Our Team
Meet Our Team
Sharon Hulce is President/CEO of Employment Resource Group, Inc. (ERG), a nationwide Executive Search firm based in Appleton, Wisconsin. A 28-year veteran of the Executive Search industry, Sharon founded ERG twenty-two years ago to change the traditional way search was done. Ensuring ERG would never be the firm that just presents resumes, she has dedicated her company’s mission to providing thought leadership on every level, ensuring successful hires for both the company and the individual. Sharon is proud of her 28 years of “transforming lives”.
A Forbes-published author, Sharon’s book entitled A Well-Done Professional Midlife Crisis is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and SharonHulce.com. She is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, often sharing her life and professional experiences at countless corporate presentations, national conferences, association meetings and even a TEDx talk.
Sharon is a 2023 and 2024 Wisconsin Titan CEO 100 honoree and the 2021 recipient of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce Gus A. Zuehlke Distinguished Service Award for her entrepreneurship and vision within the local business community. Prior to leaving the global MRINetwork, Sharon was recognized as Management Recruiters International’s Person of the Year. This award is given to a single member who made the greatest contribution to the network, worthy of recognition as “MVP” of the entire network. She has been a Top Ten Owner of the Decade, having personal billings over $33 million.
Sharon is also an Executive Board Member of The Pinnacle Society, a consortium of the country’s industry-leading recruiters and a Platinum member of the Women Presidents Organization (WPO), a dynamic collective of women business owners from around the world who share insights to drive game-changing experiences. Sharon was chosen as a scholarship winner in 2024 through WPO to attend Harvard Business School.
Passionate about the community she lives and works in, Sharon has served on numerous boards and was the recipient of the 2019 Walter L. Rugland Community Service Award, which recognizes an individual who over many years has positively impacted the quality of life in the Fox Cities through their leadership. Additionally, ERG’s gift back to the community over its 22 years as a company has been through its transformation of nonprofit organizations, having conducted over 100 leadership searches pro bono, resulting in over $6 million in donated search fees back to the Fox Cities.
Angela Maar is the Controller at Employment Resource Group, Inc. (ERG), bringing over two decades of expertise in innovative solutions and promoting growth strategies. She leads initiatives in marketing, branding, social media, and operations. Angela's broad professional background equips her to address business challenges with imaginative and exacting solutions.
Skilled in project management, Angela is renowned for her capacity to manage several projects at once, ensuring detailed organization and high efficiency. Her active approach and willingness to step in when necessary, make her a crucial asset to any team. Angela's leadership extends beyond professional environments; she is also a fervent volunteer and executive board member for various community organizations, significantly contributing to their development and operational achievements.
In her personal life, Angela cherishes time with her family, including her supportive husband and two daughters. They frequently travel together, exploring new places both domestically and abroad. Angela's home life is further enriched by their beloved dogs.
Brooke has over ten years of experience in full-cycle recruitment and human resources, with an emphasis on manufacturing and technical roles. In addition to recruiting, Brooke has over 5 years of experience in talent marketing and social media management. Brooke is passionate about ERG's commitment to taking the time to fully understand the clients' needs in order to find the best match for a role. She is a firm believer in finding the RIGHT person for the RIGHT job. She enjoys being active in the community by volunteering with Future Neenah, having served as a past member of their Board of Directors.
Outside of the office, Brooke enjoys spending time with friends and family. She loves traveling, jet skiing, listening to music and hanging out with her dog, Bella.
Chip Gabbey brings a dynamic blend of executive leadership, strategic business development, and relationship-driven sales experience to Employment Resource Group. Throughout his career, Chip has built a reputation for identifying growth opportunities, developing meaningful partnerships, and helping organizations align people, vision, and strategy to achieve long-term success.
Prior to joining ERG, Chip enjoyed a successful career spanning executive leadership, commercial real estate, and sales management. He has launched and led new markets, guided business development initiatives, negotiated complex commercial transactions, and advised organizations on strategic growth opportunities. His consultative approach, combined with a strong operational mindset, allows him to build lasting relationships rooted in trust, responsiveness, and results.
He is especially passionate about helping organizations solve challenges creatively while positioning both companies and professionals for transformational growth. His background leading sales teams and working closely with executive stakeholders gives him a unique ability to understand the broader business objectives behind talent acquisition and organizational strategy.
Deeply connected to the Fox Valley community, Chip has also served in significant nonprofit and volunteer leadership roles. He previously served as Vice Moderator and Moderator of his church, where he helped lead organizational restructuring initiatives, a pastoral transition process, and the church’s first capital campaign in more than 30 years.
Outside of work, Chip enjoys spending time with his family, networking throughout the community, boating and relaxing up north, and cheering on his three sons in their various activities and pursuits.
Nicole Clark brings over 18 years of strategic recruiting experience to the executive search industry, specializing in identifying and placing high-impact leaders across multiple industries. She found her footing in executive search early in her career and quickly discovered a passion for connecting transformational talent with organizations ready to elevate performance from the inside out.
Known for her direct, relationship-driven approach, Nicole is committed to understanding what truly drives both individuals and organizations. She partners closely with executive teams to uncover the real business challenges behind a search, far beyond the job description, and ensures every placement aligns with culture, capability, and long-term strategic goals. Her ability to navigate tight markets, pinpoint passive talent, and move with urgency has helped leaders across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico hire operators who create measurable impact.
Throughout her career, Nicole has led recruiting teams within both corporate and agency environments, sharpening her expertise in candidate development, executive search strategy, and market dynamics. She is recognized for delivering speed without sacrificing precision and for her belief that the right hire can transform not just a department, but an entire organization.
Outside of work, Nicole is a proud boy mom who thrives on an active, outdoors-focused lifestyle. If she is not strength training, coaching her sons' sports teams, she is likely on the river surfing in the summer or dirt-bike riding when the weather cools down. Health, discipline, and balance, is a centralized part of her life and shape the way she shows up for the leaders she partners with.
Chad brings over two decades of elite talent acquisition and leadership experience to the Fox Valley’s premier search firm. Known for his deep-rooted expertise in his markets, Chad has built a career on the principle that people are an organization’s most valuable asset.
Prior to joining ERG, Chad spent seven years as a Branch Team Leader, managing a multi-million-dollar territory and leading a high-performing team in full-scale recruitment. This was preceded by a 12-year tenure with another firm, where he specialized in everything from contract negotiations to technical recruiting across Construction, CNC, Engineering, and Fabrication.
Today, Chad leverages his extensive technical and industrial background to identify and place high-impact leadership talent. His unique ability to bridge the gap between “boots-on-the-ground” operations and C-suite strategy makes him an invaluable partner for organizations seeking the next generation of executive leadership.
Outside of the office, Chad can be found at his cabin up north—hunting, fishing, coaching, or watching his kids play high school sports with his wife, Tracey.
Jennifer is a dedicated career advising professional with over 15 years of experience in staffing, employment management, and human resources. Her expertise includes talent acquisition, employee retention strategies, workforce development, classroom instruction, community partnership development, and professional workshop facilitation. She is passionate about creating workplace environments where employees can thrive while improving retention and reducing turnover.
Previously, she served as Director of Career Services at a private postsecondary institution, where she oversaw career placement, student retention initiatives, employer partnerships, Program Advisory Committees, and accreditation reporting. She focused on increasing placement rates, maintaining strong student retention, and streamlining professional coaching processes to strengthen employer feedback and improve internship and placement outcomes.
Earlier in her career, she held leadership roles in recruitment and human resources, including positions as an Employment Manager and a Staffing Supervisor. These roles strengthened her expertise in talent strategy, employee engagement, and operational leadership.
She has also been actively involved in the community, serving on a local civic committee and as a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, where she built and strengthened employer relationships that continue to support her professional success.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, baking, traveling, and exploring the outdoors with her three dogs.
Matthew Wray is a seasoned recruitment and staffing leader with over 15 years of experience driving talent acquisition, business development, and operational performance across multiple industries. As a Senior Recruiter, he has managed full-cycle recruiting across a diverse range of industries including Consumer Products, Technology, Accounting/Finance, Aerospace, and Industrial Manufacturing. Matthew’s global life sciences consulting/recruiting experience runs deep for highly regulated industries. He in no stranger to supporting critical quality, compliance, and regulatory initiatives by placing top-tier consultants in roles spanning pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices. His work has included staffing for quality assurance, validation, regulatory affairs, and audit readiness projects. He has also successfully partnered with large corporations, including Big Four firms, to address complex hiring needs and improve organizational performance.
His ability to source, assess, and place talent while maintaining strong compliance and onboarding processes quickly positioned him for leadership advancement. Matthew has been responsible for launching and scaling high-performing staffing offices, leading teams of recruiters, and delivering strong financial and operational results. He specializes in growing business units, enhancing client relationships, and building high-performing teams aligned with organizational goals.
Matthew’s career is defined by his ability to blend strategic vision with hands-on execution. He is known for building lasting relationships, identifying top talent, and driving business growth through innovative recruiting practices. His expertise spans full-cycle recruiting, leadership development, client management, and market expansion, making him a trusted partner in the staffing and talent solutions space.
In his personal time, Matthew can be found mentoring and coaching his son’s baseball team and volunteering while finding time to fish and enjoy the outdoors.
Liz Clark is the Operations Lead at Employment Resource Group, Inc. (ERG), bringing over a decade of expertise in the recruitment industry with a focus on Economic Development, Manufacturing, and Healthcare sectors. Liz’s career journey reflects a deep-seated passion for optimizing business processes, which led her to transition into recruiting operations, enhancing ERG’s operational efficiency and client service excellence.
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she distinguished herself in music, achieving state recognition in viola performance. This early accomplishment laid a foundation of discipline and excellence that has permeated her professional life.
Residing in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Liz’s personal life is deeply rooted in her community. She is a devoted Packers season ticket holder, demonstrating her commitment through active support of the local team. Her home life is equally enriching, shared with her husband, daughters Harper and Quinn, and their beloved mini golden doodle/bichon, Penny.
Carl brings nearly two decades of experience in market intelligence, research, and relationship intelligence to Employment Resource Group (ERG). Throughout his career, Carl has supported and led research functions gathering and connecting information to provide meaningful insights that support business, growth, and targeting decisions.
Prior to joining ERG, Carl held market intelligence and research lead roles with leading national and global professional services organizations. His experience spans executive and C-suite research, market and competitive intelligence, relationship mapping, industry analysis, and strategic profiling. He has worked closely with leadership, business development, talent, and go-to-market teams to develop research strategies and deliver insights that help identify information, connections, and the right people.
Carl brings a naturally curious and analytical approach, combining technology-enabled research with a collaborative mindset and a focus on understanding the broader context behind each need. He is passionate about using intelligence and relationships to help organizations and professionals make informed decisions and create meaningful connections.
Outside of the office, Carl enjoys spending time with his family, participating in outside activities, and cheering on his kids in their various sports and activities with his wife, Becky.
Joy Vandenberg is an Administrative Assistant to the CEO of Employment Resource Group, Inc (ERG). With a background in construction and healthcare administration, she is excited to step into the world of recruiting.
Joy holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with an emphasis in human services from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. During her time in college, Joy was conference champion as well as captain of the women’s swim and dive team. She also served in multiple leadership roles within student organizations, in addition to participating as a research assistant in a neuroscience laboratory. Joy is passionate about understanding and bolstering the “why” of systems as well as human behaviors and experiences to achieve a higher potential.
At ERG, Joy is dedicated to optimizing the time and talents of company leadership.
Outside of the office, she enjoys being active—pick a sport, and she’ll give it a try. Joy also enjoys reading, painting, playing guitar, learning new things, and exploring this beautiful world, near and far.
Colton Shearier is a Marketing Specialist at Employment Resource Group, Inc. (ERG), where he supports the company’s brand and business growth by creating digital content, managing social media, and developing marketing materials that align with ERG’s mission and strategy. He brings a blend of digital marketing and content creation experience, having worked across both B2B and consumer-focused environments.
Throughout his career, Colton has managed digital campaigns and contributed to website content, presentations, and other marketing collateral that help strengthen brand visibility and client engagement. He is dedicated to ensuring ERG’s marketing efforts reflect the organization’s commitment to excellence and strong client relationships.
Outside the office, Colton and his fiancée Holly can usually be found at the movie theater, checking out the newest releases. They also enjoy spending time together with their dog Hanzo and cat Genji.