A Split Placement 20 Years in the Making

Sometimes the value of a recruiting network is not about who you work with today. It is about having the right relationship already in place when an opportunity arises tomorrow.

Matthew Deutsch

That was certainly the case for Maria Hemminger of MJ Recruiters and Veronica “Roni” Snyder when an Ohio client presented an opportunity hundreds of miles away in Morristown, Tennessee.

Hemminger and Snyder had known each other through TE Network for approximately 20 years, but because their recruiting businesses traditionally focused on different geographic markets, they had never had much reason to work a search together.

Then one phone call changed that.

The result was a successful Senior Controller placement that demonstrated how relationships, local market knowledge, communication, and collaboration can help TE Network recruiters extend their reach and deliver for clients.

A Longtime Client Creates a New Challenge

MJ Recruiters has worked with a client in Tiffin, Ohio since 2008, just three years after the recruiting firm was launched. During that relationship, MJ Recruiters has maintained an impressive 81% fill ratio with the organization.

When the client acquired a plant in Morristown, Tennessee and needed to hire a Senior Controller, Hemminger traveled to the facility to meet with the client face to face, understand the position, and develop a recruiting strategy.

There was just one challenge: Tennessee was not MJ Recruiters’ traditional market.

Rather than allowing geography to limit the search, Hemminger turned to a resource that MJ Recruiters has relied upon throughout its history: TE Network.

MJ Recruiters has been a Network member for all 21 years that the agency has been in business, producing 315 placements through TE Network during that time. Hemminger also realized she already knew an experienced recruiter who happened to live in Morristown.

That recruiter was Snyder.

“I realized my longtime friend and industry peer, Roni Snyder, lives right in Morristown,” Hemminger said. “I reached out immediately.”

Two Recruiters, Two Markets, One Search

The opportunity made sense for both recruiters. MJ Recruiters brought its longstanding client relationship and understanding of the organization, while Snyder brought extensive knowledge of the local Tennessee talent market.

After Hemminger completed her client visit, she met with Snyder so they could discuss the position, align on the requirements, and determine how to approach the search.

For Snyder, the opportunity represented something that had been more than two decades in the making.

“After interacting with Maria and Jo for probably 20-plus years on the Network, I’m happy that our worlds finally intersected to truly work together on a search,” Snyder said. “With MJR traditionally focusing on the Ohio market, and me on Tennessee, we haven’t had a lot of common ground over the years.”

Once Hemminger explained that her Ohio client had acquired an existing company in Snyder’s hometown, that common ground suddenly existed.

Snyder, who has worked independently for the past 12 years since her business associate retired, also welcomed the opportunity to become part of a recruiting team again.

“I loved being part of a team again,” she said. “Maria included me in the conversations with the MJR team to form the search strategy, and we were in constant communication during the search.”

That communication became especially important because the Senior Controller search was not an easy one.

146 Candidates and One Successful Placement

The recruiters reviewed 146 candidates during the search, with Snyder sourcing all three candidates who were ultimately submitted and interviewed on site.

The first candidate was submitted on Day 19, and an offer was extended on Day 78.

Three candidates reached the on-site interview stage, producing a 100% interview rate among submitted candidates. One offer was extended, and that offer was accepted.

For Hemminger, the outcome reflected one of the primary reasons her agency has remained active in TE Network for more than two decades.

“My goal with every single opening is to find the best talent as fast as possible for my clients,” she said. “Strategic split relationships like this don’t just expand our reach. They ensure our clients get top-tier results without delay.”

Snyder was equally impressed by the way MJ Recruiters managed the search and kept everyone involved throughout the process.

“The MJR team are all true professionals providing continual feedback,” she said. “The level of detail and the thoroughness of their process is impressive.”

The Value of Relationships Before You Need Them

Perhaps the biggest lesson from this placement is that Hemminger and Snyder did not meet because somebody suddenly needed a Senior Controller in Morristown.

They already knew each other.

Their relationship had developed during approximately two decades in TE Network, even though circumstances had never previously presented the right opportunity for them to complete a search together.

When Hemminger’s longtime Ohio client expanded into Snyder’s backyard, however, she did not have to start from scratch looking for recruiting expertise in an unfamiliar market. She already knew someone with the experience and local knowledge she needed.

That is one of the advantages of building relationships within TE Network before there is an immediate business reason to do so. A recruiter you meet today might not have the candidate or job order you need right now, but circumstances can change as clients expand, hiring needs evolve, and searches move into new industries or geographic markets.

In this case, a relationship spanning approximately 20 years ultimately helped an Ohio recruiting firm solve a hiring need in Tennessee.

“It was a difficult search, but a lot of fun to do,” Snyder said. “In the end, our combined efforts sourced and placed the right candidate for the role.”

For Snyder, the experience also provided a reminder of what successful split recruiting within TE Network can look like when both sides communicate, contribute their strengths, and remain focused on the same objective.

“I’m grateful Maria called with the opportunity to assist,” she said. “I’m happy to work with the MJR team anytime. It was a pleasure and the kind of experience that all of us in TE hope to have.”

After 20-plus years of knowing each other through TE Network, Hemminger and Snyder finally had the right opportunity to combine their expertise.

And when that opportunity arrived, they were ready.