OUR TEAM

RECRUITMENT TEAM

The Hawkins Company consulting team consists of professionals dedicated to excellent performance in meeting the talent acquisition needs of our clients. They have handled from routine to highly confidential and complex recruitments, with a consistent commitment to service, professionalism and positive results.

Our Project Team consists of William D. Hawkins, Brett Byers, Daphne Le Blanc, Yonnine Hawkins, and Dr. Gwendolyn Catchings-Castello. Our team has over one hundred (100) years of combined experience in successfully researching and conducting executive searches. The team possesses extensive executive search skills and experience, plus broad knowledge and contacts developed throughout their successful business careers. We maintain strategic partnerships with other consultants who are retained to assist us based on their industry or functional expertise which enhances our firm’s resources and ability to serve our clients.

Williams D. Hawkins

President/CEO and Founder

Bill Hawkins is President/CEO and Founder of The Hawkins Company, and has over thirty (30) years of executive search experience. During the course of his search career, Mr. Hawkins has conducted and/or participated in over 1,000 executive searches. He is an industry pioneer in diversity recruiting at senior corporate levels. Prior to launching The Hawkins Company in 1984, Mr. Hawkins spent eight (8) years as a senior member of the world’s largest executive search firm, Korn Ferry International. Nurtured in this multi-specialty, multi-national search firm, Mr. Hawkins developed specialty-recruiting expertise in financial, real estate and entertainment. Prior to his career in executive recruiting, Mr. Hawkins was Senior Vice President of the National Economic Management Association, a small business consulting firm concentrating on minority economic development. His previous experience includes banking and government service.

Mr. Hawkins is a graduate of Howard University and has spoken extensively on recruiting and human resources issues nationally. Over the years, he has counseled leaders in industry and government on career transitioning and talent management. He holds membership in numerous community, business and professional organizations.

Bill@thehawkinscompany.com

Dr. Gwendolyn Catchings-Castello

Managing Director

Dr. Catchings-Castello serves as Managing Director and has twenty (20) years of executive recruiting experience in the public, private and non-profit sectors. She has developed an expertise in diversity recruiting, and has successfully designed and implemented recruitment strategies for legal, financial, sales/marketing, diversity leaders, and general managerial positions. Dr. Catchings-Castello directs the firm’s assessment practice and is responsible for our 360 degree candidate evaluation which includes utilizing the DISC Assessment tool (optional) as part of our overall evaluation process. She gained extensive sales, marketing and management training with several major corporations and has operated her own consulting company.

Dr. Catchings-Castello holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Doctorate in Business Administration (Management/Organizational Behavior/Marketing) from Nova Southeastern University (Florida). In addition she holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification and is a graduate of Coach University. Dr. Catchings-Castello is an Assistant Professor of Marketing and Management at Jackson State University, and a member of numerous professional associations, including the American Marketing Association, Society of Human Resources Management, Society for Advancement of Management, National Black MBA Association (Life Member), National Society of Hispanic MBAs and International Coach Federation. Dr. Catchings-Castello is also an Executive Coach (focusing on personal, professional and organizational development), author, public speaker and workshop presenter.

Gwen@thehawkinscompany.com

Brett Byers

Executive Vice President

Brett Byers serves as Executive Vice President and has over eight (8) years of human resources and recruiting experience. In addition to her executive search consulting experience, Ms. Byers has served as the Marketing and Communications Director for a trade association and worked in management with a large international staffing firm where she partnered with major private sector clients in the media, entertainment, social media, telecommunications, financial services, and real estate industries. Ms. Byers has also implemented human capital strategies for executive and managerial level positions to achieve performance targets and exceed growth expectations within new and existing clients.
Ms. Byers began her professional career with the nationally acclaimed INROADS program where she also facilitated training and development modules focusing on career development. She has extensive experience in diversity recruitment and affinity group networking. Ms. Byers has worked closely with Mr. Hawkins and has served as the lead executive search consultant on many of the firm’s most complex and highly challenging assignments. Ms. Byers is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business and is actively involved in alumni related networking at the University.

Brett@thehawkinscompany.com

Daphne Le Blanc

Managing Director + Transportation Practice Leader

Daphne Le Blanc serves as Managing Director and Transportation Practice Leader. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Le Blanc was President of Le Blanc & Associates, Inc., and served as a strategic business partner to The Hawkins Company. Le Blanc & Associates was a premier executive search firm with a nationally recognized transportation recruitment practice specializing in all facets of the transportation industry, i.e. planning, construction, operations, and administration. Ms. Le Blanc has over twenty-five (25) years in the field of recruitment and career development, and has an extensive network of contacts and clients. Prior to establishing her own successful practice in 1986, Ms. Le Blanc was a “Top Producer” and award winning recruiter with two general practice search firms. Over the past five (5) years, Ms. Le Blanc has established the same nationally recognized transportation recruitment practice with The Hawkins Company and has conducted numerous searches for administrative positions including finance, procurement, IT, operations, and human resources. In addition to her transportation industry expertise, Ms. Le Blanc is also highly skilled in health care, financial services, and municipal executive recruiting. She attended San Diego State University and holds memberships and affiliations in a variety of professional organizations and associations.

Daphne@thehawkinscompany.com