From Contingent to Retained: How Niching Down Took Andrea Colabella’s Recruiting Firm to the Top

The Quiet Obsession Behind 30 Years at the Top with David Fishman

Most recruiters who last three decades stop working the desk. David Fishman never did. Thirty years in, no college degree, still personally in the deals every single day — and still convinced he hasn't figured it out yet. That restlessness is the whole story of this episode.   David came up the hard way: eight years in the Coast Guard, an injury that pushed him out, then selling industrial batteries door-to-door in downtown Los Angeles before he ever touched recruiting. He talks openly about the chip he carried as the guy without the degree — his twin brother went the academic route and stacked up credentials — and how that chip turned into a habit of simply outworking everyone in the room. When the 2008–2009 market collapsed and his phone went quiet, he started Sparrow Company out of necessity, ran it fully virtual for years before anyone called it normal, and built it across the U.S.–Mexico border into the operation it is today.   What makes this conversation land for a Pinnacle audience is how honest David is about the engine underneath the success. He describes a feeling that's chased him since he was in his early thirties — the sense that time is running out, that complacency is the real enemy, and that you have to recreate yourself again and again or the business leaves you behind. He admits that even now, after everything, he carries the same worries he had as a young recruiter, and that the current market has reminded him of 2009 in ways that keep him sharp rather than comfortable.   The tactical core is his shift from chasing dollars to counting deals. For his first twenty years he never tracked what he billed; now he's obsessed with the number of placements, because in his words, close the deals and the money follows. He breaks down the "waves" of the recruiting calendar and why teams that celebrate a big first half get punched in the face by the fall. He explains why he reads a résumé the way he does, why he never lets go of a placement, and why the recruiters who think this is an eight-to-five job should find another line of work. And he closes with the discipline he swears by: win Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and the momentum carries the rest of the week — and the rest of the year.   If you've been in recruiting long enough to wonder whether your best years are behind you, this is the episode that reframes that fear as fuel.   Connect with David Fishman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fishman-b468112/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-fishman-b468112/] More from The Pinnacle Society: https://pinnaclesociety.org/ [https://pinnaclesociety.org/]

How Kimberly Laipple Went from Broke Single Mom to $1.4M Recruiter: Her Exact Blueprint

What does it really take to turn rock bottom into record-breaking success in the recruiting world? In this inspiring episode of The Pinnacle Take Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with the phenomenal Kimberly Laipple to uncover her journey from food bank lines and foreclosure to becoming president of Scientific Search and a $1.4M biller. This is a MUST-LISTEN for recruiters seeking a proven, repeatable system for scaling both personal and professional achievement. Key takeaways from this episode: 1. Building from Adversity: Kimberly Laipple shares how hitting life's lowest points fueled her drive, resilience, and the mindset shifts required to excel in recruiting—even when she started with no network and no safety net. 2. Blueprint for Million-Dollar Billings: Discover the EXACT daily process and work ethic Kimberly Laipple used to go from struggling rookie to top producer—including her step-by-step repeatable checklist and how she trained her team for consistent success. 3. Leadership & Team Development: Learn how Kimberly Laipple moved beyond solo billing to building high-performing teams, fostering loyalty, and creating a collaborative culture that retains achievers for years. 4. Account Penetration Tactics: Master the art of client relationships—how Kimberly Laipple delivers deep value, lands exclusive work, and turns every interaction into long-term business, all while staying contingent. Ready to rewrite your own script? Tap ‘play’ to discover how you can take control, scale your recruiting desk, and create a career you love—even if you’re starting from zero. For more recruiter insights, strategies, and tools, don’t forget to subscribe and visit The Pinnacle Society.   Follow Kimberly Laipple on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylaipple/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylaipple/] The Pinnacle Society: https://pinnaclesociety.org/ [https://pinnaclesociety.org/]

The Recruiter’s Second Act: When It’s Time to Go All In with Holly Dary

Are you standing at a crossroads in your recruiting career, wondering if now’s the time to take a leap into your next chapter? In this inspiring episode of the Pinnacle Take Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with industry powerhouse Holly Dary, founding partner at Tarvos Talent and member of the Pinnacle Society, to unpack her journey from a successful corporate recruiter to launching her own firm growing from zero to almost $10 million in revenue in record time. Discover actionable insights for recruiters ready to build their “second act.” Whether you’re leading a team, considering entrepreneurship, or striving for elite status in 2026, this episode is packed with practical wisdom: 1. Unpacking High-Impact Career Moves: Learn how Holly Dary transitioned from corporate to founder, including essential prep steps, mindset shifts, and scaling strategies. 2. Elite Recruiting Habits and Leadership: Explore the keys to attracting top talent, building resilient teams, and maintaining excellence through market upheaval. 3. Winning in Modern Business Development: Get real-world tactics for business development, embracing technology (like AI) without sacrificing the human touch, and delivering stand-out candidate experiences. Ready for your second act? Listen now and get motivated to reinvent your recruiting career with proven strategies from one of the industry’s best. Connect or follow Holly Dary on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-dary-aba2952/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/holly-dary-aba2952/] Pinnacle Society: https://pinnaclesociety.org/ [https://pinnaclesociety.org/]

From Contingent to Retained: How Niching Down Took Andrea Colabella’s Recruiting Firm to the Top

Are you a recruiter feeling stretched too thin or stuck in a broad market? Ready to transform your business, go deeper into your niche, and maximize your value? In this insightful episode of the Pinnacle Take Podcast, host Benjamin Mena welcomes Andrea (Annie) Colabella, founder of the Kardea Group, to share how niching down in the investment management sector—and shifting from contingent to retained search—catapulted her firm’s success. Andrea reveals her journey from a trading desk to launching her boutique recruitment firm in NYC, and the game-changing impact of specializing in legal and compliance roles. Discover how focusing relentlessly on a sub-niche not only streamlined operations and recyclability of candidates, but also built a reputation that made her a go-to retained search partner. 1. From Generalist to Specialist: Hear Andrea’s strategy for cutting out low ROI work and zeroing in on her true market sweet spot. 2. Making the Shift to Retained Search: Learn actionable steps and mindset shifts for moving up the value ladder to become a sought-after expert with upfront client commitment. 3. Relationship-Driven Success: Andrea shares how networking, events, and authentic connections anchor her firm’s reputation and client loyalty. Tune in now to master the secrets of going deeper, going retained, and building an elite recruiting business! Connect & Level Up: * Listen to this episode, subscribe, and share with fellow recruiters who are ready to thrive! * Follow Andrea Colabella on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colabella/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/colabella/] * Learn more about The Pinnacle Society: https://pinnaclesociety.org/ [https://pinnaclesociety.org/]

Rebranding Your Destiny: Katherine Jerald’s $885K First Year, $261K DM Win, and GovCon Recruiting Secrets

Are you ready to break through plateaus and build a recruitment business that truly scales? In this episode of the Pinnacle Take Podcast, host Benjamin Mena sits down with aerospace and defense recruiting powerhouse Katherine Jerald to unveil the real story behind her first-year billings of $885K, including the secrets to landing a $261K direct message deal on LinkedIn and thriving in the lucrative GovCon sector. Katherine Jerald shares her journey from working in her father's recruiting office at age 12 to founding her own firm and scaling a high-performing team, all while tracking the metrics that matter and personal branding that converts leads into clients. Listeners will discover actionable strategies for LinkedIn business development, tips for dominating industry conferences, and the tools that streamline recruiting operations in today's competitive landscape. 1. Scaling in Tough Markets: Learn how Katherine Jerald navigated family business legacies, personal setbacks, and market shifts to build a thriving recruiting firm outside of the conventional segments. 2. LinkedIn & Conference Strategies: Explore her proven methods for driving 64% of new business through LinkedIn DMs, and practical advice for making industry conferences a goldmine for client development. 3. Tracking Success & Accountability: Get a peek into the metrics and accountability tactics that fuel top billers inside the Pinnacle Society. Ready to redefine your recruiting career and business? Listen now and start implementing the systems and branding techniques shared by Katherine Jerald and Benjamin Mena. Follow Katherine on LinkedIn! Katherine Jerald on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinejerald/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherinejerald/]  Pinnacle Society: https://pinnaclesociety.org/ [https://pinnaclesociety.org/]