About Spano Pratt

Our Story

For the last 20 years, Spano Pratt has been firmly rooted in an inspirational vision to make the serendipitous magic that happens when passion and talent are matched with the right opportunity. After two decades of helping hundreds of professionals find fulfilling nonprofit work, the firm continues to specialize in representing employment with purpose. Under the ownership of The LAK Group, that great work continues. But now we can offer so much more.

With The LAK Group, one of the Midwest’s premier human resources consultancies and human capital strategies experts, Spano Pratt can offer more comprehensive capabilities in executive search, along with new offerings like leadership development, executive coaching, and transforming company cultures. We remain strongly committed to the mission of enhancing the quality of communities through the recruitment and placement of highly qualified leaders. This partnership is a positive progression and broadens our capabilities. It’s the perfect extension of the original vision laid out by co-founders Rose Spano Iannelli and Jamie Pratt, and to this day continue to carry out their company credo – Don’t get a job, get a passion.

 

About Us Page - About Spano Pratt

What We Do

What We Do

Spano Pratt Executive Search is a leading privately-held executive search firm providing exceptional proven results securing top talent to the nonprofit sector. We conduct searches for leaders at the CEO/President, Executive Director, Vice President, and Director levels. We have an excellent track record as successful executive search consultants able to deliver a diverse slate of candidates.

Our firm is committed to success with every project and provides personal attention to every search. Our consultants are trained in board governance and are active board directors with firsthand knowledge of governance and the role of trustees. National research capabilities enable us to serve as an effective recruitment partner within the nonprofit sector.

About Our Team

The power of Spano Pratt lies in the diverse talents of our team, representing employment with purpose. Each member is dedicated to making the magic that happens when passion and talent are matched with the right opportunity.

Professional headshot of Managing Partner Mike Milsted

Mike Milsted

President, Managing Partner
mmilsted@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of Managing Partner Michael Grubich

Michael Grubich

President, Managing Partner
mgrubich@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of Lindsey Kriete

Lindsey Kriete

Practice Leader
lkriete@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of Diana Kreiling

Diana Kreiling

Senior Recruiter
dkreiling@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of Kim Stankowski

Kim Stankowski

Executive Recruiter
kim@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of Kim Stankowski

Lisa Maddox

Executive Search Consultant
lisa@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of McKenna Stern

McKenna Stern

Project Coordinator
mstern@lak-group.com

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.

Professional headshot of Dave Gromacki

Dave Gromacki

Vice President, Client Solutions
dgromacki@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional Headshot of Shelly Beaver

Shelly Beaver

Executive Career Coach
sbeaver@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of Co-Founder Rose Spano Iannelli

Rose Spano Iannelli

Co-Founder
rspano@spanopratt.com

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.

Professional headshot of Co-Founder Jamie Pratt

Jamie Pratt

Co-Founder
jpratt@spanopratt.com

Jamie Pratt is a co-founder of Spano Pratt Executive Search where she cultivates and oversees the not-for-profit search practice of Spano Pratt. She has over 20 years experience and is a subject matter expert in developing search strategies, particularly in the non-profit sector. She is skilled at driving searches to successful fruition and mentoring executive-level candidates.

Critical to the pre-employment and employment negotiation process, Jamie has over 25 years as a human resource professional and holds an SPHR, a professional human resource certification, as well as a business degree in public administration. Jamie also has spoken on numerous occasions to organizations such as the Association for Fund Raising Professionals, Partnership for Philanthropic Planning, and the Jesuit Advancement Administrators organization on topics such as navigating the non-profit career path and employee engagement.

Prior to founding Spano Pratt, Jamie spent ten years in senior-level management and in a Vice President role for a talent acquisition firm. Jamie is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International, and a member of the Women’s Leadership Collaborative, Milwaukee Women Inc., Immediate Past President for Professional Dimensions, the Society of Human Resource Management, Association of Fundraising Professionals, and was Board President of the Mukwonago Education Foundation.

Jamie received the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award in 2000 and in 2015 Jamie was selected to receive the Milwaukee Business Journal Woman of Influence Award.

Some of our clients

Healthcare and Human Services
Special Olympics Wisconsin
Lutheran Counseling and Family Services
Guest House of Milwaukee
Briarpatch Youth Services
United Way Racine
Lad Lake
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Curative Care Network
ProHealth Care Foundation
Froedtert Hospital Foundation
Vivent Health
Health Care Network
Advocate/Aurora Health Care
Luther Manor and Luther Manor Foundation
Rogers Memorial Hospital
Sojourner Family Peace Center
UMOS
Versiti
Lutheran Home and Harwood Place

 

 

 

 

 

Foundations and Associations
Greater Milwaukee Foundation
Johnson Foundation at Wingspread
Milwaukee Brewers Community Foundation
Milwaukee Bar Association
Oshkosh Area Community Foundation
Tempo
Professional Dimensions
American Society for Quality
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
National Funeral Directors Foundation
New England Water Works Association
Portland Water District
Greater Green Bay Community Foundation
Siebert Lutheran Foundation
Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Foundation
Education
Milwaukee Art Museum
Jewish Museum Milwaukee
Jesuit Nativity School
UW – Oshkosh
Marquette University
MIAD
Educare (Buffett Foundation)
Next Door
UW – Milwaukee
Lakeshore Technical College
Alverno College
Marian University
Arts
88Nine – Radio Milwaukee
Marcus Center for the Performing Arts
Milwaukee Ballet
Milwaukee Repertory Theatre
United Performing Arts Fund
John Michael Kohler Art Center
Milwaukee Art Museum

Why retain us

Two professionals discussing business strategy for nonprofit placements

Our Business Strategy.

It’s relationships. Since our firm began, we have focused our strategic energy on building deep relationships with our clients.  This has resulted in successfully cultivating quality versus quantity search assignments. This strategy has benefited our clients by providing fewer blocks of “off-limit” candidates who are currently employed with former or client companies.

Diversity and Inclusion.

It’s intentional and a commitment.  Since beginning the firm over 20 years ago; the goal was and remains a commitment to deliver a diverse slate of candidates in every search.  Over the past three years, over 50 percent of our firm’s placements have been diverse (people of color and/or women).  We partner with nonprofit employers who understand the importance of hiring a leadership team that reflects the community it serves.

Diverse female professionals in an interview
Diverse group of professionals smiling and enjoying working together on a nonprofit executive search

Communication and Process.

It’s thorough. Our constant communication throughout the search and our ability to drive the process quickly to fruition is a key benefit for our clients.

We are Fun & Easy to Work With.

We have fun.  We love what we do and we can help you find the joy in transition.

Cultural Fit.

We get it. The ability to identify and match a candidate to the employer’s culture is one of the key differences that sets us apart from electronic recruitment companies or large faceless search firms.

Talent Network.

We create the magnet. Our strong network of exceptional leadership talent, a robust database with over 40,000 active and diverse professionals, and our research expertise to identify those hard-to-find people moves the search process along quickly.

Solo female working on a laptop determining if her candidate is a cultural fit for her client

Trusted Partners 

SHRM logo representing our commitment to staying current with HR best practices
SHRM logo representing our commitment to staying current with HR best practices
You can trust us. We are proud to have earned the trust of many respected business leaders seeking to build exceptional teams. As business partners we are committed to staying current within Human Resource hiring practices and support SHRM as an updated resource to guide the process.

What Our Clients Are Saying

Spano Pratt Logo in white

Rick Schlesinger

“Spano Pratt brings a level of professionalism, preparation, and diligence to the executive search process that is unmatched by its competitors. Jamie gave our search top priority and provided wisdom and guidance to help us navigate through a field of high-quality candidates.”
Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with

Karen Vernal

“I have great appreciation for the work that Rose does with integrity, thoughtfulness and care. I have recommended Rose and her company to several of our clients who have been very pleased with the search and placement Rose and her team have brought to the management ranks in those companies. Rose is thorough in her approach. She takes the time to understand the culture of an organization as well as the talent that the organization needs. The screening that Spano Pratt does of candidates ensures that the match with the client organization will work well. I am honored to have Spano Pratt as a Strategic Partner.”

Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with

Peter Sommerhauser

“Rose led the search process to hire the new Executive Director of Lake Valley Camp. She understood the board’s desires for leadership and did a great job identifying and sorting applicants to limit board time. She organized and participated in all interviews and led the on-boarding process. The results were excellent for the camp and the children it serves.”

Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with

Danae Davis

“Working with Spano Pratt Executive Search firm, and particularly Jamie Pratt has always been a wonderful and successful experience for me as an executive nonprofit leader. The process is customized, efficient, and runs like a well-oiled machine, yielding awesome results! Through the partnership process Jamie leads, she instills great confidence that you will be presented with outstanding candidates that truly fit what you are looking for in the very best and diverse talent in the marketplace.”

Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with

What Our Clients Are Saying

Spano Pratt Logo in white

Dawn Adams

Spano Pratt provides incomparable service and results to its clients. The team balances a no nonsense approach with friendly, thoughtful demeanors. The Spano Pratt team offers many years of expertise in the talent acquisition industry and it shows! All engagements are handled with exceptional professionalism, follow through, and care to present clients with only the most qualified candidates. I am proud to know Rose and Jamie–as a former candidate and current colleague.
Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with

Todd Nilson

Jamie hired me at Olsten Professional Staffing as an Information Technology recruiter in charge of both direct hire and contracting business. During the years I worked for her at Olsten, I quickly realized that as a manager and mentor I could not have done better. Jamie’s working style is collaborative. Instead of managing her employees, her approach is probably best described as a facilitator. She held her team to standards of performance, but spoke about those goals with encouragement and insight borne from experience.

Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with

Phyllis King

Rose is an excellent planner, organizer, and strategic thinker. She consistently delivers on plans, often exceeding expectations.

Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with

Danae Davis

“Working with Spano Pratt Executive Search firm, and particularly Jamie Pratt has always been a wonderful and successful experience for me as an executive nonprofit leader. The process is customized, efficient, and runs like a well-oiled machine, yielding awesome results! Through the partnership process Jamie leads, she instills great confidence that you will be presented with outstanding candidates that truly fit what you are looking for in the very best and diverse talent in the marketplace.”

Five star rating from happy clients we've worked with