2025 Recruiter Impact Spotlight
Celebrating the people who make hiring more human
Recruiters shape careers every single day. They support people through life-changing decisions, see potential that others might overlook, and guide candidates through moments filled with hope, uncertainty, and possibility.
At Elly, we hear these stories constantly. Behind every great hire is a recruiter who cared enough to push a little harder, listen a little longer, or advocate a little louder. This year, we invited the recruiting community to share the people who embody that spirit.
Across all the nominations, several themes stood out:
- A commitment to helping candidates feel confident and supported
- An ability to uncover potential and match people with opportunities they may not have imagined for themselves
- A thoughtful, human-first approach to communication
- A drive to strengthen teams, processes, and hiring experiences
Below are the recruiters the community told us are making an impact in 2025 and beyond.
Recruiter Spotlights
Cat Branch
Title: Talent Operations Lead
Company: LevelUP HCS
“Cat helps candidates in a way that goes far beyond the basics of recruiting. She leads with honesty, transparency, and genuine care and candidates feel it instantly. She explains the process clearly, sets real expectations, and makes sure people never feel left in the dark. She prepares candidates thoroughly, gives actionable feedback, and advocates for them with integrity.
What makes Cat truly stand out is her consistency: whether it’s a senior level professional or someone applying for their very first role, she shows the same respect, patience, and professionalism. She helps people understand their strengths, navigate challenges, and feel confident walking into every interview. Her goal isn’t just to place candidates it’s to set them up for long-term success.”
Adriana Castro Benitez
Title: Talent Acquisition Recruiter
Company: GLOBO
“Adriana has become a true definition of a compassionate and caring recruiter. She not only goes above and beyond but also takes the time to engage with candidates in a meaningful way by answering their inquiries, following up, and keeping everyone informed. Every candidate she interviews, whether they meet the required qualifications for the open role or not, leaves the meeting with a sense of value and direction on how to work on areas identified for improvement.”
Kelsey Clyborne
Title: Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
Company: Medtronic
“Kelsey has made a remarkable impact as a recruiter at Medtronic. I hired her originally as an intern, and she quickly distinguished herself with her sharp instincts, strong work ethic, and natural ability to connect with people, earning a full-time offer and multiple promotions since. She consistently builds genuine rapport with candidates, represents the organization with professionalism and warmth, and has a proven track record of identifying exceptional talent. Her dedication, growth, and consistent recognition for excellence make her an indispensable member of the team."
Christine Covert
Title: Senior Recruiting Consultant
Company: Aiwyn
“In a year marked by extraordinary growth, with Aiwyn expanding from 65 to more than 230 team members, Christine Covert has been a pivotal force in ensuring that our people, culture, and operations not only kept pace—but thrived. Her impact is both profound and unmistakable.
Christine embodies the essence of exceptional service. She delivers white-glove support to hiring managers, clients, new hires, and seasoned leaders alike, navigating the complexities of a high-growth startup with unmatched grace and precision. In moments of challenge, she offers compassion and coaching. In moments of uncertainty, she provides clarity and direction. And in every interaction, she brings a steady, grounding presence that elevates the experience for everyone involved.
Her influence on Aiwyn’s talent journey has been transformative. Christine has guided countless new hires through the daunting transition into a fast-paced startup environment, ensuring they feel welcomed, supported, and prepared. She partners effortlessly with hiring managers to solve problems before they escalate, removes friction from processes, and creates an environment where people can do their best work.
Beyond her operational excellence, Christine is a culture-builder. She champions empathy, partnership, and high standards—setting the tone for what exceptional internal service looks like at Aiwyn. Her work has strengthened our leadership, enhanced our candidate and employee experience, and supported the organization through one of the most accelerated growth periods in its history.
For her unwavering dedication, her profound people-first impact, and her role in shaping Aiwyn’s success, Christine Covert is not only deserving—but emblematic—of this nomination."
Brenda Duarte
Title: Director, Talent Acquisition
Company: Express Wash Concepts
“Brenda makes an impact simply by opening doors to opportunity. She sees potential beyond a résumé, builds confidence in her candidates, and communicates with clarity and intention throughout the hiring process. She advocates for meaningful career pathways and helps candidates recognize their own strengths. I know this firsthand—because that’s exactly how she made me feel when I applied for the role I currently have now. I’m incredibly grateful, and I’m certain every candidate she’s connected with before and after me has felt that same positive impact.”
Marissa Iida
Title: Senior Marquee Talent Partner
Company: Scopely
“The only executive recruiter at Scopely who truly cares about all of her candidates. She will make it a best-in-class experience with strong work ethic, quick communication, and being a champion for them.”
Francisco Jauregui
Title: Senior Associate
Company: Tapio
“He genuinely cares and spends hours on the phone with each candidate really delving deep into what it is they want as their next career transition to genuinely help support them in making the right decision. He does the same to his colleagues, and is always ready to help whenever you need it, even if it goes against his own interests.”
Special Feature: Melvonna Jones (11 Nominations)
Title: Talent Advisor
Company: LINK Real Estate Group
Melvonna received 11 nominations, more than any other recruiter in the campaign. Here is what people said about her:
“Melvonna is consistently quick to respond and proactive in providing information, successfully filling all required roles with quality candidates.”
“She is the recruiter for the entire company, all by herself, and she does an amazing job tackling different roles in different locations at once.”
“Her ability to connect with candidates creates a memorable and welcoming experience from day zero.”
“She takes it upon herself to advocate for candidates, making sure they always have visibility into the process and are never left waiting.”
“She has an excellent work ethic and is always a pleasure to work with. She prioritizes responsibilities and completes tasks in a timely, professional manner.”
“Melvonna is keeping the positions filled and works hard.”
“I nominate Melvonna for her exceptional work as a recruiter. She exemplifies what it means to lead with heart, integrity, and purpose.”
“She finds committed, qualified candidates who care about the people they impact and take pride in their work.”
“She started a monthly newsletter highlighting hiring needs and updates. She is such an asset, and I am so happy to have her on our team.”
“She is a great communicator and always eager to learn.”
Bernie Panopio
Title: Director of Recruiting
Company: Crete Professionals Alliance
“Bernie genuinely changes the experience for everyone he works with — candidates, hiring teams, and our internal recruiting staff. He has this rare ability to combine honesty, empathy, and strategy in a way that helps people feel supported while still keeping the process moving forward.
One moment that really stands out to me was when we had a candidate who didn’t perfectly match the role we were hiring for. Most recruiters would’ve just moved on, but Bernie didn’t. Instead, he took the time to really understand the candidate’s strengths and long-term goals. He reframed the conversation, explored other ways the candidate could bring value, and made sure the door stayed open rather than closing it too quickly. That candidate left the experience feeling seen, respected, and hopeful — and that is the kind of impact Bernie makes every day.
He doesn’t just fill roles. He listens. He guides. He cheers candidates on. And he makes sure the firms we support get not just talent, but the right talent, with a thoughtful, people-first approach behind every decision.Bernie makes recruiting feel human — and that’s one of the reasons people love working with him.”
Shontay Porter
Title: Senior Recruiter
Company: United States Postal Service
“Shontay has shown such grace during some of the industry's most challenging times. She continued to be a servant leader, supporting her team and prioritizing her candidates to ensure they had an exceptional experience. She gives all of herself in any capacity, and she has a positive impact on all who have the privilege of working with her. She has changed my life for the best personally and professionally.”
Molly Rosneck
Title: Technical Recruiter
Company: Engineering Technology Associates, Inc.
“Not a ghost! Great candidate communication. Quick replies and very upfront and honest. No games!”
Emily Rubalcava
Title: Lead Talent Partner
Company: Knowde
“Anthony Owens referred Emily Rubalcava into Prismatic as their founding recruiter, and she built something most companies never get—a talent function that actually works.
When she came in, Prismatic was Series A, zero recruiting infrastructure. By the time she left, they'd grown 233% headcount with 95% retention. That's not just hiring fast—that's hiring right and keeping people. 31-day average time-to-fill in a competitive market. People Ops infrastructure that stuck.
But the real impact? The Slack thread when she left says it all. Michael Zuercher (CEO): "the percentage of this great team that you brought on board is astounding." Not just about filling seats. About building culture. About making people feel like they actually mattered in the process.Anthony saw something in Emily and made the call to bring her in. She took that opportunity and transformed how an entire company operates—from outsourcing talent decisions to owning a real strategy. That's what career-changing actually looks like.”
Alexi Saganich
Title: Recruiting Lead
Company: The Cook and Boardman Group, LLC
“Alexi is bright and welcoming to every candidate she talks to. She is great at digging in to understand what they really want. She makes every candidate feel heard and excited about the opportunity. She doesn't just interview to just fill roles and move on, she truly build relationships with managers and candidates.”
Jacob Shrewsbury
Title: Senior Product Design Agent
Company: Creative People
“Jacob was a recruiter who took a chance on me and introduced me to opportunities I didn’t know existed. He guided me into the role I have today.”
Alex Vargas
Title: Director of Recruiting
Company: RightStaff Inc
“He is a veteran recruiter giving other veterans a sincere shot at employment. He is knowledgeable and personable.”
Amber Webster
Title: Talent Acquisition Specialist
Company: LKQ Corporation
“Amber started with no prior experience in recruitment, and she rose to become a respected leader in the field through unwavering dedication and a passion for connecting talent with opportunity. Her work has driven workforce development across complex and diverse markets, consistently delivering innovative solutions with enthusiasm, conviction, and a commitment to excellence."
Thank you to all who participated
These stories remind us of the impact great recruiters have on people’s lives. They change trajectories, open doors, and help candidates move forward with confidence.
We’re grateful to everyone who shared their stories and helped us recognize the recruiters who make hiring more human.
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