About AKA Search Group
In today’s day and age, bigger does not always mean better. We pride ourselves on being a boutique recruiting firm that outperforms larger firms due to our focus. Keeping our client base small and our candidate pool large, consistently allows us to win over customers who once used larger firms.
We operate nationally and are one of the top-rated recruiting firms in the country.
Meet our team
Angelo Argentieri
CEO
of AKA Search Group
Angelo is a Co-Founder of AKA Search Group, where he works with both current and prospective clients to help them truly understand the gaps in their business where true leaders can fill in. Over a decade ago, Angelo worked his way up to Managing Director for one of New York’s leading executive search firms. Prior to his role as CEO of AKA Search Group, Angelo was also an executive with Virginia’s largest and privately held real estate investment firm.
His executive search specialties are C Suite positions (COO, CMO, CSO, CTO), as well as Vice President and Director level positions. Angelo knows finding people is easy, but finding the right people is not. Being a networker of people for C Suite, VP, and Director level positions is where
Angelo excels.
Aside from executive recruiting, Angelo is an avid trail ultrarunner competing in international races such as Moab 240 (a 240-mile footrace), UTMB, Burning River 100, Canyons Endurance 100K, and more. Angelo is also still heavily involved in real estate investing as well.
Kimberly Argentieri
Founder & Co-Owner
of AKA Search Group
Kimberly is a Co-Founder of AKA Search Group and is well-known for her knack for delivering results time and time again for her clients. Her ability to grow and scale awareness, followers, and brand loyalty for not only AKA Search Group, but for their clients is unmatched. Kimberly is an expert in the Internet marketing industry as well as leadership.
Most recruitment firms simply post job boards and messages on LinkedIn. Kimberly passionately understands internet marketing, which gives AKA Search Group and their clients a massive leg up. Aside from executive search and marketing, Kimberly is heavily involved in helping others live a truly healthy lifestyle through fitness and natural diets.
Vince Argentieri
Recruiter
Vince is a Recruiter for AKA Search Group, where he specializes in finding top talent within the Real Estate and Investor Relations industries. With years of experience and a deep understanding of these sectors, he is able to identify and attract high-caliber candidates who possess the skills, experience, and personality traits required for success.
Cayla Evans
Recruiter
Cayla Evans is a Recruiter at AKA Search Group, bringing a winning attitude and competitive spirit honed during her time as a Division 1 golf athlete. Known for her outgoing nature and exceptional emotional intelligence (EQ), Cayla is driven by her commitment to finding the best talent and ensuring long-term success for both clients and candidates. Her previous experience with one of the nation’s largest staffing firms allowed her to master the art of large-scale staffing, but she has since shifted her focus to more specialized, niche searches where she thrives in building deep, meaningful relationships.
Cayla excels in crafting creative and efficient staffing solutions tailored to the unique needs of her clients. She leverages her industry insights and strategic thinking to deliver top-tier candidates while guiding her clients through every step of the hiring process. Whether it’s finding hidden talent or providing essential industry insights, Cayla’s passion for excellence drives her to ensure bright futures for both the candidates she works with and the clients she serves.
Conor Vile
Recruiter
Conor Vile is a Recruiter at AKA Search Group, leveraging nearly a decade of experience in sales and account management with Ingram Micro to help businesses grow with top-tier leadership hires. Known for his strong relationship-building skills, Conor is adept at diving deep into the specific needs of both clients and candidates, ensuring a mutual fit that goes beyond surface-level requirements. His experience in hiring and managing large teams for a publicly traded company has equipped him with an exceptional understanding of what high-caliber talent looks like and how they can best integrate and drive success within an organization.
Conor combines a strategic approach with a dedication to client service, focusing on delivering a seamless hiring experience that aligns with each client’s unique goals. By drawing on his insights into team dynamics and organizational culture, he brings a consultative approach to the recruitment process, carefully guiding clients through each step. Conor’s commitment to excellence and his keen eye for identifying the qualities that define impactful leaders make him an invaluable asset to the clients and candidates he serves.
Merchelle Setosta
Marketing Manager
Merchelle Setosta is an accomplished Marketing Manager at AKA Search Group, known for her strategic approach to overseeing marketing initiatives that drive engagement and deliver results. With a passion for optimizing workflow and supporting high-performing executives, Merchelle
specializes in creating and executing marketing strategies, managing brand communications, and developing compelling content for both digital and print platforms.
She is responsible for overseeing the company’s marketing campaigns, managing social media presence, and designing marketing materials that align with the company’s core values. In addition, Merchelle plays a critical role in organizing promotional events, analyzing market
trends, and ensuring the consistency of AKA Search Group’s branding. Her expertise in managing CRM systems and coordinating outreach campaigns keeps the company’s messaging effective and cohesive.
Merchelle is always BUSY delivering exceptional value to clients, candidates, and the AKA team, all while treating everyone like family. She exemplifies AKA Search Group’s core values—Respect for Others, Building Lasting Relationships, Productivity First, Great Communication, and Quality over Quantity. Family remains her top priority, and she brings that same care and commitment to her work, making her a key part of the team’s success.
Mitch Macalalag
Customer Success Specialist
Mitch Macalalag is a highly efficient Customer Success Specialist at AKA Search Group, known for a strategic approach to managing client and candidate relationships. With a background in appointment setting, calendar management, data management, recruitment, and inside sales facilitation, Mitch ensures smooth and effective communication between clients and the team. Mitch’s dedication to streamlining processes and solving challenges makes him an invaluable
asset in driving successful outcomes for both clients and candidates.
While Mitch also possesses a creative flair, the primary focus is on delivering outstanding client and candidate success. He is committed to enhancing customer experiences by identifying needs, optimizing workflows, and ensuring that every interaction adds value to the relationship.
Our core values
Our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction sets us apart in the market.
Respect for others
We foster an inclusive and supportive work environment where every individual’s contributions are valued. We believe that mutual respect is the foundation for strong team dynamics and exceptional client service.
Build Lasting Relationships
We aim to build meaningful, long-term relationships with our clients, candidates, and colleagues. Trust and collaboration are the cornerstones of everything we do, ensuring that our partnerships grow and thrive over time.
Great Communication
Clear, consistent communication is at the heart of our business. Whether it's with our team, clients, or candidates, we ensure transparency and openness to foster collaboration and understanding.
Productivity First
Efficiency and effectiveness drive our daily operations. We prioritize productive work habits that lead to impactful results, ensuring that both time and resources are used wisely for maximum benefit.
Quality over Quantity
We focus on delivering high-quality service, emphasizing thoroughness and precision in all that we do. Our goal is to provide exceptional outcomes that exceed expectations, never sacrificing quality for volume.
Mission
At AKA Search Group, our mission is to build lasting, meaningful relationships by delivering exceptional recruitment services rooted in respect, productivity, and great communication. We are dedicated to helping our clients, candidates, and employees achieve success in their careers and personal lives. With a focus on delivering the highest quality results, we prioritize precision and thoroughness over volume, ensuring that each connection and placement exceeds expectations. As we grow, we are committed to giving back to the communities that support us, and we aim to empower those around us to reach new heights.
Vision
Our vision is to be a transformative presence for our clients and our team, driven by the belief that success comes from building lasting relationships and investing in the well-being of everyone we work with. We aim to create opportunities that enable them to achieve freedom—whether through professional growth, financial independence, or personal fulfillment. By aligning our goals with our clients’, we exceed expectations and help them surpass their own. Through these efforts, we not only build a better company but contribute to a stronger, more empowered community.
Comprehensive Recruitment Solutions
What Is Included?
All clients and candidates of AKA Search Group will feel the power of our proprietary multi-phase recruiting process. The process includes comprehensive interviews, behavioral, cognitive, and psychometrics assessments of all candidates, as well as preparation and coordination of client interviews, offer letter preparation, and offer letter negotiations.
A retained recruiting engagement ensures clients a total commitment from AKA Search Group to deliver 3-5 qualified candidates in 30 days. For more niche recruitment engagements, AKA Search Group will provide a minimum of six to eight qualified candidates typically within six weeks. At AKA Search Group, we pride ourselves on our 99% success rate with searches for our clients.
What Are The Rates?
AKA Search Group offers four different levels of service. The rates depend on the combination of the search and the level of service selected by our clients.
Any Guarantees?
We provide guarantees on the front end and back end of our searches. On the front end, you are not locked into any contracts and have a 14-day window to cancel for a full refund. On the back end, each hire made has a minimum of a 90-day guarantee.
Why AKA Search Group?
Our CEO, Angelo Argentieri, served as the right-hand man to the owner of one of New York’s boutique leading recruiting firms. He led and managed large teams dedicated to recruitment for several Fortune 500 companies, while also fulfilling small-to-medium sized business clients’ needs. After this role, Angelo served as COO for one of Virginia’s largest real estate investing firms. Over the past decade, Angelo has over 3,000 direct hires for clients to his name.
AKA Search Group Co-Founder Kimberly Argentieri leverages her marketing and branding capabilities to attract high-performing employees and other leaders on a daily basis. Kimberly started her first internet marketing business at 23. In a few short years, Kimberly amassed tens of thousands of paying customers. This ability to attract talented individuals has proven to be a strong competitive advantage for both our clients and our team.
Top Talent
Gain access to a curated network of high-performing candidates who are ready to make an impact in your organization.
Hiring Process
Benefit from a tailored and efficient recruitment process that saves you time and resources while ensuring quality placements.
Save hassle
Avoid worrying about candidates ghosting you, managing candidate pipelines, and negotiating with candidates at the final stage.
