With consultants located across the United States, Talent Growth works with executives and companies around the globe.

We are not a staffing agency - but, rather, a team of business consultants who take the time to thoroughly understand your business, market position, and vision for growth.  From there, we can assist you in determining how human capital can help drive and achieve business goals. Placing the right people in the right places is just smart business.

Whether you're analyzing the talent inventory you'll acquire during an acquisition; thinking about how to leave your legacy in good hands upon retirement; or need a workforce plan that aligns with your company's growth trajectory, we have the business savvy and the human capital expertise to give you confidence in your next move. 

Our team of consultants have been in the business for more than 40 cumulative years, with a 100% client return rate. With access to exceptional research and sourcing tools, we're able to provide you with exceptional advice that will last. 


Maria Nicholas-Groves, IEMBA
CEO

Maria is the founder of Talent Growth Partners where she helps executive teams align their human capital strategy with their business strategy and goals. She believes having the right people in the right places drives superior business results and profits.

With 15 years of experience, she has successfully guided executives within fast growth industries as well as organizations that must transform to stay relevant and sustain into the future. Maria does this with values of trust, ferocious curiosity, objectivity, agility, and excellence. 

Maria brings a broad and global business view with bachelor degrees in Marketing and Human Resource Management and an International Executive MBA with an emphasis in Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Maria has traveled to over 45 countries through her work and studies.  Maria is driven to build business results with her clients; she is obsessed with watching them thrive, inevitably this leads to long-term partnerships.

Tony Stemen, MBA
Managing Partner

Tony is the co-founder of Talent Growth Partners where he owns the front-end of the talent life-cycle and leads the recruitment technology that drives the success of the firm. He believes that when you combine solid market intelligence, cutting edge technology and creative technique, you can help locate the best talent and connect candidates with great opportunities. 

With over 10 years of experience in talent acquisition sourcing, research and recruitment technology, Tony has served multiple leading industries, specializing in manufacturing, professional services and technical roles. He is an expert at finding passive candidates for hard to fill positions. 

Tony is a 2015 graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, with an MBA in Organizational Management. 

Tanya Bogaczyk, MS
Managing Director

Tanya is a former Big 4 Management Consultant with over 15 years of experience, specializing in Change Management, Talent Acquisition, Process Improvement, HR System Implementation, and Succession Planning. She works with executive leadership to evaluate, develop, optimize and execute Human Capital Solutions.

Tanya has successfully guided cross-functional teams across multiple industries, including manufacturing, financial services, professional services and high tech. She develops relationships and trust while immersing herself in her client’s culture and value system. Her business acumen allows her to provide timely results and superior customer service.

Tanya offers a unique perspective with a Master of Science Degree in Psychology and hands-on business experience. She has worked with a diverse range of companies, delivering value to start-ups and the most reputable Fortune 500 organizations.

 

Sarah Fracek
Employer Brand & Business Development Consultant

Sarah Fracek is an employer brand & business development consultant. Prior to joining Talent Growth, Sarah spent 17 years working in marketing, most recently serving as vice president of a branding, PR and marketing firm based in Milwaukee. She’s served in agency roles from all sides of the business - from creative to account to social media to executive leadership and operations. Throughout her career, she’s consulted with clients large and small on employer branding, recruitment marketing, internal communications and culture building. Sarah has worked with clients across a broad spectrum of industries - from health care and education to manufacturing and financial services - and led state-wide, regional and nationwide research projects to inform business strategies on their beahalf.

Kara McMahon
Talent Associate

Kara brings a refreshing perspective to Talent Growth as a Talent Associate. With a rich background spanning over 15 years in the education sector, including roles as a School Counselor and School Administrator, her experience in empathetic guidance and administrative leadership equips her with the skills to expertly navigate the complexities of recruitment. Kara uses her keen understanding of people to identify and foster the right matches. A passionate Girls Varsity Lacrosse Coach, she understands the importance of building culture, teamwork, hard work and dedication. Originally from New York, and living experiences all around the country, Kara and her family currently reside in the Milwaukee suburbs.

Deborah Polite
Senior Recruitment Consultant

With more than nine years of executive recruiting and 25+ years in business development, sales, and marketing across various industries, Deborah Polite brings a vast network and deep understanding of regional market dynamics. She excels in identifying and placing top talent in roles across manufacturing, finance, life sciences, and more, ensuring a perfect fit for both skill and culture. Deborah is known for developing long-lasting connections with the talent she works with, maintaining strong relationships and providing exceptional candidate care. Originally from New York, she spent 15 years in California before moving to the Midwest, giving her a broad geographical perspective and network.

Becky Schaefer Wudy
Human Capital Consultant

Prior to joining Talent Growth, Becky spent more than 14 years with a major global consulting firm. She brings with her specialties in management consulting, business process improvement and change management with a proven track record of building, developing and leading high-performing teams across multiple lines. Becky has a strong understanding of technology implementations and support models within an organization and serves as both a strategic consultant for Talent Growth clients as well as a sourcing specialist for our recruitment practice - using her sleuthing and data mining skills to find talent in hard-to-reach places.

 
“You truly understood our business and tailored the solutions; it wasn’t a template process.”
— CEO, Milwaukee-based technology firm
 

The Work You Can Expect From Talent Growth

We are a partner that provides a fully customized approach. Our commitment is to deliver what will serve you and your business best and bring measurable value to your business. 

Along with our customized solutions and approach, here’s what you can always count on:

  • We earn and build your trust, and then we keep it. The numbers speak for itself - we maintain a 100% return client ratio.  
  • We exhibit ferocious curiosity. We learn your business and industry thoroughly before we begin our partnership. This time investment is simply smart business for us and for you.
  • We communicate with objectivity, even if its uncomfortable at times. Our job is to help drive value and make your business more successful; offering candid insights and reliable data along the way.
  • The days of consultants requiring you to fit their box are over; we operate with robust agility.  We are flexible and adaptable and work with your business, no matter where you are in your journey. Together, we determine how we work to optimize value to your business. 
  • Last, we operate with excellence. Our focus is to be the best at this work - ensuring we are your first call. Since launch, 100% of our new business has come from referrals.  We intend to continue to earn client’s endorsements by producing high value and demonstrating excellence in all we do. 
     
 
“We felt very good putting our needs into your hands - and you delivered.”
— CEO & CFO, Wisconsin-based design/build firm