Sterling Martin Associates

Name

Sterling Martin Associates

Legal name

Sterling Martin

Website

https://smartinsearch.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Sector, Education & Nonprofit Leadership Search (BPACAAAI), General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Retained executive recruitment
• Leadership assessment services
• Executive coaching services
• Association executive search

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Retained Executive Search: Primary revenue stream from retained executive search engagements for C-suite executives including CEOs, Executive Directors, VPs, Senior Directors, and Directors for associations, nonprofits, and other organizations. The firm is retained by organizations to find their top leaders through a comprehensive five-stage process.
2. Interim Executives: Providing high-caliber provisional leaders during critical leadership transitions for organizations that need immediate executive leadership.
3. Leadership Assessment: Identifying core skills to boost productivity and collaboration using Everything DiSC Workplace behavioral assessment, offered as a standalone service or integrated with executive search engagements.
4. Executive Coaching: 12 customized executive coaching sessions during the first year of a new executive's tenure, along with individual or group coaching for existing executives and leadership teams. Provides strategic guidance for navigating complex organizational dynamics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sterling Martin Associates is a premier executive search firm that conducts retained executive recruitment for C-suite and senior leadership positions (CEO, Executive Director, President, VP, Senior Director) primarily for associations, nonprofits, healthcare organizations, financial services, education, and STEM societies. The firm operates a five-stage search process augmented by AI-powered candidate sourcing, Everything DiSC behavioral assessments, and 12 months of post-placement executive coaching. It also provides interim executive placement and standalone leadership assessment and executive coaching services.

Product overview

Sterling Martin Associates is a premier national executive search firm offering four integrated service lines: Executive Search (the core retained search service for C-suite and senior leadership), Interim Executives (provisional leadership during transitions), Leadership Assessment (Everything DiSC Workplace-powered behavioral evaluations), and Executive Coaching (12-session onboarding support included with each executive search placement). The services are designed as a comprehensive talent solution, with coaching and assessment serving as complementary offerings that support successful executive placements. The firm specializes in placing leaders across associations, nonprofits, healthcare, foundations, education, science/engineering, and financial services sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Retained executive search service placing C-suite and senior leaders (CEOs, Executive Directors, Presidents, VPs, Senior Directors, Directors) for associations, nonprofits, healthcare, education, financial, and STEM sector organizations. Includes a five-stage process, AI-powered sourcing, Everything DiSC behavioral assessment, and 12 months of executive coaching.
• Interim Executives Provides rigorously vetted provisional leaders to guide associations and nonprofits through critical leadership transitions, delivering strategic executive leadership on a temporary basis tailored to the organization's unique needs.
• Leadership Assessment Uses Everything DiSC Workplace behavioral assessment to identify core leadership traits and behavioral patterns, enhancing self-awareness, improving interpersonal relationships, fostering effective communication, resolving conflict, and driving innovation. Available as a standalone service or integrated with executive search engagements.
• Executive Coaching Provides 12 customized executive coaching sessions during the first year of a new executive's tenure (typically one per month), as well as individual or group coaching for existing executives and leadership teams to support seamless transitions and help leaders navigate complex organizational dynamics.

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CESSE (Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 January 2026Sterling Martin is a Strategic Partner with CESSE, the premier gathering designed exclusively for STEM society CEOs and Executive Directors. The firm contributes to conversations that advance leadership excellence across the sector by speaking at CEO Meetings and supporting CESSE programming.
• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavid Martin serves on the Key Consultants Committee for ASAE. ASAE's annual Volunteer Leadership Retreat engages full volunteer leadership in conversations about the future of associations. This membership demonstrates Sterling Martin's standing in the association community.
• ZRGminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe firm is referred to as 'ZRG Sterling Martin' in some contexts, suggesting a partnership or branding relationship with ZRG, a global executive search firm.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with established nonprofit and association practice. Comparable because it competes for the same ED/CEO placements in the association sector, particularly for larger organizations with international scope.
• Korn Ferry: Global executive search and organizational consulting firm where Sterling Martin's founder and several senior staff previously held roles. Comparable because it serves association, nonprofit, and C-suite executive search across healthcare, financial services, and education — directly overlapping Sterling Martin's verticals at larger scale.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with strong nonprofit, association, and education practices. Comparable as a competing retained-search provider for C-suite association roles, though at materially larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with significant nonprofit, association, and healthcare leadership practices. Comparable as a direct competitor for CEO/ED retained search mandates in Sterling Martin's target verticals, particularly for larger budgets.

Direct peers

• Isaacson, Miller: Executive search firm focused exclusively on nonprofit, association, foundation, and education leadership. Highly comparable given shared specialization in ED/CEO placements for mission-driven organizations, making it Sterling Martin's closest pure-play direct competitor.
• ZRG Partners: Global executive search firm that appears to have a branding or partnership relationship with Sterling Martin ('ZRG Sterling Martin' per source). Comparable as a retained-search provider with overlapping nonprofit and association practice, and the affiliation makes it both a peer and potential channel.
• WittKieffer: Executive search firm specializing in healthcare, education, nonprofit, and association leadership. Most direct peer given overlapping verticals, with Sterling Martin's Adriana Abbasi having spent over 10 years at WittKieffer, confirming deep functional comparability.
• DHR International: Global executive search firm with strong nonprofit and association practice. Comparable because it offers retained C-suite search for similar client profiles, with overlap in healthcare associations and foundations.
• Kittleman & Associates: Boutique executive search firm focused exclusively on associations and nonprofit organizations. Comparable as a niche peer serving the same ED/CEO retained-search market, similar in scale and value proposition.

Emerging players

• Phillips Oppenheim: Boutique executive search firm with practices in nonprofit and association leadership. Comparable given similar vertical focus and search process, though smaller scale limits direct competition for larger mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCHCVY_wF2xC5nHtsP-qYBWA
• Facebookfacebook.com/smartinsearch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sterling-martin-associates
• Xx.com/Sterling_Martin

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sterling Martin Associates