As a leading provider of recruitment services, Merraine, a Shepherd Search Group company, has carved a niche in the industry through its innovative approach to candidate recruitment and screening coupled with the firm’s unwavering commitment to “smashing the norms.”
Established in 2001, Merraine Group is a firm specializing in executive search and recruitment, interim staffing, RPO (Recruitment Process Outsourcing) as well as career coaching and training.
As a WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise) certified firm, Merraine is committed to a recruitment process devoid of all bias and committed to the recruitment of candidates that fall outside of traditional recruitment sources.
“Our position,” according to Meredith Gantshar, Chairperson “is to ensure we are looking for the most qualified candidate even if they are not particularly easy to find. This meant the tools and methods used by recruitment firms over the last couple of generations had to be rewritten so as to ensure we can find the most qualified candidate regardless of how long it takes.”
By challenging these norms and building their own tools, Merraine has been able to establish key performance indicators separating their firm from many of the “well established” industry leaders. Some of these norms include running a two-shift operation, publicly sharing retention rates, offering industry guarantees that go far beyond client expectations and a DEIA strategy that holds the firm to the same standards as their customers.
As the sixth largest executive search firm within health and human services, Merraine has demonstrated its leadership by asking their clients what they need as opposed to watching the competition.
By taking a distinctive approach, Merraine sets itself apart from its competitors. While many organizations delegate tasks to different team members, the firm remains governed by its founders who participate in candidate selection and client development on a daily basis. Through this hands-on approach, individuals gain a deeper understanding of an organization’s culture, allowing them to align themselves with their career goals and aspirations.
President & Managing Director of the firm, David Gantshar, is known for traveling over 250,000 miles per year. “You can’t know your customer if you’re not willing to visit them, walk in their shoes, understand their concerns and spend time in their community,” says Gantshar. “My priority is to spend 50% of the year on the road with our clients and the other 50% ensuring our recruitment process is aligned with their objectives.”
Another pivotal aspect differentiating Merraine is its commitment to preserving a hospital’s profile throughout the recruitment journey. The firm’s diligent professional team works closely with clients, leaving no room for deviation. A key objective of the organization is to deliver the highest quality talent that is meticulously tailored to meet clients’ individual needs. A thorough analysis of the client’s requirements combined with a keen understanding of their culture has resulted in sophisticated profiling techniques to produce a pre-qualified candidate “shortlist” that perfectly aligns with the client’s needs.
Through outstanding recognition and a track record of success, Merraine has solidified its leadership position within health, human services and education. Laura Burgess, VP of Talent for Merraine remarked “In 2022, we had our best year ever with revenues and searches up over 25%. However, what we’re most proud of are the company’s successful searches with more than 1,800 organizations and a diversity within our own firm that mirrors the very practices we talk about with our clients every day.”
While Merraine is evidently successful in recruitment, it recognizes that diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are crucial elements in the industry. Adopting these principles is more than a matter of social responsibility; it is a strategic imperative that directly impacts patient outcomes, quality of care, education and future generations.
Alfred Hankins, Director of DEIA at Merraine highlights ongoing progress while shedding light on the disparity among healthcare systems regarding establishing dedicated roles for DEIA. “Although diversity recruitment efforts have experienced recent growth, numerous healthcare systems still fall short in these areas,” he remarks. The notable sluggishness in this process, reflecting a delayed response, underscores the urgency to expedite these efforts within the field.
Moreover, the leaders of Merraine emphasize that even when these roles are in place, organization stakeholders may still need to comprehend the significance fully. Recognizing the importance of education, he stresses the need for recruitment efforts to be accompanied by fostering understanding and appreciation for the pivotal role diversity and inclusion play within health and human services. He asserts that forging partnerships with community organizations and healthcare systems can only promote a shared understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion in the industry.
Diversity and inclusion extend beyond executive positions, as providing healthcare to diverse populations necessitates a workforce embodying cultural awareness, sensitivity, and competency.
This imperative arises from the requirement to address disparities in healthcare quality caused by factors such as income, ethnicity, and age.
Through these concerted efforts, Merraine empowers its clients to enhance outcomes and create an environment that embraces the needs of all individuals.
“Within the past year, we’ve added a Physician Recruitment Team as well as a Career Coaching Group built upon the best practices we have witnessed and been teaching for over two decades.” When asked about their success the Gantshar’s are in full agreement, “We believe whatever success we have achieved is due to the amazing team we have assembled and the passion we have for the field. We see what we do as a calling, and it is a real opportunity for us to be able to work with leaders shaping the physical and mental health of our communities.” Merraine’s steadfast dedication to excellence positions them as agents reshaping recruitment, one candidate at a time.
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