Strategic Facts

Average search execution cycle of 59 days – faster than industry average.

Diversity in every slate of candidates.

40% of placements promoted.

Partner involvement in every search.

Certified SPHR professionals.

About Us

About the Firm

Spano Pratt Executive Search is one of the leading privately held search firms in the Midwest region providing exceptional proven results to both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Our clients range from the world’s largest employers to privately owned businesses and entrepreneurial start-ups.  We conduct searches for leaders at the President, Executive Director, Vice President, Director and functional leader levels and are well known for our courage to present “out of the box” candidates.

We are proud to have earned the trust of many respected business leaders seeking to build exceptional teams.

Why Retain Us

Our Business Strategy. Since beginning we have focused our energy on the strategy of building deep relationships with our clients. This has resulted in successfully cultivating quality versus quantity search assignments. This strategy has benefited our clients by providing fewer blocks of “off limit” candidates who are currently employed with former or client companies.
Communication and Process. Our constant communication throughout the search and our ability to drive the process quickly to fruition is a key benefit for our clients.
Talent Network. Our strong network of exceptional leadership talent, a robust data base and research expertise to identify those hard to find people moves the search process quickly.
Cultural Fit. The ability to identify and match a candidate to the employer’s culture is one of the key differences that sets us apart from electronic recruitment companies or large faceless search firms.
 

Our Reputation

  • "Spano Pratt found the perfect person for a new position at the Froedtert Hospital Foundation. They took the time to understand what I was looking for and they found the right candidate. Jamie and her team partnered with my office throughout the process. I am very grateful for their expertise and would recommend them to others."
    Nora T. Sale CFRE
    VP/ Executive Director
    Froedtert Hospital Foundation
  • "We have used Spano Pratt more than once and are happy to recommend them to any organization. Jamie and Rose invest time to clearly understand both technical job functions and corporate culture in order to present the best slate of candidates. Their work is highly professional and they are a pleasure to work with."
    Donna Bembenek
    SVP Marketing and Fund Development
    YMCA of Metropolitan Milwaukee
  • "I had the great pleasure of working with Jamie Pratt during an executive search and evaluation of job descriptions, for a not for profit. I am on the Board of Directors for this organization that is about to go through an explosive growth phase. Jamie has helped raise the sophistication level of the staff and the Board. She has referred us to other services that continue to help us progress. I will stand up in any crowd and recommend this firm for those who wish to "play in the major leagues"
    Robert B. Dyble
    Vice President - Investments
    Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC
  • "We couldn't have been happier. Spano/Pratt did a very sensitive yet comprehensive search. The results were excellent. A great combination of business sense and personable attention. Best I have ever used!"
    George W. Liberatore
    Board of Directors
    Arthritis Foundation - Midwest Region
  • "Jamie Pratt and her team are the go to team in the non-profit world. In the ten years working with UPAF and particularly when I was in the Chairman of the Board role, they offered very professional help in getting the right person in very creative ways - terrific job."
    Thomas R. Ellis,
    Immediate Past Chair
    United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF)
  • "The team at Spano Pratt are not only experts in their field in understanding our needs and providing us with excellent candidates but they are partners in our business. They are keenly aware of the strategies, goals, and culture of our organization so much so that they just are a natural fit to our team."
    Cristy Garcia-Thomas ,
    President
    United Performing Arts Fund (UPAF)
  • "We have worked with the Spano Pratt team on several occasions. Their work was timely. They were very professional and each time they delivered candidates with the right skill sets and cultural fit for the job. We highly recommend them. In fact, we have to several of our supporters!"
    Patti Gorsky
    President
    Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin
  • "Our work culture is critical to our success, and Spano Pratt took the time to understand it and incorporate it into their search for candidates for us to consider. As a result we found the perfect cultural and skill match in the person we hired--it couldn't have happened without their thoroughness and focused attention to our needs."
    Paul Matthews
    CEO
    Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
  • "I've worked with Rose on several searches she has consistently produced excellent candidates fitting the profile provided. Where hires were made the candidates have proven themselves with results."
    Ross Rivard VP Sales and Marketing Twin Disc Inc
  • "Rose is a fantastic recruiter and business partner. She has an excellent sense of which candidates will "fit" -- and which won't -- and won't bring people whom she wouldn't hire herself. Her professional advice is top-notch and I would strongly recommend her to those who are looking for executive recruiting services."
    Monica Levy
    Global Director, Communications
    ITT
  • "The professionalism, resourcefulness and diligence of Spano Pratt is exceptional. In addition, Jamie and Rose are a delight to work with. They strive to assist both employer and prospective employee in finding a good "fit" to help insure satisfaction and mutual success."
    Vickie L. Volpano
    Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
    Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, Inc.
  • "Spano Pratt brings a level of professionalism, preparation, and diligence to the executive search process that is unmatched by its competitors. Jamie gave our search top priority and provided wisdom and guidance to help us navigate through a field of high quality candidates."
    Rick Schlesinger
    Executive Vice President
    The Milwaukee Brewers
  • "When we were seeking a general manager, Rose and Jamie of Spano Pratt came in and both clarified and simplified our search. They not only found us a great candidate, they worked with us in assimilating him into our existing culture."
    Wendy Werner
    President
    Carpet Town
  • "Rose Spano and Jamie Pratt exceeded our expectations. Not only did they come up with a list of seven strong candidates for us to evaluate and interview, but they did it in less than one month. I have worked with executive recruiting firms over a lifetime but this was the fastest delivery of qualified candidates I had ever experienced. I am pleased to publicly thank them and I'm confident BizStarts Milwaukee will benefit immensely from the successful search."
    Dan Steininger
    President
    Steininger & Associates LLC;
    Co-Founder
    BizStarts
  • "Spano Pratt provides incomparable service and results to its clients. The team balances a no nonsense approach with friendly, thoughtful demeanors. The Spano Pratt team offers many years of expertise in the talent acquisition industry and it shows! All engagements are handled with exceptional professionalism, follow through, and care to present clients with only the most qualified candidates. I am proud to know Rose and Jamie - as a former candidate and current colleague."
    Dawn Adams
    President
    HResults
  • "Spano Pratt is the finest executive placement firm for non-profit professionals in the Midwest region. Last year, our professional association with 300+ members was in need of a new administrative leader. From start to finish, Rose and Jamie made it their mission to find an individual who could help lead our organization to even more success. They listened to our needs and helped guide our search team to determine truly what skill sets we needed. From that point, they yielded a tremendous number of candidates to review. In the end, it was a perfect match thanks to the extensive work from Spano Pratt. "
    Patrick Rath
    President
    Association of Fundraising Professionals, Greater Milwaukee
  • "Rose was guest speaker for a peer advisory group of manufacturing leaders that I facilitate. She spoke about the use of social media as a tool for corporate "branding" and for recruiting. She was excellent: Not only was she clearly knowledgeable in the area, she was also an engaging speaker who captured the interest of the audience. Several months later, I continue to hear about how interesting she was. Rose clearly is on the cutting edge and an expert in her field. An excellent resource."
    Jeanne Rufflo
    Training & Organizational Development Consultant
    Rufflo Consulting
  • "Rose assisted in my employment search and was the most thorough recruiter and recruiting firm I have ever worked with. I would recommend her and the Spano Pratt company to anyone in need of finding employees or to those looking for employment."
    Brandon Guse
    Industrial Sales Manager and Regional Marine Sales Manager
    Twin Disc Inc
  • "Rose Spano Iannelli served as a keynote speaker for a Marquette University Young Alumni event focusing on branding yourself for the new job market. She was such a positive force; inspiring attendees to manage their careers and expectations in a compelling and useful way. Her presentation style is one of warmth, caring, and engendering trust. She was a great addition to our event."
    Laura Kestner
    Director, Career Services Center
    Marquette University
  • "Over the past two years I have had the pleasure to work with Spano & Pratt, specifically Rose who continues to delivery the highest level of service to her clients. She is extremely caring and I have high regards for her integrity during the executive search process. Great company with great people who truly care about their clients."
    Doug Kwikkel
    Owner
    3D Partners, LLC
  • "I am in a business where I work with Human Resources executives on a level that they share their hiring needs with me and ask for recommendations for recruiters. Early on in Spano Pratt's existence, I recommended Rose's services. I knew Rose and her partner as they were competitors of mine in my past "life". I highly respected them. When one of my top executive clients asked for a referral I connected them with Rose. As I have a very close relationship with my client I shadowed their work with Spano Pratt every step of the way to be sure the quality was the same as I had experienced in the past. I was delighted when my client raved about Rose's work. My client reported that they were knowledgeable, thorough, personable, with top-notch responsiveness from Rose and her partner. Because of that positive outcome I have referred other clients to them - to the same rave reviews."
    Martha Miller
    Director Business Development - Midwest
    BPI Group
  • "I have great appreciation for the work that Rose does with integrity, thoughtfulness and care. I have recommended Rose and her company to several of our clients who have been very pleased with the search and placement Rose and her team have brought to the management ranks in those companies. Rose is thorough in her approach. She takes the time to understand the culture of an organization as well as the talent that the organization needs. The screening that Spano Pratt does of candidates ensures that the match with the client organization will work well. I am honored to have Spano Pratt as a Strategic Partner."
    Karen Vernal
    Owner
    Vernal Management Consultants, LLC
  • "I highly recommend Rose. Rose placed me in my current role. She did a fabulous job in communicating the process at every step. She was extremely knowledgeable of the Company she was representing. She is an outstanding recruiter who I would hire to fill roles in the future."
    Brian VanDerWeele,
    Executive Director, Human Resources
    Global Advanced Battery and OEM/OES
    Johnson Controls
  • "Rose and Spano Pratt are experts in the field. Thanks for being helpful to me when I needed your service. You put me in touch with your strong network and contacts that were a mutually good fit."
    Laura Porfilio Glawe, APR,
    Director, University Communications and Media Relations
    University of Wisconsin