Our client’s goal was to grow its multifamily group and capitalize on the surge of activity in this high-potential market by increasing the company’s exposure and reach.
Based upon recommendations from our client’s Senior Vice President of Human Resources, we were invited to submit our qualifications to perform multiple division / regional leader searches to support the company’s multifamily initiative. Through a selection process that included a meeting with the President and Senior Vice President of the National Multifamily Division, Helbling was awarded the opportunity to lead the search initiatives.
The objective was to secure professionals who could help establish, sell, and oversee multifamily construction in specific geographic markets. Extensive research had been performed by our client to determine the major national markets in which to focus. The client already had a very successful Vice President in place in its multifamily division in the Carolinas, and they were striving to replicate that success in all of their target regions.
To accomplish its goals, our client was seeking individuals who knew the multifamily business, the financial aspects, and the key players, and who had the desire to create growth opportunities for their teams and for themselves. Qualified candidates would be local experts in the specific regions who were seller / doers – those who know how to develop and leverage relationships, secure work, and execute the projects. They were to be motivated and client focused, and have experience in multifamily project pursuits, including preconstruction and operations. The positions also required an entrepreneurial mindset and a positive reputation.
Initially, we were retained to secure two project executives, one in Dallas and the other in Washington, DC. After successful completion of these assignments, we were retained for additional searches to attract and secure leaders in Orlando and Southern California. Ultimately, these four key searches allowed our client to establish a multifamily group in each targeted region. After the regions were established, Helbling was asked to secure individuals to support those leaders in Northern Virginia and the Greater Houston area.
For all of the assignments, we worked closely with the President and Senior Vice President of the National Multifamily Division, as well as with Human Resources.
Based upon initial conversations, we concentrated recruitment efforts on professionals from architectural / engineering firms, developers within the multifamily market space, and our client’s competitors. We assembled an internal search team of three recruiters to focus solely on these needs, and they worked collaboratively to identify and attract candidates. Although the project was managed as a team effort internally, we provided our client with one point of contact for all six searches. The consultant who served as the contact person had a comprehensive understanding of all of the searches and our client’s needs which saved time, reduced confusion, and allowed for more effective communication overall. As the searches progressed, the group leveraged its knowledge and growing pool of contacts to complete each search with increasing efficiency.
Due to Helbling’s strong understanding of our client’s structure and internal company culture, as well as our knowledge of the multifamily market and ability to gather information, we assisted our client in executing its strategic recruitment plan by bringing all six searches to successful conclusions. Despite the diversity of regions, Helbling attracted and ultimately secured – from key competitors – six talented professionals who, shortly after hire, have added value to the company by cementing its presence in the respective regions and helping the company to exceed its goals.
The new multifamily team members include:
We secured 17 professionals for this client over a three-year time period with six of those being focused on multifamily. As a result of the multifamily placements, our client has rapidly established a powerful presence in each of its target cities, something that may not have been accomplished through internal promotions alone. Anchoring these leaders sent a strong message to the contracting community that our client was committed to the multifamily business and prepared to gain market share. Today, the company is acknowledged as one of the top multifamily housing contractors in the nation.