Mar 16, 2026 | News
VSP Celebrates 25 Years in Business: A Look Back – 2020 to 2022
Economic Backdrop
The period from 2020 to 2022 was defined by the onset of COVID and the sudden economic disruption that followed. In a matter of weeks, offices closed, travel stopped, and large parts of the economy slowed or shut down entirely. Markets reacted sharply, and uncertainty dominated decision-making as organizations worked to understand both the immediate and longer-term implications of the pandemic.
What followed was an uneven and unconventional recovery. Unprecedented fiscal and monetary support stabilized markets and fueled renewed activity, even as supply chains were disrupted and inflation pressures began to build. COVID permanently altered assumptions about work, mobility, and resilience, and underscored how quickly economic conditions can change.
Inside the Recruiting Industry
The second quarter of 2020 brought an abrupt slowdown. Searches were paused as COVID introduced unprecedented uncertainty. For a period, the market felt frozen.
By July of that year, momentum began to return. Hiring resumed cautiously at first, then with increasing urgency as organizations adapted to remote work and grew more comfortable interviewing and evaluating candidates over Zoom. From that point forward, demand strengthened across many parts of the market and, in many respects, has yet to meaningfully slow. What followed was a sustained period of activity marked by tighter labor markets, more complex processes, and greater competition for experienced talent.
Featured Placement
In 2022, we recruited Tom Schrader to Koster Keunen, a fifth-generation, family-owned manufacturer based in Connecticut, as Controller. He joined during a period of transition with the expectation that he would ultimately step into the Chief Financial Officer role. In March 2024, Tom was promoted to CFO, completing the succession plan that had been envisioned from the outset.
This placement was particularly meaningful for our firm because it reflected relationships that go back decades. Tom is someone I first met in a gym in the late 1990s and have stayed in touch with ever since. After all these years, it was rewarding to work together professionally. It also reflects the kind of leadership searches we have frequently conducted for family- and founder-led businesses across Connecticut.
Coming March 31st: 2023 – Present – AI, Balance and Perspective
