What Clients Say

"We hired Educational Leadership Search to conduct a search for a senior level management position, which we had been trying to fill for two years.  We had already experienced two failed searches for the position.  ELS worked wonders for us.  They met our needs and ensured that we had the opportunity to see a diverse group of candidates.  We were successful in the end and are very satisfied with the results.  They were professional, accommodating, and a genuine pleasure to work with."

--Dr. Helen Benjamin
Chancellor
Contra Costa Community College District
Martinez, California

"I found The ELS Group to be an exemplary organization.  West Valley Community College District engaged this firm five times in the 2008-09 fiscal year.  The first engagement was a search for Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services.  The second was to prepare calculations that guided the district in its decision to offer a retirement incentive program.  Both of these activities were handled quickly and efficiently, culminating in March of 2009.  Immediately upon securing these results, the district needed to set about finding qualified personnel for Assistant Vice Chancellor of Human Resources, President of West Valley College and Vice President of Student Services-West Valley College.  Our great success in the first two endeavors was a big factor in hiring The ELS Group for all three of these searches.  Once again, The ELS Group obtained a group of highly qualified candidates for each position.  The ELS Groups methods throughout the process as well as their in depth background checks assured that all four of the selections would be excellent employees.  All are still on the job and their work continues to enhance the quality of the district."

--John E. Hendrickson
Chancellor
West Valley/Mission Community College District
Saratoga, California

"Dr. Valeau,

I'd like to take this opportunity to express my sincere appreciation for all the assistance afforded me by the ELS Group during the application and interview process for the President of Pierce College.

• The entire staff of the ELS Group were extremely professional and supportive 
• As a candidate, I was continually informed of how the process was moving forward
• My time was valued and respected 
• I was treated with the utmost thoughtfulness
• The ELS staff was prompt in responding to any questions or concerns that arose for me
• I received immediate feedback on the interview process
• If I am to become involved in an executive search in the future, I sincerely hope that the ELS group is the search consultant

--Dr. Bob Bell
Senior Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs
Louisiana Community and Technical College System
Baton Rouge, Louisiana

"As Chancellor, of the Los Angeles Community College District, I hired the firm to conduct a presidential search for one of our most successful campus. Their presentation to the Board was enthusiastically endorsed. Ed and his team did an outstanding job in working with my office the faculty, staff and the Office of a Human Resources. The smoothness of the process earned the firm high marks. They recruited a highly diverse and talented pool of applicants from around the country. Their follow up with the final candidates was so thorough that  I along with the  committee and the board agreed  that a traditional campus visit  regarding the finalists was not needed.  Their success as a search firm is evident in that the district hired them to conduct a second presidential search for one of its campus.

The firm is made of talented professionals from across the field with which gives them both depth and breadth. They are current and do an excellent job at working as a team with the district to help find the best candidate that best can serve the needs of the institution. I endorse the ELS Group and would use them again at any time to conduct a presidential or higher senior level search."

--Mark Drummond
Chancellor
Los Angeles Community College District, Retired
Los Angeles, California

"I highly recommend the ELS Group when considering hiring key personnel for your organization.  We had been unsuccessful in our attempts to hire an Associate Vice Chancellor for Contra Costa Community College District, until we brought in the ELS Group.  The ELS team met with us, did an analysis of our needs, clarified our requirements, and really made an effort to understand our culture and the kind of professional that would be successful in our district.  Ed, Sallie, and Larry worked with us to design an effective hiring process that allowed us to be very inclusive, open, and still meet a timeline.  The screening committee made strong positive comments about the process and their role in the process.  In the end we hired a very competent and professional individual, and I will bring in the ELS Group again to hire a key position."

--Kindred Murillo

Vice Chancellor, Districtwide Administrative Services

Contra Consta Community College District

Martinez, California

"The ELS Group recruited me to do some fiscal consulting work for the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District, doing an excellent job of matching my skill set with the needs of the district.  This experience led to my interest in obtaining the position of Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services.  As Vice Chancellor, I engaged ELS to provide consultants in various capacities as well as provide services themselves.  For instance, I needed to determine if and how Administrative Services needed to be reorganized.  One of the senior partners spent a day on campus with us and produced a report that was helpful in making my determinations.  My satisfaction with their performance was instrumental in selecting them to execute a search for Vice Chancellor of Human Resources.  The search was very successful.  The ELS Group is a solid firm that does a very good job of assisting districts with various human resource needs."

--Ron Root
Vice Chancellor Administrative Services (Retired)

San Jose/Evergreen Community College District

San Jose, California