Testimonials & Endorsements

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  • Foot Locker, former EVP/CFO

    “Mike was our number one outside recruiter at Foot Locker for many years. We hired dozens of high-quality people through Mike and almost all became valuable employees. Mike helped create the turnaround story at Foot Locker, which was very near bankruptcy. Many of our hires from Mike were critical in saving Footlocker. His input was accurate and supportive of our goals. He never treated us like a "to do" list and always forwarded us great candidates. A relationship with Mike is long term and he manages the relationship in that manner.”

  • Bi-Mart Holdings, Group VP Merchandising

    "From my perspective Mike has three characteristics that make him a special Executive Recruiter. The first is always functioning with the highest level of integrity in everything that he does. Second is that he gets things done and finally he has a great personality that makes him easy to work with."

  • Gabe’s, VP Human Resources

    I have had the opportunity to work with Mike Powell and his team over the last 6 years, and I have found Mike to be a true professional.  He brings forward great candidates and, when needed, does so in a confidential manner.  Mike and his team have very high standards, vet candidates thoroughly and present only the “best of the best”.  I trust Mike and his team and Marc-Allen Associates has and will be my very first choice for external talent recruitment because they always have our organization’s best interests in mind.

  • Director, Property Management, $14B off-price retailer

    Lisa is, without doubt, the most experienced and knowledgeable real estate/retail recruitment consultant I’ve met in the 20 years I’ve been in the industry. Her detailed understanding combined with her market expertise makes Lisa undoubtedly the choice of consultant for your next career move within the retail/real estate arena.

    Besides being a reliable source of information and an extraordinary ambassador for both the company trying to recruit talent or the individual looking for a new opportunity, the most important quality that Lisa displays is Integrity.

    Lisa can be depended upon to make a good match between employer and employee. I know that I can always depend on Lisa to work in the best interest of both the company recruiting talent as well as the professional seeking a new opportunity. I believe this quality is truly rare in the world of professional recruitment and is extremely beneficial in the long-run for her clients.

    I highly recommend Lisa and her professional recruitment services. She is an honest and forthright professional in her own right and does an excellent job matching company needs to a professional’s desires.

    Top qualities: Personable, Expert and High Integrity.

  • Fred Long, VP Logistics | Gabes

    I have recently worked with Lisa and Marc Allen Associates to secure a new job opportunity. I have to say that Lisa was the most prepared and detail-oriented recruiter that I have ever worked with. She gave solid background information about the company and culture, as well as valuable insight into how to approach each interview. It was a complete pleasure to work with her, and she was critical to my success in obtaining this new opportunity. She is professional, personable, and dedicated to her clients.

  • Dollar Tree, VP Ecommerce Digital Services

    "I highly recommend Mike. I have had the pleasure of working with Mike in the past and he is honest, professional and great at keeping open the lines of communication. Mike not only knows the ins and outs of his profession, but also has a wide network of colleagues to draw upon."

  • Ross Stores | Director, Human Resources Supply Chain

    Lisa provides a focused service, ensuring that both the employer and the candidate are the best fit for each other. She takes pride in successfully placing candidates. Being exceptionally dedicated to her work, Lisa gave me advice and guidance throughout the interview process.

    You will receive the highest value and professionalism while working with Lisa. I highly recommend her to anyone looking for an opportunity.

  • VP, Human Resources & Talent Acquisition, fast casual restaurant chain

    “Lisa, I want you to know that I’m very happy, not only with the result, but the process. I can say it was as if you were an extension of our team, and it was seamless. You presented great candidates and kept us on task. It was as if you were part of my HR team. Thank you for that. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

  • Director Real Estate Law | Ross Stores

    If you want to use the absolute best in the industry, look no further than Lisa Schwartz and Marc-Allen Associates.

    I've been working as an attorney in the retail industry for nearly 20 years. In fact, a recruiter helped me land my first legal job. I've worked with a number of them over the years, but I have never had a better experience than I did working with Lisa and Marc-Allen.

    From our initial conversation all the way through accepting a new position, Lisa was not only magnificent, but equally challenged me and encouraged me every step of the way. Starting with my initial resume review, she was able to help me focus on making those changes that would help me stand out on paper. But it went beyond that.

    My interview prep was extensive and I've never seen the level of detail that she included. It was truly a top-notch experience.

    Finally, the support from her and Marc-Allen didn't simply stop once I had accepted the new role. She continued to follow up with me to ensure that any questions I had were still being answered and any needs were addressed.

  • Talent Acquisition Manager | Evergreen Enterprises | Plow & Hearth

    I worked with Lisa on several recruiting searches. Before each search, Lisa takes the time to understand the company's needs and asks all the right questions. She was able to present us with very qualified candidates and help us close the search quickly. She does a great job following up and giving feedback throughout the process. It was an absolute pleasure working with her!

  • Asset Strategies, Director Audit Services

    "When Mike first called me 13 years ago to discuss the "perfect" position it all came down to his knowledge and expertise in matching the right candidate with the right company. Mike is thorough, knowledgeable, and his efforts serve both the client and the candidate. He is an expert recruiter that I highly recommend to any professional seeking a career, or any company seeking a professional recruiting firm."

  • SVP Human Resources, $1B department store retailer

    I am pleased to recommend Lisa Schwartz. She is a true professional who is pro-active, terrific communication skills and very thorough in her searching for candidates. She receives and acts upon feedback and is very flexible and timely in her response to requests. I would happily utilize Lisa in future search efforts.

  • Human Resources Director, D2C retailer

    I've partnered with Lisa on several occasions over the past few years for recruitment assistance for roles that are often very niche and very specific...unicorns if you will. Lisa has always been a top notch resource for these efforts. In addition to providing multiple qualified candidates, she does an awesome job of providing feedback to me regarding her search efforts and top notch summaries of the candidates presented. She does her homework and really vets candidates before presenting them. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone recruiting in the retail space. I would also recommend her to anyone looking for a next opportunity.

  • Ross Stores, former SVP Human Resources

    “I've worked with Mike on a large number of searches since 2006. He has proved himself to be responsive, very well connected in the retail space, and great value. He is tenacious and works hard to identify the right candidate, and has placed some fabulous talent into our organization. He's a pleasure to work with.”

  • Destination XL, SVP Human Resources

    “I have been working with Mike Powell since 1997 and regard him and his firm as one of our most valued business partners. Mike knows what I'm looking with regard to technical skills and understands the behavioral profile candidates must have to be successful in our environment. He consistently delivers candidates that meet or exceed my expectations.”

We place TOP RETAIL TALENT.
Guaranteed.