Talentor USA - TurningPoint Executive Search

Ken Schmitt has been recruiting for 26 years. A San Diego native, he grew up in an entrepreneurial household with a father who was a Jack in the Box franchisee for 25 years, and a mother who left the accounting world to become a real estate agent.

Prior to entering the Executive Search industry, Ken spent more than 5 years with Enterprise Rent a Car. Earning 3 promotions and opening 2 offices along the way, Ken worked in San Diego and Orange County, managing teams from 5-15 professionals.

In 1998, he answered an ad in the newspaper for a recruiting job and never looked back. After spending 9 years working for a local boutique firm, a large regional firm and one of the world’s largest Executive Search firms, Heidrick & Struggles, he launched TurningPoint Executive Search in 2007, and now employs 7 professionals in a 100% remote work environment.

In 2023, Ken published “The Practical Optimist: An Entrepreneurial Journey Through Life’s TurningPoints” through Advantage Publishing. He also launched a new podcast of the same name, highlighting everyday people who are making an extraordinary impact on their families, their business, and their community.

TurningPoint has been ranked one of the Top 150 Fastest Growing Private Companies in San Diego, and Ken was acknowledged as one of San Diego’s Most Admired CEOs (SDBJ). The TurningPoint team earned a Top 20 Ranking as a “Best Place for Women to Work” by Databird. Ken and his team at TurningPoint have placed nearly 1,000 of the nation’s leading sales, marketing, operations, Finance, HR, and C-Suite professionals, partnering with national clients across numerous industries such as tech, software, manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, professional and financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and hospitality. The team at TurningPoint takes a high-touch, concierge-style approach to placing first-class talent in a variety of business structures including privately held, venture-backed start-up, private equity owned, early stage and mature, family-owned businesses.

Ken is also the Founder and CEO of the Sales & Marketing Leadership Alliance (SMLA), which he launched in 2011. With members across the country, the SMLA is committed to providing best-in-class speakers, peer-2-peer networking, and professional development to the region’s leaders.

An avid user of social media to identify top talent, build his professional community, and brand his business, Ken maintains one of Southern California’s largest LinkedIn networks and a profile that ranks in the top 1% of all users.

Ken serves as an Executive Board Member of San Diego Sports Innovators (SDSI), and Talentor Global. Ken serves as a Mentor for Junior Achievement, San Diego, spending time each week in a local high school as part of JA’s “Entrepreneurial Company Program’. Ken earned his BSBA in Economics from the University of San Diego and is a former board member of USD’s School of Business Alumni Association.

Ken resides in beautiful Carlsbad, CA, with his wife Juliet, a Marriage and Family Therapist. Together they raised two amazing sons, one an audio engineer and one a facilities manager.

As Managing Partner, Marketing and Operations, Elaine wears many hats at TurningPoint Executive Search. She oversees corporate branding, marketing, social media strategies, website management, daily operations, and human resources.
Born and raised in Australia, Elaine came to San Diego in 1993 through the University of Queensland’s international exchange program. In 1995, she moved to Oregon where she worked for a federally funded job training program teaching classes in job search techniques and assisting candidates with career transition. In 1998, Elaine returned to San Diego and worked for a major staffing agency until she left in 2000 for a Human Resources Management opportunity.

In April 2008, Elaine joined the TurningPoint Executive Search team as their first Talent Manager, handling recruiting, career coaching, and training. Passionate about emerging technologies, and branding trends, Elaine applied her eye for design as she transitioned to Director of Marketing in 2012.

Elaine also manages the marketing and operations for the Sales & Marketing Leadership Alliance (SMLA). Supporting over 120 members, the SMLA is committed to providing best-in-class speakers, peer-2-peer networking, and professional development to the region’s leaders.

Elaine lives in San Diego with her husband, a Marine Scientist, their children, and her adorable cats. In her spare time, Elaine serves as Booster President for the SRHS Music Program, enjoys BBC television shows, reading mystery novels, and travels as often as she can.

Raquel is an exceptionally talented and experienced recruiter. As a valuable member of the TurningPoint team, she has successfully completed multiple Executive and Mid-level searches including President, CEO, Executive Director, COO/VP operations, GM, CMO, SVP Sales, VP Sales Operations, and Sales Director. Her extensive experience in recruiting, career coaching, and human resources is backed by a degree in Psychology from the University of San Francisco. Prior to entering the recruiting industry, Raquel spent 2 years as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

Her success is rooted in her ability to identify hidden gems to meet her clients’ unique needs. She has a passion for helping companies and individuals by providing guidance and counsel during their hiring process and job search. She enjoys bringing people together and making meaningful, long-term connections. Her ability to understand client needs and core values has enabled Raquel to maintain an extremely high level of client satisfaction throughout her career.

Imperial Beach is home for Raquel, her husband, and their two sons. She enjoys living an active lifestyle and is an avid CrossFitter and Yogi. In her spare time, she enjoys frequenting the local Farmers Market and spending time with her family.

Melanie’s unique global experience – combined with her experience as the Founder of an online business – allows her to quickly understand and consider her clients’ unique culture, communication style, and pace, regardless of industry or location. This ability to balance technical expertise with soft skills drives her success.

With more than 20 years of experience working with upper management within international corporations, spanning CPG, industrial manufacturing, automotive, medical, and technology, Melanie brings deep business acumen to each search she conducts. Born and raised in Germany, she speaks fluent German and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. In 2006, while working for Newell Rubbermaid, Melanie moved to the U.S. to broaden her experience outside of Europe.

After gaining several years of experience working closely with global leaders across the Sales, Marketing, and Operations teams at Newell, Melanie founded her own eCommerce business which she ran for several years. Looking to get back into a corporate environment, she then accepted an offer to join one of the world’s top 10 leading consulting and recruiting firms headquartered in Germany. She quickly rose through the ranks, and most recently, as an executive recruiter, she was charged with placing top talent in the U.S. for these internationally based corporations.

The newest member of the TurningPoint team, Melanie’s uniquely blended experience in fast-paced, entrepreneurial business, mid-market companies, and large corporate organizations, has equipped her with the skills to partner with a wide range of clients. In her role as Partner, Executive Search at TurningPoint, she enjoys supporting clients by introducing them to seasoned talent, ultimately making successful, long-term placements across the U.S.

Melanie is a member of the German American Chamber of Commerce and lives in North Carolina with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys working out and playing tennis. On the weekends she loves watching her three kids play soccer. She likes to travel with her family and discover new places in foreign countries.