Building a climbing gym in Fort Wayne 🧗🏽 | I own 2 homes but live in a van 🚐 | DM me a dad joke & let's be friends 😂 | Army National Guard 🇺🇸

I remember in grade school I was a loser with no vision or purpose for my life. One day, I met this lady who had pizza outside my middle school. She volunteered her time for an after school program where they created a fun space for kids to be kids. I went to the after school program because, let's be honest, there was pizza.

I finally found a place where I belonged, a place where I could discover who I am. She mentored me. She helped me with my first interview, college applications, and devastating high school break ups. 

She demonstrated intentionality and genuinely wanted what's best for me which is counter cultural. I  had no money to give and nothing to contribute. Yet, she invested in me anyways.

Now I want to give back. I live to equip, encourage, and empower people to reach their potential. I have no expectation of return, only invitation to be better humans.

Edwin Chow, PMP

VentureWell

● Led full-cycle recruiting and hiring across numerous different organization functions,
including Data Intelligence, Growth Strategy & Development, Health Commercialization,
Innovation Ecosystems, Finance, and Enterprise & Shared Services
● Documented and enhanced processes and procedures for all aspects of Talent Acquisition,
including developing the function’s first Talent Acquisition Playbook
● Constantly improved hiring processes by creating and implementing new systems around
internal and external communication, inbound application review processes, and interview
processes
● Identified technology resources and tools for increasing hiring efficiency and effectiveness
● Partnered with hiring managers to write accurate and compelling job descriptions and
scorecards, designed effective and inclusive interview processes, including assignments and
questions to collect the right evidence, and made objective and equitable hiring outcomes
● Reviewed inbound applications and screened candidates before presenting them to the hiring
manager
● Coached hiring managers on effective interview techniques and guided them through
evidence-based decision-making
● Coached and counseled hiring managers around talent acquisition strategies in order to
increase their proficiency and engagement in sourcing and attracting top talent
● Conveyed to candidates exciting opportunities for impact and growth at VentureWell and
provided a top-notch candidate experience throughout hiring processes

Senior Talent Acquisition Partner

Colonist

• Joined as the first dedicated recruiting resource for the company
• Created and implemented new systems and frameworks around company-wide internal and external communication, inbound application review processes, interview processes, selection criteria, applicant tracking, and compensation bands
• Developed company-wide hiring strategies and advised company founders on best practices for recruiting, conducting interview processes, and hiring
• Reviewed over four-hundred sitting inbound applications and identified strongest applicants
• Created interview questions and designed interview paths for different hiring processes
• Conveyed to candidates exciting opportunities for impact and growth at Colonist.io and provided a top-notch candidate experience throughout hiring processes

Head of Recruiting

Toptal

• Led full-cycle internal recruiting for Toptal's Core team
• Attracted top talent on LinkedIn and Lever (ATS) by proactively sourcing for well-aligned candidates who will thrive in a fast-paced, hyper-growth, startup tech environment and crafting compelling outreach
• Conveyed to candidates exciting opportunities for impact and growth at Toptal and providing a top-notch candidate experience throughout our hiring processes
• Built and maintained relationships with both candidates as well as senior stakeholders and hiring managers
• Spearheaded Toptal's first Summer MBA Internship program by identifying target business schools, connecting with leaders within the institutions, and leading entire recruitment process for candidates

Senior Recruiter

Prince George's County Public Schools

• Elected to position by executing an effective campaign to unseat the incumbent officeholder, winning with 13,145 votes (defeating opponent by a margin of over 15% of total votes)
• Elected by full board in 2021 to serve as Vice Chair of the Academic Achievement Committee and in 2020 to serve as Chair of the Board of Education Office Reorganization Committee and Vice Chair of the Policy and Governance Committee
• Established rules and polices for the governance of the school system
• Approved a planning process to include stakeholders in developing a comprehensive plan for student achievement

Board Member (Elected Official)

Teach For America

• Managed a team of three Recruitment Managers (FTEs) and five Campus Ambassadors
• Directed Teach For America’s recruitment efforts at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)
• Promoted twice over a five-year period to leadership roles with increased opportunities for management of projects and staff members
• Set bold vision and direction for campaign to find and inspire extraordinary, diverse future leaders to become Teach For America corps members, specifically leading HBCU recruitment expansion in 2020 by using data-driven decisions to add four new schools to the recruitment portfolio
• Built strong relationships and networks, both internally and externally, to advance recruitment campaign, and influences candidates, external stakeholders, and internal partners to achieve bold outcomes
• Managed five staff interns throughout each year in this role to coordinate campus campaign efforts
• Led professional learning community (PLC) of fifteen individuals in 2017 focused on diversity recruitment 
• Designed and facilitated sessions for Rise Leadership Conferences from 2017-2019

Recruitment Director - Management

Recruitment Director

Recruitment Manager

• Provided instruction to over one hundred middle school students daily in the subject of science during the academic school year as well as throughout summer school
• Worked directly with students to ensure success on the 8th Grade Science State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness

Corps Member

University of California, San Diego - School of Medicine

Research Assistant

Howard University Department of Chemistry

Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Research Intern

I think I’m one of the luckiest guys in the world. I get to wake up every day and do what I love the most: meet new people and learn all about their stories.

People who know me know that I’m passionate about developing and cultivating meaningful relationships with others. This is my purpose in life. 
It’s why my career in talent acquisition and recruiting has been so fulfilling; I focus on providing candidates with a top-notch experience and forming genuine connections.

I’m enjoying some down time before I start my next role in a few weeks. More to come on that soon!

Here's a brief bit about my professional journey:
Most recently, I was a Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at VentureWell, where I hired for open roles across the company and led internal projects. I came to VentureWell after recruiting for a variety of business functions at Toptal, a very fast-paced tech company that was in the hypergrowth stage. In between Toptal and VentureWell, I spent a few months building up the recruiting capability at a small online gaming startup. And prior to joining Toptal, I built the foundation of my career in talent acquisition and recruiting; I managed a team of full-time recruiters at Teach For America (TFA) and specifically led all recruitment strategies across historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). 

Outside of my full-time work experience, I spent four years serving as an elected school board member in Prince George's County, Maryland from 2018-2022. And before I started recruiting, I began my career as a 2014 TFA Corps Member in Houston, TX, where I served as a middle school science teacher in the Houston Independent School District. I'm a proud alumnus of Howard University and an active member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

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Edwin Chow, PMP

Joshua M. Thomas

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