Good afternoon,

I’m excited to launch this monthly newsletter to give you a clearer window into what’s happening inside CSP and what we’re seeing firsthand across our searches, client work, and conversations in the market.

Each edition will keep you in the loop with key takeaways from our team’s work, events worth attending, and, of course, one of the yellow sticky notes.

We’re expecting an update from the BLS as early as tomorrow now that the government is back online. As soon as it drops, I’ll share what we’re seeing.

Quotes & The Stories Behind Them

This is a section I've thought about sharing for quite some time. If you've ever walked past my office, old space or new, you’ve seen the quote wall. It’s quirky, a little chaotic, but an opportunity of thought and release.

The wall of yellow sticky notes: my collection of small phrases gathered from moments that mattered. Some are my own words, some came from people I love, and others were borrowed from voices that reached me at the right time.

Each quote has a story behind it. A memory. A lesson. A feeling I didn’t want to forget. This collection isn’t just about the words themselves, but about the moments that gave them meaning.

"You need to work hard to be lucky."

— Fortune Cookie

This one came from a lunch meeting very early in my career and has always stuck with me. I've shared it more times than I can count. I still have it taped to the inside of my old Stephen James Associates leather portfolio, the same one I’ve brought into countless meetings over the years.

In any production-driven environment, success isn’t handed to you. You chase it. And there are stretches where nothing seems to go right, where the effort feels heavy, and the results feel distant. Early on, I learned that those moments are part of the process.

For me this quote has nothing to do with 'luck.' Some don't believe in luck at all. What I’ve seen is that “luck” tends to show up after you’ve stayed in the game one more day, made one more call, pushed through one more challenge, and stayed focused one more round.

Hard work doesn’t guarantee success, but it creates the space where a win can finally catch up to you.

The Work.

Across the searches we’re supporting, one trend continues to stand out: time-to-hire is rising, and it’s becoming a defining factor in securing top talent.

Our retained and exclusive search partnerships remain the most successful approach, largely due to the shared commitment, alignment, and momentum they create on both sides. If you'd like to talk through what this could look like for your team, schedule a time to meet with me.

Thank you for keeping CSP in mind. We represent professional and executive-level search and are currently supporting companies in these areas:

We’re also seeing steady growth in requests for fractional HR support as organizations look for flexible expertise during periods of transition. In addition, as several companies undergo restructuring, our Chesapeake HR Solutions team has been engaged in multiple outplacement projects to ensure smooth, supportive offboarding experiences.

Events Worth Attending

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