(Story courtesy of Arco and Associates)
As founder and president of Jordan Search Consultants — a search firm providing healthcare, executive, and higher education recruitment solutions throughout the nation — Kathy Jordan and her staff help clients reduce time-to-hire, increase retention rates, and reduce recruitment costs. And she readily admits she could not have done it without the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.
In fact, when Kathy started Jordan Search Consultants in 2003, she was working out of her home. Within six months, she realized she needed to add staff, but did not have the revenue to both add staff and rent an office space. She was approved through the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (formerly the St. Louis County Economic Council) to use space in one of its incubators located at 743 Spirit 40 Park Drive in Chesterfield, Mo.
“I have very fond memories of this first office,” Jordan said. “We grew exponentially and gained clients that have remained clients to this day. We matured and grew up in this space. I am forever grateful to the St. Louis start-up community and St. Louis Economic Development Partnership.”
The Jordan Search Consultants team thrived in this environment for 4+ years, doubling in size from four employees to eight, and increasing annual revenue from $200,000 to almost $1 million.
In 2006, Jordan Search Consultants relocated and has continued to expand. In addition to growing staff and revenue, its service offerings have expanded. In the beginning, it only offered physician recruitment services. Through strategic acquisitions and mergers (one in 2012 and one in 2014), it was able to expand its service offerings to include healthcare executives and academic leadership positions. In addition, Jordan Search Consultants has evolved from serving regional clients to serving clients nationwide.
Today, Jordan Search Consultants creates innovative service models that leverage the clients’ internal resources to maximize effectiveness. This additional flexibility and customization sets the company apart from traditional staffing firms. It is able to prioritize client needs and relationships, while staying informed about—and responsive to—the ever-changing healthcare environment.
The Jordan Search Consultants team gives back to the community that gave it its start. Many of its employees give time, money, and effort to support worthy causes such as Ranken Jordan Children’s Hospital, Snowline Hospice, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Alzheimer’s research, Connections to Success, Autism Speaks and more.
And its growth continues. The organization’s five-year plan is to build upon its current service lines and expand Jordan Search Consultants’ offerings to include new healthcare disciplines. The company recently expanded its recruitment expertise to include academic and clinical research to help organizations fill positions with professionals who will discover the next new technologies, cures, and innovations in healthcare — and it anticipates a significant growth in both revenue and employees.
In 2016, Jordan Search Consultants was recognized by the St. Louis Small Business Monthly as one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in the region. Jordan was also selected to be part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders training program in St. Louis. This selective program is an intensive, executive-level training initiative designed to further catapult thriving businesses like Jordan Search Consultants.
“St. Louis has many treasures, but the city’s support of entrepreneurs through space, funding, and education is unparalleled,” Jordan added. “In my mind, there is no better place to launch a business that will one day grow to provide jobs for St. Louisans and bolster the local economy.”
For more on Jordan Search Consultants, click here. For more on Arco and Associates, click here.
