Purple Squirrel Advisors

Happy Thanksgiving from Purple Squirrel Advisors! Our team is grateful for the clients, candidates, and partners who make our work so meaningful. Wishing you a holiday filled with warmth, rest, and time with the people who matter most.

🚀 Mid-career to executive-level job seekers: this one’s for you. Purple Squirrel Advisors is hosting a free, in-person Career Workshop designed to help you stand out in today’s competitive market. You’ll gain practical tools from recruiters, career coaches, and professional resume writers, plus connect with other professionals on the same journey. 🎁 Admission is free; we simply ask attendees to bring a small new toy ($15–$50) to support The Rainbow Connection this holiday season. 📅 Save your spot: https://lnkd.in/gVP9BBYD Seats are limited. We’d love to see you there! 💜

Weekly Wrap-Up from Purple Squirrel Advisors! Before we recap this week’s events, we want to share a special announcement: Purple Squirrel Advisors will be hosting a Career Workshop for mid-career to executive-level professionals actively seeking their next opportunity! Join us on December 11th for tips on how to navigate today’s job market, featuring insights from recruiters, professional resume writers, and career coaches. This event is free of charge – in the holiday spirit, we ask that you bring a small toy to donate to The Rainbow Connection for their holiday toy chest. Register using the link below or send this event to someone who may benefit! https://lnkd.in/gVP9BBYD Purple Squirrel Advisors, BDO USA, and Hylant were thrilled to kick off the holiday season with our Annual CFO Now Social at Shankar Distillers! We had a fantastic evening bringing financial leaders together for meaningful conversations, new connections, and a little bourbon tasting fun, complemented by great food and an energetic atmosphere. A special thank you to our additional sponsors, Joseph Marek of PNC and Eric Flasck of ERA Group, for their generous support. Christine attended Stealth Consulting’s AI in the Workplace presentation with guest speaker James Reid, where the message was unmistakable: AI is accelerating fast, and staying informed is no longer optional. Christine left with a clear takeaway: AI offers huge efficiency gains, but organizations must move carefully. Now is the time to get educated on both the opportunities and the risks. Meaghan attended BDO USA’s “Detroit Dealmakers” event, discussing market trends with business leaders across various industries in Southeast Michigan. We'd love to see you at our event on December 11th! We'll continue to promote the event over the next few weeks.

 Inside the Search: The Electric Spark That Started It All Every once in a while, a search reminds us exactly why we do what we do. When Purple Squirrel Advisors launched in 2015, one of our very first clients was a second-generation, family-owned electrical contracting business in Metro Detroit. The business was evolving, and they needed a Senior Project Manager/Estimator and a Controller. These were not easy searches. The business was in a tricky location for talent attraction, competing with larger employers and projects across the metro area. They needed professionals who weren’t just technically skilled, but also shared the company’s deeply held values of integrity, teamwork, and continuous improvement. We still remember those first conversations with their leadership team. Their mission was clear: to deliver reliable electrical solutions while creating a company where employees genuinely enjoyed their work. It was the same spirit that inspired Purple Squirrel Advisors: to help growing companies find leaders who elevate not just performance, but culture. After extensive searches, we placed great candidates in both roles, and nearly a decade later, both hires are still there. That’s the kind of outcome every recruiter dreams of: a perfect alignment between a company’s vision and a candidate’s purpose. The right hire can change the trajectory of a company. We’re exploring more stories like this in our new series, Inside the Search: highlighting the impact behind the placements that shaped our journey and our clients’ growth. You can find this series on our website, coming soon. Want to see what long-term recruiting success looks like? Stay tuned for the next story, or reach out if you’d like to share your own.

Weekly Wrap-Up from Purple Squirrel Advisors! The Purple Squirrel Team gathered to make a positive impact by attending Southeast Michigan’s #100BusinessesWhoCare event this week! By committing just $500 per meeting, members can create a significant impact in local communities. Congratulations to the recipient of this meeting’s donation, The Power Company Kids Club, nominated by Chuck Pottenger. The recipient of this year’s spring meeting donation, True North to Freedom, was also presented with a check at this meeting. It was quite a meaningful start to our week! Samantha attended an Emerging Leaders event hosted by FEI Detroit (Financial Executives International) featuring an impactful keynote by Joanna Lohman. Lohman’s message was packed with energy and authenticity and provided valuable insights on how each role on the team contributes to a collective victory. Carrie and Christine attended ACG Detroit’s “M&A Outlook” event this week, where the message was clear: the deal landscape is shifting. Mega-deals are on the rise, sub-$100M deals have pulled back, valuations have softened, and continuation vehicles are becoming a major force in today’s market. Private credit continues to reshape how deals get done, and sponsor-to-sponsor transactions now make up the majority of activity. Events like this are invaluable: continued education keeps us sharp, informed, and better equipped to advise our clients on the dynamics shaping today’s M&A environment. More insights to come next week.

🚨Producers: this is the one. 🚨 Lockton was just named a Best Place to Work in Insurance (again), and they’re expanding in Michigan. We’ve partnered with Lockton, the world’s largest privately held insurance brokerage, to find a high-performing Producer ready to build something big in Detroit or Grand Rapids. What makes this opportunity different? At Lockton, producers are supported every step of the way with elite service teams, deep resources, and leadership that actually invests in your success. Why producers love Lockton: - Uncapped earning potential (7-figure averages aren’t uncommon) - Industry-leading support during every stage of the sales process - Autonomy + the backing of a global powerhouse - Best Place to Work in Insurance — 10+ years running If you’ve got the drive, Lockton’s got the runway. 📍 Detroit or Grand Rapids, MI 📩 Contact: Carrie Schochet or Christine Blauvelt, PHR

This Veterans Day, we pause to recognize those who have served our country. Their dedication, leadership, and resilience inspire us every day. From all of us at Purple Squirrel Advisors, thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Weekly Wrap-Up from Purple Squirrel Advisors! Carrie, Natasha, Christine, and Samantha attended ACG Detroit’s Wine Down Wednesday event co-hosted by Women in Manufacturing Michigan, for an evening of networking, great conversations, and hearing the exciting updates coming out of the Women in Manufacturing community. Carrie was very active with ACG Detroit committees, this week, attending the Women’s Forum and the Programs Committee as they strategize impactful events for the 2026 calendar year. Christine attended the Detroit SHRM annual conference this week. It was a great mix of learning, discussing current challenges companies are facing in today’s climate and how to be an effective change agent within our organizations. A common theme was around Resilience in the Workplace. One quote from speaker Simon T. Bailey might give you pause: “Are you in a Job, a Career or your Calling?” It’s a question that reminds us why we do what we do: helping people find not just their next role, but the right one.

Weekly Wrap-Up from Purple Squirrel Advisors! The Purple Squirrel team hosted an engaging FEI Detroit (Financial Executives International) Career Development workshop focused on impactful communication for finance leaders. The session explored how to craft strong elevator pitches, adapt communication styles for different audiences, and build confidence in every interaction. Participants then put those lessons into practice through interactive breakout sessions, followed by a roundtable discussion where leaders shared personal experiences and practical takeaways. Samantha attended ACG Detroit’s NextGen Fall Speed Networking event, a lively, fast-paced opportunity to connect with professionals across the region. It was the perfect setting to put insights from our FEI event into action while expanding our network within Detroit’s business community. Christine joined BDO USA's inaugural HR Leader Roundtable this week for an engaging conversation about the future of work. Hot topics included AI integration, succession planning challenges, and managing a multigenerational workforce. Great conversations with a strong interest in continuing the dialogue! 🎉 We found a purple squirrel! We helped a client in the aerospace industry place an Account Manager for their operations in Metro Detroit. This client is still looking to add more Account Managers to their team—if you’re interested or know someone who may be, let's connect!

🎉 This month, we’re celebrating a major milestone at Purple Squirrel Advisors – Natasha Nestorovski’s 4-year anniversary with our team! 🎉 Over the past four years, Natasha has been the steady heartbeat of our operations, keeping our processes sharp, our team organized, and our clients supported every step of the way. Her attention to detail, leadership, and problem-solving mindset have been vital to our continued growth and success. Natasha, thank you for everything you do to make Purple Squirrel Advisors run seamlessly. We’re so grateful for your commitment, collaboration, and care. 💜🐿️ Please join us in congratulating Natasha on her 4th work-iversary!