Press
March 20, 2025
Direct Recruiters, Inc., a subsidiary of Starfish Partners is proud to announce that they have once again earned recognition in Hunt Scanlon’s highly regarded Annual Search Industry Rankings. This marks the seventh consecutive year DRI has secured its position on the prestigious list. Joining the recognition, Kaye/Bassman International, a distinguished member of Starfish Partners, secured its place on the prestigious list.
Hunt Scanlon’s Annual Search Industry Rankings highlight the top 50 executive search firms across the Americas, recognizing firms that demonstrate exceptional growth, performance, and leadership in talent acquisition. In the 2025 rankings, DRI is honored to be listed at #24, while KBIC earned an impressive #32 spot.
Starfish Partners celebrates the continued achievements of its subsidiaries, who remain at the forefront of the executive search industry, delivering outstanding talent solutions to clients across various sectors.
To view the complete 2025 rankings, click here.
February 21, 2025
Solon, OH – Direct Recruiters, Inc. is proud to announce that Michael Silverstein’s insightful recap of the ViVE 2025 tradeshow has been featured by HIStalk, a prominent publication covering health IT and industry developments. His firsthand account of the conference explores the rapid rise of AI Agents and their impact on the healthcare industry, along with key investment trends and the evolving technology landscape.
As Managing Partner of Healthcare IT & Life Sciences at Direct Recruiters, Inc., Mike dives into how AI is reshaping patient interactions, call centers, and clinical workflows—hinting at a major shift in healthcare consumer experiences.
“Mike’s expertise and deep understanding of the healthcare IT landscape continue to position Direct Recruiters as a trusted voice in the industry,” said Dan Charney, President and CEO of Direct Recruiters. “The fact that HiSTalk recognized his ViVE recap speaks volumes about the impact of AI on healthcare—and the critical role talent will play in driving innovation forward.”
Read the full recap, now featured on HISTalk.
December 19, 2024
Direct Recruiters is thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our team as we close out another successful year! This year’s end-of-year awards highlight the dedication, excellence, and teamwork that drive our success. Join us in congratulating the exceptional individuals and teams who have gone above and beyond, exemplifying the values and commitment that make Direct Recruiters, Inc. a leader in executive search and recruitment.
Team Awards
Top 5 Producing Teams
- Healthcare IT Team
- Digital Health Team
- Government, Energy and Security Team
- Material Handling, Packaging & Processing Team
- Plastics, Flexible Packaging, Labels & Specialty Chemicals Team
Individual Awards
Rookie of the Year
Danny Myeroff
Corporate Mystic
Jaimie Bailey
Producer of the Year
- Tess Lepore
- Danny Myeroff
- Jess Marino
Partner Producer of the Year
- Mike Silverstein
- Norm Volsky
- Mitch Herman
December 17, 2024
Solon, Ohio – Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI), a Starfish Partners Company, is proud to announce the promotion of Jess Marino, Stephen Benson, and Bradley Morrison to Partners. This recognition reflects their outstanding contributions to the firm and their dedication to delivering exceptional results for clients and candidates.
Since joining DRI in 2022, Jess has made an extraordinary impact within the Material Handling, Packaging, and Food Processing practice areas. With a strong foundation in recruiting and consulting, Jess has successfully leveraged her expertise and emotional intelligence to build meaningful relationships with clients and candidates, resulting in outstanding career matches. Her dedication, grit, and results-driven approach have been instrumental in delivering success for both her clients and our organization. Jess's ability to understand industry needs and connect top-tier talent has set her apart as a trusted partner in executive search.
"It is with immense pride and pleasure that I now call Jess Marino my Partner within the Starfish Family. Jess’s accomplishments never come as a surprise, as her exceptional work ethic and meticulous attention to detail make her success appear effortless," said Cherie Shepard, Managing Partner, Material Handling, Packaging & Processing. "As a key team player, Jess is often called upon to mentor our newest colleagues, a role she embraces with grace and expertise. Her natural ability to build meaningful relationships with clients, candidates, and team members consistently goes above and beyond, ensuring that everyone feels valued and important. I am thrilled for her and her growing family and look forward to witnessing her continued, exponential success in the years ahead."
Stephen Benson has been with Direct Recruiters since 2017, starting as a Project Manager, being promoted to Principal Recruiter, then as Recruiting Director - HIT. Over the years, Stephen has been instrumental in identifying and placing top talent across sales, product management, customer success, engineering, and operations for healthcare IT companies. With a strong background in executive recruitment and a proven ability to work with high-growth, PE- and VC-backed healthcare software companies nationwide, Stephen has become a trusted leader within the HIT team.
Bradley Morrison joined Direct Recruiters in 2019 as a Project Manager on the Healthcare IT team, being promoted in 2023 to Principal Recruiter. Bradley has demonstrated a unique ability to understand both client and candidate needs, enabling him to build strong, lasting relationships across the healthcare IT sector. Bradley’s ability to match high-performing candidates with key opportunities has made him an integral part of DRI’s success in delivering exceptional executive search and recruitment services. Throughout his tenure, Bradley has consistently upheld DRI's core values, ensuring a seamless experience for clients and candidates alike.
Mike Silverstein, Managing Partner of Healthcare IT and Life Sciences said, “I am so proud to be able to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of my new Partners, Bradley Morrison and Stephen Benson. Both of these gentlemen exemplify our core values and are the consummate teammates both within our group and across all of Starfish Partners. They are both extremely skilled at their crafts, but they are even better people. I am thrilled for each of them and their families and can’t wait to see what the future holds”
December 3, 2024
David Peterson, Managing Partner of Packaging, Plastics, and Specialty Chemicals was recently featured in a Plastics News article titled "Significant hiring challenges' remain in a tight labor market."
David discusses the challenges to hiring for plastics and manufacturing companies, the work-from-home trend, what employers are looking for in candidates, and the current economic situation.
Read the full article here.
November 15, 2024
Solon, Ohio – Direct Recruiters, Inc. (DRI), a Starfish Partners Company, and leading executive search firm is honored to announce its inclusion in Hunt Scanlon Media’s prestigious HR/Diversity Recruiting Power 70 list. This recognition highlights DRI’s ongoing commitment to fostering workplace diversity and delivering impactful talent solutions that support organizations' strategic goals.
DRI has built a reputation for excellence by prioritizing meaningful client relationships and delivering tailored talent acquisition strategies. Being named to this exclusive list underscores the firm’s significant contributions to advancing diversity and equity in recruitment practices.
Hunt Scanlon’s HR/Diversity Power 70 celebrates firms that exemplify leadership and innovation in fostering workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. The selection includes firms known for their dedication to supporting clients in achieving robust and inclusive work environments.
For more information about Direct Recruiters and its services, please visit Hunt Scanlon’s HR/Diversity Recruiting Power 70.