Business Details
24 Years
experience
Trusted Executive Search & Leadership Solutions in Hopkins, MN
KeyStone Search is a premier executive search firm dedicated to identifying transformational leadership for private companies, EOS organizations, and ESOPs. Founded in 2002, we merged with CorTalent to combine over 250 years of collective experience in delivering strategic talent solutions. Our process prioritizes cultural alignment, ensuring leaders not only possess technical expertise but also share clients' core values. We specialize in retained executive search, leadership assessments, and succession planning, serving mid-market companies nationwide. Our team's deep industry knowledge and commitment to ethical practices have established us as trusted partners in talent acquisition.We focus exclusively on private enterprises, recognizing their unique leadership needs and growth trajectories. Our services extend to CEO transitions, board director placements, and functional leadership roles across finance, operations, and sales. Client testimonials highlight our ability to understand organizational culture and deliver high-impact executives. With offices in Hopkins, Minnesota, we serve companies throughout the United States, driving sustainable growth through strategic human capital investments.
Services
Executive Retained Search
Leadership Assessments
Talent Strategies
CEO Transition Planning
Board Director Search
Integrator Recruitment
ESOP Leadership Search
Leadership Workshops
Succession Planning
Functional Leadership Search
Details
- Year established: 2002
Highlights and features
- Experts in executive search for private companies since 2002
- 250+ combined years of leadership placement experience
- Retained search process ensures thorough candidate evaluation
- Specialized in EOS and ESOP leadership requirements
- Cultural alignment guarantees long-term executive success
What people say
Deep understanding of culture
Successful senior level assignments
Proven process
Outstanding results
Strong leadership fit
Services
Executive Retained Search
Our retained executive search service identifies transformational leaders for private companies. We conduct thorough cultural assessments and industry-specific evaluations to ensure candidates align with organizational values. This comprehensive process reduces mis-hire risks while delivering executives who drive sustainable growth through strategic leadership.
EOS Integrator Search
Specialized recruitment for Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) integrators. We evaluate candidates using our proprietary Integrator Continuum to find leaders who convert visionary ideas into operational realities. Our process ensures seamless alignment between visionaries and execution-focused leaders for exponential business growth.
ESOP Leadership Search
Executive search services tailored for employee-owned companies. We identify leaders who balance technical expertise with cultural fit for ESOP organizations. Our methodology incorporates board governance requirements and long-term ownership transition planning to maintain organizational stability during leadership changes.
Leadership Assessments
Comprehensive leadership evaluations combining cognitive testing and behavioral interviews. Our assessments measure executive potential against specific organizational requirements, providing data-driven insights for critical hiring decisions and team development strategies.
CEO Transition Planning
Strategic CEO succession planning services covering 4-5 year transition timelines. We guide boards through leadership evaluation, candidate search, and implementation processes to ensure smooth executive transitions while maintaining business continuity for private enterprises.
People
Mike Frommelt
Founder
Co-founder with 30 years executive search experience. Specializes in private company leadership placements and CEO transitions. Recognized for building KeyStone's cultural alignment methodology and industry-specific expertise.
Tony Bednar
President & Integrator
President and EOS integrator specialist with 20+ years leadership experience. Expert in visionary-integrator dynamics and organizational scaling. Guides clients through leadership team optimization and operational transformation initiatives.
Bill Frommelt
Principal
Principal consultant focusing on ESOP leadership and C-suite placements. Brings 20 years executive management experience to client engagements. Specializes in board governance and succession planning for employee-owned companies.
Jerry Rick
Fractional Practice Director
Fractional leadership expert with EOS implementation background. Provides interim executive solutions and leadership development programs. Combines operational experience with strategic talent management expertise for client organizations.
Julie Steenerson
Sr. Vice President
Senior leadership team member managing executive search projects. Focuses on functional leadership placements and client relationship management. Brings extensive experience in talent strategy and organizational development.
Questions
What executive search services do you specialize in?
We specialize in retained executive search for private companies, EOS integrators, and ESOP leadership. Our services include CEO transitions, board director placements, and functional leadership recruitment across finance, operations, and sales.
How does your cultural alignment process work?
Our proprietary assessment evaluates candidates' core values against organizational culture. We integrate this with technical evaluations to ensure leaders possess both competence and cultural fit for long-term success.
Do you work with employee-owned companies?
Yes, we have 20+ years experience placing executives in ESOP organizations. Our process specifically addresses employee ownership dynamics, board governance requirements, and leadership succession planning for employee-owned businesses.
What is your leadership assessment methodology?
We combine cognitive ability testing, behavioral interviews, and competency evaluations. This data-driven approach measures leadership potential against specific organizational requirements for critical hiring decisions.
How do you handle CEO succession planning?
We recommend starting 4-5 years before transition. Our process includes board collaboration, leadership evaluation, candidate search, and implementation support to ensure smooth executive transitions while maintaining business continuity.
What geographic areas do you serve?
We serve companies throughout the United States, with headquarters in Hopkins, Minnesota. Our retained search process accommodates both regional and national executive recruitment requirements.
Reviews (1)
Ryan Schut
Sep 14, 2020
Report
Tony and his team did an evaluation on a integrator / COO via zoom calls / other interviews in December of 2020. They were spot on with their evaluation and reports back to us. We hired Jeff and after 1 month I'm very impressed with him taking over and running the company!
