Sherrie Barch

By Kathi Edwards

BusinessRockford.com

The president of Furst Group in Rockford is a Roscoe resident. The firm was ranked seventh in Modern Healthcare’s list of the top search firms in the nation.

What do you do as president of the firm? Along with selling our search and consulting services nationally, I help ensure the overall quality and profitability of the business. I also implement our processes and procedures throughout the organization and develop ways to make sure we have a strong, positive work environment.

Many people would assume that Tom and Darlene Furst, who own other search firms in town, own this firm. When did you and Bob Clarke assume ownership? Have you considered changing the name of the company? In 1991, we assumed ownership of the health-care practice and have been a separate entity ever since. We decided to keep the name of the company when we bought the health-care division from Tom and Darlene Furst. Furst Group has been a national leader in executive health-care search, and it was important for us to build our company under its strong brand.

Why do you think Furst Group has been so successful nationally? Our success is a result of the quality and service our team provides. We have the utmost respect for the industry we serve, and every member of our team truly cares about our clients’ and candidates’ success. Plus, we are always looking for opportunities to enhance our product line and provide innovative solutions to meet clients’ needs. It’s that commitment that makes us a leader in executive health-care search.

Any plans to diversify into providing executive searches for other industries? Health-care executive search is definitely our niche. The way we are diversifying our business is by continuing to enhance the products and services we provide to our clients in hospitals and health systems; managed-care organizations; medical group practices; ancillary companies; insurance companies; and hospice and palliative-care organizations in the U.S. and abroad. Our practices in philanthropy, academic medical search and interim executive management are examples of areas we are further developing.

What’s new at Furst Group? Are you hiring internally? Our ranking by Modern Healthcare magazine. We’ve had another year of record growth. As a growing company, we’re always looking for new talent.

Who could do your job? It might sound cliche to say someone who is a “people person,” but quite frankly, you really do need to be interested in other people and have a curiosity about what they do and what makes them tick. A person with a background in human resources, organizational development or business communications might find my line of work appealing. An ability to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace is important.

Do you need a background in health care to serve the industry? Not necessarily. However, several of our consultants do have advanced degrees in medical ethics, health management and public service administration.

What led you to this field? Having just completed my master’s degree, I approached Furst, hoping they could place me in an organizational development or human resources position. Bob Clarke, our chief executive officer, ended up hiring me for their emerging health-care division, and the rest is history.

Other than this job, what was your favorite job and why? After college, I worked as a secret shopper. Armed with the store’s customer service criteria, I would pretend to be a customer in order to rate the salespeople. I loved handing out cash bonuses and getting paid to shop.

What do you like best about this job? When we place a candidate with a client, we are making an impact on that organization and their ability to deliver health care to the community they serve. I love that — it’s a wonderful sense of satisfaction to find the best leaders for the right roles.

You would never find me leaving this field to: I’d never be in the entertainment field. I can’t sing, dance or play a musical instrument.

The ideal work day: A team member makes a CEO placement in the morning and Furst Group receives a preferred vendor agreement with a top hospital system in the afternoon.

The typical work day: There is no typical workday, which is why, after 20 years, I still love this job.

A business needed in the region? A Trader Joe’s would be ideal.

The best way to unwind after work: Spending time with my husband and three sons.

Staff writer Kathi Edwards may be reached at 815-987-1364 or kedwards@rrstar.com.