Durakis Executive Search has garnered the praise of many leading companies that have benefited from our diligence, process, and unique instinct for matching talent to the position. We always meticulously research our candidate's references, so it is only appropriate for you to check ours. Here are some things our clients say about working with us.

• "Durakis Executive Search invested the time to develop a strong understanding of our business, our culture, and our needs. He has delivered talent that has strengthened our organization."
  Alan Wilson, Chairman, President & CEO, McCormick & Company

• "Chuck does something special in the field of executive searches – he listens. He takes the time to really understand the company, the culture, and the need. His conversational style and expert diagnostics help refine the requirements into a robust appreciation for the key characteristics and nuances the candidate must possess. Perhaps most of all, Chuck understands leadership, and the critical role it plays in all executive decisions. In the end he brings me accomplished leaders – the blueprint for a successful hire."
  Fred Strader, Chief Operating Officer, Textron Systems

• "Chuck's professionalism, thoroughness, and attention to detail combined with great listening and questioning skills are very apparent as you get to know him. His consultative style and manner makes him a pleasure to work with. He is always on top of his assignment and you feel as if you are his only client. He produces great candidates and results."
  Joe Foss, Managing Director, McShane Group

• "I have recently worked with Chuck Durakis at Durakis Executive Search. He filled three executive sales positions at portfolio companies of CGP. He manages a boutique operation, and you would definitely be dealing with him directly. Management teams that have worked with him gave him very high ratings in terms of the quality of the candidates presented, professionalism and responsiveness. He is very cognizant of matching candidates to culture."
  Ron Davies, Partner, Chicago Growth Partners

• "Working with Chuck Durakis was what it should be like in working with an executive recruiter. Chuck earned my trust when I had to fill several key positions in relatively short time with nobody on hand to manage a professional search and interview process. Working with him I have never had any doubt that the job would be extraordinarily well done, and with impeccable integrity – and I was never disappointed. Chuck always exceeded my expectations. Chuck is up front with me as a client and with candidates as well. Chuck spent a lot of time to understand us as a company and me as an executive. He only presents top quality hand-selected candidates which also matched both our corporate culture and my management style. Chuck knows how to cross the finish line with the best candidate. Chuck is the best recruiter in the search business I have ever worked with."
  Annette Merz, President, FinSecure

• "Durakis Executive Search was an exceptional partner to work with. They truly delivered, finding high caliber talent that fit with our values. They will be a great resource for the McCormick Marketing Organization in the future."
  Lori Robinson, VP Marketing, US Consumer Products Division, McCormick & Company

• "Chuck Durakis looks at your business mission when he looks for the best talent for your business. Understanding organization culture and fit are equally important to requisite talent skills when Chuck recommends an executive placement. This results in long term impact to the business and lasting satisfaction for the executive."
  Anna-Maria Palmer, VP Human Resources, AAI Corporation

• "Chuck [or Durakis Executive Search] was highly efficient and effective in their search for a key executive for eInstruction. Chuck clearly has a strong sense for identifying top performing leadership talent. He was able to source a compelling group of candidates that fit our profile while offering us a nice range of backgrounds and management styles. This allowed us to better hone in on just the right person for our company. The search was concluded on schedule and with a great outcome. We couldn't have been more pleased – highly recommended!"
  Steve Kaye, President & CEO, eInstruction

• "Durakis Executive Search looks beyond the scope of the search and digs deep to understand more than what's printed on the position description. They include an understanding of culture, personality, mission, chemistry, challenges, opportunities, leadership, and environment to turn a search into a discovery."
  Tim Hill, President, Professional Education Solutions, Blackboard

• "I have known Chuck Durakis for over 15 years and through both his Executive Recruitment and Management Consulting businesses, I have found him to be very effective and professional. Recently, Chuck worked with us to find a Marketing Director for a major portion of our portfolio. The candidates that he presented were all very qualified and with Chuck's assistance we landed our first choice. I would highly recommend Chuck and his organization."
  Jim McGrath, VP Human Relations, US Consumer Products Division, McCormick & Company

• "Personalized professional service focused on performance."
  Mark Rohde, CEO, Davis Calibration

• "Our company recently worked with Chuck Durakis and his team to identify and hire a senior executive. Chuck had a very thorough process for helping us articulate our musts and wants and then quickly source candidates. The process was clear, thorough and moved quickly to helping us narrow down to the right candidate. The offer process moved smoothly with Chuck keeping all engaged and involved with a focus on moving forward to a successful outcome. Chuck listens carefully and offers sage advice. We had a very positive experience and I gladly refer him!"
  Lisa Kaminski, VP People Operations, eInstruction

• "Chuck Durakis has conducted several successful searches for senior leadership at AAI. Chuck's ability to quickly understand current business imperatives and AAI's unique culture continues to result in diverse slates of qualified candidates."
  Ellen Lord, SVP & General Manager, AAI Corporation

• ""Durakis Executive Search was engaged to fill a newly created Vice President of Business Development position. Chuck was personally involved in all aspects of the search and met with key members of our management team to fully understand the requirements of the position and our own unique culture. The slate of candidates Chuck presented was well qualified, diverse, and offered a number of solid leadership options. Chuck's experience and insight were invaluable throughout the entire proces."
  Steve Appleton, COO, Paramount Services

• "Working with Chuck Durakis is a real pleasure. I have worked with a variety of search professionals in my career and Chuck is among the best. He listens well, is attentive to details, provides good counsel to guide the process, and is respective of agreed upon timelines. He is a thorough and first class professional. His personal attention to all aspects of the search process ensured a successful conclusion."
  Brian Wheeler, VP Human Resources, Hanger Orthopedic

• "I've worked with a good number of search people over the years. One of the things that distinguishes Chuck is that he really works hard to understand the client and the job. He takes the time up front to understand what we're looking for, and to unearth the key success factors in the job. In my opinion, that's where most searches fall off the track. However, Chuck does a great job in all aspects of the process, and I heartily recommend him."
  John Hoey, President & CEO, YMCA of Central Maryland

• "I have built a team of senior marketing executives in healthcare services and a variety of markets, largely as a result of the excellent work that Chuck Durakis has provided."
  Roger Holstein, Managing Director, Vestar Capital Partners

• "I have known Chuck for a period of over ten years, and have personally used his recruitment services to fill six high-level positions. To date, four of these individuals continue to be employed with the company and hold officer positions. Chuck is extremely professional and takes the time needed to understand my needs and provides a choice of highly qualified candidates. I highly recommend using Chuck's services."
  Tom Bosley, President & CEO (retired), Zurich NA, Surety & Financial

• "Chuck's abilities to assess leadership talent have proved to be a real advantage. His commitment to providing the highest quality personal service has been a real differentiator. I wouldn't hesitate to call on Chuck again!"
  Dendy Young, Managing Partner, McLean Capital, LLC

• ""I have known Chuck professionally for over seven years. We've worked together on several search initiatives throughout this period, and the results have been extremely favorable."
  James Conaty, President & CEO (former), Adhesives Group, HB Fuller

• "Chuck has an uncanny ability to zero in on the key attributes I am seeking in the candidate for each search ... more than once I have witnessed Chuck being credited with running the best search process they had been involved with. Thanks to my work with Chuck Durakis, I've built some extraordinary teams. He's my go-to guy for identifying, recruiting, and ensuring that I retain top talent."
  Michael J. Collins, Former SVP & Chief Marketing Officer, Mercator

• "Chuck's communication and execution skills provided me with the confidence to know that I was working with the best. He promised a best effort and delivered a premium result."
  Tim Good, VP & Division CIO, Linksys by Cisco

• "Chuck's willingness to work closely and tirelessly ... with Phoenix management, and persistent efforts to identify qualified persons for the position, ultimately provided an excellent panel of candidates."
  Paul Hile, President & CEO (retired), Phoenix Regulatory

• "Chuck is a focused individual committed to being personally involved and professionally engaged; he utilizes creative and professional techniques for finding candidates and effectively pre-screening, which has made our candidate meetings more productive."
  Rich Michaelson, Partner, Focused Healthcare Partners

• "In executive search, like most business undertakings, the ingredients of success are careful planning, energetic implementation, thoughtful communication, and persistent follow-up. Chuck Durakis adheres to these basics more tenaciously than most search firms in my experience."
  William J. Lifka, President & CEO (retired), Data Switch Corp.

• "Chuck Durakis has played an important role in the development of Father Martin's Ashley. He very successfully interviewed candidates for the position of Medical Director, and we are very pleased with the placed candidate."
  Leonard Dahl, President & CEO (former), Father Martin's Ashley

• "In working with us at Liberty Health System, Chuck possessed the personality and chemistry that is so important to successful search work. He did a good job of identifying and filtering candidates, and really prying into who they were."
  Rod Rutledge, VP Community Health (retired), Bon Secours

• "Chuck Durakis presents only the best candidates – proven leaders in their field. He recruits successful executives who are outstanding in their present positions, and convinces them to consider a change. Only a search firm with equal measures of integrity, experience, and diplomacy is able to achieve this level of service to a customer."
  Sharon L. Smith, SVP Corporate Service & Government Programs (retired), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts