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About Us
Jim Vockley, Founder/CEO
Adams Consulting Group, Inc. was founded by Jim Vockley after spending twenty-five years as an executive search practitioner and manager. During his career he has directed and managed mid management and executive level searches on a domestic and international basis.
Mr. Vockley spent ten years as General Manager and Executive Vice President of Kimmel and Associates, an executive search firm based in Asheville, North Carolina. He was instrumental in directing the growth of the company into a national leader of over 90 consultants. His experience includes successfully directing and completing thousands of searches for the AEC Industry. He has an in-depth and broad knowledge of construction executive search and is a key developer of research and recruiting processes. Construction companies, program managers, and specialty contractors (as well as engineering, architectural, and design/build firms) have sought his advice and guidance on strategic staffing issues. He has been quoted as an industry expert in publications including Engineering New Record magazine.
Mr. Vockley received his education in Fine Arts from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. He holds the designation Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) awarded in 1998 by the National Association of Personnel Services. He was inducted as an honorary member of the International Honor Society of Sigma Lambda Chi in recognition for his contribution in promoting construction education. He is a member of the advisory board to the Construction Management program within the school of Engineering and Technology at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC.
He resides with his wife Beth in Etowah, North Carolina where they are active in the State adoption program to rescue retired racing greyhounds for placement in secure homes.
Dave Snider, Vice President
Dave was formerly with Kimmel and Associates of Asheville, NC and ranked among
the highest-billing consultants at the company. He was promoted to Vice President
in 2008, and has been a leader of the Mechanical/Electrical Contracting Division
since 2005, having filled searches from Boston to Los Angeles. The industry
continues to challenge Dave to serve his clients with corporate officers, regional
staff, service managers/technicians and field managers. Dave holds a Bachelor
of Arts in Economics from UNC-Chapel Hill, 1985, and entered the executive
search industry upon graduation, starting with Management Recruiters, Inc.
He also earned a Masters Degree in 1998, and previous to Kimmel & Associates
recruited Headmasters for Parochial Private Schools. Dave was introduced to
the executive search industry by being recruited by Management Recruiters while
he was at North Carolina into Northwestern Mutual Life in the early 1980's,
where he earned the role of College Unit Director, his teams finishing in the
top 10 in the country. His philosophy: "I try to understand a client’s
needs and point of view, as well as a candidate's strengths and career goals,
then try to create a win/win situation for both companies and candidates. When
clients call back repeatedly, we believe we have accomplished our mission and
theirs."
Emily Cross, Senior Associate
Emily Cross began her career in executive search in 2004 with Kimmel and Associates, a large construction recruiting firm based in Asheville, North Carolina. She started as a researcher and recruiter conducting executive level retained searches. She quickly became a senior recruiter and has performed executive searches for construction firms from coast to coast. She has experience recruiting for General Contractors, Construction Managers, Mechanical Contractors and Electrical Contractors. Emily has also been instrumental leading to prominence one of the Construction industry’s premier job boards.
Emily joined Adams CG, Inc. in 2009 as a Senior Associate. She has become an industry expert with her knowledge of search tactics and procedures. She has developed a network throughout the country. She is equally adept searching at lower to mid management searches as well as senior executive positions. She also plays a leading role in the training at Adams CG. Committed to excellent service to her clients and candidates, she consistently delivers top talent in the construction industry, including the mechanical contracting sub-trades as well as general construction. In her spare time, Emily is an artist (painting, sculpture, landscape art and floral art), and a trained singer.
Jack Speight, Associate
Jack has three years experience in construction search and placement. He has searched and placed tradesmen through executive managers nationally in over 100 searches including 3D Detailing Managers and Detailers (AutoCAD and a variety of software specialties), Service Managing Directors and Service Sales Directors, Service Salespeople and Service Technicians, Trades-people, Foremen, Superintendents and Controls Technicians, Estimators, Chief Estimators, Senior Estimators (Quick Pen, Estimation, Timberline forte and others) in mechanical, electrical, plumbing contractors and service contractors. Jack has mentored under many of the construction industries longest tenured and most successful search consultants, and is a highly-reliable and highly capable sourcing consultant to the MEP industry for top talent at any level. He has a passion for the service side of the construction industry and is committed to providing high quality and dependable recruiting services. He consistently delivers great candidates.
Jack’s hobbies include grand parenting (he has two daughters), reading, cooking (he is a classically trained chef and prior to joining the search industry he was the executive chef at many restaurants in the Asheville area), and music (percussionist).
Leslie Vaudin, Senior Associate
Leslie began her career in executive search in 1995 under the direction of Adams Group founder Jim Vockley. She began working with Mechanical/Electrical Engineering design/build firms and with Architectural design consultants in the Southeast.
Since joining Adams group, Leslie has specialized in servicing Mechanical Contractors and General Contractors with a focus on Infrastructure with an emphasis on Water/Waste Water Treatment facilities construction. She has also developed a nationwide network for Data Center Construction. In addition, she services the construction industry for Healthcare, Institutional, Educational, and Commercial projects.
Leslie received her education in Communications from Virginia Intermont College in Bristol Virginia and began a sixteen year career in Broadcast Television as a photographer/reporter with the ABC affiliate, WLOS 13 in Asheville, NC.
"Television news prepared me for executive search. You must ask many questions, you must listen to the answers and give an honest report or you won’t be in business long."
"I love recruiting. Our clients are among the finest in the nation, our candidates are the best and brightest in the construction industry and I consider myself fortunate to speak with these exceptional people every day."
Jeff Simerson, Senior Associate
Jeff joined Adams CG in 2009 after a successful career in the financial services industry. He is responsible for servicing the needs of Mechanical Contractors on the east coast. Jeff has conducted successful searches for Project Managers, Estimators, Business Developers as well as other managerial and technical professionals. He started his career in 1996. A Sanford, NC native, he found his way to Western North Carolina to play football for Mars Hill College while receiving a Double Major Bachelor of Science in Business Administration/Marketing with a concentration in Corporate Finance/Minor in Sports Medicine. After serving in the United Stated Navy, He began work at a local mortgage company and became the Branch Manager for Innovative Mortgage Corp in downtown Asheville NC in 1998. Jeff was then offered a Regional Account Executive position with Sebring Capital Corporation.
His next assignment was with national wholesale lender First Bank Mortgage as an area sales manager for the Southeastern United States. In 2007 Jeff started IMC Properties Investments LLC and began his consulting career working with investors and designing financial statements for developing mortgage portfolios for overall net worth and asset allocations. IMC Properties Investments LLC built net worth for candidates exceeding 2 million and over 25% to 45% ROI annually.
Jeff has a wife Missy one daughter, Maleah. They attend Biltmore Baptist Church in Arden NC. His hobbies include bodybuilding and training at Sun Soo’s Academy Tae Kwon Doe school in Asheville NC under the direction of 6 Degree Dan Jr Master Tony Morris.
Some of Jeff's favorite quotes include: "Dream Big, people that dream small get small things", and "To have things you have never had, you must be prepared to do things you have never done", and "What you do not master, masters you."
Sean Doyle, Senior Consultant
Sean joined Adams Consulting Group in 2010 after spending the past 8 years as an Executive Recruiter with Kimmel & Associates specializing in Residential, Multi-Family, and Hi-rise construction in the Northeast. With a focus on superior Customer Service, Sean does repeat business with over 85% of his clients. Sean has led mid-management, Director, and C-Level searches both nationally and Internationally. Sean currently covers the East Coast General Contractor and Construction Management markets. He enjoys a reputation for quality of service and consistently delivers on searches which are highly difficult.
Prior to a career in Executive Search, Sean spent 7 years in Management Consulting where he implemented Change Management processes for manufacturing firms in the paper, food & beverage, textile, energy, and pharmaceutical industries.
Sean has a BA in Philosophy and an MBA in Management, both from Clemson University where he also worked as a Graduate Assistant for the Men’s Basketball team… and even served a short stint as the Clemson Tiger Mascot.