PRESS RELEASE

WilliamCharles, Pondera Leadership Consultants, and Rep-Lite Announce Strategic Talent Partnership

Grand Rapids, MI — January 27, 2026 — WilliamCharles, Pondera Leadership Consultants, and Rep-Lite today announced a strategic partnership as part of a Human Capital and Advisory Platform designed to support organizations across the full leadership and talent lifecycle—from hire to retire.

Through this collaboration, WilliamCharles will integrate Pondera Leadership Consultants’ proprietary Pondera Virtual Advisor (PVA) assessment into all strategic leadership and executive searches. PVA provides a differentiated, data-driven lens on leadership style, values alignment, and performance risk—helping organizations make more confident hiring decisions while improving long-term outcomes.

“Leadership hiring is one of the most consequential decisions organizations make,” said Kelly Conway, CEO of Pondera Leadership Consultants. “PVA gives organizations clarity at the point of selection, and Pondera extends that insight into onboarding, assimilation, and ongoing leadership effectiveness—ensuring the hire translates into impact.”

Conway added, “WilliamCharles is an exceptional partner because they approach executive search with both rigor and integrity. Their deep commitment to understanding clients, their discipline in execution, and their belief that leadership decisions must endure beyond the hire make them a natural partner in building a truly integrated hire-to-retire platform.”

As part of the partnership:

• WilliamCharles will serve as the dedicated partner for executive and leadership recruiting.
• Pondera Leadership Consultants will deliver leadership assessments and post-hire advisory support, including executive onboarding, leadership coaching, cultural assimilation, and team effectiveness, where needed.
• Rep-Lite will serve as the centralized sales talent platform, receiving all sales representative referrals from Pondera Leadership Consultants and WilliamCharles and specializing in the recruitment of high-impact sales professionals.

“Rep-Lite brings a level of sales talent expertise that perfectly complements WilliamCharles’ leadership search capabilities,” Conway added. “Together, they ensure organizations are aligned across leadership and the roles that directly drive revenue and growth.”

The partnership is grounded in a shared belief that talent wins—and that the strongest organizations are built at the intersection of people and profit. By aligning hiring, leadership development, and performance, the firms aim to help organizations create meaningful, lasting improvements that drive both results and culture.

“This partnership allows us to support leaders well beyond the hiring decision,” said Chuck Smeester, Partner, WilliamCharles Search Group. “By pairing executive search with Pondera’s leadership assessment at the point of hire—and extending that insight into onboarding, team integration, and executive coaching—clients gain a more complete and sustainable leadership solution.”

Bill Benson, President of WilliamCharles Search Group, commented, “This partnership is a natural extension of our long-standing relationship with Rob and his team at Pondera. We are also excited to work closely with Kelly, Rick, and their teams. We know our clients will benefit from having access to a more comprehensive suite of services.”

The firms will also collaborate on joint learning sessions, client workshops, and selective co-branded initiatives, reinforcing a shared commitment to thoughtful leadership, strong culture, and long-term organizational performance.

This partnership represents a deliberate step in building a next-generation Human Capital and Advisory Platform—one that grows thoughtfully through aligned partnerships and future expansion. We’re purposefully structured to offer the reach and resources of a larger firm while maintaining the personal attention and care of a boutique partner. We believe when the right people thrive, organizations do too.