Testimonials

Corporate:

“If you are looking for a search firm to assist in filling your next leadership position opening, look no further than MBJ Group!

From the moment you engage with Mary Beth and Jim you realize that they possess the knowledge and expertise to get the mission accomplished.  Their concise step by step plan will take you through the process to ensure a successful search.  From the advertising component to the vetting of successful candidates, you can count on MBJ Group to present you with highly qualified individuals who will meet the criteria best suited for your organization.

We contracted MBJ Group several months prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Although we were not able to meet in person, they easily adapted to the “new norm” of interviewing the candidates virtually, which made the selection process somewhat unusual.   Mary Beth was always available to guide me every step of the way as we navigated through this unprecedented time together.  After several interviews with the six semi-finalists were concluded, we were able to narrow the field down to the final three prospects.  As the process neared conclusion, Jim guided the interview team through the results of a series of behavioral assessment tests that each finalist were asked to complete.  Finally, after extensive and consultative conversations with both our internal team and MBJ Group, we ultimately selected Turning Points, a new executive director.

I would highly recommend MBJ Group for you next leadership executive-level search!”

– Mark DeHaan – President and Board Chair, Turning Points

“The comparison reports are very useful for us in a variety of ways. We use them when understanding a direct supervisor to direct report relationship, when comparing two candidates for an open position, and when looking at peer to peer relationships. These reports provide a quick visual for alignment/conflict potential and allow us to enhance and understand our communication techniques which drastically shortens the learning curve we often experience as it relates to team work.”

– CFO – Commercial Construction Company

“As a member of the ARC Executive Director Search Team,  I strongly recommended we engage the Bos team to help us find our new ED.  Marybeth has her feet on the ground and is in tune with the community’s needs and has the trust of applicants who would like to find a new job.  Our search was quite successful.   I think I can speak for the entire ARC community in saying that Mary Dietterle, working through the Bos search process, has proven to be a great asset to our administrative team.  Karin Gustafson, Vice Chair,
ARC.”

– Mary Dietterle

“I have worked with MBJ to fill four senior level positions within our organization. MBJ has a process that works. They bring in quality candidates that fit both the job description and culture. Utilizing behavioral assessments as part of the hiring process is a critical element to success. MBJ has exceeded my expectations.”

– Heidi Brown, Chief Executive Officer

“The education and training that MBJ Group has provided to our company has allowed us to grow and mature as a company. I believe it has helped us to be better employers, employees, managers, and team builders. I am confident that our company will continue to experience growth and success because of our ability to more accurately hire and manage individual employees.”

CFO – Commercial Construction Company – Michigan

“I have had a professional relationship with the MBJ Group since the early 1990s. During my tenure as CEO, I have retained their services over the last five years and worked together with them on executive level strategic planning and new hire processes as well as personal executive coaching.”

CEO

Non Profit:

“Mary Beth has a working knowledge of the nonprofit arena in Sarasota arena. Walk into a room with her and you become a VIP and she is your number one promoter.   With her joyful personality, expertise, commitment to client, reputation and extensive local network, she gets results.  Within two weeks she had me hired for a short-term job.  Within a month, she had me in three meetings with Sarasota nonprofit movers and shakers and a week later she negotiated my dream job.  It is a privilege to recommend my executive coach and new friend Mary Beth Bos.”

Sid Friedman 

“Habitat for Humanity South Sarasota interviewed several firms to assist in finding an Executive Director. It immediately became clear that MBJ Group was the front runner and was retained to lead the search; they know the market intimately..both the organizations looking for professionals as well as the professionals that would be appropriate for the organization. They truly hold the niche in this market place.”

Judy Wilcox – Former Executive Director

“MBJ Group, Inc., has been a Partner in Change with All Faiths Food Bank, facilitating two searches which realized the hiring of three professionals – a Chief Administrative Officer, Marketing Director and Operations Director who have produced incredible results from day one. Hiring the right person to fit the job and the culture has paid off tremendously for our organization. I would recommend MBJ Group to assist your organization’s talent and selection needs.”

Sandra J. Frank – Executive Director

“The MBJ Group is a well-respected business whose understanding of the not for profit industry is vastly apparent and critical in locating and interviewing potential candidates for an organization. Their search capabilities are excellent and in addition to researching an individual’s background their ability to do a job, they are also capable of helping to determine if an individual and organization are a match, both in experience and personality. They have been immensely effective and helpful. I am very pleased to have worked with the MBJ Group in filling critical positions to better our organization which in turn betters our community.”

Alexandra Quarles – President, CEO & Trustee – Sarasota Memorial Healthcare Foundation, Inc.

“The process of recruiting, culling through and interviewing prospects can be time consuming and still not yield the best candidate. Working with Mary Beth Bos enabled me to limit the time I spent on interviews to candidates who most closely fit our needs and facilitated the hiring of a Vice President of Philanthropy whose credentials and profile are a solid match to our mission and culture.”

Estelle Crawford – President of the Pines of Sarasota Foundation

“As Chairman of the Search Committee for a new Van Wezel Foundation CEO/President during 2009-2010, I found the technical assistance from the MBJ Group, Inc. most helpful. In particular, the Personal Talent & Skills Inventory, Workplace Motivators and Behavioral summaries gave the search committee and me information that answered some of the important “fit” questions about job candidates, thus making our selection process more efficient and effective.”

Paul W. Hersey – Chair Van Wezel Foundation CEO/President Search Committee

“MBJ Group recognized a need and followed-through to provide professional selection and recruitment services in delivering a Chief Development Officer for our public garden. Knowledge of the industry, culture and candidates was valuable for me as a new CEO. Assessments provided insight into work behavior, management and communication styles which enabled a faster selection. Recognition of a need, educating me and delivering a candidate in a focused timely manner was exceptional.”

CEO – Thomas Buchter – Marie Selby Gardens – Sarasota – Florida.

“Circus Sarasota recently contracted the services of the MBJ Group to help recruit a professional and experienced fundraiser. The entire process from beginning to the end was handled professionally and the conclusion, we are happy to say, was 100% successful. Our sincere thanks to the MBJ Group.”

Pedro Reis – Founder & CEO – Dolly Jacobs Reis – Co-Founder & Associate Director
“Thank you so much for the awesome job you did in facilitation our fundraising retreat. You have a marvelous balance between patience and get on with it…, seriousness and humor…, generalities and specifics.”

 

Career Transitions:

“The MBJGroup was recommended to me when I was considering a career transition upon my move to Sarasota, Florida.  Jim Bos was very easy to reach and schedule an appointment to discuss their services and timeline for my proposed needs.  I found the preliminary meeting highly informative and Jim tailored a proposal for my situation which I readily accepted.  I chose assessment tools which were extremely helpful identifying industries I agreed were a match to my skills and experience and desired to pursue.  Jim made sure the timing of the assessments and follow up meetings were aligned with my availability and schedule including regular follow up meetings to ensure I was kept informed of progress and knew my role in each step.  The whole consultation process enabled me to successfully identify the next stage of my career.  I am almost a year into the new career and find my new work highly rewarding and fulfilling.  I highly recommend the MBJGroup for anyone considering a career transition and job search/placement services.”

Business Development Manager

“Have you ever wondered where you really wanted to be in a career path? I am pleased to say that after working with Mary Beth and Jim Bos of the MBJ Group, I found the career niche that best fit my talent. I encourage anyone to take that step of faith in the MBJ Group. The consultation and guidance from resume creation to job interview was a very worthwhile investment in helping me find an awesome job!”

Marketing Director for a not for profit

“After a layoff from a Fortune 100 company, I searched for a ‘right’ career coach and assessment firm to navigate in the ‘new economy’. I found my decision to work with MBJ Group to be in line with my wishes to move out of the automotive supplier business and to utilize my transferrable skills into marketing for the non-profit industry.

I had the presentation skills, global prowess, and marketing expertise, but Mary Beth coached me to target my transferrable skills presentation into the non-profit industry. After a successful placement, we continued to get together to bounce ideas off of one another with Mary Beth’s continued interest and guidance through the non-profit world. Mary Beth’s coaching was a positive, nurturing, and certainly resulted in effective results.”
Director of Marketing – Marie Selby Botanical Gardens

“I contracted with MBJ Group to help with with my job search. I hadn’t been getting anywhere with Internet job postings or classified ads, and every job search resouce will tell you that the most effective way to find a job is to network. But I didn’t have a network! Within weeks, MBJ Group had arranged exploratory interviews for me with several influential people in the Sarasota market. They helped me build my network. And six months later, I landed a job that I love.
Grant Writer & Compliance

“The services of the MBJ Group and those of Mary Beth Bos specifically were enormously helpful during a stressful time in my life. I was dealing with unemployment at the same time that I was facing a personal health crisis. The advice, consultation, and guidance of the MBJ Group during this stressful time made an extremely difficult situation manageable. Their services gave me professional advice and guidance and provided me with much needed positive focus, structure, and personal image building at a time when I was overwhelmed with negative emotions. The result was a successful and rewarding job search. I highly recommend their services.”
Vice President of Philanthropy

“In these “perfect storm” conditions for locating a new job, the MBJ Group threw me a “life preserver” with their assessment testing product. I had the skill set, the determination and the discipline, but Mary Beth coached me to target my presentation skills — my resume evolved into a crisper version of itself, my cover letters emphasized a nexus with the organization and my responses during interviews became more focused. Mary Beth’s coaching was a most positive – and certainly very pleasant – experience for me.”
Managing Director – Strategic Gifts of Feeding America

“After being laid off as a Mortgage Account Executive being in the business for over 11+ years, I turned to the services and resources of MBJ Group. MBJ Group led me down a path where I was able to tap into all of my strengths through vocational assessments, skill evaluation and exploratory interviewing. Through this assessment process I was able to find a true passion in another industry. Ultimately I found challenging, emotionally and financially satisfying employment during what is slated as the worst recession in history. Thanks to Mary Beth and Jim Bos of the MBJ Group for all of their hard work. We did it team!”
Former Mortgage Account Executive now a Non-profit United Way Program Manager

“Mary Beth, please know that, over the past few months, you have been (and I believe will continue to be) a terrific professional career coach and guide to me. The networking that we have been doing will have tremendous value as I settle into my new position and really “join the professional community” here in SW Florida. Thank you for your consistent encouragement and support. It will be a pleasure to encourage others to work with you and Jim whenever I meet people with similar career transition needs.”
Secured Fiscal & Financial Manager position with one of Florida’s Universities

“Can’t figure out what you want to do? Can’t find a career path? Well you should definitely contact Jim. I can recommend Jim highly enough. First off, he is one of the most genuine people out there. I was struggling to find what I really wanted to do. We spent some extensive hours delving into my personal life to find traits and characteristics in an attempt to learn more about ME. The feedback I received was incredible and really helped me find my strengths, weaknesses and passions. Then from there, we discussed career opportunities to help best fit my wants, needs and goals. The whole process was fantastic. Working with Jim is an absolute no-brainer if you are seeking any piece of consultation from and expert”
College Graduate from Clemson 2015

“The assessments were definitely helpful for me to understand my strengths and natural inclinations. Going through the process helped assure me that I am heading in the right direction with my career and the type of environment I need to thrive. Thanks to Mary Beth and Jim for your insight!”
Development Director