ABOUT OUR TEAM
Charlie Wilgus brings over 25 years of experience and success in Executive Search across a broad range of industries and functional disciplines throughout North America. He specializes in placing VP/SVP, President, and C-suite executives in Operations, Human Resources, Sales & Marketing, and Finance.
Before starting his search firm, Charlie spent the last two years as a senior partner at Matteson Partners, a boutique retained search firm. Before that, he spent 19 years at Lucas Group as an award-winning search partner and senior strategic executive. He facilitated the company's turnaround and exponential growth from $25M to over $130M before being sold to Korn Ferry.
Charlie's passion is solving his client's complex hiring needs and building long-lasting relationships through his high-touch search process. He believes integrity, trust, authenticity, and work ethic are essential for every critical search and company engagement. This philosophy and approach are why clients choose Charlie over other firms as a trusted advisor for their most visible and vital executive searches.
Charlie is uniquely skilled at assessing the talent needed to modernize the supply chain, transform plant operations, influence team culture, increase top-line revenue, and deliver EBITDA growth to scale. In addition to working closely with family-owned and privately held companies, Charlie has had proven success with various Private Equity firms over the past several years.
Charlie earned a B.A. from Rhodes College with a major in Sociology. He has been an avid supporter and fundraiser for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta for the past 15 years. Charlie resides with his wife of 24 years and three teenage kids in an organic farm community outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
Erik Kessinger, Co-Founder and Executive Partner at Legacy Executive Search has an extensive career spanning over 25 years in the executive search industry. Erik has left his indelible mark throughout his journey, completing over 400 searches and becoming a revered professional.
Erik's expertise covers the entire spectrum of manufacturing and distribution. This comprehensive knowledge equips him with the insights needed to identify and connect executives with the right roles in diverse industries.
Erik's clientele represents a broad range, including private equity firms, family-owned and privately held companies spanning all sectors. His capacity to navigate the complex landscape of executive recruitment and his knack for identifying exceptional talent make him a sought- after partner for organizations aiming to elevate their leadership teams.
One of Erik's defining qualities is his authentic dedication to his craft. Erik's track record of success speaks for itself, with numerous placements contributing to the growth and prosperity of the companies he serves.
As a trusted expert and driving force behind the success of countless professionals and organizations, Erik's commitment to excellence and extensive industry knowledge catalyze positive change in the executive search arena. Erik's integrity, strong work ethic, and passion for developing long-lasting trusted relationships with the companies he serves have created the foundation of his successful and reputable career.
Erik earned a B.A. from the Terry College of Business with a major in Risk Management and Insurance at the University of Georgia. Erik resides with his wife of 24 years and three kids in his hometown suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.
Jason is a Co-Founder and Executive Partner at Legacy Executive Search. He brings over 25 years of corporate experience to the firm, having served in various roles, from Business Development to Chief Financial Officer to Owner/Partner.
He has worked with clients across many industries throughout his career, focusing on the technology, distribution, and manufacturing sectors. His clients have ranged from small, privately held family businesses to mid-market businesses and several large public companies. In addition, he is extensively involved with private equity and venture capital funds.
Additionally, Jason has experience serving on several company boards and has been a trusted and valuable advisor to many corporate executives and company founders/entrepreneurs.
Jason is a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, where he earned his undergraduate degree and MBA from the Terry College of Business. He previously served as a member of the Terry College Alumni Board, where he is now an emeritus member, and is currently serving on the Parent Leadership Council for UGA.
Jason resides in Roswell, GA, with his wife of over 25 years. They have three grown children, and he is extremely proud to call them his greatest “Legacy.” Outside work, he enjoys playing the top 100 golf courses in the world, spending time with his family at the beach, and following the Georgia Bulldogs.
Austin is a Partner at Legacy Executive Search, bringing over 16 years of combined experience in executive search and corporate talent acquisition to each client engagement. With a proven track record of building diverse, high-performing teams across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, Austin offers a unique perspective on talent recruitment strategies for clients seeking to grow in the Americas.
Austin's passion and interests meet at the intersection of Energy, Manufacturing, Financial Services, and Technology markets. Possessing a deep understanding of these industries enables him to identify top talent and deliver exceptional results for clients. Serving mid-stage scale-up businesses and large global brands alike, each high-touch engagement is tailored around the client and candidate experience.
Austin lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife, children, and dog, and enjoys volunteering with Breakthrough T1D (formerly known as JDRF), The Honor Foundation (Veteran support services), and numerous youth sports programs. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a dual concentration in Economics and Spanish.
Kimberly Lerman is a seasoned legal professional with over 25 years of experience. She currently serves as a legal recruiter at Legacy Executive Search. Her career has spanned both law practice and legal recruitment, providing her with a unique perspective on the industry.
Kimberly has dedicated the past decade to attorney recruitment, specializing in placing legal professionals in various roles across multiple sectors. Her placements include roles such as general counsel, associate general counsel, division general counsel, and senior counsel in industries ranging from financial services to hospitality.
Before starting her recruiting career, Kimberly practiced law for fifteen years. Her legal career culminated in her role as Vice President & Associate General Counsel for a large company based in Atlanta. She also acquired valuable experience as a litigation associate at well-known law firms, including King & Spalding and Eversheds Sutherland.
Kimberly holds a J.D. from Duke University School of Law and a B.A. from Emory University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She remained actively involved with both institutions, co-chairing the Duke Atlanta Women's Forum and serving as a Duke Law Atlanta Board member. Kimberly also volunteers with Emory Connects, mentoring students interested in pursuing legal careers.
Outside of her professional life, Kimberly is an accomplished athlete and outdoor enthusiast. She has completed 21 Ironman® triathlons and enjoys various activities, including scuba diving, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, and nature photography. Kimberly also dedicates time to mentoring busy professionals who strive to balance endurance sports with their careers and family commitments. She currently serves on the Board of Officers for the Southern Appalachian Bicycle Association, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and passion for outdoor activities.
Brook Monticello has a long-standing track record of successful placements with a strong understanding that an ever-changing market, evolving trends, and a growing economy drive hiring needs. Using this knowledge, Brook views each search as a learning opportunity to deliver above expectations and consistently improve his recruiting practice.
Before joining Legacy Executive Search, Brook spent 18 years at Lucas Group in their Supply Chain & Operations Practice Group. As Executive Senior Partner, Brook worked with high-level supply chain talent and the industry's leading employers to form strategic partnerships, thus impacting operations and the bottom line.
Driven and curious, he understands his client's needs to source the best candidates for each position. Likewise, Brook works to uncover his candidates' motivations and passions to ensure he recommends positions highlighting their skills and strengths. By managing expectations and transparency, Brook forms strong connections with his clients and candidates built on mutual respect and trust, leading to long-term relationships throughout his career.
A graduate of Michigan State University with a B.A. in Communications, Brook continues to cheer for the Spartans and Detroit professional sports teams while giving an obligatory nod to the teams in his adopted hometown of Atlanta.
Emily Ritchey joined Legacy Executive Search following an extensive career as a business leader and Human Resources Generalist specializing in talent acquisition and development. With HR experience building teams at all levels of large and small organizations, she provides search services for business leadership, human resources, finance, technology, engineering, supply chain, and commercial talent.
With over 25 years of experience leading the human resources function in the manufacturing, distribution, retail, and hospitality industries, Emily leverages her knowledge to match executive talent across diverse sectors. She takes the time to understand her client partners' needs and strategically aligns to facilitate industry-leading recruitment services focusing on results-driven performance.
Before joining Legacy Executive Search, Emily spent ten years as Vice President of Human Resources for a privately held diversified industrial manufacturing company. She led HR for company-owned retail stores and supported sales and marketing for The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company. Early in her career, Emily worked for Newell Brands and Wyndham Hotels in progressive HR leadership roles.
Emily provides consultative excellence in all aspects of talent management to support executive search, onboarding, coaching, and development for client leaders and teams to drive business objectives. She is certified in a variety of leadership and organizational assessment and development tools, including Workplace Big 5, 360 Feedback, Inside-Out Coaching, and others.
Emily graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BBA in Human Resources from Kent State University and holds SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and Strategic HR Business Partner certifications. She resides in Dublin, Ohio, has two adult children, and enjoys road cycling, live music, and travel.