TurningPoint’s Executive Team

Ken Schmitt

Ken C. Schmitt,
President and Founder

Ken has been placing mid and senior-level professionals for 13 years.  A native of San Diego, Ken prides himself on approaching each engagement from a holistic perspective, taking into account his client’s tactical, strategic and cultural needs and customizing each project accordingly.

Having successfully placed over 195 professionals in positions such as CFO, COO, Controller, VP Operations, VP Sales & Marketing, President, Board Member, Finance Director and Director of Internal Audit, Ken delivers a wide range of functional expertise to each engagement.

After spending 5 years in management positions with Enterprise Rent A Car, Ken joined Accountants Inc, a regional staffing firm focusing on placing accounting and financial professionals. Two years later, he was recruited to join the San Diego office of Heidrick & Struggles, a leading, global retained search firm, where he supported the firm’s former CEO on a variety of executive level searches.  After rejoining Accountants Inc in 2003 to create and manage the Southern California AI Executive division, he was recruited by a local boutique firm, Judy Thompson & Associates in 2004.  In 2007 Ken launched TurningPoint providing customized recruiting, personalized Career Coaching and Educational Workshops for mid and senior level professionals.

An avid user of social media to identify top talent and brand his business, Ken has been educating professionals on the merits and use of this medium since 2006.  With one of San Diego’s largest LinkedIn networks and a profile that ranks in the top 4% of all users, Ken has developed a reputation as the “go-to” professional for LinkedIn in San Diego.  He was recently hired as the Social Media Instructor at Cal State University, San Marcos for their “Career Transition & Development” program, and has presented to more than 50 organizations about the value of “Leveraging LinkedIn”.

Ken earned his BBA in Business Economics from the University of San Diego in 1992, and has been an active board member of USD’s School of Business Alumni Association since 2005. He has presented to USD’s MSEL program, Cal State University San Marcos, Vistage, the IMA, the IIA, SHRM, NHRA, The Controller’s Council, USC, UCSD, Princeton Club of San Diego, The Boardroom, InlandNet and the CFO Roundtable.

Elaine Rosen

Elaine Rosen,
Director of Operations

Elaine’s 9 years of experience in Human Resources Management and Recruiting brings with it the perspective that a placement should always be the right fit for both the candidate and the client.

Born and raised in Australia, Elaine came to San Diego in 1993 through the University of Queensland’s international exchange program. In 1995, she moved to Oregon where she worked for a federally funded Job Training program teaching classes in job search techniques and assisting candidates with career transition. In 1998, Elaine returned to San Diego and worked for a major staffing agency until she left in 2000 for a Human Resources Management opportunity. In April 2008, Elaine joined the TurningPoint Executive Search team.

Elaine has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Queensland, Australia.  She lives in San Diego with her husband, a Marine Scientist, and their two children.

Dina Hemmi

Dina Hemmi,
Executive Recruiter

Dina Hemmi is a tenured Executive Recruiter & business development manager who began her career 2002 in San Diego. Over the past 8 years, Dina has worked for two of the world’s largest Recruiting firms – Robert Half International & Adecco/Ajilon Professional. Dina specializes in recruiting at the Executive level and will be focusing on placing highly skilled Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Accounting & Finance professionals. She is a passionate recruiter who thrives on her ability to support companies as they strive to attain success through the execution of smart hiring practices. Leveraging her diverse business knowledge, she has also managed projects in the fields of Mergers & Acquisitions, IPOs, Sarbanes Oxley compliance, system conversions/optimizations, SEC reporting & general accounting. Dina has managed recruiting revenues in excess of $3.8 million dollars and her sourcing and recruiting abilities have helped companies achieve 38% year over year growth by implementing new business strategies and procedures.

Dina is a Graduate of the University of San Diego, where she studied International Business & Finance with an emphasis in Italian Language. She lives in Point Loma with her husband Jason and two children.

Kim Higgins

Kim Higgins,
Career Coach – Certified Coach,
MBTI Certified

With over ten years working inside corporations within a human resources capacity, Kim has successfully partnered with hundreds of employees to foster and manage their career development. Between 2004 and 2009, she worked as a Career Coach, Training Coordinator and Corporate Recruiter for Taylor- Made adidas Golf Company in Carlsbad, CA.  In 2009, Kim developed her own practice as a Coach and Career Consultant, working with Lee Hecht Harrison, one of the nation’s leading outplacement firms.  There, she gained additional technical knowledge and enhanced interpersonal skills based on the organization’s 30 years of researching the job search process.  Prior to working in San Diego, Kim worked for businesses both small and large including Ford Motor Company and Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a non-profit based in Detroit.  Kim became a certified coach through the Hudson Institute of Santa Barbara and accredited through the governing coaching body, the International Coach Federation.   Kim earned her BS in Social Science from Cal Poly and is a certified administrator of the Meyers- Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).  She leverages this tool to guide her coaching clients through the rediscovery of their personal & professional foundation – their core self. Kim prides herself on finding congruence between her clients’ identity and their professional passion.

Vicky Willenberg

Vicky Willenberg,
Social Media Manager

After working as the Social Media Consultant for TurningPoint one year, Vicky is now Social Media Manager. In her new role, she will support the senior team with its social media initiatives,  research, database management and administration.

During her eight years as an Education Director and Teacher, Vicky developed a unique blend of one-on-one teaching skills, conflict resolution and the development of customized curriculum and interactive programs.  Specifically, she composed lectures, provided in-depth research assignments, created unique assessment models, facilitated parent/teacher conferences and managed the daily operations of the private school program.

Prior to joining TurningPoint, Vicky spent eight years as a teacher and school director.  Working for several educational institutions throughout San Diego including the Morning Star Academy and the Rhoades School, she has taught middle school and third grade.  Vicky earned her BA in History from the University of California, Riverside and her Master’s in Education from the University of San Diego.

Reyna Sund

Reyna Brook Sund,
Career Coach

Reyna possesses 10 years of in-depth experience in the human capital sector. Her skill set includes a successful history of recruiting, interviewing, networking, coaching and leading self-assessment and career workshops. She currently manages the MBA Career Services Office at the School of Business Administration at the University of San Diego (USD) which she initiated in 2007. Under her leadership, the program now boasts a dedicated student career services orientation, mentor program, a distinguished speaker series, industry expert panels, one-on-one coaching and numerous online resources.

Reyna gained most of her experience in the recruiting and staffing industry, interviewing and placing candidates in professional positions across a variety of industries.  She quickly developed a passion for helping people develop the tools needed to succeed in any job market at any point in their career. After identifying a desire to gain additional skills and an inside perspective into the hiring process, Reyna accepted the offer to move into human resources, managing the multi-state employment and recruitment for National University. She continued to build her expertise by joining USD in their HR department, gaining valuable insights that prepared her for her current role.

Reyna earned her B.A. in Communication Studies from Seattle Pacific University and is currently pursuing her Masters of Executive Leadership in the School of Business Administration at USD.