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(Copies of the original documents available upon request.)
Founding and Managing Partner of Private Equity Firm as Chair of Nonprofit Search Committee:
December, 2008
To Whom It May Concern:
Over the years, I have utilized the services of leading search firms. I can say without reservation that Donna White is one of the best executive recruiters I have worked with. The results that she produced and the way she went about her work are commendable.
I served as chair of the committee charged with the complex and challenging search for a new Senior Minister for Kenilworth Union Church. Donna was our search consultant and a vital partner in the search process. She carried out her work with a high level of professionalism, energy and commitment. Her engaging style, wholehearted desire to serve our best interests and passion for attaining exceptional results inspired our confidence.
Donna brought astute judgment, strategic thinking, wisdom and skill to her role, transcending the normal bounds of an outside consultant to truly become part of our team. Acting at all times with the highest integrity, she was a trusted advisor in the truest sense.
Earning the respect and confidence of the ten-member search committee was in itself an accomplishment. This was a high-powered group comprised of prominent business and community leaders. Several of us have worked with significant business transactions and run enterprises, yet the sensitive nature of this search and the related transition dynamics presented an unprecedented challenge. Donna’s consultative approach stretched and clarified our thinking throughout the process so that we moved forward with clear direction and a sense of hope.
Her perceptiveness and effective listening skills allowed her to truly get to know and understand us. In writing the search profile, she understood and captured the culture as well as the job requirements. She then translated our complex needs into an exemplary slate of well-qualified candidates. The person that we selected surpassed our expectations.
Donna’s work was enhanced by effective communication skills, impressive writing ability and excellent interpersonal skills. She established strong rapport with a distinguished group of candidates, each from whom she garnered significant information and elicited surprising candor. The candidates’ overwhelming feedback was that Donna’s personal influence and positive representation inspired and sustained their enthusiastic interest throughout a rigorous process.
As committee chair, I enjoyed a close working relationship with Donna, benefiting from her judgment, insight and unyielding support. I have come to trust her implicitly. I offer my highest recommendation on behalf of Donna White.
Sincerely,
Lester B. Knight
Chair, Senior Minister Search Committee, Kenilworth Union Church
Co-Chairman and Founding Partner, Roundtable Healthcare Partners
Chairman, Aon Corporation
Original:
CEO of Rapidly Growing Engineering Consulting Firm:
August 10, 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
I am pleased to write this letter of reference for Donna White and The Dingman Company. They performed a national search for us during 2008 for the new position of CFO/VP-Internal Services for our consulting firm, and we are extremely pleased with the outcome of their efforts. Donna White was the Dingman executive who headed up our search, and she did an excellent job of both helping us refine the position requirements and finding highly qualified candidates to fit the position. In the end, we were able to choose from three excellent candidates to select the one whom we hired. That person has now been onboard since the start of 2009 and her performance is exceeding our expectations.
This is the second search which The Dingman Company has performed for CTG, and I would not hesitate to recommend them or to use them again when the need arises. It was our first experience working with Donna, but again I would not hesitate to recommend her as an excellent recruiting resource.
Please feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Sincerely,
CTG Enterprises
Malcolm Lewis
President/CEO
Original:
Co-Founder of Startup Interactive/Educational Toy Company:
"Donna White is one of the most professional, impressive, organizationally logical people I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with.”
Brooke Abercrombie, [Former] Co-Founder and President Neurosmith
Current Company President and Previous Senior Partner of Global Search Firm as Member of Nonprofit Search Committee:
May 2009
To Whom It May Concern:
The purpose of this letter is to recommend Donna White as a superior Senior Search Executive. Recently, I worked with Donna closely during my church’s search for a Senior Minister. This was a difficult assignment since the newcomer would follow a retiring Senior Minister of 38 years, who was beloved by our Congregation. Donna dealt with our Search Committee beautifully. She kept us focused and was effective in leading us to consensus.
She guided us thoughtfully in pulling together an “opportunity” document, a position description and our articulation of the personal characteristics our new Senior Minister would need to succeed. Donna guided us well through the culling of potential candidates, e.g., evaluation of backgrounds, personal interviews and recommendations for assimilating our new Senior Minister into our culture.
Her assets include intelligence, focus, tact, thoroughness, insightfulness and follow through. She is a strategic thinker, a strong researcher, skilled interviewer and manager of her clients. Donna listens well and is firm when necessary. She has a talent for understanding the client’s culture and what would be required to achieve a good fit. Donna is consultative, will be frank and will push back when necessary. She worked tirelessly and remained positive throughout the search process. Donna is trustworthy.
Finally,
As Senior Partner of Heidrick & Struggles, I would have recommended her strongly to our firm.
As President of Holland America Line, I would have hired her to conduct executive level searches.
As an active Independent Board Director of two private firms, I would recommend Donna to them.
As Founder and President of the Family Business Boardroom, Inc., I would recommend Donna to my clients.
I offer my highest recommendation for Donna White.
Sincerely,
John R Berry
Member, Senior Minister Search Committee, Kenilworth Union Church
Founder and President, The Family Business Boardroom
Original:
Human Resources Manager of Leading Salon Products Company:
“I have had the privilege of working with Donna on several occasions. What makes her stand out is her "professional warmth". She makes recruitment a pleasant experience. She gets to know the client, their product and their practices; this helps facilitate matches. She is kindly persistent in getting her needs accomplished in order to fulfill the clients needs.”
Lora Price [Former] Human Resources Manager Creative Nail Design
Top Executive of NonProfit Organization:
Dear Donna,
We are grateful for your assistance in filling our new position of Executive Pastor. As you know, we had searched for many months, receiving nearly 400 resumes, but very few top drawer people. But when we enlisted your services we very quickly were impressed with your contacts and the quality of people you began presenting to us.
It took some persistence because our target qualities were quite narrow and because of the breadth of the job description. We very much appreciated your flexibility, your splendid communication, and your perceptiveness in pre-interviewing people for us. Now we have an exceptional person to fill the position and could not be happier.
Thank you for your service. Worth every penny to us.
In His Service,
Dr. Mike Ladra
Senior Pastor
First Presbyterian Church of Salinas
