Meet Our Recruiters!

Kemar Christian, Talent Acquisition Specialist

What do you do and why is it important?

I recruit for our Direct Care, Administrative, and sometimes Clinical teams in Southeast Michigan. I look for people with compassion, who love what they do, and have an interest in caring for folks with mental illness or developmental disabilities.

How did you get into recruiting?

My major in college was sociology, and my minor was communications. Toward the end of college, I started considering a career in HR, but was close to graduating and didn’t want to take bunch of additional classes to change majors. So I graduated, leaned on what I learned in sociology, and worked my way up in HR to the point where I started recruiting.

Your main recruiting focus at Hope Network is Direct Care staff. How did that come to be?

I used to be a Direct Care worker myself, actually! Long ago. I know what Direct Care professionals go through, so I offer a unique perspective when recruiting them.

What advice do you have for job seekers right now?

Don’t be discouraged if you’re not exactly where you thought you’d be at this point in your career. Be patient.

Who is your proudest hire?

I once hired a woman as an entry-level Rehabilitation Assistant, she eventually worked her way up to Shift Supervisor, and now she’s a Program Manager. She’s definitely come a long way. I knew she was going to go far.

What was your biggest mistake on the job and how did you learn from it?

Being too nice. I put myself in a position where I was everyone’s go-to person. I made myself so available to everyone that I became bombarded with work that wasn’t my own. I learned to make boundaries.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about recruiting?

Often times, new hires mistakenly think I’m their boss. I get why it happens – I’m their first contact at the company – but it’s still funny.

Why should job seekers consider working at Hope Network?

The career mapping opportunities. There’s a lot of places you can go here.

What’s something your closest coworkers don’t know about you?

 I was kicked out of my first college. It’s a long story involving a professor and resident assistant. It worked in my favor, because I ended up getting a scholarship at the college I graduated from.

Stephanie Dwars, Clinical Professional Recruiter

What do you do and why is it important?

I’m responsible for clinical and administrative positions. I mainly support our West Michigan Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and Center for Autism (CFA) teams. I recruit positions like nurses and social workers for BHS, and behavior technicians and behavior analysts for the CFA. It’s important because the individuals I hire are providing much needed care to our clients.

How did you get into recruiting?

After college, I was working in retail. Eventually I worked my way up to a supervisory role, which included onboarding and training new hires. It wasn’t exactly “recruiting,” but it taught me a lot about what goes into it. A little while later, I saw an opening at a staffing firm and thought it could be my path into proper recruiting. So I applied and started from there.

Your main recruiting focus at Hope Network is Clinical staff. How did that come to be?

I’ve always been interested in mental health. In fact, as a kid, I wanted to be a social worker. I briefly studied it in college, but eventually realized it just wasn’t for me. That led me to study Human Resources, since I figured I could help people and still work within the mental health field. From the moment I was hired at Hope Network, my goal was to recruit for these clinical roles. After about six months recruiting for Direct Care roles, there was an opening for my current position, so I went for it.

What does a perfect day of recruiting look like for you?

When every facet of the full-cycle recruitment process goes as planned – I have productive meetings with hiring managers, I generate interest from candidates, I conduct solid phone interviews, and maybe I make an offer or two.

How do you pick yourself up after a less-than-ideal day of recruiting?

In recruitment, there’s a lot of highs and a lot of lows. I have a great team that listens and offers solutions, so I make sure to rely on that support system.

How can jobseekers stand out right now?

Make sure your resume is cleaned up: no spelling errors, accurate work history. Put in the work to research the companies you’re interviewing with.

If recruiting ceased to exist, what would you be doing?

There’s a lot of sales in recruiting since we’re basically “selling” the company. If recruiting didn’t exist, I’d probably get my realtors license and sell houses.

Your celeb crush is Tom Hardy. What would you tell him if he called you saying he wanted to work at Hope Network?

Oh gosh. I would tell him he would need to show me that he’s compassionate about our clients – which I’m sure he would be because I dream about him – and ask him where he thinks he would want to go in our organization.

Christian Njemanze, Talent Acquisition Specialist

What do you do and why is it important?

I assist hiring managers in search of talent in various positions and departments. I recruit for administrative, Direct Care, clinical, and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) positions.

How did you get into recruiting?

Recruiting has always been something I’ve been interested in. As a master’s student, I recruited for my university, and that sparked my passion. When I finished my degree, I began working in Human Resources (HR), including recruiter roles.

You recruit for Hope Network roles on the East side of Michigan. How do things differ over there from West Michigan?

We tend to have more competition on the East Side. There’s more employers over here, so candidates have a lot of choices when job seeking.  As recruiters, we have to really emphasize what makes us stand out.

What does a perfect day of recruiting look like for you?

When I’m able to get a department that “A” candidate – the one who believes in our mission and vision, and has the passion to help the people we serve.

What can jobseekers do to standout right now?

Present yourself professionally, and make sure your resume is up to date and accurate so you are easily searchable on job sites.

What is your most memorable interview story?

We had an in-house hiring event for a program that was opening in Jackson, Mich. I coordinated everything from start to finish, including designing and distributing flyers. We had a great turnout, there were no hindrances, and we ended up hiring nine quality candidates. That was special.

If recruiting ceased to exist, what would you be doing?

I enjoy talking with people, so probably something in consulting. And when I was a kid I wanted to be a sociologist, so that’s a possibility, too.

Mackenzie Baur, Talent Acquisition Specialist

What do you do and why is it important?

I recruit for openings in several service lines: Neuro Rehabilitation, Center for Autism, Behavioral Health Services (BHS), Developmental and Community Services (DCS). It’s important because we are the start of making a difference in our clients’ lives.

How did you get into recruiting?

I went to college at Ferris State University, and changed my major multiple times. First I was in sonography but realized I was horrible at biology, so I switched to healthcare management and wasn’t crazy about that, either. I eventually landed on business, and my academic advisor suggested I also minor in human resources. After I graduated, my first job was with a company that sells cell phone parts where I dabbled in recruiting. That experience eventually led me to working at a full-time staffing firm, and I’ve been recruiting ever since.

Why should jobseekers consider working at Hope Network?

The healthcare industry is booming. Hope Network is great to work for since we help people, and it’s a rewarding organization to be involved with.

What’s your most memorable interview story?

Back at the staffing firm I used to work at, the person in charge of running background checks did it incorrectly for one candidate and missed that he was convicted of a violent crime and therefore wasn’t eligible for hire. I went through the whole interview with him, and he promised me he had no felonies on his record. Afterwards, the coworker in charge of background checks told me she ran it wrong and this guy DID have a record. I called him back, he didn’t get my message, and showed up to new hire orientation. I sat him down in an office and told him what we found. He admitted to it, threw a chair into the table, and stormed out. It scared me to death, and it was actually the first interview I conducted alone.

Recruiters each have their own recruiting “style.” What’s yours?

I try to be very personable. I like to get to know people on a personal level. I’ll talk about myself and try to get a conversation going as opposed to simply asking questions.

What makes for a strong resume?

My biggest pet peeve on resumes is paragraphs. If you have a paragraph about what you did at your job, there’s no way I’m reading it. Use bullet points instead.

If recruiting didn’t exist, what would you be doing?

Probably sales, but I’m not pushy so I might be awful at it. How about a stay at home mom? I have a one-year-old and I feel like I missed a lot in that first year. I’m pregnant now, and I would like to be there for more little things with my second baby.

Maureen Charlip, Talent Acquisition Specialist

What do you do and why is it important?

I recruit for clinical and professional positions for all of Hope Network’s southeast region – that’s Genesee, Jackson, Macomb, and Saginaw. I’m usually looking for therapists, case managers, and nurses.

How did you get into recruiting?

My brother owned an IT staffing firm in the 90s. His admin just stopped showing up one day, so I came in to help and ended up staying. I worked for him as an IT Recruiter. Prior to that I worked in retail.

You’ve been recruiting for 28 years. What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in the field over the years?

When I started, we had one computer at our office. Everything was on paper – rows and rows of resumes in filing cabinets. Now we’re doing 100% virtual recruiting. It’s come a LONG way.

What can jobseekers do to stand out in this market right now?

For entry-level positions, the number one thing you can do is be punctual. For Clinical folks, don’t be afraid to show what motivates you.

What’s your most memorable interview story?

One lady went into labor during an interview. She looked uncomfortable, I asked her if she was OK, and she said, “Don’t worry, I have plenty of time.” She didn’t have plenty of time. We called her husband who came and took her to the hospital. Her baby was healthy, and she ended up working for us about three months later.

If there was an awards show for Recruiting, which categories would you be nominated for?

Besides the Lifetime Achievement Award, maybe “Most Persistent Recruiter.”

You recently moved to Florida, where you will be recruiting for Hope Network remotely. What are you going to miss most about Michigan?

Besides my family, I’ll miss cider mills. I love cider mill donuts. There’s nothing comparable down here. There’s nice things about Florida, don’t get me wrong, but there’s nothing comparable.

Chelsea Joki, Corporate Recruiter

What do you do and why is it important?

I do all of the recruiting for our Center for Autism (CFA) facilities. The CFA is growing and has a new location opening soon, so it’s important that we find people who are excited about the field and passionate about helping our learners.

How did you get into recruiting?

I studied Advertising and Integrated Marketing Communications at Ferris State University. My first job out of college was a Talent Acquisition Specialist, and I later moved into marketing. I missed talking to people who are passionate about their jobs, so when this position opened up I applied.

Considering your experience in Marketing and Recruiting, how are the two similar?

It’s easy to think the two aren’t related, but I’m basically selling Hope Network and our jobs. Recruiting is a lot of selling.

If you had to sell Hope Network in one sentence, how would do it?

We’re advocates of people overcoming barriers, and we want to help everyone we can, so if you’re passionate about helping then this is the place for you.

You had the misfortune of starting your current position in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. How was that?

Luckily, I’ve joined a very welcoming team, so it’s been great in that regard. But it’s also not-so-great because I want to meet everyone in person and can’t necessarily do that.

What’s your most memorable interview story?

I interviewed someone who was afraid to take the bus to work because of “killer clowns.” It was around the time when all those news articles were reporting sightings of clowns in public. She didn’t do a no-call-no-show, so we appreciated that, but we had to tell her she was safe.

Anyone can describe a GOOD resume, describe a BAD one.

No contact information, spelling errors, and I’ve seen some that don’t even list prior work experience. You definitely need to include that.

What’s the most underrated step of interview prep?

Company research. It’s always good to have an understanding of what the organization does. It helps you stand out.

Yolanda Mitchell, Talent Acquisition Specialist

What do you do and why is it important?

I work with our Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and Developmental and Community Services (DCS) teams in West Michigan. I mostly recruit for our entry-level Direct Care positions, and also for our union positions. It’s important because our Direct Care staff are the meat of Hope Network.

How did you get into recruiting?

I had just graduated from Cornerstone University and was looking for work. One of my best friends was working at a small recruiting firm out of Grand Rapids and told me about a Human Resources (HR) internship they had available. I was already out of school and wasn’t sure about taking an internship, but she talked me into it and from there my career skyrocketed. I started as an intern, six months later I was a part-time employee, and within one year I was a full-blown recruiter.

What’s your favorite type of job to recruit for?

I’ve recruited for everything from entry-level to executive-level jobs, but I enjoy those entry-level roles the most. The gratitude and satisfaction from people getting their first job offer is so rewarding.

What does a good day of recruiting look like for you?

When I hear the words “I accept!” But also when we find talent in new places. Talent isn’t always readily available for us, so any time I can make connections with individuals who weren’t already considering careers at Hope Network is a good day.

What can jobseekers do to stand out right now?

I can’t stress enough how important it is to have your resume align with the type of job you’re looking for. Make sure the formatting and the grammar are strong. I should know who you are as a person from your resume before I even call you.

You’ve been in recruiting for more than 10 years. What’s the biggest change you’ve noticed in the field?

Social media. When I started it was just cold calling candidates. But now, potential hires are easily accessible on social media. It really helps.

Where do you hope your career in recruiting takes you?

Community engagement is something near and dear to me. I was previously a community liaison here at Hope Network. I enjoy what I do in recruiting, but ideally my career at Hope Network will allow for me to get out into the community and build relationships.

If there was an “Academy Awards of Recruiting,” what type of awards would you be nominated for?

I’m not good at bragging about myself! But I’d probably be nominated for “Achievement in Community Connection” and “Best Candidate Experience.”

Carol Sadler, Staffing Coordinator: HNI

What do you do and why is it important?

I recruit for Hope Network Industries (HNI), including the onboarding of new hires. We give people the opportunity to work who may not normally get one.

How did you get into recruiting?

I used to work for a temp service where I started as a receptionist and worked my way up to recruiter. Eventually I saw an opening at Hope Network, applied, and have worked here for seven years now.

Your main recruiting focus at Hope Network is HNI. How did that come to be?

I was always involved with HNI since I started here. I used to recruit for our Developmental and Community Services (DCS) teams, which HNI falls under. HNI expanded and business started to grow, so it was decided that I would help them out exclusively.

What makes HNI such a special part of Hope Network?

Our diversity. We have people from all walks of life – first time workers, experienced workers, refugees, ex-offenders. Last I counted, our staff speaks 11 different languages.

Describe the ideal HNI candidate.

Someone who wants to learn. We have a lot of opportunity for advancement, so someone with a good attitude. We’re willing to partner with anyone who wants to grow.

What’s your most memorable interview story?

I had a candidate who had just been released from prison and had never had a job before in his life. He went to prison at age 18, and was released at age 38. He cried when I offered him the role. It was really special.

If recruiting ceased to exist, what do you think you would be doing?

I enjoy all aspects of Human Resources (HR), not just recruiting, so probably something related to HR like onboarding or a generalist. I love that HR helps people, so I would definitely stick within that realm.

How can jobseekers stand out right now?

Show up on time, always be a team player, and grab any and all opportunities when they come your way.

Betsy Flory, Corporate Recruiter

What do you do and why is it important?

I’m a Corporate Recruiter. What I do is important because I hire the people that take care of the client base we serve. These people get to be hands-on and provide a better quality of life for the clients.

What does a perfect day of recruiting look like for you?

Lots of great interviews with candidates who are looking to get started right away and have a passion for working with people—especially people who have developmental disabilities.

Why should job seekers consider working at Hope Network?

It’s so fun! Hope Network is the most inclusive employer that I have ever worked for. All the managers are great with communication and have been completely supportive of potential candidates, existing employees, and me.

What advice do you have for jobseekers right now?

Be confident and be yourself. Take time to research the position that you are applying for and really let your personality show in your interview.

If recruiting ceased to exist, what would you be doing?

I would go back into direct care, which is where my career in healthcare started. It’s still something that is still very close to my heart.

What’s the most difficult part about recruiting?

Finding proper placement—one that will be the best fit for the candidate and the program.

Why is a healthcare a smart career field for jobseekers?

There are so many different options—direct care, med techs, and then there’s the admin side of healthcare. Really, any position can open up so many other doors for growth.

What makes for a good Direct Care candidate?

Someone who is compassionate, patient, and really shows that they care for people. They go into a position with the intention of making people’s lives better.

Laura Schmidt, Clinical/Professional Recruiter

What do you do and why is it important?

I am a Clinical and Professional Recruiter. It is important because we have so many different services that help people and we need to make sure that we can fulfill those needs, while simultaneously making sure candidates and employees are valued.

How did you get into recruiting?

I started by staffing people for holiday seasons in retail environments and fell in love with the coaching and development piece of it and kind of grew from there.

How do you pick yourself up after a less-than-ideal day of recruiting?

Watching Netflix and funny TikTok videos helps me unwind.

Why should job seekers consider working at Hope Network?

Because each position makes a difference. We are all supportive of each other and work together to make others’ lives better.

What advice do you have for jobseekers right now?

Take a resume class. Having a good resume will get you noticed right away.

Where do you hope a career in recruiting takes you?

Hopefully into a leadership type of role where I can coach and develop a team.

Why is a healthcare a smart career field for jobseekers?

It’s essential, so there is really good job security. It gives you a purpose because you are helping people.

Stefanie Buskirk, Talent Acquisition Specialist

What do you do and why is it important?

I recruit for Hope Network. The residents need to be supported and they need to be loved, and I find the people to do that.

How did you get into recruiting?

Honestly, it just kind of happened. As a Program Manager, I was assigned to help hire people and it became natural for me. When I saw the opening, I knew I wanted to pursue it.

What does a perfect day of recruiting look like for you?

Just having good candidates and good candidate response. I love finding people who are excited to work.

Why should job seekers consider working at Hope Network?

Everybody always says they want to make a difference in someone else’s life and Hope Network gives them the opportunity to do that on the daily.

If recruiting ceased to exist, what would you be doing?

I’d go back into Direct Care because I love working on the floor with my residents.

What’s the most difficult type of position to recruit for?

Direct Support Professionals because it takes a special kind of person to work the role – one who has a true passion for helping others.

What makes for a good Direct Care candidate?

Compassion, empathy, and the desire to make a difference.

Betsy Gillis, Talent Acquisition Specialist

What do you do and why is it important?

I am a Talent Acquisition Specialist. I find the best and most talented candidates to serve our programs’ clients.

How did you get into recruiting?

I’ve been with Hope Network for 16 years and held various positions from DSP to Program Manager. Human Resources was a path I had not taken yet, and I wanted to fill that void.

How do you pick yourself up after a less-than-ideal day of recruiting?

I try to remind myself of the wins, even if they may seem small. I also turn to my daughter and find joy in just being with her.

If you have one sentence to “sell” Hope Network to a candidate, what would you say?

There is so much room for growth and so many opportunities available. Hope has been really good to me.

What advice do you have for jobseekers right now?

Find your passion and find something that is purposeful. Money is important, but the intrinsic value you find from doing your passion is much more valuable.

If recruiting ceased to exist, what would you be doing?

I’d be working in our programs. I’ve worked in a lot of different programs, but I think Adult Foster Care is my favorite.

Where do you hope a career in recruiting takes you?

I’m hoping that it opens more doors in HR. I’m actually thinking about going to school for HR Management.