In life, you have to take calculated risks, seize the day - Carpe diem! Lee Kester did just that when he left his stable, well-paying job to start his own recruiting company. Lee is passionate about the work he does and the role it plays in the “bigger picture.” Lee truly loves learning about exciting companies and innovative technologies as well as helping both clients and candidates accomplish their professional goals.

Over his career, Lee has won several awards such as President’s Club & Rookie of the year and has previously been responsible for training and mentoring back-to-back award winners at both KSG and his past company. As the founder of KSG, Lee has grown the company from 0 to 30+ healthcare clients ranging from Venture Capital backed start-ups to Mid-Market to Fortune 500 as well as has hired and built his own team to 10+ employees.

Lee also happens to be a passionate fly fisherman, University of Georgia Alumni, avid football fan, golfer, live music enthusiast, world traveler and most importantly, father of three amazing children and husband to a dynamic and incredibly supportive wife.

For a more in-depth look at Lee’s career, please visit his LinkedIn page.

As a child, Michael dreamed of being a stock trader on Wall Street and chose to pursue a degree in Economics from Clemson University. Upon graduation, Michael started his career in banking before stumbling into an opportunity to get into the recruiting industry. He was very intrigued by the blend of sales, psychology, work ethic, and creativity necessary to be successful in recruiting.

Since 2004, Michael has worked with a variety of healthcare companies to help them secure the very best talent available in the market, demonstrating a unique ability to deliver on retained and senior-level searches. Today, Michael serves as Chief Growth Officer for Kester Search Group and, when he is not acting as an Uber-driver for his children, he is helping KSG fine-tune, lead, and execute on their long-term growth strategies.

For a more in-depth look at Michael's career, please visit his LinkedIn page.

Tom has served as an advisor to KSG since its inception and in 2014 he officially became the Chief Financial Officer. His 28 years of experience at KPMG qualify him as a financial expert, but it’s his Harvard MBA and Cornell Engineering degrees that bring strategic and practical knowledge to the table and make him an invaluable member of the KSG team.

When Tom is not putting his volumes of expertise to use in one capacity or another, you might find this pragmatic, patient and honest man traveling the world, on top of the slopes or enjoying the company of his family.

For a more in-depth look at Tom’s career, please visit his LinkedIn page.

Kate received her degree from Clemson University in Health Science, where she focused on the business side of healthcare. She joined our team in 2016 and has 10+ years of recruiting and sales experience within the industry. No matter the "hat" she is wearing at KSG - client relations, sales, or recruiting - she enjoys building lasting relationships.

Kate is a South Carolina native, based in Washington, DC. When she's not busy with helping our clients, you can find her traveling with family and friends, at the dog park, or brushing up on her tennis skills.

For a more in-depth look at Kate’s career, please visit her LinkedIn page.

Annaliese joined Kester Search Group in 2014. She is a top-notch recruiter, account manager, and KSG's internal Director of Recruiting Operations & Training. Not only do her degrees in Business Administration and Hospitality and Tourism Management from the College of Charleston give her an inherent understanding of business and people, but her experience studying abroad in China offered her deeper insight on various types of people and unfamiliar cultures. Annaliese loves meeting new people all across the country, discovering their professional goals, and helping them achieve those goals.

Annaliese’s passion for hiking and traveling led her to Oahu’s beautiful, yet daunting, Stairway to Heaven. The hike consists of approximately 4,000 stairs that took her up a mountain over 2,000 feet. Her experiences have led Annaliese to have an acute understanding that hard work and dedication can lead one to amazing places.

For a more in-depth look at Annaliese’s career, please visit her LinkedIn page.

Combining her love for words with creative design and strategic communications, Molly has enjoyed 10+ years in the marketing world, and is excited to provide this support to Kester Search Group as their Director of Marketing. When she isn't busy building campaigns, you can find Molly playing in the park with her two children, or on the tennis court with friends

For a more in-depth look at Molly's career, please visit her LinkedIn page.

Megan arrived at KSG with 6+ years of operations and sales and marketing experience. She graduated from Lander University with a degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in Healthcare Management.

Megan is excited to be assisting the team in all aspects of support, recruiting, marketing and daily operations. She loves planning, figuring out more efficient processes and maintaining organization that spills over into her personal life! You can always bet her bed is made.

For a more in-depth look at Megan’s career, please visit her LinkedIn page.

Lacie arrived at KSG in 2015 with over five years of customer service and sales experience. She has a passion for connecting qualified candidates with the job they desire. With an English and Creative Writing degree from the University of Maine, Lacie is able to use her creativity and resourcefulness to make successful connections.

“If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.” Lacie lives by Thomas A. Edison’s quote and strives to help others do the same.

For a more in-depth look at Lacie’s career, please visit her LinkedIn page.

Mike is also a nationally recognized public speaker, having delivered several keynote and breakout session presentations at sales conferences and conventions for many years. He has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics at California State University of Sacramento, and he takes the analytical skills he learned there to all professional and life challenges he encounters. 
 
Mike joined Kester Search Group as an Executive Recruiter & Business Development Manager to assist with Business Development and Recruiting, with a focus on the Western US. When Mike isn’t working, he’s attempting to create the perfect pizza crust to be used in his wood-fired pizza oven that he built in his backyard from scratch using nothing but YouTube videos, ingenuity, and 18-months of hard labor.   

A former college softball player at St. Andrews University, Jen also spent several years coaching at the collegiate level, where she continued to grow her love of leadership and people development. When Jen is not on the phone making sales and recruiting calls, you can find her somewhere outside- hiking, gardening, or camping- or deep diving into where she will travel next.

Jen is excited to contribute to KSG and help shape the future of the team through strategic talent acquisition and business initiatives.

These days, Kristin is channeling her love for marketing and business strategy into helping companies find their perfect match and guiding professionals to the next step in their careers. In her free time you’ll find her traveling, soaking up the sun by the beach or lake, or cheering on her three boys in their sports!

Emily graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and the College of Charleston with a Masters of Arts in Teaching. She comes with teaching experience as well as her most recent sales support role in orthopedic surgical sales.

Emily is excited to join the Kester Search Group team as an Associate Recruiter and Sales Support Specialist.

For a more in-depth look at Emily's career, please visit her LinkedIn page.

When Katelyn is outside the office, she enjoys experimenting with different workout classes including hot yoga, pilates, and cycling. She loves to try new things and visit new places, which includes making frequent trips back to her hometown in New Hampshire to visit the beach, lakes or ski in the mountains.