Kate Shehan is Executive Vice President at HVS Executive Search, based in Annapolis, MD, returning to the firm where she began her executive search career in 2018 to 2020 as Vice President.  During Covid, she launched TalentPursuit Executive Search, a boutique retained search firm built on matching candidates to a role based on competency, character, and cultural fit. Kate's career began in restaurant operations, a foundation that carried her through leadership roles including General Manager, Regional Human Resources Manager, Director of Training, and Vice President of Human Resources, across publicly held companies, private equity-backed organizations, start-ups, and turnarounds. Her experience of leading, working, and collaborating with executive leadership teams gives Kate a keen ability to distinguish talented leaders. She has served on the Board of Directors and as past President of CHART (Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers), earning the Spirit of CHART Award, and currently serves as an appointed Commissioner on the ACPHA (Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration) and as a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier. Kate holds an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources from Loyola University Maryland and a Bachelor of Science from Penn State University's School of Hospitality Management.