Peckman Search Partners

01/27/2026

At any given time, there are usually several openings nationwide for state, county, or metropolitan economic-development directors. But I can promise you this: If you’re looking to do this kind of work, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better place to do it than Kittitas County, Washington.

Granted, I am not the most objective observer here. After decades of executive-placement work in Seattle, I relocated a few miles east to this beautiful county, smack in the middle of the Cascade Mountains.

This is the place I call home, and now I have the privilege of partnering on a national search for its new executive director of economic development – a role that folks here are telling me is the most important hire in this county’s history.

But while I may not be the most neutral assessor of the merits of this job, I also have a lot of experience identifying potential employment opportunities for high-achieving professionals. And if economic development is your field, there are a lot of very good reasons to see this opening as an amazing opportunity indeed.

For starters, Kittitas County represents a unique combination of easy access to extraordinary natural beauty and relative proximity to one of the nation’s most dynamic and desirable metro areas. The county includes parts of not one but two national forests – and is within an hour-and-a-half drive of downtown Seattle.

But this isn’t a suburban bedroom community. It’s rural at heart, with lots of open space, small towns, and people who cherish their connection to the land.

In short, Kittitas County is a place with real assets, and a quality of life that attracts talent. But it also has challenges worth solving, notably an acute need for workforce housing and infrastructure investment.

If you see those kinds of challenges as an invitation to your creativity, then this role with the Kittitas County Economic Development Partnership (KCEPD) might very well be an ideal spot for you.

Read the full description on the county's site: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/kittitas/jobs/5208804/executive-director-of-economic-development?pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs

01/15/2026

If you’re a hands-on leader who also happens to love horses, hoof it to this new opening.

By the way, true equine aficionados will note that there’s not just one, but two horse puns in that headline. OK, “hoof it” is the obvious one. Do you see the other?

The answer’s at the end of the announcement – which means now you’ve got to read all about this amazing new position that a friend of mine is hiring for!

The friend here is Dr. Joey Bergevin, a veterinarian who founded the Central Washington Equine Hospital (CWEH) back in 2020. What started out as a small garage-and-trailer operation has grown into a 12,000-square-foot state-of-the-art referral hospital in Ellensburg, serving horses from Seattle to Kennewick.

And now, to help manage this ongoing expansion, CWEH is hiring a practice manager to oversee all of its business functions. Reporting directly to Dr. Bergevin, this role is responsible for an extraordinary range of crucial functions, including operational and financial management, as well as staff leadership and team development.

Read the rest of the announcement here: https://peckmansearchpartners.com/jobs/practice-manager/

10/21/2025

It was definitely worth coming out of not-really-retirement for this one.

As mentioned in earlier announcements, the longtime Tacoma construction giant Tucci & Sons had summoned me from my mountain redoubt to help it find a new president of construction. This hire was coming at an especially important time for the company, which was being sold to Investco after three generations of family ownership.

For my friend Mike Tucci, who’s family founded the company exactly 75 years ago, it was vital to find a new president who could work effectively within Investco, and who could sustain the values and culture that Tucci & Sons has always sought to uphold.

In addition, the company needed a leader who would be capable of making the very most of the resources and growth opportunities that the sale to Investco now made possible.

Filling this job was a job that filled me with a real jolt of curiosity, purpose, and determination to find just the right candidate for this terrific client.

And I think we kinda nailed it.

I say this because, well, what other conclusion could one draw from the hiring of someone like Timothy Andersen? Tim comes to Tucci & Sons from C&S Companies, where he had been president of construction since 2023. In that role, he led a 120-person construction division that generated an overall revenue of over $100 million.

Prior to taking that position, Tim was the vice president of construction at C&S, a post he took in 2018 after six years as a project manager and assistant project manager with the firm. As VP, Tim oversaw the creation of the West Coast division from scratch, building it into an enterprise that reached $40 million in annual revenue.

One of the best things about a good hiring process is the opportunity to learn about a candidate’s character – the qualities they bring beyond the CV and the past earnings figures. Finding someone of good character for this role was deeply important to the Tuccis, and it became clear that Tim fit this requirement.

To us, Tim reflected sound values, maturity, and a real leadership ethos – qualities that spoke volumes to the Tuccis, and to me. Plus, Tim has served on the board of Habitat for Humanity, a cause dear to my heart.

To sum it all up, this is a great hire for a great company. Congratulations – and thanks – all around!

PS from PSP -we are sourcing a Senior Estimator for Tucci and Sons, if you are interested or recommending a friend, please feel free to reach out! This is a senior role to help with Tucci’s continued growth strategy.

08/14/2025

Hello again, my friends. As you may recall, I recently poked my summer-sunbaked head back into the executive world to let you know about a fantastic regional company – the Tacoma-based construction firm Tucci & Sons.

On that occasion, Tucci was seeking a new president. Now I have another terrific opening of theirs to share with you – this time, for the position of senior heavy civil estimator.

More details and application here: https://peckmansearchpartners.com/jobs/estimator-s/

05/22/2025

I Don’t Come Back for Just Anything—This Opportunity Is Different
Yep, this one is that good.

Well, hello, strangers. Been awhile, hasn’t it?

So, there I was, getting all comfy in my new board positions, existence up in the mountains. And then, wouldn’t you know, I get a call out of nowhere to ask if I could help with this new executive search.

The organization and the role were so good that I knew I couldn’t just let it pass by. And I suspect that more than a few of you are going to feel the same way.

Welp, let’s cut to the chase: Tucci & Sons, a third-generation, family-owned Tacoma construction firm, is looking for a new president. And whoever occupies this position will have all kinds of new resources to draw upon, due to the company’s new ownership structure.

In short, this is a rare opportunity to lead a respected, culture-rich company right as it’s poised for an entirely new phase of growth.

Read all about the position: https://peckmansearchpartners.com/jobs/president/

03/12/2025

With one foot in the entrepreneurial world and the other now stepping into civic engagement (a kinder term for politics, which seems to have become a four-letter word these days!), I want to take a moment to recognize the incredible people who have shaped my career and helped mold me into the person I am today. To those who have mentored me, lifted me up, collaborated with me, and challenged me to elevate PSP and set us apart from other firms—thank you. Your guidance, encouragement, and occasional "slap upside the head" when I’ve gotten ahead of myself have been invaluable. You’ve always taken my calls, offered me opportunities I didn’t always deserve, and given me the confidence to keep pushing forward. I am forever grateful, thankful, and in your debt.

As I transition into board roles, public service, and civic engagement, I can’t help but reflect on the last three decades and the people who have played such a critical role in my journey. I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. To my teams over the years—thank you. And a special shoutout to the “messy buns, get sh*t done” crew— , Brenda Nash, Plethora Creative —you know who you are. Your grit and determination have been an inspiration.

There’s one person in particular who profoundly changed my perspective on the power of words and communication. Mark Ribbing, CEO of Nascent Wave, has been a guiding force in my life for over 15 years. He taught me to throw out the playbook and carve our own path, to challenge the status quo, and to ask, “What if we did it completely differently?” Mark recently joked that AI might replace him someday. Let me be clear: that’s absolute nonsense. AI can’t replace a brilliant communicator, a true wordsmith, or an innovative thinker—no matter what anyone says. Mark, I am forever in your debt. To any CEOs, marketing professionals, or anyone who communicates for a living (which, let’s face it, is all of us), don’t make the mistake of thinking AI can replace critical thinking and creative writing. If you want to transform your company and elevate your communication strategy, reach out to Nascent Wave and hold on tight. They’ll take you places you never imagined.

As I step away from this chapter, I’m thrilled to see the next generation stepping up and owning their roles. Kasi, Michelle, Carrie—you are sharp, professional, and always on your game. You don’t ghost; you deliver. Listen to them as you’ve listened to me over the past 30 years. The teams we’ve built, the talent we’ve hired—it fills me with pride as I embark on this new adventure.
Thank you all for being part of my journey. Here’s to the next chapter—let’s make it count.

, Big Wave Recruiting, Kristy Gibson, Clayton Wood, Matt Scheuing, John Nye, Stacy Cheuvront, Marty Dugan, Dwight Littefield, Shane Klingstein, Peter Hoedmaker, Christy Miller

10/25/2024

“I literally have received compliment after compliment. People have asked, ‘Who is Gina? Does she work here?’ and I tell them, ‘Nope, she’s a consultant,’ and they’re like, ‘She really knows your business.’”
- Stacy Cheuvront, CPO at Winshuttle (at the time)

THE HIRING NEED
Winshuttle was in the process of building out a sales team and engaged PSP to source six initial roles across the country. Upon successfully completing this project, we were invited to assist with recruiting for other areas of the company. Being mindful of hiring costs, PSP proposed a more fiscally responsible project structure.

Read all about what we did for Winshuttle here: https://peckmansearchpartners.com/success-story/winshuttle-2/

10/23/2024

Fractional recruiting – a relatively new recruiting trend – brings different talent into play for companies. Fractional employment originated with the hiring of academic professors who were able to offer their expertise part-time for companies. It has expanded to include executives, TA, and other job descriptions. Fractional positions fall somewhere between advising and being an interim executive, and are increasing in popularity, especially among millennials.

Fractional recruiters are a good solution for a segment of companies looking to hire. The upside of fractional recruiting is that a company doesn’t have to fund a full, in-house talent acquisition team, yet they still have access to knowledgeable people when they need to hire a new executive.

But what are the possible pitfalls, and what should you be looking for in a successful fractional recruiter?

We discuss this and more on the Hire Thoughts blog: https://peckmansearchpartners.com/is-fractional-recruiting-the-path-forward/

10/18/2024

“...We were very pleased with the caliber and background of our candidate pool which resulted in a fantastic hire! Thank you so much for your support on this critical hire!”
Dana Montanari, CPO at PCC Community Markets

THE HIRING NEED:
PCC is a beloved brand in Washington, making the VP of Marketing role highly coveted in the Pacific Northwest. While it was an honor to partner with such a recognizable company, PSP needed to communicate clearly the specific skills and cultural fit required for this role, given the intense interest. Additionally, sourcing locally was essential to ensure candidates had a deep understanding of the CPG, grocery, and retail landscape...

Read about what we did for PCC Community Markets : https://peckmansearchpartners.com/success-story/pcc-community-markets/

10/16/2024

Have you ever been frustrated with the recruitment process?

Here are three tips for improving the recruitment process: Communication, communication, communication. Easier said than done, right? Here are simple ways to improve communication between candidates, recruiters, and companies to make the recruitment process smoother for all parties.

https://peckmansearchpartners.com/3-practical-tips-for-improving-the-recruitment-process/

10/11/2024

"...They are good at what they do and fun to work with, and I look forward to partnering with Gina and Sarah again as we grow."
- Sam Wright, COO My Green Lab

THE HIRING NEED:
MGL was launching a new confidential business unit and needed to source their first Chief Revenue Officer. While their main business model was exciting and on the rise, we had to share the company’s story without revealing any sensitive information about internal changes. As an early-stage company, MGL also required a fiscally responsible approach, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy run rate...

Read about what we did for My Green Lab: https://peckmansearchpartners.com/success-story/my-green-lab/

My Green Lab

10/09/2024

There’s a common myth in recruiting that not disclosing the compensation package gives the hiring party the higher ground...
..and today we're talking about it on the Hire Thoughts blog!

https://peckmansearchpartners.com/compensation-packages-the-elephant-in-the-room/

What role has compensation played in your own job history?

There’s a common myth in recruiting that not disclosing the compensation package gives the hiring party the higher ground. This leads to clients not being clear with their recruiters, who in turn are unclear with their candidates. And this leads to mistrust and missed opportunities. Everyone deser...