“Grateful for the Opportunity”
“I want to express my sincere gratitude for all your assistance throughout the job application process. Your encouragement to apply, your support in screening me, and your presentation of me as one of the four candidates to be interviewed by the panelists have meant a lot to me.
The journey has been quite a whirlwind for me. Initially, I hesitated to apply, fearing the uncertainty of leaving my position at ___ . However, your reassurance and guidance gave me the confidence to proceed. And the temptation of working close to home can’t be resisted. I was astonished to learn that I had passed the initial screening out of 67 applicants. The sheer number of applicants for the position was overwhelming. When you informed me that I had progressed to the next stage among the 11 shortlisted candidates, I was beyond disbelief. And though I didn’t advance further to the final round, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity you had provided me. I truly believe that without your support, I wouldn’t have even had the chance to compete for this role. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
… Thank you once again for everything.”
Client
“Engaging Personality”
Thank you Roberta --
You really impressed me with your skills, attention to detail, and engaging personality. If and when I need a recruiter you will be at the top of my list, 100% rest assured. Thank you again! I am very excited about this opportunity and after 4 years or so I will be looking to move up to a larger jurisdiction... so keep me in your database. I would be honored and privileged to work with you again in the future.
Thank you very much !
Client
“Extremely Helpful”
“Thank you so much for your participation in our planning for the job hunt panel. I thought your presentation was extremely helpful for people looking to enter the planning field. I myself was jealous in a weird way as your presentation would have been immensely helpful at the start of my job hunt. Many things you pointed out had to come from a few rejections before I learned them. Again thank you for speaking, I thought the presentation was perfect.”
Client
“Proactive & Responsive”
“Diana worked with the City to fill the Chief of Police position early in 2023. Diana is clearly well respected in the LEO community and has a vast network which led to a competitive pool of candidates for the City to select from. Diana was proactive from our very first meeting and always very responsive. The City team valued Diana’s integrity, opinion and sense of humor. She was a pleasure to work with and I wouldn’t hesitate to hire her for any executive recruitment critical to your organization.”
Client
“Nothing Short of Exceptional”
“I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for the outstanding work that you conducted in recruiting our new fire chief. Your tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to finding the most qualified and competent candidate were nothing short of exceptional.”
Read the full letter here.
Ron Whittle, Fire Chief, Scotts Valley Fire Protection District, CA
“Unwavering Support”
“I wanted to express my heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support during the recruitment process with the City of Martinez. Your guidance and encouragement from the beginning to the end have made all the difference, and I am truly grateful for it.
Switching organizations after 25 years was a significant decision, but the support made it much easier. Your kindness and professionalism have been a breath of fresh air throughout the process.”
Candidate
“Wisdom and Assistance Throughout the Process”
“Good afternoon Diana. Thank you for all your wisdom and assistance throughout the process. Peckham & McKenney does an amazing job with this process. No matter what happens with Clovis, I will be recommending you. I'll let you know when I hear back from them. Thank you again.”
Candidate
“Exemplary Recruitment”
“Just wanted to express my heartfelt gratitude for providing an exemplary recruitment. Your steady focus was only topped by your insightful management of potential recruits, candidates, and your client. Needless to say, you were highly professional and strikingly fair to all. At the beginning of our recruitment process many folks said we would never land a decent City Manager “in this environment”. To the contrary, you recruited an impressive group of potential candidates who truthfully learned & understood our unique situation in an election year. This significantly helped the City Council to find and select the very best City Manager.”
Client
“Expertise in the Recruitment and Final Negotiations”
“The City of Fort Bragg would like to thank Peckham & McKenney for their expertise in the recruitment and final negotiations in this very important placement. Personally the Mayor and the Interim City Manger would like to extend a special thank you to Anton (Tony) Dahlerbruch for his expertise advice, recruitment and ability to be our number one closer!”
David Spaur, City of Fort Bragg, CA
“It really has been, “All about the fit!”
“From the construction of the colorful candidate profile, to being responsive to phone calls, texts and my questions, I have been thoroughly impressed with the professionalism and approach of Peckham and McKenney. Maria Hurtado and Joyce Johnson have been the team that have shepherded my application through the municipal hiring processes, and I can speak highly for both of them. Should I need a recruiter to help fill a critical position in my new city, I will be calling on Maria Hurtado and Peckham and McKenney. And, by the way, it really has been, “All about the fit!”
Taven M. Kinison Brown, Community Development Director, City of Gonzales, CA
“Comfortable and Professional Experience”
"I’d like to thank you again for your support and guidance throughout the recruitment and selection process. It was a comfortable and professional experience, and I attribute a great deal of that to you. It’s my hope that our professional paths may cross again in the future.”
Candidate
“Thank You for Always Following Up”
"I do want to give you a compliment. I've been sending out resumes and had several interviews, sometimes making it pretty far into the process. Interestingly, if I'm not the final pick, I simply don't hear back. Nothing. I've had this happen at least three times. So thank you for always following up, even if the news isn't what the candidate would like to hear -- much appreciated!”
Candidate
“Straightforward, Friendly, and Humane Recruitment Process”
"I wanted to let you know what a terrific job I thought you and Peckham & McKenney, Inc. did on the recruitment. It was absolutely the most straightforward, friendly, and humane recruitment process I've ever participated in. And I would feel the same way even if the outcome was not successful for me.”
Candidate
“You Made Me Feel So Comfortable”
"This is my first time working with a recruiting company, and I’m so happy for having the opportunity to work with your company, wow! I truly enjoyed the process! Your interview skills are amazing! You made me feel so comfortable and I felt like I was just talking shop with a long time friend. Thanks for the personal touch that you include in your job, I believe that this is what makes your firm so desirable and successful.”
Candidate
“Developing Successful City Teams”
"Working with an experienced former city manager like Tony Dahlerbruch was more about building a relationship rather than just going through the recruitment process. My connection with Tony has continued well beyond my appointment as he’s become a mentor, advisor and friend. Thank you to Tony and the Peckham & McKenney team for all the work you do in not only changing the careers and lives of individuals like mine but also in developing successful city teams and ultimately transforming communities.”
PJ Gagajena, Assistant City Manager, City of Moorpark, CA
“Everyone Walks Away With a Win”
"Tony Dahlerbruch is in a league of his own. His astounding rapid response times and ever-constant communication are simply unmatched. Couple this with his systematic attention to detail – and everyone walks away with a win!”
Scott Trujillo, Deputy City Manager, City of Indio, CA
“Prompt and Constantly Communicating”
“My compliments to Peckham & McKenney for being prompt and constantly communicating with your candidates. I have never received such an outstanding service from any other professional recruiter in the past!!!”
Candidate
“Attention to Detail, Promptness, and Responsiveness”
"Thank you for taking the effort to find me! While I was not considering a job change, your description of the City Council, the City Manager's philosophy, and the executive team dynamic convinced me to apply. Your attention to detail, promptness, and responsiveness in keeping candidates engaged and focused also helped me immensely - I felt well prepared as a result. Peckham & McKenney made this a pleasant journey and a success.”
Carrie Tai, Community Development Director, City of Manhattan Beach, CA
“Professionalism and Active Communication”
"I wanted to acknowledge your professionalism and active communication, making the process feel seamless and fair.”
Candidate
"An Interview Experience Like No Other"
"Thank you, very much for facilitating an extremely professional and positive interview experience. I have always felt that Peckham & McKenney providse an interview experience like no other, and today did not disappoint."
Candidate
"Care for Your Brand and Candidate Experience"
Much appreciation for the feedback and closing the loop on the application process. It says a lot about your care for your brand and candidate experience which is not common these days.
Candidate
"Constant Communication"
"I wanted to let you know that the recruitment process that you put together was wonderful from the perspective of a candidate. I appreciated the constant communication and the materials you produced about the position were excellent. I especially appreciated the timeline being set early so I could pencil those days in. You were great to work with and I will be recommending your firm if I am in a position to do so.”
Candidate
"Refreshing Compared to Most"
"Your frequent updates on status and the process were so refreshing compared to most hiring processes!”
Candidate
"A Human Touch"
"In this busy world of recruiting, it was a welcome change to be kept in touch with constant updates. The human touch was refreshing and is very much appreciated.”
Candidate
"An Excellent Fit"
It’s all about the fit. Peckham & McKenney was an excellent fit for our needs with this recruitment. You did an outstanding job listening to the Department staff, the Management Team, and me when developing the candidate profile and recruitment materials. The opportunity was strategically promoted to potential applicants, and your screening brought us a group of well-qualified candidates. Your communication was timely with me and the candidates throughout the process, and you kept the recruitment on schedule. Most importantly, you managed this recruitment with honesty and integrity. It was a pleasure working with you on this employment opportunity.
Paul McCreary, General Manager, Hayward Area Recreation and Park District
"Professionalism Throughout the Process"
"I appreciate you and your team’s professionalism throughout this process. In a world of unreturned phone calls, you were a refreshing change. Your personalization of the process was warm and professional. When I land on my feet I would be glad to utilize your firm for my future searches."
Candidate
"Honest"
"While receiving input from fellow recruiters has been helpful, yours was exceptionally so, being specific and honest; not something that always comes my way."
Candidate
“No Better Recruiter”
“The Mountain View City Council recently contracted Bobbi to manage the selection and hiring of one of our “direct reports", the City Clerk. As a council member who has worked in both public and private sectors, I can think of no better recruiter. Bobbi delivered every time that council met with her -- with an excellent range of candidates, provided detailed analyses on each finalist and offered key questions so that our diverse council could make a logical and reasoned choice. We are very satisfied with our new City Clerk. I highly recommend Bobbi for your city or county or agency recruiting needs.”
Laura Macias, Council Member, City of Mountain View, CA
“Thorough and Professional”
“Thank you so much Phil for the results you delivered during our recent three recruitments for three key management positions for the City. I am very pleased with the outcome and the manner in which you conducted the recruitments, worked with our staff and City Council, your assistance during the interviews and background check as well were thorough and professional. You've helped me in particular put together a great team. Thank you very much and I hope I don't need your services in the near future, but if we do, we'll be sure to give you a call. Please allow us to be a great reference for you anytime.”
Nancy Kerry, City Manager, City of South Lake Tahoe
“Very Positive Results”
The Exeter City Council had very positive results with Peckham & McKenney! They were extremely professional and helped us all along the way. Bobbi Peckham was always available to answer any of our questions. She sought out great candidates and was very sensitive to our internal candidates that were also applying for the position. I had never had to hire a new City Administrator, and with Peckham & McKenney, it went very smoothly.
Ted Macaulay, Mayor, City of Exeter, CA
“Sensitive To Our Needs”
“Thank you so much for the excellent work you did in recruiting Greg Scoles. You were sensitive to our needs and found, interviewed, and framed the candidates in a way that gave us confidence that we were moving in the right direction throughout the process.”
Christine Wozniak, Mayor, City of Belmont, CA
“Continued Success”
“I cannot say enough positive things about Peckham & McKenney. That opinion is shared by our 5 Commissioners, HR Manager, and me. This is the second time we have contracted with them and will continue to do so.”
Jan Friedland, Former County Administrator, Teton County, WY
“Great Results, Personable”
“The City of Hayward has utilized Bobbi's services for executive recruitment on several occasions over the past three years or so. She quickly became an expert on Hayward's culture and what type of leaders we needed here. Most recently her firm assisted us in hiring an Economic Development Manager with outstanding results for us. I would be happy to discuss our experience with her firm and highly recommend their services to any agency looking to fill critical executive leadership positions.”
Gregory T. Jones, Former City Manager, City of Hayward, CA
“Personal Touch Approach”
“Phil went above and beyond with his personal touch approach by answering questions and providing encouragement throughout the complete application and interviewing process. Being treated with a high level of respect and professionalism was appreciated during a time that can be somewhat stressful to applicants.”
Donna Langland, Human Resources Director, City of Brookings, SD
“Great Team”
“The process you conducted was thorough, fair and timely. You are a great team!”
Tricia Jakubiak, Treasurer, Orange County Fire Authority, CA
“Timely and Complete”
“Because of their ongoing communication, Jefferson County always knew where we were in the process.”
Patrick Thompson, County Administrator, Jefferson County, Golden, CO
“Focus On Detail”
“As Chair of the General Manager Recruitment Committee for the North Tahoe Public Utility District, I would like to recommend the services of Peckham & McKenney.
Our previous General Manager had been on the job for the past 30 years. Needless to say, we had little recent experience in the hiring for this position. Bobbi and Phil were very helpful in regards to overcoming this, from helping to craft the initial job description and recruitment collateral, to the staging of the finalist interviews. Personal attention starting with one-on-one Board member interviews marked their focus on details that were specific to the needs of our organization. This approach, their conscientious attitude in keeping us informed, and attentiveness to our timeline resulted in a successful recruitment, on time and within budget.”
John Bergmann, General Manager/Recruitment Committee Chair, North Tahoe Public Utility District, CA
“Never Feel Lost”
“You'll never feel lost in the shuffle.”
John Power, Human Resources Director, Town of Vail, CO
“Tailored to our Needs”
“Thank you for the successful outreach services provided to us in our search, recruitment and selection of the Police Captain position. We were very pleased with the number and quality of the candidates submitted to us by Peckham & McKenney's outreach efforts. Due to our small HR staff, we needed assistance in the recruiting outreach efforts. You fulfilled our needs A++. The pre-meeting with HR and the City Manager was very helpful to define our individual duties and roles and the follow through from you was immediate, with total quality and tailored to our recruiting needs. The phone conference to brief us on the candidates was an exceptional added value and provided us with pertinent information about the candidates. It is with enthusiasm that I would recommend your services to other agencies. I hope to call on you again to assist us with our future recruitment needs.”
J. Logan, Human Resources Manager, City of Los Altos, CA
“Personal and Dignified Approach”
“I have dealt with many executive search consultants over the years and can honestly say that you are the best I have ever encountered. You provide a much more personal and dignified approach to the process by relying on your interpersonal expertise to judge candidates on their character rather than treating them like a commodity … You are a first class professional!”
Bob Game, Former Executive Director, Niagara Falls Water Board, NY
“Dignity and Respect”
“I truly appreciate your customer service focus for both the City as well as candidates such as myself. You treated me as a human being and with dignity and respect.”
Ray Weitz, Candidate
“Your personal touch has been appreciated”
“I wanted to take a moment and thank you for the updates that you have provided regarding the filling of this position. In this day of electronic submissions, it has been very nice to receive confirmation that there is a “live person” out there. Your personal touch has been appreciated.”
Candidate
“It's refreshing to be communicated with like a real person”
“Thank you for letting me know the outcome of your process. It is not typical these days to receive such notices, so it is much appreciated. Your messages aren't anything at all like those from other search firms. It's refreshing to be communicated with like a real person and makes me feel a bit better about the process - that you're real people too! Thank you for your consideration and for keeping me informed through the process. I'm sure (your client) is in good hands, and I'll keep on top of your job postings.”
Candidate