical Firms
Technology Firms
Insurance Firms

Testimonials

Executive Director Search

Testimonial

Executive Director Search

“Beth Hare’s highly personal approach and contacts are assets to the organizations with which she works — and also to the candidates with whom she interacts. Beth’s warm style opens people up, giving her a deep understanding of the talents and skills each candidates brings to a position. She is exceptionally attuned to sensitive dynamics within an organization and was able to successfully complete a search to replace a founding executive director – all while keeping to a very specific timeline.”

– Carole Haas Gravagno
Board Chair of Stoneleigh Foundation
Stoneleigh Executive Director Search

Chief of Staff Search

Testimonial

Chief of Staff Search

“Our organization is growing, and we created a new senior role to help us move to the next level. Beth not only helped us fine-tune the job description in short order, she also honed the pool quickly to a few very talented individuals, putting me in the tough spot of choosing between excellent prospective candidates.”

– Jean Sachs
President of Living Beyond Breast Cancer
Living Beyond Breast Cancer Chief of Staff Search

President and CEO Search

Testimonial

President and CEO Search

“Beth Hare contacted me about a search for a President at a private school. My background was in finance and operations, but after speaking with me, she saw that I had the knowledge, skills and abilities to become a chief executive. Beth was able to match my background with the needs of the organization, and now I am exceptionally glad to lead the Pathway School into the future.”

– David Schultheis
President and CEO of Pathway School
Pathway School President and CEO Search

Education Search

Testimonial

Education Search

“Many of the search firms with which I’ve worked have a major flaw; they draft boring position descriptions that are as likely to drive away than to attract and engage good candidates. Beth Hare’s position descriptions are candidate magnets—always clear and compelling. That’s because she invariably “gets” my organization, its needs and complexities. So when I’ve needed to fill significant positions, Beth has consistently taught me to think outside my comfort zone, identify unusual suspects and ask the right, probing questions of candidates and, equally important, myself and my organization.”

– David Morse
Chief Communication Officer of The Atlantic Philanthropies
Public Charity Program Officer, Education Search

Director, Planning and Evaluation Search

Testimonial

Director, Planning and Evaluation Search

“We love our new home, and we credit our happiness here entirely to Beth. She matched my husband with a wonderful opportunity, and then called upon even personal connections to make our transition to the new city seamless. She helped us to find a house and me to find a job, and she introduced us to a wide range of people and activities in the community. She is a consummate professional, and goes so beyond the norm to make sure that her matches are a success. We are lucky to continue to count her as a good friend twelve years later.”

– Cynthia Dahl
Practice Associate Professor of Law
University of Pennsylvania Law School
Public Charity, Director, Planning and Evaluation Search

Director of Development Search

Testimonial

Director of Development Search

“Working with Criterion was a pleasure. Beth’s process is methodical and personal. Her insight wasn’t gleaned from a review of our website, but rather a thoughtful journey into all aspects of the organization, its people, and its mission. Criterion not only helped us find the right candidate, but along the way helped us understand exactly what we needed in that candidate.”

– Ted Qualli
PAL Executive Director
PAL Executive Director Search
PAL Director of Development Search

Executive Director Search

Testimonial

Executive Director Search

“What excites me the most about Beth’s search process is her ability to identify an executive who is currently feeling wholly productive and challenged in his/her current role, and to gently nudge the individual to realize that they are actually ready – even excited – to explore the contours and possibilities of the new position that Beth have set out before the candidate. I was very impressed by the personal interest she took in our organization and the professionalism Beth exhibited throughout the executive search process which culminated in the successful placement of an Executive Director highly motivated and fully capable to lead PAL to the next level.”

– Sylvia Nisenbaum
Esq., PAL Board Chairperson
PAL Executive Director Search

Executive Director Search

Testimonial

Executive Director Search

“Beth Hare and the Criterion Search Group team made our search for an Executive Director for Philanthropy Network a joyful journey. The level of professionalism, attention to detail, smarts, and their tenacious, tireless and thoughtful approach was recognized and appreciated by all members of the committee. We could not be more pleased with the process from start to finish. The team is accessible and transparent. They came in on time, on budget, and they pushed us to stretch our thinking — we learned, and we had fun (yes, fun!) along the way. The search committee, board and membership are delighted with the outcome and I welcome the opportunity to recommend CSG to others, please call!”

– Susan Segal
Program Officer of Lincoln Financial Foundation, Past Board Chair of Philanthropy Network
Philanthropy Network Executive Director Search

Chief Financial Officer Search

Testimonial

Chief Financial Officer Search

“The opportunity to work with the Criterion team made all the difference in my discerning whether an opportunity put before me was the right one for me. Beth and Nika were extremely helpful in framing the role vis a vis the target organization’s needs relative to technical competency and cultural awareness. More importantly, they fulfilled the role of organizational ambassador, engaging me in a manner that demonstrated their understanding of the client, its mission, stakeholders and beneficiaries. They consistently represented themselves as an extension of the client, allowing me to better prepare, probe and ultimately understand the extent of possibilities to enhance mission impact and add organizational value while growing professionally. The transition into my new organization is going well due in part to a process that served me well.”

– Rick DeCarolis
Chief Financial Officer of Healey Education Foundation
Healey Education Foundation Chief Financial Officer Search

Communications Manager Search

Testimonial

Communications Manager Search

“I had an excellent experience working with Beth Hare and the Criterion Group. Beth took the time to listen, to get to know our business, our needs and our challenges, and she worked in great partnership to find us the perfect fit for our organization. In every business, building strong relationships is what matters most, and with Beth, we are absolutely able to do that. I look forward to continuing to work together into the future.”

– Joanne Krell
Executive Director of Corporate Communications for General Motors Company
(previously Vice President of Communications at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation)
W.K.Kellogg Foundation Communications Manager Search

Candidate's Experience

Testimonial

Candidate's Experience

“My experience with Criterion Search Group began early in my career when Beth Hare recruited me to an excellent opportunity in pharmaceuticals. Beth efforts to understand not only the needs of her client but also those of her candidate led me to hire Beth when I was looking for exceptional talent. I knew the “fit” would be “spot-on.” We’ve now worked together for over 20 years. Beth’s relationship-oriented approach, along with her immense integrity and intelligence, enable her to source candidates early in the process who are functionally skilled and motivationally suited to the position. The end result is always an outstanding professional relationship between employer and candidate.”

– Cheryl Progin
Human Resources Business Partner of Iroko Pharmaceuticals LLC.