Over 25 years ago, answering a cold call from a recruiter began my relationship with David Smith and now Merit

Consulting. David and his fellow colleagues have placed numerous talented Team Members at UGN over the years. I have viewed David as a trusted business partner and someone that knows our culture and work environment so that he would be able to recruit and secure the talent necessary to be successful in our entrepreneurial environment. David even spent time in our Plant operations during one of our Kaizen events to learn our processes and manufacturing techniques to gain a better understanding on the talent we needed to remain competitive with our customers. I highly recommend David and his team, they have an innovative approach and a passion to exceed customers’ expectations.

Peter C. Anthony, President & CEO

UGN

I had the pleasure of working with David Smith of Merit in landing my current CEO assignment with a leading middle market private equity firm’s portfolio company. During the interview and selection process, David kept me informed every step of the way. He was an advocate for me during the process. By pushing the interview and selection forward, the total time from initial contact to hire was 2 months. 

Shortly after starting my role, I had a COO position I needed to fill. I did not hesitate going back to David and his team to execute that search. They did a tremendous job providing Class A candidates from which we were able to make a solid selection. As we look to further develop our executive ranks, David will continue to be the first person I contact.

Kevin Stevick

President/CEO SteelCraft

I recently had the pleasure to work with David Smith and Merit Consulting during the process for my current position as CEO. David stayed connected to me throughout the process and ensured that I had a full understanding of his client and the opportunity as presented. 

This process took several months and David was superb. He assisted me throughout the process fulfilling a key role of arbitrator between myself, Board members, Private Equity stakeholders and numerous team members of the business. His level of engagement throughout the process was superior to my experience with larger firms within the executive search industry. He is taking the term “boutique” and demonstrating how to set their performance apart from their competitors.

Mark Sullivan, CEO

Plasman

David and his team have provided services in an area of Private Equity that can be very time consuming, overwhelming & unpredictable. Merit is much more than a firm that finds good talent. Merit understands the importance of small details. No matter how tight the hiring window, they would know exactly when we should present offers so we wouldn’t lose a great hire on a timing technicality.

The Merit team also provided me with the hiring methods needed to attract top level C-Suite, Board level and Operational senior management professionals which aligned with demanding Private Equity expectations. I greatly valued their support as it helped me transition from OEM senior management to Private Equity. I partnered closely with David for over 15 years and we remain to this today as colleagues and great friends.

John Poff

Former Operations Manager

Two Leading Mid Market PE Firms

I’ve worked with, and relied upon, the Merit Consulting team for several of our key executive placements over the past 8 years. 

This has included a critical C-suite search as well as several important local and global management roles in the USA and abroad, across many functions.

 David and his team consistently provide strong candidates for consideration that match our needs, and furthermore, provide the difference-making insight on each individual that goes beyond a name and resume.  The Merit Consulting team takes the time to understand our needs and our culture, which is so vitally important and the reason we continue to trust Merit Consulting.

Ken Hopkins, President & CEO

Neapco

David Smith is a genuine, trusted, dynamic, and caring business leader. He and his team have an innate ability to make clients feel important and valued.  During our relationship, I truly appreciated his opinions, insights, and the personal connection David brings to the search process.  He and his team are resourceful and can find that unique balance between clients and the candidates.

They really take the time to ask the right questions, listen, learn and make recommendations so that clients' expectations are surfaced during initial intake calls.  This, I believe, allows them to find high-performance leaders to fill organizational gaps. I would not hesitate to recommend David and the team at Merit Consulting to any client with a critical executive level need or for C-suite clients wanting to make an executive career transition.

John Thomas, CEO

Advanced Automotive Advisors

With over 45 years in the manufacturing sector, you meet many types of people and companies.  My experience with the team at Merit led by David Smith stands out as a unique firm in the search industry.  I have worked with many search firms and recruiters over the years, and David and his team perform with a personal touch and in a manner that is calm and non-pressing which ultimately led to a life changing career move for me.  After 21 years at Toyota, I decided to give David a call to discuss the opportunity he presented to me. He has a low key demeanor, respects your time, and knows the importance of discussing the facts about his clients and an opportunity.  He offered a meaningful explanation that allowed me the freedom to continue consideration of what ended-up being a significant President position with a large global automotive OEM.

David truly cared about me during the entire process, always mindful of my comfort level in making a big career transition, and never put me in an awkward position so he could ‘make a placement’. David supported me during the negotiation process, as well as the all important city visits with my wife to help us determine the location that would be the best fit for me and my family.

Over the years, he has also supported me when I started my own consulting business to be a member of an Advisory Board of large Tier 1 supplier and Private Equity owned companies.  David and I have become not only business associates over the last 15 years, but also close friends … a true testament to his passion for developing meaningful and lasting relationships.

Don Jackson, Former President

N. American Manufacturing

VW Group of America