Making a Difference By Elevating
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ur Business
with Exceptional
Leadership
ur Business
with Exceptional
Leadership
About Us
Smead Executive Search is an executive and professional search firm that helps companies from start up to Fortune 100 find top talent for over 30 years and hands on experience of over 400 executive searches.
Smead Executive Search is an
Executive and Professional Search Firm That Helps Companies From Start up to Fortune 100 Find Top Talent For Over 30 Years
Meet Our Team
Michelle Smead
Michelle is the Managing Director of Smead Executive Search. She brings 30 years of experience as an Executive Search Consultant, Board Member, and Advisor with Managing Alignment Partners (MAP)-AG. She has dedicated her executive search consulting career to serving a variety of global & mid-sized clients. Her experience includes assessing client’s needs for leadership positions by conducting 360-degree discovery interviews with key executives to understand the requirements of key roles, success criteria, and culture fit. Her clients include Fortune 100, financial services, private equity, family offices, privately held entities, nonprofit, and professional services.
She is known for bringing excellent leadership who fit culture, vision, and strategy to her clients. Prior to Smead Executive Search, she was Managing Director of Korn Ferry/Patina Solutions in Chicago & Naples. Her earlier career includes Executive Vice President at DHR International; A.T. Kearney; EY; KPMG; & Booz Allen. Moreover, Michelle led Executive Talent Acquisition at BMO Harris and Adtalem. Her corporate experience combined with her consulting experience gives her a unique perspective of client service. While at A.T. Kearney, she founded the D&I Practice and served on A.T. Kearney’s Global Diversity Practice. Her Diversity research has been recognized, published, and appeared in the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and various news networks. She is a board member of Klout, a venture-backed financial services and insurance brokerage company that serves high net worth clients and is active in leading & participating in professional and community organizations.
She is an executive member of the International Women’s Forum in Naples and Chicago; past President of the Northwestern Kellogg’s Executive Women’s Network; Board Member of The Theater School of DePaul University; Past President of the Women’s Board of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (now Shirley Ryan Ability Center). She is a frequent speaker on career strategies and enjoys guiding and mentoring senior professionals in transition. Michelle holds a B.A. in Economics from University of Illinois & a Master of Management from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She is a Colorado native and built her career in Chicago.
John C. (Jack) Kraft
Kraft retired as Vice-Chairman, COO of the Leo Burnett Company a leading Multi-national Advertising Agency. Since that time he has been active as a Founder, Investor, Advisor and/or Director for a number of technology related service businesses. Among them, Modem Media a pioneering Interactive Ad Agency, Two-Way Communications, a similar company.
Joining the BOD of Lante Corporation, which completed an IPO, Kraft became Chairman and managed the Sale of the firm. Kraft served on the Board of APAC Customer Services Inc., a call center management firm. Most recently Kraft was an Advisor and Principal at Rise Interactive & Exact Data. Both companies had successful exits via sale.
Kraft regularly consults with a wide range of developing companies on matters of structure, growth, management development and corporate opportunities., He currently advises The Office of Experience (OX) a Design and Digital Innovation firm Kraft is also a member of The Economic Club of Chicago. He also has been active at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation program at the Kellogg Graduate School judging business plans and mentoring students.
Lisa Sodeika - Career Advisory Affiliate
Founder and Principal, L&K Contemporary Consulting
Lisa Sodeika is a business leader, career advisor & mentor who partners with leaders at all levels seeking a fresh, proactive view and strategy. On a mission to create a more fulfilled, successful global working community, Sodeika helps people see the big picture, avoid mistakes, and take action to address their careers with confidence and optimism.
Sodeika has 3 decades of C-suite experience in global & domestic markets, leading business operations, and regulatory, public affairs and sustainability strategy for Fortune 100 and 500 companies. A career highlighted by her strategic management of high-risk matters in highly regulated sectors, Sodeika advised CEOs and board members, division heads and managers on a range of critical issues of significant impact to their businesses, personal reputations & careers. Sodeika is highly regarded as a change management leader, and has led enterprise-wide initiatives, coaching team members on how to act strategically, communicate confidently, and move decisively.
As principal of L&K Contemporary Consulting, Sodeika founded a unique advisory firm that helps individuals take hold of career-defining moments with confidence. Her advisory program meets clients where they are to tackle real-time opportunities and challenges with practical, relevant, and actionable counsel. Also, Sodeika is proud to partner with Northwestern University to develop Kellogg Leaders, coaching Kellogg’s executive MBA students to build leadership and business acumen skills required for long-term career success. Sodeika enjoys helping people and organizations reach their fullest potential. She lives in the Chicagoland area and is a member of the Off Campus Writers’ Workshop.
Sal Balistreri – Smead Executive Search Affiliate
Sal Balistreri and Michelle Smead have successfully collaborated and partnered in conducting a variety of client executive search positions for the last 15 years. Sal founded Balistreri Executive Search in 2010. He is dedicated to sourcing executive talent that brings enduring organizational & transformative impact. Based in Austin, Texas, our reach extends nationwide.
He has spearheaded over 300 executive searches since 1997. He’s held pivotal roles, including Chairman of the Leadership Council for the Austin American Lung Association & membership in the esteemed “Good Works Society” for Goodwill Industries of Central Texas. Sal is also a valued contributor to The Austin Business Journal.
Prior to his executive search tenure, Sal distinguished himself in Human Resources as an executive at Sundstrand Aerospace & Honeywell. He is renowned as one of the premier boutique, high-touch, Retained Executive Search Firms in the US, specializing in Financial Services, Retail Health, Manufacturing, and Non-Profit sectors. Smead and Balisteri are passionate about serving clients by bringing a structured, collaborative, high-touch, and transparent recruitment methodology • Exceptional follow-up and service• A keen sense for aligning candidates with company culture • Consistently delivering a “best-in-class” recruitment experience, as echoed by clients and candidates alike • Value-added flat fee pricing model with no administrative fees. Outside of work, Sal and his spouse Bonnie enjoy golf, leisurely walks, and exploring the globe.