About Us

Working with an executive search partner may sound like a daunting task, but few teams offer the level of commitment, transparency and experience that we do. Each client we work with becomes an extension of ourselves and the work we do directly impacts their organization, their growth, their leadership and the direction of their company.

This enormous responsibility is not one that we take lightly. Choosing to put the client at the center of all that we do is only possible when we remain committed to our core values of Integrity, Collaboration and Quality.

Integrity

Choosing to partner with an executive search firm is a commitment that only works when both parties are working towards a mutually beneficial outcome that places the client’s needs front and center. This means making transparency and honesty the top priority in all of our dealings with both clients and prospective candidates.

Collaboration

It’s one thing to be “client-focused” and another to be truly collaborative. Our highly collaborative process starts with a detailed client needs-based discussion that puts you at the center of the equation. Approaching each client relationship with real, genuine curiosity and ensuring we have an exceptional understanding of our clients goals is ultimately what ensures a successful outcome for the companies we work with. Schooner Executive Search offers end-to-end, full-service capabilities that includes a detailed assessment of client needs, committee review and approval of customized search recommendations, and commitment of resources to oversee the entire search life cycle from needs assessment to on-boarding of a new candidate.

Quality

Ask any of our clients what sets us apart from our competitors and the resounding answer is always “quality”. Thanks to decades of direct operational leadership roles we’ve held, we know better than anyone that high-performing candidates are multi-faceted. No other team takes the time or puts forth more energy to get to know those candidates on a deeper level to uncover their motivations, hidden capabilities and skillsets and translate those to quantifiable qualities that can fuel our clients’ growth.

Our Team

We are one of the few teams in the executive search industry whose partners hail directly from operational leadership roles, having overseen several functions in a hands-on capacity before transitioning over to recruitment. The result is an unparalleled level of business acumen that allows our team to assess your business and offer out-of-the-box solutions and candidates that no other search firm can.

Chris Schoonmaker

Founding Partner

Professional Experience: Prior to starting Schooner Executive Search LLC, Chris spent almost 20 years working exclusively within the construction industry focusing on both residential and commercial construction for both S & A Homes and Poole Anderson Construction, industry-leading and award-winning Top 100 companies by ENR. During this time, Chris held roles of Regional Manager, Vice President of Construction, Vice President of Sales, Vice President of Land and finally President.

As President, Chris oversaw all operational and strategic initiatives at the company to achieve corporate objectives and to ensure short & long-term growth. In doing so, the most important aspect of his job was to ensure the companies had the most talented people at all positions within the organization to achieve long-term goals.

Education: B.S. & M.B.A. from the Pennsylvania State University

Additional Activities: Outside of work, Chris spends time working with many volunteer organizations such as The Pennsylvania Builders Association, Habitat for Humanity, YMCA and other local youth sports associations either coaching and / or serving on the board of directors.

Ashleigh Shetler

Founding Partner

Professional Experience: Ashleigh Shetler offers a diverse skillset and background in executive leadership centering around recruitment, business development, training and marketing with the singular goal of growing organizations with the highest-caliber professionals in the industry. Ashleigh started her career in sales and later oversaw the training and development of several divisions as a Regional Training & Development Manager for NVR, one of the nation’s largest home building companies. She later took her skills to S&A Homes where she held several cross-functional roles including Director of Training & Development and Marketing Director and oversaw all recruitment and hiring initiatives. Ashleigh has also launched a successful woman-led consulting firm where she has used her expertise to advise start-up companies, private equity funds and commercial construction companies on organizational growth strategies.

Education: B.S. Marketing & International Business – The Pennsylvania State University (Graduated with distinction)

Additional Activities: Ashleigh has held several leadership and board positions at various non-profit organizations including the Junior League, Bella Boutique and the Mount Nittany Health Foundation where she has played a critical role in fundraising and development activities.

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Our Process