Our Team

Jeff Schafer, Owner/President

Jeff Schafer, owner of JDS Executive Search, is an accomplished executive with experience and expertise in management, sales, and business development. Schafer’s strong background provides him the ability to successfully place key sales, marketing, finance, and operations personnel across all industries.

Jeff is dedicated to developing long-term, strategic alliances with client companies and candidates alike by strictly adhering to his guiding principles of honesty, integrity, confidentiality and compassion. He offers world class permanent placement services under the most demanding deadlines by providing leading companies with top-performing individuals who meet and exceed expectations.

Schafer has successfully placed talented individuals across a wide variety of functions in top organizations throughout the country. His unique ability to focus on the specific needs of his client-companies and identify candidates that ideally align with desired skill sets has led to stellar placement results, illustrated by the fact that he has earned repeat business from over 80 percent of these companies.

Prior to launching JDS Executive Search, Schafer was Vice President Business Development at Global Recruiters Network (GRN) of Madison, which during the time of his employment was awarded the top office within GRN’s 180 franchised offices. Under his leadership, Schafer’s team finished in the top 5 out of 600+ recruiters.

Schafer worked for 13+ years with Kraft Foods, holding various key sales, management and corporate positions at Kraft offices nationwide. His experience includes national sales category program development of a $1 billion business unit, with management of key accounts including WalMart, Target, Costco, Kroger, SuperValu and Safeway. Schafer earned highest performance and sales leadership honors each of the 13 years he was employed with Kraft.

Schafer also served as Vice President of sales at HSA Home Warranty where he managed a national sales force, doubling revenue in just three years and achieving record profitability.

Schafer received a Masters of Business Administration degree with an emphasis in Management and Marketing, and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Iowa. He also lettered 4 years in Baseball at U of I

For additional information regarding Jeff’s services or present job opportunities he may be reached by phone at 608-213-7461 or email at jschafer@jdsexecutivesearch.com

Bryan Reed
Director of Business Development

Bryan Reed, Director of Business Development, is an accomplished and well respected sales professional who brings over 5 years of executive recruiting expertise to the JDS Executive Search team. Reed’s strong background provides him the ability to successfully place a wide range of key executives within various industries.

Prior to joining JDS Executive Search, Reed was a team leader at Global Recruiters Network (GRN) of Madison, which during his tenure, was awarded the top office within GRN’s 180 + franchised offices. Under his leadership, Reed’s team finished in the top 5 out of 800+ recruiters worldwide.

Prior to joining JDS Executive Search, Reed was a team leader at Global Recruiters Network (GRN) of Madison, which during his tenure, was awarded the top office within GRN’s 180 + franchised offices. Under his leadership, Reed’s team finished in the top 5 out of 800+ recruiters worldwide.

Bryan has held various senior management positions in the banking, finance, and insurance industries. This includes serving as Assistant Vice President with a financial institution where he managed and grew a consumer loan and credit card portfolio of 70 million dollars, directed a team of over 40 lenders and served as the department head of the consumer credit area.

Reed received his Bachelors Degree in Business Finance from Buena Vista University.