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Team Biographies
Bill Benson, co-founder of WilliamCharles Search Group, has more than 26 years of recruiting experience, with extensive knowledge and expertise in the banking and financial sector. Bill works with business leaders in industries ranging from banking, manufacturing and retail/distribution to healthcare, technology and non-profit entities. He has recruited financial, human resources and sales/marketing executives.
Bill is also Managing Partner of Financial Edge Executive Resources. Financial Edge provides executive search and project professionals in the finance and accounting areas. Financial Edge is headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI and has two offices in Western New York.
Bill received a Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) degree with a specialization in Accounting from the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the Michigan Banker’s Association, serves on the Kalamazoo Valley Community College Advisory Board, and is a board member of the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce including Chairing the Chamber Open Event in 2005 & 2006, one of the Chambers largest events. Bill is also Committee Chair for the Financial Network of NPA - Worldwide Recruiting Network. NPA is a member owned cooperative of 400 individually owned search firms.
Chuck Smeester, co-founder of WilliamCharles Search Group, is a former financial service industry executive with more than 15 years of operations, human resources, and general leadership experience. Prior to entering the executive search profession, Chuck spent 12 years at a $20 billion banking and financial services firm in Michigan, where he served as Senior Vice President and Manager of Corporate Operations, and Vice President and Director of Human Resources.
Chuck has more than five years' direct experience recruiting managerial and senior level executives, up to and including the CEO level. Having sat on the executive side of the desk for many years, Chuck combines his extensive industry knowledge and contacts with his natural ability to recruit the best candidate to every assignment.
Chuck received a master’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from the University of Wisconsin and bachelor's degrees in Business Administration and Psychology from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin.
Chuck is active in his community, and currently serves on the board of Michigan Works!, the Kent/Allegan Workforce Development Board, where he chairs the Adult Education Committee. He is also a past Board Chair of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes and currently serves as an Advisory Committee member.
Brian Prevost has over eight years recruiting experience with extensive knowledge in the banking and financial sectors. Brian received his BSBA from Central Michigan University and earned his CPA while at Crowe Chizek & Co., where he specialized in auditing banks. Prior to joining WilliamCharles Executive Search, Brian was a top producer and President’s Club member for several years at Robert Half International. Brian has significant experience helping banks fill positions in areas that include: commercial lending, branch management, mortgage lending, investments, department management and executive management.
Michele has over fifteen years of recruiting experience. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan and started her recruiting career in Chicago. She has been recruiting in West Michigan for the past 12 years. Michele joined WilliamCharles in early 2002 as a Senior Associate. She has been a top producer every year in the field, proving her ability to get results for her clients.
Michele specializes in Human Resources, and attained PHR certification in 2006. HR areas of focus have included compensation and benefits, training and organizational development, employee and labor relations, as well as generalist roles at the staff, management and director levels. Her experience also includes banking and corporate functions such as marketing and finance. Michele is actively involved and has held board positions in the local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management.
Vicki has spent the last ten years in the recruiting industry. For six years, Vicki managed the OfficeTeam division at Robert Half International, receiving numerous sales and sales management awards including President's Club and Chairman's Club. She ranked in the top 5 in production within her region for 5 consecutive years. Vicki is known for working hard to develop and maintain strong relationships while providing valuable assistance with key hiring needs. Vicki specializes in human resources and administrative positions. She has been active in the Ronald McDonald House, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and the Association for Human Resource Professionals.
Melanie, Research and Recruiting Specialist with WilliamCharles, joined the firm in 2006. Melanie specializes in leveraging the firm's membership in National Personnel Associates (NPA), a network of more than 1,500 professional recruiters that enable WilliamCharles to search globally for specialized talent on behalf of clients. Melanie utilizes recruiting websites among other proprietary research goals to help clients find specialized talent. Prior to joining WilliamCharles, Melanie was with Robert Half International.
Beth, Senior Associate with Financial Edge, is an industry veteran with over 10 years of recruiting experience. Beth specializes in the placement of finance and accounting professionals on a permanent and/or project basis.
Prior to joining Financial Edge, Beth served as President of 4-Point Staffing, a Grand Rapids-based staffing agency which she founded in 2001 and operated successfully before joining forces with WilliamCharles Search Group.
Beth’s prior experience includes that of Business Manager for a start-up manufacturing company, property management, human resources, and office management.
Beth is active in several area professional organizations, including the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and inFORUM. She has also been active in the local Association of Human Resource Management, the Women’s Resource Center, the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce, Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes, and the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs (Past Board Member and recipient of the 2005 “Entrepreneur of the Year” award). Van Slyke received a Professional of Human Resources (PHR) designation in 2004. She graduated with a Bachelor of Business Management degree from Davenport University.
