Testimonials & Endorsements

A satisfied customer is the best business strategy of all.

EVP Chief People Officer | Valvoline and Chico’s FAS

“I have had the great pleasure of working closely with Marc-Allen Associates for executive search over the last 10+ years.  Their team has always sourced, selected, and managed highly skilled, top-notch executive leaders during the recruitment process.  Marc-Allen Associates make the recruiting process easy because they make it their business to know the company culture and quickly scour the Retail industry talent pool for the best candidate fit-both skill and culture. Marc-Allen Associates always has qualified candidates that are a great match ……. the first time!”

Director Audit Services | Asset Strategies

"When the Marc-Allen Associates team first called me 13 years ago to discuss the "perfect" position it all came down to their knowledge and expertise in matching the right candidate with the right company. They are thorough and knowledgeable, and their efforts serve both the client and the candidate. They are expert recruiters that I highly recommend to any professional seeking a career, or any company seeking a professional recruiting firm."

Sr. Marketing Director | Children’s Retailer

“I sincerely appreciate all that you have done through this process. You have been a wonderful advocate and the most thoroughly prepared recruiter I have ever worked with.”

Director Digital Analytics | $4B Omnichannel Retailer

"One thing I will say, Lisa, is that I've talked to a few recruiters, and I must say that I found working with you and your team so helpful. You are so organized, well-prepared, and detail-oriented, which I much appreciated throughout the whole process. Whether things work out in the future or not, I must say it was a pleasure!

Chief Financial Officer | Asset Strategies Group

“I have had the opportunity and pleasure to work with Marc-Allen Associates team both as a candidate and hiring manager in my career.  They have a proven track record of finding the right candidates with the best credentials and experience. They are tenacious, trustworthy, and highly ethical.  I recommend Marc-Allen Associates to my colleagues because they are the best. “

Group VP Merchandising | Bi-Mart Holdings

"From my perspective, Marc-Allen Associates has three characteristics that make them a special firm. The first is always functioning with the highest level of integrity in everything they do. Second is that they get things done, and finally, the are easy to work with."

Director Real Estate Law | $21B Off-Price Retailer

"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."

Regional HR Director | Off-Price Retailer

“Lisa reached out to me in late 2017. She recommended me as a candidate for an open position for which she was recruiting and worked closely with me to ensure I was prepared and confident throughout my interview process. I am extremely happy with my new job and so grateful to Lisa for providing me with this opportunity. I recommend her highly to all of my colleagues and cannot thank her enough for her help.”

Former EVP/CFO | Foot Locker

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

VP Human Resources | Gabe’s

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

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."

Former SVP HR | $21B Off-Price Retailer

"I wanted to say 'thank you' and reinforce that we think you have exceeded expectations so far on these 2 critical searches.

I have a very high bar for recruiters, and we are not an easy client, but you have been “As Advertised” from John.  Your rigor around the process, assessment skills, support on JDs, making our jobs easier, not harder, excellent attention to detail, and most of all, delivering well-prepared quality candidates that match the profile have been on point. As an additional point of differentiation from other firms,  the diversity of your candidate pool has been especially impressive.

I have never sent a note like this to any firm or recruiter, but it is well deserved.  A+ job by you and your team, and I wanted to say “thank you” for the dedication and support in the middle of this search.  I know each of these searches is a journey with twists and turns, and you have handled the ups, downs, and surprises very well. As I said, I have been impressed with your performance.

Senior Director, Retail Operations Finance | Big Box retailer

"I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with feedback on Lisa - she was very professional and courteous in all of our interactions. In addition, I can tell that her work-ethic is superior to other recruiters I have interacted with recently; she always responded very quickly, no matter when I contacted her.  Most importantly, she was exceedingly knowledgeable about the role we were discussing and her knowledge about the business and retail in general were very impressive. I hope that you pass this along."

Director, Property Management | $21B 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. "

Former SVP Human Resources | $21B Off-Price Retailer

“I've worked with Marc-Allen Associates on a large number of searches since 2006. They have proved themselves to be responsive, very well connected in the retail space, and of great value. They are tenacious and work hard to identify the right candidate, and have placed some fabulous talent into our organization. They're a pleasure to work with.”

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."

SVP Human Resources | Destination XL

“I have been working with Marc-Allen Associates since 1997 and regard the firm as one of our most valued business partners. They understand what I'm looking for in terms of technical skills and recognize the behavioral profile that candidates must possess to be successful in our environment. They consistently deliver candidates that meet or exceed my expectations.”

Director Financial Optimization | Leading Retailer in the Automotive Industry

"During our initial conversation and throughout the interviewing process, Lisa shared a significant amount of key information regarding the company and how to prepare for the interview process. She provided links to pertinent articles and reached out to the internal recruiter to get answers to my questions. She responded quickly to all of my requests and was always available when I needed her.

Lisa had me comfortably prepared for each interview so I was able to be my best during, what can be a stressful time. After each interview, she would follow up to get feedback from me regarding how it went and evaluate how the support she was providing was working. Ultimately, I was offered and accepted the job!

You are the only recruiter who followed through on things that they have told me. It speaks volumes and makes candidates more seriously consider the role and relocation, as well.”

SVP Human Resources | Tops Friendly Markets

"I would highly recommend Marc-Allen Associates to any company that needs an Executive Recruiter. They over-delivered on our expectations by producing more top-quality candidates than we could have ever asked for in a short period of time. They personally traveled to meet our executives, learn about our business, and master our expectations prior to reaching out to find candidates. They are highly professional and very trustworthy."

Executive Recruiter | #1 ranked, $10B, Industry Leading Retailer

“Lisa and Marc-Allen Associates, Inc. have helped to fill some really challenging niche roles that required very specific industry experience, with some stellar, high-quality candidates. Lisa is easy to work with; we’re always on the same page. She is awesome at what she does and knows how to help lock-in candidates. In fact, she was instrumental in filling 2 complex Manager roles in just the past 2 months!”

Chief Financial Officer | Gabe’s

“I have been associated with Marc-Allen Associates for the past 20 years. They have guided me to successful career decisions and have provided top talent for organizations I have led.  Marc-Allen Associates has been and will be my first choice to identify and place talent.  They are a highly professional organization with deep roots in the retail industry and have the ability to find the right candidates who meet both the technical and cultural needs of the organization.  I have NEVER been disappointed with new partners hired through Marc-Allen Associates.”

VP Ecommerce Digital Services | Dollar Tree

"I highly recommend Marc-Allen Associates. I have had the pleasure of working with them in the past, and they are honest, professional, and great at keeping open the lines of communication. They not only know the ins and outs of their profession but also have a wide network of colleagues to draw upon."

Senior Director Strategic Sourcing | | $21B Off-Price Retailer

"I had the pleasure of working with Lisa and her team during my most recent job search, and I can’t recommend her highly enough. From our first conversation, she was professional, warm, and incredibly knowledgeable about the industry. She took the time to understand my background, skills, and career goals, ensuring that the opportunity she presented was a great fit.

Beyond her expertise, Lisa was dependable and supportive throughout the entire process. She kept me informed at every stage, provided thoughtful guidance, and made what can often be a stressful experience feel seamless. Thanks to her dedication and insight, I landed a fantastic role that aligns perfectly with my aspirations.

If you’re looking to fill a role and work with a recruiter who genuinely cares about your success and goes above and beyond, Lisa is the one you want in your corner!"

Director, Global Forwarding | Supply Chain Solutions Company

"Lisa and Marc-Allen Associates were extremely helpful and provided tremendous value in my most recent job search. Her professionalism, responsiveness and support during the entire process was by far the best search experience of my career.

Lisa took the time to ensure I was a good fit before we engaged with her client and was very transparent during the entire process. She thoroughly prepared me for each step of interview - offering insights and guidance that was invaluable. Lisa followed up with me during each step with thoughtful feedback and updates from her client.

I would highly recommend Marc-Allen Associates and Lisa for any executive or leader looking for their next career opportunity!"

EVP/Chief Financial Officer | Burlington Stores

“It is my pleasure to write this unqualified recommendation for the Marc-Allen Associates team.  Before they began their first executive search at our company, they spent significant time meeting me and the rest of the executive team to really understand our hiring profile, the types of executives we were looking for, and the culture we were trying to create. They have gone on to fill dozens of jobs with outstanding candidates that fit superbly within our organization.  I truly appreciate the partnership and relationship that continues to this day.”

Director Enterprise Organizational Development & Learning | EXPRESS

“I have worked with Marc-Allen Associates for over 20+ years and find their professionalism and results in the recruitment arena exceptional in the Retail industry. I would highly recommend Marc-Allen Associates to anyone who is looking for a Talent Acquisition expert!

Head of Retail Operations & Strategy | Plow & Hearth

"Lisa is not only a pleasure to speak with, but she is very detailed, organized, and thorough. Her professionalism and expertise make her a great partner to work with."

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."

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!"

SVP Supply Chain | Burlington Stores

“I strongly recommend Marc-Allen Associates. My experience with them was as a candidate. They helped me navigate through an extensive interview and selection process at Burlington Stores. They were extremely effective at helping me understand the culture of the organization and the personality of key executives in that organization. This helped me decide if I was an appropriate fit for this company. I was indeed the successful candidate, and I am enjoying the beginnings of a long and successful career with my new company. I also appreciate their effectiveness from the perspective of an Employer who has sought to fill key executive positions.”

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