About Spano Pratt

Mike brings extensive experience to the talent acquisition, executive search, and leadership development space to Spano Pratt and LAK Group. He serves as a trusted sounding board for clients and helps clients drive towards success. Mike has long been a leader in the management consulting industry. As President and Managing Partner he brings extensive leadership experience from Fortune 100 companies and small family-owned businesses.

Prior to joining LAK Group in 2016, he served as an executive leader for 15 years within Right Management/ManpowerGroup, and led sales operations at Hitachi Data Solutions, Keane Consulting, and Computer Task Group. Mike’s journey began as a Social Worker at a local family advocacy shelter, fueling his commitment to making a difference. With a focus on identifying desired organizational impact, Mike’s work aligns talent to enable that vision.

Mike has a passion for empowering people and organizations to find the courage and live their purpose. As a business founder, owner, author, and leader, he guides organizations in finding their rhythm and balance to align their strategies. While excelling in the competitive landscape of corporate America, Mike felt compelled to build something more meaningful. Taking a leap of faith, he embarked on a journey to create something truly special.

With a bachelor’s in psychology and social welfare from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Mike’s journey began as a Social Worker at a local family advocacy shelter, fueling his commitment to making a difference. Mike actively contributes to his community by serving on the Board of Directors for Habitat For Humanity Wisconsin and The Boy Scouts of America. Previously, he chaired the Board of Directors for the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin. Additionally, Mike has dedicated his time and energy to volunteer with remarkable groups such as Habitat For Humanity, Special Olympics of Wisconsin, Best Buddies, Boys and Girls Club, and Junior Achievement.

Michael brings extensive talent development and acquisition experience to Spano Pratt/LAK. President and Managing Partner of The LAK Group since 2016, Mike understands talent inside and out and has a passion for building star-studded organizations that are talent magnets. He has a profound understanding of how talent can transform culture and believes transformation is an everyday act of will. He believes that great employees don’t just walk into an organization, they’re strategically hired and carefully developed. Mike helps develop great leaders because he believes they can be huge differentiators for organizations, communities, and the world.

Before Spano Pratt, Mike served in senior executive roles in a number of organizations, including Advocate Aurora Health, CNH Industrial, Kohler Company and Jockey International. He has led both global and domestic teams and has extensive experience working with executive leaders and teams.

Mike received his MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and has served on a number of non-profit boards of directors and has led the executive search processes with these organizations.  Mike has also led initiatives in board development, engagement and governance to increase the diversity and capabilities of non-profit boards.

Mike’s areas of expertise include Executive Coaching, Leadership/Talent Development,  Change and Succession Management,  Performance Consulting, Culture Shaping, Organizational Development, Assessment for Selection and development, and Executive Team Development.

Lindsey is the Practice Director of non-profit executive search at Spano-Pratt. She has a passion for helping mission-driven organizations to achieve leadership excellence. A seasoned senior leader, Lindsey has over 20 years of progressive experience in driving success and leading teams in a variety of businesses.

As the Chief Human Resource Officer at Gateway Studios & Production Services (GSPS), Lindsey has been instrumental in developing a strong corporate culture while formalizing talent acquisition, onboarding, and training programs. With her keen analytical skills, she provided valuable insights into workforce statistics and trending data, supporting budgeting and sustainable growth decisions. Lindsey’s ability to communicate effectively and engage employees has been pivotal in fostering a transparent and productive work environment.

Previously, as the Chief Operating Officer and Vice President of Human Resources at Lutheran Home & Harwood Place (LHHP), Lindsey successfully managed the execution of annual and long-range strategic plans. Her focus on fostering teamwork, collaboration, and communication across departments and campuses led to equability and consistency throughout the organization. In her role as VP of HR, she implemented employee engagement initiatives and developed effective recruitment strategies.

Lindsey’s exceptional leadership abilities, strategic thinking, and track record of business improvements make her a valuable asset to any organization. Her expertise in developing corporate culture, analyzing data, and fostering employee engagement can drive success and propel your organization forward.

Diana brings over 25 years of recruiting experience. Diana is a valuable member of the team and engages in candidate development and screening for alignment with skills and attributes. She is skilled at representing employment with a purpose and with a commitment to enhancing the quality of communities through the recruitment and placement of strong leaders in the nonprofit sector.

She has worked across a variety of industries including stints at Camping World, Vensure, Pathfinder-Health, and Northwestern Mutual. She also has nearly 10 years of experience in the sales and marketing industry, working as a director of marketing and in public relations.

Diana loves building relationships with search committees and hiring managers and truly learning their desired competencies, required skill sets, and culture fit. Additionally, she is always searching for new recruiting technology to better source and screen quality candidates.

She attended Vanderbilt University and earned her BA in psychology and a minor in political science. When she’s not using her extensive talents in recruiting, she takes part in her other passion: Yoga. She is a certified yoga instructor and an AFAA Certified fitness instructor as well. Diana is a student of life with insatiable energy and curiosity and is a community leader with passion for education and policy. She brings experience recruiting, coaching, and mentoring organizations, communities, and individuals. When she’s not plying her talent in the recruiting industry, Diana’s other passions include climbing 14,000-foot mountains in Colorado and visiting wineries.

As a valued member of Spano Pratt Executive Search for over 15 years, Kim has played a pivotal role in delivering exceptional results to clients in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors throughout the Midwest region.

Kim’s expertise lies in utilizing a variety of tools and strategies to identify and engage top-tier candidates. She is highly skilled in leveraging the Spano Pratt proprietary database, as well as social media platforms such as ZoomInfo and LinkedIn, along with various AI tools. With an intuitive and analytical approach, Kim excels in developing search strategies and utilizing assessment tools to identify the most suitable candidates for executive positions.

Kim is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in project management, human resources, and executive search. Her dedication to building trust and cultivating relationships is evident in her relaxed interview style, which helps candidates feel at ease while ensuring a comprehensive evaluation process. She has been formally trained by the Association of Executive Search Consultants, equipping her with the necessary skills to manage assessment tools and generate progress reports to track project milestones.

Lisa joined Spano Pratt after an accomplished 15-year career in the United States Intelligence Community and the establishment of her own small family history business. She applies her highly-trained, sophisticated research and analytical skills to ensure effective and smooth leadership transitions in the nonprofit sector. Lisa’s background offers a unique approach to interviewing and human assessment.

Lisa served in the Central Intelligence Agency for about ten years, where she researched, analyzed, wrote about, and briefed on complex international security and economic issues for senior US Government officials at the White House, National Security Council, Department of Defense, Treasury Department, and State Department. She managed high-profile teams, creating a vision for them, and leading programs of analysis and operations. Lisa served in two warzones and has traveled the world, facilitating a keen understanding and appreciation of different cultures and global perspectives. She also worked as a US State Department diplomat in New Delhi, India for two years.

Seeking to apply her hard-earned research, analysis, and people skills outside government, Lisa started her own family history business in 2019, where she crafts robust narratives about clients’ ancestors. She finds the work meaningful and challenging.

Outside work, Lisa serves on the board of directors for a nonprofit working to resettle Afghan refugees after the August 2021 fall of Kabul. She also is an active member of the Smithsonian Women’s Committee, which raises funds for and awards grants to numerous Smithsonian projects such as antiquity restoration and employing drone technology to observe bird nesting behaviors.

Lisa earned her Bachelor’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis and went on to earn her Master’s degree from Georgetown University. She currently lives in the Annapolis area with her husband and two daughters.

McKenna is an overachieving and ambitious new addition to Spano Pratt. Her strong work ethic and outgoing personality make her perfect for team building and being a part of a unified group of people focused on a goal. Her road to S/P started at the University of Wisconsin – Madison where in 2019 she received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, and a Certificate in European History. Before joining Spano Pratt, she worked as a recruiter for the greater Milwaukee area and was a Cast Member for the Walt Disney Company. She brings ample enthusiasm to the team and is always willing to learn and grow.

Dave partners with nonprofit clients to assess their business and talent challenges to develop solutions tailored to their unique needs. Dave serves as an advocate and trusted advisor to ensure that he delivers class-act candidates who meet executive search expectations. 

Dave has over 20 years of experience in leadership and talent management, delivering high-value talent and leadership solutions. He is a seasoned advisor who works with senior leaders to create, plan, and maximize their talent and team investments.

Shelly is a thoughtful HR leader with a passion for developing employees, supporting career goals, and lifelong learning. She has deep experience with a full range of human resource subject areas. Shelly is influential and intuitive, with strong organization, communication, and interpersonal skills. Shelly’s areas of expertise include facilitation, relationship building, negotiation, consensus building, and strong client relationship management skills. She has proven success in building productive, consultative and strategic relationships with C-suite leadership.

Rose is a co-founder of Spano Pratt Executive Search. She works diligently to understand the “corporate culture” and formula for the ideal candidate. Rose is a respected member of the executive search and human resource community and has led search assignments since 2000. She holds a SPHR professional human resource certification and a bachelor’s degree in business. In addition, she has been active in many professional organizations including Milwaukee Women Inc, an organization focusing on diversity in board governance.

Many of her articles related to talent selection have been published and she contributes regularly as a speaker on career transitions and is often quoted on the art of hiring for the right cultural fit. Rose is active in the community and skilled in board governance having served on the board of the Shorewood Community Foundation, and previously with the Columbia College of Nursing. In 2015, Rose received the Woman of Influence award from the Business Journal. Prior to forming Spano Pratt Executive Search, Rose spent 10 years in senior-level management roles and 6 years leading a talent acquisition organization.