Our human resources  experience

180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Bennett and the resulting hire of their new Chief Financial Officer Founded in 1929, Bennett is a trusted, family-led provider of water, plant health, and energy solutions for growers with locations in California’s Central Valley and Hawaii. Based in Selma, California, and now led by fourth-generation CEO Tyler Bennett, the company offers fully integrated services to maximize resource efficiency - delivering turnkey solutions that help customers maximize yields, improve water efficiency, and enhance crop health. What began as a family-run business, Bennett grew alongside the farming communities it served, built on a commitment to practical solutions, dependable service, and long-term relationships. Over the decades, Bennett continued to evolve with the needs of the industry. As agriculture faced new challenges around efficiency, resource management, and crop performance, the company expanded its capabilities to support operations in more ways. Through each stage of that growth, one principle remained constant: focus on solving real problems in the field and stand behind their work. In August of 2025, Pike Street Capital made an investment in Bennett to help facilitate continued growth and geographical expansion. More information is available at www.bennett.llc . Congratulations to Bennett and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!

180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Milwaukee Electronics and the resulting hire of their new Chief Financial Officer Milwaukee Electronics (MEC) was founded in 1954, offering services in circuit board design and PCBA assembly to the mining industry in the Wisconsin, USA, region. Michael Stoehr purchased the company in 1985 with the mission of creating a business that would put customers first and be a fulfilling place to work for the employees serving those customers. MEC has since grown into an international organization with locations in Wisconsin, Oregon, Mexico, India, and Singapore, serving a multitude of industries and customers from Fortune 50 companies to small, privately held organizations. Jered Stoehr is the second generation to take the Chief Executive helm, carrying on his father’s customers-first legacy and ensuring that MEC maintains the entrepreneurial spirit that has allowed the company to continually expand its range of services, maintain decades-long customer relationships, and provide careers for many dedicated employees. MEC services include: End-to-end electronics manufacturing services, including PCBA, box build, and test Program management, including supply chain and logistics management Quick-turn prototype and on-demand manufacturing Their Mission is Acceleration. For customers, they bring innovations to life from prototype to production. They turn their vision into reality and accelerate what’s possible through partnership, a commitment to quality, and flexible processes. For employees, they create opportunities to grow and change. Through continuous learning programs, internal promotions, and a culture of personal care, MEC accelerate the cycle of abundance for our people and our communities. Their 70+ years in electronics innovation is powered by their incredible people, from the factory floor to the corporate office, who bring this mission to life each day. Congratulations to Milwaukee Electronics and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!

180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with the Papé Group and the resulting hire of their new Vice President of Human Resources With roots dating back to 1938, The Papé Group is the West’s leading supplier of capital equipment solutions. Today, Papé operates across nine states with over 4,000 team members, proudly representing premier brands including John Deere, Kenworth, Hyster, Ditch Witch, and more. What sets Papé apart is its commitment to long-term relationships, both with customers and employees. As a fourth-generation, family-led business, Papé believes in the value of a handshake, the importance of service, and the impact of leadership that stays close to the work. Congratulations to the Papé Group and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!

180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Les Schwab and the resulting hire of their new Director of Training & Development! Founded in 1952 by Les Schwab, this organization has grown into one of the largest independent tire retailers in the US, with over 530 locations and more than 8,000 employees, and is a top service provider, having won the 2021 Customer Satisfaction award in our category by JD Power. Les Schwab continues to grow and innovate in both products and services, including through new store openings and geographic expansion.  Congratulations to Les Schwab and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!

180one congratulates S.R. Smith on the recent appointment of Kirsten Alvares as the new Vice President of Human Resources. For more than 85 years, S.R. Smith has had a singular focus: Create products that make the pool experience better for both swimmers and owners. If it involves a pool, chances are they’ve “seen it” and if there’s a way to improve, they’ll find it. They were the first to manufacture diving boards on a commercial scale the first to focus on salt-friendly products. Receiving her BA degree in English from Portland State University, Kirsten is an accomplished human resource leader with over 20 years of experience in the field. Most recently she was the VP of Human Resources at Gerber, here in Portland, where she was responsible for the administration, interpretation and development of all Gerber HR practices, policies, plans and procedures. 180one enjoyed partnering with S.R. Smith on this important VP search and we wish Kirsten all the best as she joins the team!

180one assisted M Financial Group in the search for a Director of Human Resources to develop and manage recruiting, training, benefits and other programs at the firm’s headquarters in Portland, Oregon. After conducting a targeted search, 180one worked with M Financial to select Jodi Whisman to join the organization. Whisman brings nearly 20 years of strategic HR and business partnering experience to the role. Much of her career has been spent with well-known Portland tech companies, including overseeing recruiting and talent management at VTech and Jive Software . Most recently Whisman was Director, Leadership and Organizational Development, at OCHIN, Inc. , where she developed and led organizational design, change management and employee engagement and retention. She holds a Master’s in Management with an emphasis on HR Management from University of Mary and a BA in Communication from North Dakota State University , as well as her PHR certification. 180one was thrilled to partner with M Financial in this search for a critical new hire. Congratulations to M Financial!

180one enjoyed partnering with Relay Resources , one of Portland’s top nonprofit organizations, to recruit a new Director of Human Resources. After conducting a search in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Relay Resources selected Elizabeth Kurtz for the role. Kurtz joins Relay Resources with more than 15 years of HR leadership experience. She spent much of her career in the professional services industry, overseeing talent acquisition, training, organizational development, employee relations, compensation and more for organizations such as KPMG . Always drawn to purpose-driven organizations, Kurtz brings her ability to align people initiatives with business strategies to Relay Resources. 180one is proud to continue to partner with Relay Resources and other Portland-based organizations that are committed to strengthening our community. Congratulations to Relay Resources on this important hire! 

180one recently worked with Columbia Distributing , one of the nation’s largest malt beverage, wine and non-alcoholic beverage distributors, to appoint Michelle Rose as the Director of Human Resources. Prior to joining the Columbia team, Rose managed the human resources organization and facilitated training and organizational development for Siltronic Corporation . She holds a BA in Psychology from Portland State University and an MBA in Organizational Effectiveness from Marylhurst University , as well as her SPHR certification. 180one was proud to partner with Columbia on this successful hire!

180one congratulates Reed College in selecting Michelle Valintis as the school's new Director of Human Resources. Reed was founded in 1908 in Portland, Ore., and provides one of the nation's most intellectually rigorous undergraduate experiences to more than 1400 students. Valintis brings more than 10 years of HR management to the role. Before joining the Reed community, she served as Director of HR at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine , as well as led the HR function for Genentech in San Francisco. At Reed, she will serve as a member of the President's Senior Staff and lead a team of four to provide HR services for the college's 500+ faculty and staff. Congratulations to Reed College on this critical hire!

180one congratulates TriMet , the seventh largest public transit provider in the United States, in selecting Randy Stedman as Executive Director of Labor Relations and HR. In this role, Stedman will lead the labor relations and human resources organization for the agency, which employs more than 2400 people, and serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Stedman brings more than 20 years of labor and HR experience to the role, including serving as a labor and employment lawyer before leading the HR functions for various private and government entities. Before joining TriMet, he founded a successful labor relations and HR consulting practice . Stedman holds a BA and MS from California State University and a law degree from Vanderbilt University . As the Executive Director of Labor Relations and HR, Stedman will oversee programs and activities including labor contract policy development, negotiations and administration; labor relations; and human resources programs and staff development. Congratulations to TriMet on this successful hire!