SHARED EXPERIENCE, SUSTAINED EXCELLENCE

Our team embodies S&C’s unwavering standard of excellence and showcases our core values every day. With a collective experience spanning decades across the sectors we serve, our team has the experience, talent, and network to find the right leaders to accelerate your business.

Woman smiling in white dress against gray wall.

Jennifer Silvester CEO & Senior Partner

As an entrepreneur and trusted advisor to her clients, Jennifer is best known for her ability to solve businesses biggest...

Jennifer Silvester

Firm Owner & Leader

As an entrepreneur and trusted advisor to her clients, Jennifer is best known for her ability to solve businesses biggest impediment to success, finding the right leaders to grow their companies. Jennifer has successfully placed hundreds of leaders at the Director level and above in almost every functional expertise and across a wide variety of industries.

Jennifer joined Silvester & Company in 2007 after a 15+ year career in commercial payment card product development roles, working for General Electric (GE) and JPMorgan Chase (JPMC). As a VP, International Product Development for JPMC, Jennifer travelled the world developing alliance bank partnerships on behalf of multinational Fortune 500 clientele. In her financial services roles, Jennifer saw the extraordinary impact of both failed and successful leadership hiring. As most leaders come to learn quickly, hiring the right team is perhaps the most pivotal tool to your career success.

Fascinated by what made good leaders exceptional, an important mentor and Founder of Silvester & Company nudged Jennifer to take a leap of faith and test herself in a whole new dimension. With guidance and a whole lot of energy, Jennifer found her calling working alongside Margo for several years to grow the firm. Jennifer became a Partner and then bought the firm in 2014. With the support of a talented team, Silvester & Company has continued to flourish under her leadership.

In the age of digitalization, Jennifer still believes all value stems from the daily contributions of people and at all levels of an organization. Great ideas, innovation and relationships that transform industries begins with people. Hiring is not about just filling holes in org charts, it is about aligning the talents, passions, and the cultural ecosystems for individuals and companies.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. Jennifer is an advocate for small businesses and sits on the Board of Directors for the South Valley Chamber of Commerce and chair’s the Small Business Leadership Committee which focuses on driving programs, tools and opportunities for small businesses of all sizes and backgrounds to find success. Jennifer co-hosts a local podcast, “The Small Business Leadership Podcast” which highlights the stories of Utah’s small business leaders.

When not on a call or in search of the next great leader, Jennifer can be found riding her Peloton bike, putting her nose in a book, cheering on her three beautiful children, or traveling the world with her adventure loving husband.

Read Bio
Smiling woman in black blazer and white shirt.

MARIKA AKERS Senior Director & Partner

As a dedicated client advocate and practice leader, Marika is known for her ability to identify and connect high-impact...

Marika Akers

Senior Director & Managing Director

As a dedicated client advocate and practice leader, Marika is known for her ability to identify and connect high impact executives with client partners looking to transform their business. Marika has successfully placed hundreds of senior level executives in almost every functional expertise across a multitude of highly regulated product and service industries.

Marika joined Silvester & Company in 2008 after a 12-year career in client relations in the employee benefits industry where she managed a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from major corporations to public sector entities and non-profits. Working alongside HR leaders provided Marika with an insight and appreciation for the administrative challenges of maintaining a positive employee culture.

Taking the leap into the boutique world of retained search 13 years ago has furthered her understanding of the talent challenges companies face that have a direct impact on the bottom line. As industries and markets confront dynamic and monumental changes, the fundamental leadership qualities and capabilities of high-performance leaders continues to evolve. Marika works hand in hand with HR and senior executives to navigate these changes and help solve their biggest impediments to success, hiring the right leaders.

As the search industry becomes more reliant on AI, Marika still believes in the value of personal connection to uncover the nuanced soft skills that cannot be easily identified through algorithms alone. Marika has developed a deep network of trusted executives in each industry served and utilizes these relationships to identify and connect with exceptional and oftentimes passive candidates.

Like people, no two clients or searches are the same. Marika and her research team analyze the market to identify trends and develop a tailored and inclusive recruitment strategy to ensure outreach to a diverse community of candidates. Marika is deeply committed to providing client partners with exceptional leadership talent that is fully representative of all high-powered leaders across the market landscape.

When taking a break from the continual pursuit of connecting with exceptional leaders, Marika can be found spending time with her family on the golf course, taking a walk with their spirited cavapoo, recharging on her Peloton or whipping up a culinary delight from her vast cookbook collection.

Read Bio
Smiling woman with blonde hair in a suit.

DUSTIE WHETMAN Recruiting Coordinator & Operations Manager

As the Recruiting Coordinator & Operations Manager, Dustie provides support where it's necessary to ensure we deliver…

Dustie Whetman

Operations & Recruiting Coordinator

As the Operations & Recruiting Coordinator, Dustie provides support where it’s necessary to ensure we deliver the best candidate and client experience possible. She connects with accomplished and driven candidates through search assignments, while making sure the project runs smoothly and efficiently.

Dustie brings with her more than 23 years of experience in management and administrative leadership. She is highly organized, curious, patient, and detail oriented. During this time, she has learned vital skills including how to leverage tools, contribute new and innovative ways to engage with clients, and build strong relationships with colleagues. This experience has advanced her interpersonal skills and has enabled her to adapt to the forward-thinking mindset needed for her role at S&C.

Dustie assumed her multifaceted role at Silvester & Company in 2021, blending responsibilities as a recruiting coordinator and operations manager. Her role spans project management, administration and ensuring an exceptional candidate and client experience. Charged with supporting our Recruiters, Practice Leaders, and Research Team, Dustie assists in candidate sourcing and organization of the searches. Her adaptability to the unique demands of each search assignment underscores her value to our team.

When not working, you can find Dustie shopping with her 2 beautiful girls, taking walks with her husband and puppy Rudy, or boating at Lake Powell. She has loved raising her family in SLC where she herself was born and raised.

Read Bio
Man in a suit and blue shirt smiling.

Rosti Babjak Senior Executive Search Consultant

As our Sr. Executive Search Consultant, Rosti owns the senior most leadership searches we are hired to place. He has 8+...

Rosti's portrait

Senior Executive Search Consultant

As our Sr. Executive Search Consultant, Rosti owns the senior most leadership searches we are hired to place. He has 8+ years of recruiting experience between executive and inhouse roles, resulting in a well-rounded view of the recruiting process and the world of executive search.

Rosti started his career in London where he worked at a boutique executive search firms that primarily serviced the PE/VC backed technology space. Here, he learned the fundamental principles of research methodology and much more while supporting C, and VP level searches. He moved to the US in late 2020 and decided to expand his recruiting experience by moving in-house. Rosti worked as a leadership recruiter for a number of fast-paced tech companies, supporting Director and VP level searches across GTM, G&A and Technology functions.

Rosti joined Silvester & Company early 2024 in a role that supports high level searches and research efforts. He works with our Sr. Partner & Head of Research on national searches in various industries. This role allows him to collaborate with our team to gain knowledge of industry and market trends through tracking and recruiting diverse talent. His experience, dynamic skill-set, and eagerness to learn ensures we continue to deliver the best experience for our clients and candidates.

Read Bio
Woman with long brown hair smiling.

Alexandra Thompson Executive Search Consultant

As our Executive Search Consultant, Allie plays an integral role in driving successful executive level...

allie thompson

Executive Search Consultant

As our Executive Search Consultant, Allie plays an integral role in driving successful executive level recruiting outcomes through research and early-stage recruiting. She helps our searches run smoothly and efficiently by supporting multiple facets of our search process. With a dynamic background in recruiting that began in 2020, Allie has cultivated a wealth of experience across a spectrum of roles, ranging from entry-level to mid-high level positions. Her journey in recruiting revolves around a genuine passion for connecting individuals with opportunities that align with their aspirations and goals.

Allie’s “why” lies in witnessing the excitement of candidates as they receive offers for opportunities they’re truly enthusiastic about. What sets Allie apart is not only her dedication to helping others thrive but also her inherent curiosity that propels her towards new challenges. She is genuinely excited about the prospect of immersing herself in the world of executive search, where she can conduct deep-dive research and craft customized solutions for our clients’ needs.

When not working, Allie loves doing anything outdoors, she and her fiancé go camping, hiking, skiing and more with their two dogs Zion and Oakley. Allie grew up in Boston, and moved Utah during the pandemic and has been loving the outdoor lifestyle it provides.

Read Bio
Smiling woman with long brown hair.

KAMI JOHANSEN Database Manager

As Database Manager, Kami provides direct and agile support to our research and recruiting teams and is a…

Kami Johanson

Database Manager

As Database Manager, Kami provides direct and agile support to our research and recruiting teams and is an essential part in streamlining our client interaction process. She assists in making search assignments run efficiently and effectively through data management and sourcing.

Kami brings with her essential skills required to be successful in this role. She is highly organized, diligent, detail-oriented and affable. During her working career, Kami has learned how to leverage new tools, adapt to challenging and changing demands, and manage and implement new solutions. This experience has enabled her to tailor to the forward-thinking mindset needed for her database and research role.

In this position, Kami supports the organization of our database and partners with the Operations Manager and Research Lead to devise a database and search support-plan to meet our clients needs. She enters and maintains candidate and client records, and identifies critical contact information–oftentimes in a rapid pace and high-volume. Each new search is different and she is here to ensure we meet our commitments to our clients and the S&C team.

Kami’s current interests and hobbies are tightly centered around her three beautiful and talented kids. She loves going out on adventures, watching her girls’ gymnastics competitions and dance performances, and spending time outdoors hiking and snowboarding.

Read Bio

“Our perseverance in difficult times truly sets us apart. While others may falter, we see challenges as opportunities for growth, pushing boundaries, and demonstrating the depth of our dedication to success.”

- Kami Johanson

Database & Research Associate

“In the realm of challenges, we unveil opportunities, choosing solutions over excuses. As trusted advisors, we consider the privilege earned daily through unwavering actions and impactful results. Perseverance defines our path, and we never yield in our pursuit of excellence – committed to getting it right, every time.”

- Dustie Whetman

Recruiter Coordinator

“We hold a deep appreciation for our partnerships with clients, candidates, and our internal team. Together, through open and candid conversations and the dedication to tackling tough challenges, we achieve greater success. Our approach is not merely transactional; it's an interactive collaboration among people aimed at advancing both business and careers.”

- Marika Akers

Sr Partner & Practice Leader

“We change people’s lives. It is not just a job; it is someone’s career, whose success or failure has long-term implications on their family and our client companies. I am fueled the magic that happens when we match a talented candidate with the right opportunity.”

- JENNIFER SILVESTER

CEO & OWNER

Interested in Connecting With Us to Discuss Your Search Needs?

Contact Us

OUR REPUTATION IN EXECUTIVE SEARCH

With a track record of success and a commitment to excellence, we are known for delivering top-tier talent to organizations across various industries. Our unwavering dedication to finding the perfect fit has earned us a reputation as a trusted advisor & partner for companies seeking to build strong, high-performing leadership teams.

Search Solutions
Business meeting with laptops and people.

EXECUTIVE SEARCH INSIGHTS

Navigating Counter Offers: A Strategic Approach To Retention & Leadership Renewal

Losing a C-suite executive or a key …

READ MORE

Cultivating Your Network

Layoffs are all over the news this year, at least in the tech sector with tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta ...

READ MORE