Who We are and what we believe
Top Executive Headhunters
We like serving others. Whether it is working through a difficult recruiting issue, solving a particular business challenge, or volunteering in the community, we get great personal satisfaction in knowing that our efforts make a difference. In particular, we enjoy serving companies & law firms because the unique recruiting needs of these organizations and their owners are best suited to the skills and values we bring to our clients.
One critical aspect of our job is to build and maintain long term, trust-based relationships with the clients we serve. Having strong relationships with our clients is something we are proud of and this ability enables us to better identify, anticipate, and ultimately resolve whatever challenges and issues our clients are facing.
Equally important to having strong client relationships is having strategic vision, technical recruiting expertise, and sound business judgment. We have developed a broad base of strategic and technical recruiting knowledge, further allowing us the ability to identify and resolve client issues on: recruiting, talent acquisition, and human capital issues related to mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. We serve clients in a vast array of businesses and industries giving us a unique perspective on what makes businesses successful.
Kip Knippel, Esq.
President & CEO
Have you ever felt restless in your career? Like something’s missing? I have.
After law school, I worked in mergers and acquisitions, and later in commercial real estate.
While I loved making deals and connecting companies to the resources they needed, after several years I started feeling empty. I remember thinking, “This isn’t it. I want to make a bigger impact on people’s lives.”
Fortunately, one of my mentors introduced me to executive recruiting, otherwise known as Headhunting. She said, “Instead of connecting companies with physical resources, you get to connect them with people. The work is personal and collaborative.”
So, I made the jump and after my first search I was hooked!
My client was a big, private company looking for a CFO. Given the job requirements, I knew I was looking for that one in a million, but I was up for the challenge.
After a ton of research, I found Matt. He was in his mid-50’s, working as a CFO at a Fortune 500 company. When I called him, he said, “I’m not interested in making a move, I plan to retire here.” In addition to the hunt for the perfect candidate, his initial hesitation made me realize the other thing I love about this work is telling stories. I knew just listing the facts of who the company was, and what the position offered, wouldn’t be enough. I had to cast a vision of why this was worth the move. I had to tell the company’s story.
As we spoke, I could hear him warming up and when the call ended, he said, “Yes, I’m open to talking with them.”
Matt ended up making the move. I spoke with him a few months later and he said, “I have not had this much fun in years. And my wife is happier because I’m happier. Thank you.”
That moment was huge for me. I felt so fulfilled being able to make a difference in both Matt’s personal and professional life.
But it didn’t end there.
My client, the company Matt went to work for? Their business skyrocketed under his leadership. It was a win for Matt, a win for my client, and it was a win for me.
Since then, I’ve never looked back. Every day I get up excited to open doors and change lives.
At KIP Search we are laser focused on helping companies and individuals achieve abundance and impact.
And if we work together, we’d love to open doors for you and your company too!
If you’d like to connect, please send an email to schedule a complimentary strategy session with me.
Contact Kip Here:
651-334-5869
kipknippel@kipsearch.com
Stephany Day
Chief Operating Officer
Stephany Day is the Chief Operating Officer at KIP Search, leading the charge of transforming executive recruiting through our innovative approach known as Unreasonable Recruiting. This methodology revolves around the concept of going above and beyond to enhance the experience of individuals working with a KIP Search recruiter, setting a new industry standard.
The meaning behind this approach is deeply personal to Stephany, as she possesses an unwavering passion for elevating the recruitment experience, not only with KIP Search but within the entire recruiting profession. Stephany draws immense energy from the process of aligning teams for swift synchronization and success, a passion that fuels the team at KIP Search to consistently exceed expectations.
With over a decade of experience as a COO and Integrator for a variety of companies operating on EOS, Stephany's leadership style is characterized by empathy, teamwork, and strategic growth. Beyond her professional roles, she is an avid reader, continually seeking opportunities to broaden her horizons. Stephany also actively mentors emerging leaders, contributing to their growth and development.
Stephany resides in North Texas with her husband Jared, their energetic toddler, a tortoise, a charming group of hens, and their two loyal canine companions - Archer and Norm.
Contact Stephany Here:
832-469-6808
stephanyday@kipsearch.com
Joe Buri, Esq.
Principal
Joe has 20 years of experience delivering products and services to clients in a variety of industries. As part of our leadership team, he partners on a variety of initiatives, including strategic planning, client engagement, and execution of day-to-day search operations. His client experience spans many industries, including technology, financial services, consumer and education.
Joe embodies who we are as a firm, and his ability to engage clients and communicate effectively is a tremendous asset.
Joe earned both his B.A. in Philosophy and his M.A. in Education Administration from the University of St. Thomas, as well as, his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Joe is heavily involved in coaching high school & youth basketball.
Contact Joe Here:
651-249-7825
joeburi@kipsearch.com
Kenzie Lanning
Executive Recruiter
Starting as an agency recruiter, Kenzie utilized her innate ability to connect with individuals and quickly developed an impressive track record of success. Witnessing the benefits of strategic partnership and collaboration in the recruitment process, she quickly recognized the significance of a more specialized approach to recruitment. Contrasting with conventional agency recruiting practices centered on filling positions, Kenzie consciously prioritizes making strategic investments in her clients' future success.
Her keen eye for identifying top talent and her ability to align candidates with a company's culture and values has led her to often refer to herself as a Business Matchmaker. Kenzie recognizes that the true measure of success lies in creating strategic alignments that stand the test of time. Just as a skilled matchmaker considers the values, goals, and personalities of both individuals before uniting them in matrimony, Kenzie meticulously assesses her clients' organizational culture, long-term aspirations, and unique requirements.
Kenzie has an enthusiastic love for humor, she recognizes the value of bringing joy and levity to her personal and professional endeavors. When she's not busy forging meaningful connections between exceptional candidates and visionary organizations, you'll find Kenzie fishing, hiking, or going on adventures with her two dogs.
Contact Kenzie Here:
419-635-6889
kenzielanning@kipsearch.com
Christian Bailey
Executive Recruiter
Christian is a Rising Star in the recruiting industry. He started his path as a Biological Science major at Mississippi state, with the goal of becoming an orthopedic surgeon. He started working at a company in Starkville as a recruiter during college, and after this job, he was hooked. He loves all aspects of the job, from meeting people to finding the perfect fit for a role. He sees this role as a chance to help someone else get their dream job at the perfect company and treats every role as something unique no matter how big or small.
Christian prides himself on effective communication with clients and candidates to make sure he has a total understanding of the company and role. Being that Christian is well versed in many fields, he always applies all of his knowledge to find the right match for the positions.
Some of Christian’s favorite things include surfing and skateboarding. He also has a deep passion for music, always striving to be better at guitar, keyboard and singing.
Contact Christian Here:
901-827-8405
christianbailey@kipsearch.com