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 Transform with STARoundtable

Why Settle for Keeping Up When You Can Lead the Way?

Transform

Redefine Talent Acquisition with Expert Guidance

For organizations looking to completely reimagine and optimize their talent acquisition strategy. Transform provides exclusive, hands-on consulting, deep-dive coaching, and tailored advisory support.
TA Peer Network by Riviera Advisors

Who Should Join?

  • Everything in Accelerate & Optimize, plus...

  • Dedicated 1:1 Consulting – Personalized, in-depth sessions with Riviera Advisors’ senior consultants.

  • Custom Strategy Development – Work hand-in-hand with experts to build and execute a tailored recruiting strategy.

  • Advanced Recruiting Assessments – Gain a comprehensive view of your TA function with exclusive diagnostic tools.

  • Ongoing Check-ins & Expert Support – Continuous guidance to ensure sustained success.

Perfect for:

Senior HR leaders, TA executives, and organizations undergoing transformation or scaling their hiring function.

Our team

Experienced and Passionate Talent Acquisition Leaders

JEREMY ESKENAZI,
SPHR, CMC

Managing Principal
Jeremy is a seasoned expert in talent acquisition and staffing, recognized as a professional member of the National Speakers Association (NSA) and a Senior Fellow with The Conference Board’s Human Capital Center. He has held leadership roles with the International Association of Corporate and Professional Recruitment (IACPR) and the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), where he currently serves on the Talent Acquisition Special Expertise Panel. A Certified Management Consultant (CMC), SHRM-SCP, and SPHR, Jeremy has authored two books on high-performance talent acquisition. Based in Long Beach, California, he is also a proud member of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.

Tara Noonan Amaral

Principal Consultant
Tara Noonan Amaral, Principal Consultant at Riviera Advisors, brings decades of expertise in talent acquisition and leadership strategy, having led recruitment and diversity initiatives for top organizations like Fidelity Investments, ADP, and New York Life. With a background in banking and financial services at JPMorgan Chase, Tara is also an industry advocate, speaker, and HR Venture Advisor with SemperVirens Venture Capital. Passionate about the future of work and Diversity & Inclusion, she holds a Bachelor’s in Organizational Behavior from Brown University and is based in Charleston, South Carolina.

John Carrozza

Principal consultant
John joined Riviera Advisors in 2014, bringing over 17 years of experience leading successful Talent Acquisition teams. He has held key roles in the entertainment industry, including leading recruitment functions at Universal Studios and The Walt Disney Company, where he managed global teams at Disney Imagineering. With expertise in complex corporate environments, John has also consulted for NBCUniversal and DirecTV. A skilled trainer and former nonprofit leader, John is also an accomplished independent film producer. A native New Yorker, he holds a Bachelor’s in Marketing from St. John’s University and is based in Los Angeles, California.

James Mueller

Associate Principal
James “Jim” Mueller is a senior executive search consultant with nearly 25 years of experience leading executive recruiting organizations for companies like IBM, Marriott International, and The Gillette Company. He has conducted senior leadership searches across global markets and industries, consistently improving internal search performance. In 2012, he founded Executive Search Advisory Partners, specializing in enhancing executive recruiting processes. With a background in HR roles like leadership development and succession planning, Jim also has experience consulting for private equity firms. He holds a BS in Personnel and Industrial Relations from Syracuse University and is based in North Carolina.

Paul Norman

Principal consultant
Paul Norman is an innovative HR executive with over 20 years of experience in strategic talent management across industries like healthcare, hospitality, technology, financial services, and biotechnology. He specializes in transforming Talent Acquisition functions to handle high-volume hiring and scaling operations. Paul has built and aligned large, remote TA teams, focusing on processes like employer branding, digital marketing, compliance, and technology. He has successfully integrated TA functions during growth and M&A activities. Prior to joining Riviera Advisors, Paul served as Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Sevita, Travel + Leisure Co., and Rackspace, driving strategic recruitment initiatives. Paul holds a BS in Biology from the University of Michigan and is based in San Antonio, TX.

Laura Schmidt

Associate Principal consultant
Laura Schmidt has over 25 years of experience in Sourcing, Recruiting, Workforce Management, and Talent Acquisition, as well as Benefits, Compensation, ER, Labor Relations, HRIS, and HR Technology. She has held key roles at Hyatt Hotels, SeaWorld, and Hilton Grand Vacations (HGV), where she spent 18 years as an executive. Laura has led recruiting in high-volume, fast-paced environments across the US, Europe, and Asia, playing a pivotal role in HGV's growth from 3,000 to over 16,000 employees and guiding the company through transformations like a spin-off, IPO, and COVID-19 recovery. A thought leader in Talent Acquisition technologies and recruitment marketing, Laura is a sought-after speaker and innovator in digital talent acquisition strategies. She holds an SPHR certification and a Bachelor's degree from Heidelberg University, based in Orlando, Florida.

Shally Steckerl

Associate Principal consultant
Shally Steckerl, a pioneer in talent sourcing, has nearly 30 years of experience transforming recruitment through innovative strategies and technology. Known as the "Father of Sourcing," he has held leadership roles at companies like LTK, Cisco, and Google, impacting over 300 major organizations. Shally is the author of three books on talent sourcing and a sought-after speaker. A Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, he is passionate about mentoring future talent leaders. Based in Atlanta, GA, he holds dual bachelor's degrees in International Business and Intercultural Communications from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Nancie Whitehouse

Principal consultant
Nancie S. Whitehouse brings over two decades of expertise in talent acquisition consulting and executive recruiting to Riviera Advisors. She founded Whitehouse Advisors, LLC in 2005, partnering with CEOs and HR leaders on large-scale projects, including organizational development, succession planning, and recruitment optimization. Nancie also served as Director of Search Strategies at General Atlantic, supporting its portfolio companies with human capital management. She spent 18 years in executive search, including roles at Huntington Group and Korn/Ferry International. A frequent speaker and author, Nancie is a member of HR People & Strategy and has chaired the IACPR Board. She holds a BS in Special Education from the University of Hartford and is based in Stamford, Connecticut.

Andres Avila

talent acquisition analyst
Andres Avila is a Talent Acquisition Analyst at Riviera Advisors, where he supports client recruiting efforts through data analysis and serves as the primary community and social media manager across platforms like LinkedIn, X/Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. He is pursuing a business administration degree with a finance concentration at California State University Long Beach (CSULB), where he is involved in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and previously worked at 22 West Media. With a background in business analytics and market research, Andres is expected to graduate in May 2025..

Client Testimonials

"I find Riviera to be very talented individuals, with a strong sense of clearly wanting to understand the client’s needs and wants. Riviera principals are excellent listeners, which allows them to key in on the needs of the client. They have a talent for outlining initiatives that produce results. I also find them to be great communicators, providing clear and concise communication to the client. Their work ethic, creativity in producing results, and their understanding of being fully ‘accountable’ makes them an asset to any client. They clearly has the ability to assist a client in achieving their initiative."
Wyndham International
Senior Vice President-Corporate Services, Club and Spa Operations
"No matter how experienced an HR professional, there is always a time when you need to do a reality check on your HR Staffing environment. Riviera Advisors enabled Availability Services to gather that information. Further that information was key to establishing a plan to enable “Staffing & Selection” to become an even better partner to our Hiring Managers. Most importantly, they shared our sense of urgency to keep the project on task. Their sense of urgency has been there throughout the process. I told them “You’ve been my HR Life Raft”."
SunGard Availability Services
Manager Staffing & Selection

Why Join?

This isn’t just another professional group-it’s your opportunity to connect, learn, and thrive with top TA professionals across industries, from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Whether you’re a manager, director, or executive, if you’re looking to innovate your recruiting strategies, seeking actionable solutions and leading the future of talent acquisition, this network is for you. Join us today and unlock the following:

Resource Access

Leverage exclusive tools, templates, and best practices to improve and elevate your strategy

Peer Workshops:

Solve real-world challenges and refine strategies with expert-led virtual sessions

Global Networking

Build meaningful connections with like-minded professionals

Community Channel

Engage in ongoing conversations with peers and experts for insights and feedback

Coaching (Optimize and Transform Levels)

Get personalized advice through one-on-one or team coaching sessions