Celebrating Peer-Driven Excellence: Elite Recruiter Awards Winners & Finalists 2025

Recognition from your peers just hits different. In the recruiting world, the highest compliment isn’t a trophy on your shelf or a quota smashed – it’s a shout-out from another recruiter who’s walked in your shoes. We all know those colleagues who quietly make everyone around them better. They take our late-night calls, give real-talk feedback when it stings, and inspire us to up our game. Honoring those unsung heroes of recruiting isn’t just feel-good fluff; it elevates the whole industry.

That spirit sparked the first-ever Elite Recruiter Awards, a fully peer-driven celebration of excellence. No popularity contests or revenue tallies here every single nomination was a write-in from recruiters recognizing each other’s impact. The response was incredible: so many recruiters cast their votes, eager to shine a spotlight on the mentors, teammates, and leaders who truly made a difference. This inaugural edition also had a few special twists, boutique firms held their own against big players, and we even introduced a new Tech Tool category to honor the technology that powers our recruiting efforts. It’s clear that every corner of our community contributed to these results.

Elite Recruiter of the Year

Winner: Mike Williams
Finalists: Brent Orsuga, Chris Relth

The Elite Recruiter of the Year is the highest honor, recognizing an individual who excelled in every facet of recruiting. Mike Williams earned this title through exceptional performance and leadership, making a lasting impact on clients and candidates alike. Brent Orsuga and Chris Relth, our finalists, also demonstrated world-class recruiting prowess and set a high standard with their results this year.

Most Impactful Recruiter

Winners: Chris Relth and Caitlin Burke
Finalist: Danny Cahill

In an unprecedented result, two winners emerged for Most Impactful Recruiter. Both Chris Relth and Caitlin Burke made waves in 2025, each profoundly influencing the recruiting community and the lives of countless candidates. Their work – from strategic headhunting to overcoming personal adversity – resonated with peers, earning them a tied victory. Veteran recruiter Danny Cahill was another top contender, and as a finalist he’s recognized for his significant contributions and long-term impact on the industry.

Best Recruiting Leader/Founder

Winner: Dante Nino
Finalist: Aaron Opalewski

This category honors those who not only recruit talent but also lead teams and organizations to new heights. Dante Nino took home Best Recruiting Leader/Founder, a testament to his visionary leadership in building successful recruiting strategies and teams. Aaron Opalewski, as the finalist, also showcased outstanding leadership and entrepreneurial spirit in the recruiting field, making his mark as a founder to watch.

Recruiter You’d Want on Your Team

Winner: Abby Creager
Finalist: Danny Cahill

Recruiting is a team sport, and this fun category highlights the professionals everyone would love to work with. Abby Creager earned the title of “Recruiter You’d Want on Your Team” by showcasing exceptional teamwork, reliability, and results – the kind of recruiter who elevates everyone around them. Industry legend Danny Cahill appears again as a finalist here, reflecting how widely he’s respected for his experience and team-first mentality.

Recruiter Who Influenced Me the Most

Winners: Brent Orsuga, Matt Walsh, and Greg Benadiba
Finalist: Danny Cahill

Great recruiters don’t just place candidates – they influence peers and protégés. This year, three names stood out equally in the community vote. Brent Orsuga, Matt Walsh, and Greg Benadiba each earned a Recruiter Who Influenced Me the Most award, showing how their content, mentorship, and example have inspired fellow recruiters across the globe. Danny Cahill, another familiar name, was a finalist in this category as well, underscoring his broad influence on the recruiting profession.

Recruiter I’d Want as a Mentor

Winners: Julia Arpag, Rich Rosen, and Randee Staats
Finalist: Kortney Harmon, Brian Fink

Every great career is built on guidance from those who’ve been there before. Julia Arpag, Rich Rosen, and Randee Staats were all co-awarded Recruiter I’d Want as a Mentor, thanks to their reputation for sharing knowledge and coaching others in the industry. Each of them has made a deep impression on colleagues who seek to learn and grow. Kortney Harmon was also highly rated, earning the finalist spot for the mentor category and reflecting her positive influence on up-and-coming recruiters.

Best Recruiting Team/Firm

Winners: Artemis, Carnegie Search, and Tiello
Finalist: Coastal Recruiting

Recruiting is often a team effort, and some teams truly shine. In fact, the community couldn’t pick just one this year – three outstanding teams tied as winners. Artemis, Carnegie Search, and Tiello all earned the Best Recruiting Team/Firm award for their collective excellence in service, collaboration, and results. Each firm has demonstrated a commitment to quality and innovation that set them apart. Coastal Recruiting was close on their heels as the finalist, showing strong performance and team spirit worthy of recognition.

Coach of the Year

Winner: Clark Willcox
Finalists: Donnie Gupton, Keely Flood, Mark Whitby, Mike Anderson

Even the best recruiters benefit from great coaches. Coach of the Year recognizes those who dedicate themselves to training and uplifting others in recruiting. Clark Willcox won this award, reflecting his exceptional skill in coaching recruiters to reach new performance levels. The finalist lineup – Donnie Gupton, Keely Flood, Mark Whitby, and Mike Anderson – is a who’s who of respected recruitment coaches. Each finalist has helped transform careers and teams, making a lasting impact through guidance and education.

Best Recruiting Tech Tool

Winner: LinkedIn
Finalist: Pin

The tools we use can make or break our recruiting efforts. It’s no surprise that LinkedIn clinched the Best Recruiting Tech Tool of the year – as the go-to platform for sourcing and networking, LinkedIn remains an indispensable resource for recruiters everywhere. Pin (a rising recruiting tech solution) was the finalist, indicating that innovation in our field is alive and well. From AI-driven analytics to niche sourcing platforms, technology continues to revolutionize how we recruit, and these tools are at the forefront of that change.

Elite Recruiter Podcast Episode of the Year

Winner: “The Art of Strategic Headhunting” featuring Chris Relth
Finalist: “From Athlete to Top Recruiter: How Mindset, Grit, and Drive Helped Caitlin Burke Overcome Cancer and Paralysis”

As host of The Elite Recruiter Podcast, this category is especially close to my heart. Our Podcast Episode of the Year winner was “The Art of Strategic Headhunting,” an insightful conversation with Chris Relth that clearly struck a chord with listeners seeking to elevate their recruiting game. The runner-up episode, featuring Caitlin Burke’s inspirational journey from athlete to top recruiter (overcoming cancer and paralysis along the way), was a powerful story of resilience that resonated deeply with our community. Both episodes exemplify what the podcast is all about – sharing knowledge, strategies, and personal stories that help recruiters grow.  

Note: To ensure broad recognition across the community, award rules limited each individual to winning one top category — with the exception of the Elite Recruiter of the Year category. Once someone secured a win, they were removed from winner consideration elsewhere. All results were determined through peer voting.

Why These Awards Matter

Each of these categories and honorees tells a story about where the recruiting industry is headed. From embracing new technology to doubling down on mentorship and human connection, our winners and finalists embody the values that keep our field evolving. The Elite Recruiter Awards are more than a trophy – they’re a celebration of hard work, innovation, and community support. When peers vote and recognize each other, it shows that our community thrives on lifting each other up and learning from one another’s successes.

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists! Your achievements not only earned you a well-deserved accolade, but also inspire the rest of us to improve and aim higher in our own careers. To everyone who participated – whether by voting, nominating, or cheering on a colleague – thank you for strengthening the bonds in our recruiting community.

What’s your biggest takeaway from this year’s awards? Feel free to share your thoughts or shout-out other recruiting rockstars in the comments – let’s keep the celebration going and the inspiration flowing. And for more information about The Elite Recruiter Podcast, upcoming events, or how to get involved in the Elite Recruiter community, be sure to visit The Elite Recruiter Podcast website. Here’s to another year of growth, learning, and elite recruiting – and to all of you who make this community exceptional!