Elevate Search Partners was founded by Jeff Kovar in 2023 with the mission of delivering extraordinary recruiting, selection and career advisory services, playing a key role in helping organizations and professionals reach their full potential.
At Elevate, we truly care and you can feel it. We insist on getting it right for the client company and the candidate.
Elevate leverages proven hiring / selection methodologies and modern, automated processes that, when paired with our deep, long-term relationships with candidates, delivers excellent results.
Elevate believes creating a great culture in our company, will attract talent, allowing us to serve you more effectively.
Jeff founded Elevate Search Partners in February of 2023 after spending over 15 years in the executive search industry. Jeff was born and raised in Omaha and has been working in the professional recruitment field since 2007 specializing in Accounting, Finance and Analytics searches of all levels as well as retained search for key leadership hires. Jeff’s professional network and reputation in Nebraska is strong, having placed hundreds of individuals over the years, working with many of the best companies to work for nationally. Jeff has been a frequent presenter over the years to college business groups like Beta Alpha Psi and numerous accounting and entrepreneurship organizations, helping guide individuals down the right professional path during their entire professional career.
Jeff is engaged in the community and is passionate about helping others, having coached youth basketball for over 20 years and volunteering in the Sacred Heart Mentor program. Jeff and his wife Jenny are active members of St. Stephen the Martyr Parish in Omaha where Jeff is on the Parish Council at the church, and Jenny is heavily involved with the school, working as the Vice President of the Home and School Association and many other committees. Jeff and Jenny have three children who all attend St. Stephen the Martyr School as well as a Golden Retriever named Louie who is home schooled.
Phone: (402) 935-8800
E-mail: jkovar@elevatesearchpartners.com
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Justin is a Lincoln, NE native who began his career in public accounting before moving to private industry and transitioning into a strategic finance role prior to joining the Elevate team. Justin is a University of Nebraska at Omaha alum with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with focuses in Accounting, Finance, Banking & Financial Markets, Portfolio Management and Investment Science. Justin enjoys helping fellow accounting and financial professionals navigate their career options and he excels at partnering with financial leaders and executives to understand their business needs and help them attract and hire impact players that drive their business forward.
When Justin is not working, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Sydney and their 100-pound golden retriever, Moose. Justin is a passionate Nebraska football fan who also has a love for the outdoors and hiking the mountains of Colorado. Justin loves applying the knowledge he has learned in accounting and finance to help driven professionals understand their career options, navigate the job market and find the right position that will allow them to reach their goals in their career in and in life.
Phone: (402) 935-8800
E-mail: joehm@elevatesearchpartners.com
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Sam was born, raised and still resides today in South Omaha where he and his wife Grace are active members of Our Lady of Lourdes parish. Sam holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and started his career in the medical recruitment field prior to joining the Elevate team where he focuses on placement in the Accounting, Finance and Human Resources fields.
Sam is a diehard Nebraska football fan and he also coaches basketball in the Omaha Creighton Prep program. Sam loves spending time with his wife Grace, and their sidekick, Hank - their black lab/border collie mix. Sam’s favorite thing about his role at Elevate is the opportunity to learn and grow as a professional and he loves the impact that he makes each day in our community by helping professionals find their “forever” career.
Phone: (402) 935-8800
E-mail: smontag@elevatesearchpartners.com
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Valerie Ford was born in Staten Island, NY, but reserves her right to be called a Nebraskan, since for the last 26 years she has lived in Omaha. She brings a wealth of recruiting experience in the technology field and also leverages her experience in Accounting and HR to assist Elevate clients. Valerie is well known in Nebraska by the technology community as a trusted advisor who puts passion and joy into everything she does. Valerie holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting from St. John’s University in New York and started her career in public accounting prior to pivoting into talent acquisition. Valerie has a passion for climbing mountains – she made it to the summit of Pike’s Peak in the summer of 2023. Valerie has a similar passion of helping people reach their goals, helping leaders find the needle in the haystack or helping someone find their forever job. Valerie articulated, “For so many, a career change is one of life’s defining moments. Getting a front row seat to this is the equivalent of bringing someone up to the mountaintop with me.”
Valerie's favorite thing about Elevate is the team. “This is the most unique company I have ever worked for. Profound authenticity. Positive Energy. A genuine force for good.” So, if you're looking for a career advisor who is genuinely looking to connect great organizations with great people, reach out to Valerie.
Phone: (402) 935-8800
E-mail: vford@elevatesearchpartners.com
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Jason was born and raised in Omaha and is respected as a leader in the accounting field in our community. Jason brings over 20 years of experience in corporate tax and professional recruitment and is well known in the tax community as one of the most connected individuals in that field in Nebraska. Jason holds a BSBA degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and he and his wife Elizabeth are both Omaha natives.
Jason's favorite thing about Elevate is the team and camaraderie. “The team is all about doing things the right way.” If you have ever met Jason, you know that he brings a wealth of expertise, but he also has a wonderful sense of humor and he takes the time to enjoy the ride along the way. Jason is passionate about helping people reach their goals, whether it be selecting a new team member, finding a new position or navigating the housing market where he is also a licensed real estate agent. If you are moving to Nebraska and need a new career and a new home, Jason is the best person in our community for you to connect with!
Phone: (402) 935-8800
E-mail: jkroll@elevatesearchpartners.com
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Anna was born and raised in Omaha and graduated from Skutt Catholic prior to attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Biology. Anna also has an MBA with a Human Resources Concentration from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Anna leads Elevate’s Human Resources and Culture function. Anna’s top personal core value is to make a positive impact on the lives of those around her, and she certainly does that at Elevate! Anna’s job is to make Elevate a destination employer for the top professionals in our community by ensuring that our culture and processes remain best in class and each member of our team has all the tools to help them reach their full potential.
Anna and her husband Seth live in on a farm in Winside, Nebraska and she works remotely for us. She loves Nebraska volleyball, playing sand volleyball, reading great books and she loves life on the farm with Stella, their mini-goldendoodle. Anna’s favorite thing about Elevate is how much our team truly cares about each person we meet and work with and how their success is what fuels us and drives us as a team. If you are a local HR and culture leader, reach out to Anna to network and share best practices regarding benefit, perks and culture offerings…she is always looking for ways to take Elevate’s culture to the next level!
Phone: (402) 935-8800
E-mail: amangels@elevatesearchpartners.com
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