What if Top Echelon started sending you commission payments instead of invoices?

(Well, actually, the more accurate question would be: what if Top Echelon started sending you commission checks in addition to invoices? Just so you don’t think we’re going to stop sending invoices all of a sudden. That would be crazy.)

If you’re already benefiting from TE Network or TE Recruit, why not get rewarded for introducing other recruiters to the same tools that help your business succeed?

That’s exactly what our Top Echelon Referral Program is designed to do.

If you know agency recruiters who could benefit from more split placement opportunities, better recruiting software, or both, you can earn commissions simply by making the introduction.

How the Referral Program Works

It’s simple.

Refer another recruiter to Top Echelon using your unique referral link. If they become a customer, you’ll earn 20% of the subscription revenue Top Echelon receives during that customer’s first 12 months.

If your referral subscribes to both TE Network and TE Recruit, you’ll earn 20% of the revenue we receive from both subscriptions during their first year, increasing your earning potential from a single referral.

Your commissions are paid after Top Echelon receives payment, and all payouts are processed through our Partner Portal.

That means if your referral pays monthly, then you’ll receive monthly commission payments. If they pay annually, then you’ll receive your commission after their annual payment is received.

There are no quotas, no selling requirements, and no complicated process. Just introduce recruiters who are a good fit, and we’ll take it from there.

Please note that the referral program applies only to subscription revenue and does not include Top Echelon’s 6% brokerage fee on split placements.

What You’ll Earn

As a referral partner, you’ll receive:

• 20% of the subscription revenue Top Echelon receives during the customer’s first 12 months for every qualified referral that becomes a TE Network customer.
• 20% of the subscription revenue Top Echelon receives during the customer’s first 12 months for every qualified referral that becomes a TE Recruit customer.
• The opportunity to earn commissions on both subscriptions when a recruiter joins TE Network and subscribes to TE Recruit.

If you’ve built relationships with recruiters throughout your career, then those connections can become an additional source of income.

Getting Started is Easy

Becoming a referral partner takes just a few minutes.

Simply click HERE to complete the referral application.

After you sign up, Chris Jackson from Top Echelon will schedule a brief 15-minute introductory call. During that conversation, he’ll show you everything you need to know, including:

• How to use our Partner Portal to submit referrals and track commission payments.
• How to access your personalized referral link.
• Best practices for sharing Top Echelon with recruiters in your network.
• How and when commission payments are processed.

Once you’re set up, you’re ready to start referring.

Why Agency Recruiters Love the Program

Agency recruiting is built on relationships. Chances are you already know recruiters who are looking for more split placement opportunities, better recruiting software, or ways to grow their business.

Instead of simply making a recommendation, you can now earn commissions when those referrals become customers.

Whether your referral chooses monthly or annual billing, you’ll receive your commission after Top Echelon receives payment, making the process straightforward and transparent.

It’s a win for everyone involved. Your colleagues gain access to tools that can help them become more productive and profitable, and you create another revenue stream for your own business.

Start Earning Today

You already know what Top Echelon can do for recruiters. Now you can be rewarded for sharing that experience with others.

Join the Top Echelon Referral Program today, start referring recruiters, and earn 20% of the subscription revenue Top Echelon receives during each referral’s first 12 months.

It’s an easy way to turn the relationships you’ve built throughout your recruiting career into additional income!

There’s nothing we at Top Echelon love more than when recruiters make their first split placement as a member of TE Network.

And we have two such recruiters this week in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog!

Those recruiters are Andy Arnold of Overland Consulting, LLC and Christian Kelley of Bridgepoint Talent Group. Andy made his split with Amy Marshall of Management Business Solutions, Inc. Andy and Amy placed a Senior HR Manager to earn a recruiting fee of $31,000.

Christian, on the other hand, teamed up with Kristi Dean of KLDean & Associates, LLC to place a Superintendent. The duo claimed a $20,000 fee as a result of their efforts.

May there be many more placements in Andy and Amy’s future! (And many more placements in all of our futures, when I think about it.)

As a friendly neighborhood reminder, here is the information that we publish with our split placements:

• Names of the trading partners involved (with their profile photos, when available)
• Job title
• Overall placement fee (before TE Network’s 6% brokerage fee, of course)
• Fee percentage

Please note that the placements listed below reflect deals finalized in TE Network for the period from June 23 through June 28, 2026.

Remember, if you don’t want information related to your split placements published in The Pinnacle, please send an email to marketing@topechelon.com to that effect.

Once again, congratulations to everybody below for the split placements they made in TE Network!

This Week’s Split Placements

— — —

Job recruiter: Amy Marshall of Management Business Solutions, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: Andy Arnold of Overland Consulting, LLC

Job title: SENIOR HR MANAGER

Overall placement fee: $31,000

Fee percentage: 20%

— — —

Job recruiter: Troy Randolph of Lea Randolph & Associates, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: Kendra Arnold of A Plus Hire Right Search Group, LLC

Job title: HOSPICE SALES EXECUTIVE

Overall placement fee: $14,375

Fee percentage: 12.5%

— — —

Job recruiter: Charlie Isgette of Marlie Park Group

Candidate recruiter: Deborah Cento Skender of DCS Consulting

Job title: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Overall placement fee: $9,750

Fee percentage: 15%

— — —

Job recruiter: Christian Kelley of Bridgepoint Talent Group

Candidate recruiter: Kristi Dean of KLDean & Associates, LLC

Job title: SUPERINTENDENT

Overall placement fee: $20,000

Fee percentage: 25%

— — —

Job recruiter: Edward Duff of RCD Group

Candidate recruiter: Brad Dodge of iLocatum Recruiting

Job title: SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

Overall placement fee: $21,250

Fee percentage: 12.5%

— — —

Job recruiter: Joe Cresci of Food Management Search

Candidate recruiter: Becky Mead of Your Talent Team

Job title: CATERING MANAGER – RESTAURANTS

Overall placement fee: $7,000

Fee percentage: 10%

— — —

Job recruiter: Michael Agen of New Solutions Group, LLC

Candidate recruiter: Steve Schroeder of Stratus Staffing

Job title: HOME CARE SALES ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Overall placement fee: $12,750

Fee percentage: 15%

— — —

Job recruiter: Sherry Umpleby of Innovative Search Solutions

Candidate recruiter: Michael Stuck of Gables Search Group

Job title: RECRUITER – ENGINEERING/MANUFACTURING

Overall placement fee: $21,000

Fee percentage: 17.5%

— — —

Job recruiter: Jim Folger, CPC of One Source Technical, Inc.

Candidate recruiter: Michael Stuck of Gables Search Group

Job title: ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

Overall placement fee: $27,000

Fee percentage: 20%

— — —

If you’re a newer TE Network member and you’d like to enjoy more success in our recruiter network, then I encourage you to contact Top Echelon Director of Network Operations Drea Codispoti, CPC/CERS.

You can do so by calling 330.595.1742 or by sending an email to drea@topechelon.com.

For recruiter Michael Mabry of Sora Resource Group, LLC, attending TE Connect Fall 2026 is about much more than just attending another industry conference or convention.

It’s about continuing the momentum that began earlier this year and finding new ways to grow as a recruiter within TE Network.

Michael has already established himself as a successful Network recruiter, recording 13 split placements with a cash-in total of $115,237. Even with that level of production, he believes there is still room to grow, which is one of the primary reasons he’s returning to TE Connect this fall.

After experiencing what he describes as an exceptional experience at TE Connect Spring 2026, Michael made the decision to return with a clear objective in mind: taking his recruiting business to the next level.

“Because the spring 2026 conference was probably the best agenda I have been to, and I’m trying to elevate into larger revenue from the Network,” he said.

Personal Connections Are Key

That combination of high-quality educational sessions and meaningful networking opportunities has become one of the defining characteristics of TE Connect events. Recruiters from across the country gather to exchange ideas, strengthen existing relationships, and discover new ways to generate more placements together. For Michael, the experience demonstrated that investing time in the conference can produce long-term returns.

While the educational content is certainly valuable, Michael believes one of the greatest benefits comes from the personal connections that are made when recruiters meet face to face.

“It’s a battery recharge first, then folks can see that I am a genuine person,” he explained when reflecting on his biggest takeaway from previous TE Network events.

That perspective resonates with many experienced recruiters. Recruiting can often be an independent profession, with much of the work taking place over the phone, through email, and on video calls. TE Connect provides an opportunity to step away from the daily routine, reconnect with colleagues, and return home with renewed energy and fresh ideas.

Gain More Trust, Make More Placements

Equally important is the chance to strengthen trust with other Network members. While recruiters may communicate regularly throughout the year, meeting in person allows those professional relationships to develop on a deeper level. When people can put a face with a name, conversations become more meaningful and future collaboration often becomes easier.

As Michael prepares for TE Connect Fall 2026, he remains focused on continuing to improve his performance within the Network.

“Continued insight to better produce within the Network,” he said when asked what he hopes to gain from this year’s conference.

That desire to keep learning reflects the mindset shared by many successful recruiters. The best recruiters understand that there is always another strategy to discover, another lesson to learn, and another relationship that can help create future opportunities. Whether the discussion centers on recruiting techniques, business development, artificial intelligence, split placements, or changing market conditions, every conversation has the potential to contribute to future success.

‘Iron Sharpens Iron’ in Chicago

For recruiters who have never attended a TE Network event, Michael believes the value extends well beyond the educational sessions.

“It draws you closer to the TE support team and the names that you see in the top 10,” he said.

Throughout the year, recruiters frequently interact with Top Echelon’s support staff and see Top Echelon’s highest-producing recruiters on Network leaderboards. TE Connect creates an environment where those conversations happen naturally, allowing members to ask questions, exchange ideas, and build relationships that simply cannot be replicated through email or phone calls alone.

Those personal interactions often become one of the conference’s most valuable aspects. New recruiters gain access to experienced professionals who are willing to share their knowledge, while veteran recruiters have the opportunity to reconnect with longtime colleagues and establish new relationships that may lead to future split placements and business opportunities.

For Michael, whose Network production demonstrates the success that collaboration can produce, returning to TE Connect Fall 2026 is a logical next step. With another outstanding agenda, valuable educational sessions, and the opportunity to spend time with fellow Network members, he sees the conference as an investment in both his professional growth and the continued success of his recruiting business.

His advice to fellow recruiters is simple: if you’re looking to strengthen your relationships within the Network, learn from successful recruiters, and return home energized for the months ahead, TE Connect is the place to be.

TE Connect Fall 2026 Details

TE Connect Fall 2026 will take place Thursday and Friday, October 29 and 30, at the Sheraton Suites Chicago O’Hare in Chicago, Illinois.

Early Bird Registration is just $375 per person and includes product insight and software training, recruiter-to-recruiter networking, and practical strategies that attendees can immediately apply to their recruiting businesses.

Whether you’re a longtime Network member or attending for the first time, the conference is designed to help you strengthen your relationships, sharpen your skills, and position yourself for greater success in the months ahead.

A number of years ago, Top Echelon created a candidate database for recruiters in TE Network who also use Top Echelon’s applicant tracking system.

The name of that tool was the MEGA Database.

We have since changed the name of that database to the Network Candidates sourcing tool, and we’re pleased to announce that it hosts over seven million resumes and is continuing to grow!

Simply put, this sourcing tool allows TE Network members who use our recruiting software to share information more quickly and easily. However, if you’re a Network member and you don’t use our ATS, you can still use the Network Candidates sourcing tool.

Don’t worry, we don’t want to leave you out. But there is one caveat.

While you can perform searches in Network Candidates, your information will not be included in searches conducted by other Network recruiters. The reason, of course, is because your data is being housed in an applicant tracking software other than ours.

Let’s summarize as follows:

• If you have our recruiting software (TE Recruit), then you can conduct searches in the Network Candidates sourcing tool and your information will be included in searches conducted by other members.
• If you do NOT use our recruiting software, then you can still conduct searches in Network Candidates, but your information will NOT be included in searches conducted by other members.

Below are two other important facts regarding the Network Candidates sourcing tool:

1. Resumes are blinded! That means nobody can see your candidates and/or take them and run.
2. There is NO additional charge to use Network Candidates. It is included with your split network membership.

Network Candidates is a powerful sourcing tool. TE Network members have made split placements with this tool, and so can you!

And don’t forget that the Top Echelon Help Center is chock-full of helpful articles and videos about the Network Candidates sourcing tool. Check them out for more information and further training.

Let’s make more splits!

Top Echelon offers a free monthly webinar as part of its Expert Recruiter Coaching Series.

These webinars touch upon a variety of recruiter-related topics. These topics deal with both job candidates and clients. As always, our goal with these webinars is to help agency recruiters and search consultants just like YOU make more placements.

We record these webinars for recruiters who can’t attend the live presentation, and we’re now pleased to offer the video from our most recent webinar by industry trainer Shally Steckerl of The Sourcing Institute.

The title of that webinar (and corresponding training video) is “How One Recruiter Out-Sources a Team of 10.”

Below is the official description for this training video:

— — —

Keep an eye out for the next free webinar in our Expert Recruiter Coaching Series!