By Chris Bavender
After spending 20 years on both sides of the recruiting process, Laura Latham was unsatisfied with an industry “behind the times.”
“Anyone who fills a job can call themselves a recruiter. That is the reality in talent acquisition and why so many candidates and companies have become frustrated, cynical or have settled for mediocrity,” Latham said. “Talent acquisition can be boiled down into a sea of statistics and metrics. By doing so, search firms, and even many internal recruitment teams, have removed the human element.”
To give companies another option, Latham launched Flashlight Partners in Carmel in February.
“I believe that one should live intentionally and not vicariously. For me, being intentional meant starting a company where values and relationships mattered more than business transactions,” she said. “Our mission is to disrupt the traditional search space by becoming your partner in the pursuit of success.”
With every placement, the company donates 1 percent of the placement fee to a nonprofit or community organization of the client’s choice.
“What better way to personally connect with our clients than letting them select a charity or community organization to support with money already being spent to benefit their business,” Latham said. “Through these connections and donations, Flashlight has been able to make a difference in lives throughout the country and our communities, meet outstanding people and provide mentorship opportunities for those who someday hope to join the business world and find their own calling.”
For more than two decades, Latham worked on both coasts, Florida and the Midwest. She chose Carmel for Flashlight Partners because of its “innovation, opportunity and outstanding family resources.”
“While I am passionate about what I do, my family is first,” she said. “Carmel affords professionals the opportunity to create a successful business while providing numerous accessible resources for families.”
Flashlight Partners has three staff members, including Katie Browning, a Carmel Clay Schools board of trustees member, who is director of marketing and business affairs.
For more, visit flashlightpartners.com.
