Meet the Team

Mark Krusinski

Founder of Emerald Resource Group and Emerald Consulting Group

Emerald Resource Group

Mark is considered an industry expert in executive, professional and technical search; has appeared on PBS, NBC, PC Weekly, and is quoted regularly in publications including Computerworld, CIO Magazine, CIO Symposium’s, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Time, and Fortune. He is also a frequent speaker within the staffing and human resources community and been featured in dozens of international training meetings and videos.

On top of that, for over three decades Mark has helped Emerald win Best Place to Work, workplace flexibility, and philanthropy awards while also propelling the firm to become the most respected single-site search firm in the US. Fostering an environment of servant leadership, retention is unparalleled; many of our partners have been with the firm for over a decade.

He lives in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife, Mary Ann, and their four children. Cleveland State University graduate, Head swim coach for Brecksville Broadview Heights, Finance Chairperson on Lake Eire Swimming Board of Directors and avid contributor to the community.

Interesting facts: “I believe that you can get everything you want in life, if you just help enough people get what they want.” M.K.

Specialties: All Executive level Information Technology leadership roles, Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Vice President Software Development, VP of Infrastructure and Operations, Chief Security Officer (CSO), Chief Technical Product Officer, Enterprise Architect.

Tom Gaebelein

Senior Executive Recruiter

Emerald Resource Group

Tom yields a combined 15+ years of vibrant account management, sales, and recruiting experience. He’s a man with a very refreshing, direct approach- he prides himself in being upfront with process, in asking succinct questions, and in generating matter-of-fact responses. Candidates can appreciate the openness and clients are confident he’s best representing them. Those closest to Tom can vouch for this same kind of loyalty, tenacity, and overall intuitiveness even beyond the work place. Maybe it’s the ‘Buckeye blood’ in him that instilled such consistency… He’s a proud graduate of The Ohio State University, and truly enjoys recruiting within the geographical territory of his Alma Mater.

Tom is married and sees parenting as one of his biggest accomplishments to date.

Office chatter: Tom wins the award for the ‘most active’ in the office. He’s a habitual pacer, from the moment he turns on his headset and averages at least 10 miles a day while walking and talking to candidates and clients throughout the day.

Specialties: Data Science, Data Warehouse, Managers/Leads.

Lorna Schmidt

Senior Executive Recruiter

Emerald Resource Group

She fell into talent acquisition 15 years ago and never looked back. Results-oriented, extremely organized, Lorna loves efficiency.

She works hard to understand the ins and outs of our business partners. She is a pro in building trust-driven relationships to create robust recruitment strategies and attract the very best IT talent to support excellent companies’ growth.

Her secret? Networking! She believes in connectivity and collaboration to nurture a network of exceptional opportunities. It is her earned reputation and ability to identify talent that accounts for Lorna’s ongoing success, making her a senior executive recruiter and a strategic partner to our client base.

Experienced in Cyber Security and Infrastructure, she’s the one you want to call when you want things moving fast.

Specialties: Cyber Security, Infrastructure, Managerial roles, Information Technology.

Mark Krusinski Jr

Recruiter

Emerald Resource Group

In a world that runs faster and faster, Mark is a rare gem. Forget about stressful and conventional hiring process: you will be won over by his calmness, patience, motivation and dedication. He’s incredibly easy to work with and always looks out for your best interests, keeping your goal and career aspiration in mind and only putting forth opportunities that would fit well with your skill set and interests.

He goes absolutely above and beyond in every step of the recruitment process – phone screen, on-site interviews, offer process and career engagement – making the experience a journey to discovery. He’s always ahead of every question and gives you all the information you need to make a decision. After all, he learned from the best!

A graduate of Cleveland State University, he’s a successful athlete and if you don’t find him at his desk, he’s working out or swimming! His passions? Cigars, music, and good Bourbon.

Specialties: C#, .NET Developers.

Luke Houghton

Recruiter

Emerald Resource Group

From Columbus to Cleveland, Luke is a number of things. Most notably, he’s big and tall. In a space flooded with templates, he is personal and genuine. He has recently joined Emerald Resource Group, but he has already conquered everyone with his optimism and his contagious laugh!

Looking for someone who truly madly deeply understand you? Go with him, he always finds a way to establish common grounds within his circles!

He earned a Degree in International/Global Studies at Wright State University and loves go fishing in his spare time.

Just another recruiter? Not at all. But it’s up to him to show he’s different. Seeing is believing!

Specialties: Software Development, Data Warehouse.

Sara Casati

Marketing Coordinator

Emerald Resource Group

With a background as Product Manager, Sara likes challenging herself personally and professionally.

Result-oriented and pragmatic, she thrives in helping the company stand out and making its dreams come true. She manages the company’s website and social media profiles, she runs outreach campaigns and advertises job openings.

Keen attention to details and analytical skills are her strengths, but passion is her ace up the sleeve!

Sara loves traveling internationally, to explore new surroundings, engage with different people and embrace adventures.

She earned a Degree in International Business and a Master’s Degree in Marketing and Global Markets.

Specialties: Social Media Management, Marketing Campaigns, Copywriting and SEO optimization, Website Management, Competition Analysis, Job Advertising.

Mary Ann Krusinski

Operations Manager

Emerald Resource Group

Endowed with a strong sense aesthetical and notable diplomacy, she is the one who makes it all possible from behind the scenes. She’s dedicated to efficient operations with excellent negotiation and problem-solving skills.

Dependable, helpful and always on the ball, her responsibilities include employee benefits administration, employee relations and communication, payroll, billing, employee health and wellness program.

She loves beautifying the office with fresh flowers and when it comes to the fall season…. You can easily imagine!

She earned a Degree in Science in Nutrition and Dietetics with a double minor in Business and Speech/Communications at Kent State University.

Specialties: Back office operations.