The Synergy Organization

What The Synergy Organization does

The Synergy Organization, founded in 1989 by Dr. Kenneth R. Cohen, is a privately held, founder-owned executive search and assessment firm headquartered in Voorhees, New Jersey. The firm specializes exclusively in healthcare leadership recruiting, serving hospitals, health systems, integrated delivery networks, and ancillary healthcare organizations across 40 U.S. states. Notable clients include UPMC, MedStar Health, Penn State Health, Jefferson Health, Methodist Le Bonheur, Tower Health, and LifeBridge Health, with engagements covering CEO, CMO, department chair, and service-line director placements.

The core technical asset is the proprietary Synergy Screening System®, an evidence-based three-dimensional framework that assesses candidates across Head (technical expertise), Heart (motivation, values, fit), and Feet (prior accomplishments and behaviors) using validated psychological testing, behavioral profiling, structured interviews, and internally characterized predictive analytics. All business practices are integrated with the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program standards, and the firm holds four registered trademarks across its service stack.

Synergy generates revenue through professional-services fees on three streams: full-service Evidence-Based Executive Search engagements, a suite of eight Evidence-Based Executive Assessment modules (selection, developmental, team synergy, rerailment, organizational redesign, pre-employment, job analysis, succession planning), and Evidence-Based Consulting Services including executive coaching and conflict resolution. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is exclusively direct enterprise sales to healthcare C-suite, boards, and HR leadership, supported by content marketing, industry conference presentations, white papers, and case studies. The firm is led by Founder/CEO Dr. Kenneth R. Cohen (a consulting psychologist), President of Healthcare Solutions Ken Hanover (former Prezio Health CEO), and Vice President of Client Relationships Diane Stemler.

Name

The Synergy Organization

Legal name

The Synergy Organization, Inc.

Website

https://synergyorg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Synergy Organization is a privately held healthcare executive search and assessment firm founded in 1989, serving hospitals, health systems, and integrated networks across 40 U.S. states using its proprietary evidence-based Synergy Screening System® and a suite of assessment and consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Leadership Assessment

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

People Analytics, Assessment & Psychometrics Consulting (BPAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Healthcare executive search
• Leadership assessment services
• Succession planning consulting
• Executive recruitment firm
• Evidence-based hiring

Headquarters

HQ city

Voorhees

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Evidence-Based Executive Search: Full-service executive search engagements for healthcare leadership positions, including job analysis, candidate sourcing, screening, assessment, and placement services.
2. Evidence-Based Executive Assessments: Standalone assessment services including selection assessments, developmental assessments, team synergy assessments, rerailment assessments, organizational redesign assessments, pre-employment assessments, job analysis, and succession planning.
3. Consulting Services: Executive coaching and conflict resolution services to help organizations improve leadership effectiveness and resolve internal conflicts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Synergy Organization is a healthcare executive search and assessment firm that recruits and selects healthcare leaders using its proprietary Synergy Screening System®, which evaluates candidates across Head (technical expertise), Heart (motivation/values), and Feet (demonstrated accomplishments) dimensions through validated psychological testing, behavioral profiling, and predictive analytics. Its portfolio combines Evidence-Based Executive Search, Evidence-Based Succession Planning, Evidence-Based Job Analysis, a suite of Evidence-Based Executive Assessments, and Consulting (Executive Coaching and Conflict Resolution), all integrated with Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program standards.

Product overview

The Synergy Organization is a healthcare executive search and assessment firm founded in 1989, offering a unified portfolio of evidence-based services built around its proprietary Synergy Screening System®. The core offering combines the Synergy Screening System® (which assesses Head, Heart, and Feet dimensions) with Evidence-Based Executive Search®, Evidence-Based Succession Planning, and Evidence-Based Job Analysis services. The company also provides a suite of eight Executive Assessment modules including Selection Assessments, Developmental Assessments, Team Synergy Assessments, Rerailment Assessments, Organizational Redesign Assessments, and Pre-Employment Assessments. Consulting services include Evidence-Based Executive Coaching and Evidence-Based Conflict Resolution. All services integrate Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Program standards and validated psychological testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Synergy Screening System®: Proprietary evidence-based three-step screening approach for hiring healthcare leaders, assessing Head (expertise), Heart (passion/values), and Feet (accomplishments).
• Evidence-Based Executive Search®
• Evidence-Based Executive Assessments
• Evidence-Based Consulting Services
• Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award

Products and services

• Synergy Screening System® Proprietary evidence-based three-step scientific screening approach that assesses candidates across Head (technical expertise, formal education), Heart (motivation, values, passions), and Feet (previous experience, demonstrated behaviors, accomplishments) to match candidates to healthcare leadership positions. Includes psychological testing and behavioral assessments.
• Evidence-Based Executive Search® Comprehensive executive recruitment service combining job analysis, candidate recruitment, screening, presentation, and follow-up using the Synergy Screening System® and Baldrige Performance Excellence standards for healthcare organizations.
• Evidence-Based Succession Planning Structured approach to identifying and developing future leaders to ensure leadership continuity and organizational stability, including stakeholder buy-in, talent gap analysis, and implementation timelines for healthcare organizations.
• Evidence-Based Job Analysis Scientific approach to clearly defining and validating job requirements before hiring, replacing assumptions with validated insight to clarify success factors and role competencies for healthcare leadership positions.
• Evidence-Based Selection Assessments Objective assessment of external or internal candidates for healthcare leadership positions, comparing candidates against standardized criteria through in-depth job analysis.
• Evidence-Based Developmental Assessments Individual assessment for healthcare leader growth strategies, leveraging the 80:20 rule to facilitate professional development and identify growth potential.
• Evidence-Based Team Synergy Assessments Evaluation of healthcare leadership teams to increase productivity, communication, and cooperation by identifying and leveraging individual and collective talents.
• Evidence-Based Rerailment Assessments Plans to help struggling healthcare leaders get back on track and maximize productivity through individualized strategies after evaluating performance within position context.
• Evidence-Based Organizational Redesign Assessments Assessment to identify which current or potential healthcare leaders are most likely to thrive within restructured or merged organizations.
• Evidence-Based Pre-Employment Assessments Validated assessment tools for making right hiring decisions the first time, including automated internet-based instruments for candidate evaluation in healthcare organizations.
• Evidence-Based Executive Coaching Structured coaching service producing quantifiable positive output through improved performance and competitive advantage for healthcare leaders, including 360° organizational audits and skill acquisition.
• Evidence-Based Conflict Resolution Unbiased confidential conflict resolution service helping healthcare organizations identify and resolve core issues through objective analysis and constructive employee forums.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% success rate among placed leaders
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation with leading healthcare management organization. Synergy presents at ACHE Congress and contributes to healthcare leadership knowledge development.
• American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration (ASHHRA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation supporting HR leadership in healthcare organizations through presentations and publications on best practices.
• Baldrige FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Synergy Organization is founding sponsor and creator of the Harry S. Hertz Leadership Award in close collaboration with the Baldrige Foundation. Dr. Cohen serves as Founding Sponsor of the award.
• Baldrige Performance Excellence ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSynergy is the first executive search firm in the world to integrate Baldrige Performance Excellence Program standards into all business practices. Dr. Cohen serves on the MAAPE Board.
• Mid-Atlantic Alliance for Performance Excellence (MAAPE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Cohen serves as Board Member for MAAPE, the regional Baldrige program serving PA, NJ, DE and parts of MD. Synergy has been recognized twice by MAAPE.
• Healthcare CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation with healthcare leadership network providing strategic planning support.
• Healthcare Leadership Network of the Delaware ValleyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional healthcare leadership network affiliation supporting professional development and networking.
• Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional affiliation supporting HR best practices and professional standards.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Cejka Search: Healthcare-specialized executive search firm serving hospitals, health systems, and medical groups. Directly comparable niche focus on healthcare leadership, with assessment-driven methodology similar in positioning to Synergy's Screening System.
• WittKieffer: Healthcare-exclusive executive search and leadership advisory firm focused on hospitals, health systems, academic medicine, and life sciences. Closest direct comparable in terms of healthcare-only specialization, evidence-based screening, and assessment-led methodology.

Broad incumbents

• B.E. Smith (AMN Healthcare): Healthcare-focused executive search and interim leadership firm now part of AMN Healthcare. Directly competes for healthcare executive placements and shares Synergy's healthcare-vertical specialization, with greater scale and a broader interim-leadership offering.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a Healthcare practice placing CEOs, CMOs, and senior leaders across health systems, payers, and life sciences. Uses proprietary leadership assessment frameworks comparable to Synergy's evidence-based approach.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a dedicated Healthcare practice offering executive search, talent assessment, and succession planning. Directly competes for senior healthcare leadership searches but serves a much broader set of industries and functions.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and consulting firm with a Healthcare practice offering executive search, leadership assessment, and culture shaping. Competes for senior healthcare placements and provides proprietary assessment IP that overlaps Synergy's Screening System.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a long-standing Healthcare practice serving hospitals, health systems, and payers. Competes for CEO and senior healthcare leader placements using proprietary assessment tools.
• DHR Global: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Healthcare and Life Sciences practice placing senior leaders across providers, payers, and suppliers. Competes for healthcare C-suite searches with proprietary assessment methodologies.

Others

• Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC): Industry association representing executive search and leadership consulting firms globally. Functions as an industry body, standards setter, and member network—not a direct competitor but a peer organization Synergy engages with for category credibility.
• Hunt Scanlon Media: Media and intelligence provider covering the executive search and talent acquisition industry, including healthcare search. Adjacent rather than competing—serves as ecosystem intelligence, ranking, and visibility platform relevant to Synergy's category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-synergy-organization

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 The Synergy Organization