How to Deliver a 5-Star Candidate Experience
Whether fair or not, an executive candidate will judge what it’s like to work at your company based on their recruiting experience and communication.
Eric Rose – President @ Markey Machine
Our Herd Freed Hartz executive search team was honored to partner with Markey Machine on a retained executive search to find their new President.
Since 1907, Markey Machine has been the global leader in the design, manufacturing, and servicing of high-performance marine winches and deck equipment. When failure or downtime is not an option, customers rely on Markey’s engineering excellence, durability, and unmatched service support.
Serving clients such as the U.S. Navy, NOAA, Crowley, Foss Maritime, and international operators, Markey has built a reputation for delivering premium, mission-critical equipment designed to perform in the most demanding maritime environments.
Headquartered in Seattle, Markey operates fabrication, machining, assembly, and engineering facilities and maintains meticulous service records on every product it has delivered. The company combines over a century of expertise with a culture of integrity, craftsmanship, and long-term customer partnership.
Following a period of operational modernization and strategic improvement — including ERP implementation (NetSuite), strengthened financial leadership, and record financial performance — Markey is well-positioned for its next phase of growth and industry leadership.
Markey has recently made the strategic acquisition of JonRie InterTech, further solidifying its position as an industry leader. This strategic move brings together two renowned companies with a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The acquisition of JonRie allows Markey to expand its product offerings, strengthen its technical capabilities, and enhance its market presence. By combining their expertise and resources, Markey and JonRie will continue to set new standards in the marine winch industry.
This retained executive search was led by Kevin Hartz/Managing Partner and Ryan Biancofiori/Partner.
Learn more about Herd Freed Hartz’s track record in:
Manufacturing industry executive searches
Family Business industry executive searches
Private Equity industry executive searches
President/CEO leadership executive searches
Neill Bafus – CFO @ Rottler Manufacturing
Our Herd Freed Hartz executive search team was honored to partner with Rottler Manufacturing on a retained executive search to find their new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Rottler Manufacturing is the industry leader in CNC engine machinery and equipment used for remanufacturing engines across the Automotive, Marine, Mining, and Industrial Sectors. This 3rd-generation business has a 100+ year track record of success with its high-precision solutions for boring and honing engines, which are much faster, more efficient, and safer than anyone else’s. Their Made in the USA manufacturing now serves 1000+ global customers, including Caterpillar, Cummins, and MTU (Rolls-Royce).
Rottler’s innovative CNC machines enable precision solutions on engine blocks, working around the engine block, which saves time, quality, and safety. Their 50K sq foot manufacturing facility in Kent, WA, proudly builds “Made in the USA” machinery for their global customers. With 13% annual growth over the last four years and $40M+ revenues, Rottler’s unique market position attracted the strategic private equity investment in October 2025 by Bochi Investments for continued growth and innovation.
This retained executive search was led by Paul Freed/Managing Partner and Kevin Hartz/Managing Partner.
Learn more about Herd Freed Hartz’s track record in:
Manufacturing industry executive searches
Family Business industry executive searches
Private Equity industry executive searches
CFO leadership searches
After 25 Years of Executive Search: What the Algorithms Still Can’t Do
I co-founded Herd Freed Hartz as a retained executive search firm in Seattle in July 2001. LinkedIn didn’t exist. Indeed was still three years away. Twenty-five years and more than 1,000 searches later, one truth stands out: the tools have changed almost everything—except the part that matters most.
Neil Moody – Director of Quality @ Red Dot Corporation
Our Herd Freed Hartz executive search team was honored to partner with Red Dot Corporation on a retained executive search to find their new Director of Quality.
Red Dot Corporation, a 100 percent employee-owned leader in mobile HVAC systems for heavy-duty commercial and military vehicles, is entering a pivotal new phase of growth and operational excellence. Reporting directly to the General Manager of Puyallup & Operational Excellence, the Director of Quality will define what world-class quality looks like for Red Dot and lead the organization toward that vision.
Founded in 1965 by Harcourt “Harky” Runnings in Seattle, Washington, Red Dot began by building rugged heaters for vehicles on the Alaska Highway. From those entrepreneurial roots, the company grew steadily, becoming a trusted supplier of mobile HVAC systems for trucks, buses, construction, and defense vehicles. In 2000, Red Dot became a 100 percent employee-owned company, embedding accountability and ownership into its DNA.
Today, headquartered in Puyallup, Washington, with additional operations across the United States and an established international footprint, Red Dot continues to invest in modernization, digital transformation, and operational excellence to serve a growing global customer base.
Key milestones include:
1965 – Founded as a builder of rugged mobile heating solutions
1980s–1990s – Expanded into full mobile HVAC systems for commercial and defense markets
2000 – Transitioned to 100 percent employee ownership
2006–2015 – Expanded operations and advanced HVAC technology capabilities
2018–present – Investing in continuous improvement, supply chain modernization, and strategic global growth
Red Dot’s leadership team values approachability, humor, and humility. The right leader will bring expertise without ego — someone who takes the work seriously but can laugh easily and build trust quickly. Red Dot is a hands-on, collaborative culture where leaders challenge, support, and inspire each other. Success here means leading by example, communicating openly, and helping every employee-owner deliver their best work.
This retained executive search was led by Scott Rabinowitz/Partner.
Learn more about Herd Freed Hartz’s track record in:
Manufacturing industry executive searches
David Pepin – VP Sales & Marketing @ Whirlwind Services
Our Herd Freed Hartz executive search team was honored to partner with Whirlwind Services on a retained executive search to find their new VP Sales & Marketing.
Whirlwind Services is entering an exciting stage of growth. For the last 40 years, this family-owned company has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner in Commercial Landscaping and Facilities Maintenance services—serving blue chip companies like Boeing and WM through to Industrial, Retail, HOA, Light Industrial, and Medical Operations across Western WA.
Whirlwind’s continued success has been achieved almost entirely through referral, repeat business, and operational excellence. Now, with expanding service lines and high market demand, Whirlwind is ready to scale intentionally.
The VP Sales & Marketing will be the architect of this next phase: designing a modern sales engine, building a high-performance team, and positioning Whirlwind as the vendor of choice across landscape maintenance, sweeping, dayport, and environmental services.
This retained executive search was led by Ryan Biancofiori/Partner and Ross Fletcher/Partner.
Learn more about Herd Freed Hartz’s track record in:
Professional Services industry executive searches
Family Business industry executive searches
VP Sales leadership searches
March Madness Lessons for Executive Hiring: Why the Best Teams Win (Not Just the Flashiest Stars)
After more than two decades in broadcasting, I can’t help but still view the tournament through that lens: the storytelling, the preparation behind each performance, the small moments that reveal something bigger about a team. But now, as an executive recruiter, I also see it through a second lens—one that’s focused on how people perform, how teams are constructed, and what ultimately drives success over time.
The “Flip an Egg” Question: The Epic Interview Story
What if you could ask just one interview question and achieve a remarkably high degree of hiring success?
Here’s the story of when that actually happened—and how you can put this concept to work in your next search.
Craig Morris – President @ Keyport
Our Herd Freed Hartz executive search team was honored to partner with Keyport on a retained executive search to find their new President.
For nearly 30 years, Keyport LLC has quietly built a global reputation as one of the most trusted and nimble seafood companies in the industry. Founded by the Pedersen family and based in Edmonds, Washington, Keyport began with a deep knowledge of crab and a singular goal: to bring wild-caught, high-quality seafood from ocean to table with integrity, agility, and heart.
Today, Keyport is best known for its leadership in the wild-caught King and Snow Crab category, serving major national retailers and foodservice customers through both branded, bulk and private label programs. The company is vertically integrated—from sourcing and importing to processing and distribution—and navigates the complexities of domestic and international fisheries, logistics, and pricing with a small, talented team and a remarkable sense of trust, speed, and calm under pressure.
What makes Keyport special isn’t just its product portfolio or industry relationships—it’s the people. The team is small (under 15 employees), loyal, and collaborative. The culture is humble, family-centered, and solution-oriented. The brand reflects both the quality of the product and the values of the founders: trusted, steady, and built to last. As third-generation leaders Mark and Kurt Pedersen look toward the future, they’re ready to transition day-to-day leadership to a new President who can honor the company’s legacy while ushering in its next era of growth and operational excellence.
“We’ve developed strong momentum over the past several years,” said Mark Pedersen, CEO of Keyport. “As our business continues to grow, Craig’s experience and industry relationships add strength to our leadership team and increase our ability to aggressively expand the Keyport brand in the years ahead.”
“Keyport has built something special over the last 30 years, and I’m humbled to be joining this family-owned business as president,” said Morris. “The strong reputation across the Alaska seafood industry that Mark and Kurt have earned shines through in everything they do. I am eager to join the team and work to achieve the ambitious goals they’ve set for the future of the business.”
Keyport COO Kurt Pedersen added: “Craig’s addition allows us to stay focused on the consistent execution we’re known for while continuing to build on the long-standing relationships and partnerships that define our business.” For full press release.
This retained executive search was led by Chris Blais/Partner and Scott Rabinowitz/Partner.
Learn more about Herd Freed Hartz’s track record in:
Food & Beverage industry executive searches
Family Business industry executive searches
CEO/President leadership searches
Bruce Wolfram – CFO @ L&E Bottling
Our Herd Freed Hartz executive search team was honored to partner with L&E Bottling on a retained executive search to find their new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
L&E Bottling Company is a $50M revenue, fourth-generation, family-owned Pepsi franchise distributor headquartered in Olympia, Washington. It has deep roots dating back to 1945 and a long-standing reputation for reliability, service, and community partnership across Thurston, Lewis, and southern Mason counties. With a modern 60,000-square-foot distribution operation, a fleet of more than 100 vehicles, and a team of approximately 90 employees, L&E plays a critical role in keeping the region’s businesses stocked with the Pepsi family of beverages and a broad portfolio that includes Dr Pepper, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, and more.
Beyond product distribution, L&E delivers full-service equipment and support—vending, fountain, refrigeration, coffee, and water services—making it a true one-stop partner for customers ranging from grocery and retail to restaurants, healthcare, education, and large commercial accounts.
This retained executive search was led by Chris Blais/Partner and Ross Fletcher/Partner.
Learn more about Herd Freed Hartz’s track record in:
Food & Beverage industry executive searches
Family Business industry executive searches
CFO leadership searches