Winner Partners
Winner Partners is a privately held executive search and leadership consulting firm that runs retained C-suite searches primarily for nonprofits, economic development organizations, and DMOs using a team-based methodology with vetted subject-matter experts, complemented by Leadership Consulting sessions and the Career by Design candidate platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSt. Petersburg, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Winner Partners does
Winner Partners is a privately held executive search and leadership consulting firm headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, founded by Tina Winner alongside managing partner Steven Oberhoffer. The firm was intentionally designed as a collaborative platform of senior search consultants paired with vetted subject-matter experts across niche verticals (economic development, tourism/DMOs, cybersecurity, sports, adaptive sport, and more), with the two managing partners holding a combined 35+ years of industry experience. Its core product is retained executive search targeting C-suite, President, and senior leadership roles for nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and privately owned organizations, using a multi-tier team-based methodology with an Inclusion Recruiting Strategist providing DEIB oversight on every engagement and a one-year, no-fault guarantee on all placements.
The business operates three product lines: Executive Search (the core retained offering), Leadership Consulting (HR solutions, diversity consulting, business process improvement, and executive coaching for both employers and individuals delivered via online book-a-session scheduling), and Career by Design, a five-pillar career empowerment platform covering candidate collateral design, target identification, brand refinement, behavior-based interviewing, and marketing outreach. A distributed partner network of 17+ complementary firms (including Jün Cyber for the Cyber Ohana Project) extends geographic reach across at least 16 U.S. cities without proportional fixed-cost expansion.
Revenue is generated primarily through retained search fees (quote-based, not publicly disclosed) and professional-services consulting sessions. The customer base is heavily concentrated in the Economic Impact Organization segment — convention and visitor bureaus, destination marketing organizations, economic development nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and foundations — with adjacent vertical reach into food & beverage, consumer products, life sciences, industrial, aerospace & defense, professional/financial services, and construction/real estate. The firm has no disclosed AI/ML technology, no external institutional investment, and no public financial reporting.
Winner Partners firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Winner Partners
- Legal name
- Winner Partners
- Website
- https://winnerpartners.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Winner Partners is a privately held executive search and leadership consulting firm that runs retained C-suite searches primarily for nonprofits, economic development organizations, and DMOs using a team-based methodology with vetted subject-matter experts, complemented by Leadership Consulting sessions and the Career by Design candidate platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Winner Partners industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search Services
- NAICS
- Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search (BPACAAAE)
Keywords
Where Winner Partners is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- St. Petersburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices16 records
Markets served
Winner Partners business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Executive Search (Retained Search): Retained search engagements for executive-level placements, typically C-suite and senior leadership positions across various industries and functions.
- Leadership Consulting Services: Book-a-session consulting services for employers (HR Solutions, Diversity Consulting, Business Process Improvement) and individuals (Executive Presence, Interviewing, Executive Coaching). Also includes Career by Design platform subscription-style services.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Winner Partners product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Winner Partners is a retained executive search and recruitment firm that places C-suite and senior leaders for nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and privately owned organizations across industries such as Economic Impact Organizations, Food & Beverage, Consumer Products, Life Sciences, Industrial, Aerospace & Defense, Professional & Financial Services, and Construction & Real Estate. The firm supplements retained search with Leadership Consulting engagements (HR Solutions, Diversity Consulting, Business Process Improvement) and the Career by Design five-pillar career advancement platform for individual executives. A distributed network of vetted Subject-Matter Experts is activated on demand to support industry- and function-specific engagements.
Product overview
Winner Partners is a retained executive search and recruitment firm offering a suite of talent-related solutions. The core offerings include Executive Search (their primary retained search service using a team-based approach with subject-matter experts), Leadership Consulting (including HR solutions, diversity consulting, and business process improvement), and Career by Design (a five-pillar career empowerment platform). Services are augmented by Subject Matter Experts available on-demand and the Cyber Ohana Project (a veteran cybersecurity workforce development initiative).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Career by Design: A career platform empowering professionals seeking their next career challenge with tools, resources, and team support. Consists of 5 pillars: Candidate Collateral Document Design Creation, Strategy Definition Target Identification, Brand Refinement Executive Effectiveness, Behavior-Based Interviewing, and Marketing Active Outreach.
Products and services
- Executive Search Retained executive search service that places C-suite and senior leaders for nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and privately owned organizations across multiple industries. The service uses a team-based approach with vetted subject-matter experts, inclusion recruiting oversight, professionally guided assessments, and a one-year no-fault guarantee on placements.
- Leadership Consulting Book-a-session consulting service for employers and individuals, including HR Solutions, Diversity Consulting, Business Process Improvement for employers, and Executive Presence, Interviewing, and Executive Coaching for individuals.
- Career by Design Career empowerment platform consisting of five pillars: Candidate Collateral Document Design Creation, Strategy Definition Target Identification, Brand Refinement Executive Effectiveness, Behavior-Based Interviewing, and Marketing Active Outreach. Targeted at successful professionals and emerging leaders seeking career advancement.
- Cyber Ohana Project End-to-end community initiative developed in partnership with veteran-owned cybersecurity firm Jün Cyber to help transitioning service members and veterans explore cybersecurity career opportunities through education, training, certifications, and career readiness preparation.
Quantifiable outcome
- Executive-level assignments completed in as few as 40 days
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Winner Partners
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Winner Partners technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Winner Partners partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Adonis PartnersminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners, providing complementary consulting services.
- ATK Design StudiosminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners, providing design and creative services.
- August Consulting Group LLCminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners, led by Dairesse Torres.
- BWPminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- Convergent NonprofitminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners, specializing in nonprofit consulting.
- Cyber Ohana ProjectcorePartnership with veteran-owned cybersecurity firm Jün Cyber to create an end-to-end community helping transitioning service members and veterans explore cybersecurity career opportunities through education, training, certifications, and career readiness.
- Power 6 GroupminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- Huddle Up GroupminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners; Jon Schmieder serves as Sports Partner.
- Global Elements ConsultingminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- Joelle Paban and AssociatesminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- Jün CybercoreVeteran-owned cybersecurity firm partnered with Winner Partners for the Cyber Ohana Project. Wilson Bautista, Jr. serves as Cybersecurity Partner at Winner Partners.
- Team Hicks PGHminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- McKibbin ConsultingminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- Peak TechnicalminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- RLBryant LLCminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners; Ronnie Bryant serves as Executive Leadership Partner.
- Presence PlusminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners; MJ Klimas serves as Executive Presence Partner.
- Schooley MitchellminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners.
- Talent Solution PartnersminorListed as a preferred partner of Winner Partners for talent solutions.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Winner Partners competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Korn Ferry: Largest global organizational consulting firm combining retained executive search with assessment, RPO, and consulting. Competitor on cross-industry C-suite mandates including the nonprofit and economic-development segments Winner Partners targets.
- Heidrick & Struggles: One of the largest global retained executive search firms, serving C-suite and board-level mandates across industries including nonprofits and economic development. Directly comparable to Winner Partners' core retained-search offering but at materially greater scale and geographic reach.
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep nonprofit and association practice. Comparable to Winner Partners on retained CEO/C-suite searches, particularly for mission-driven and economic-impact organizations.
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global retained executive search firm with a dedicated nonprofit and social-sector practice. Direct competitor for board and CEO placements at the same type of economic-impact and membership-based organizations Winner Partners serves.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm known for deeply networked, partner-led engagements. Comparable to Winner Partners' executive-to-executive methodology, particularly for senior leadership roles in mission-driven sectors.
Emerging players
- Riviera Partners: Boutique retained search firm focused on technology and growth-stage executive hiring. Comparable to Winner Partners on retained-search business model and team-based delivery, though with a different vertical emphasis.
- Burtch Works: Specialized recruiting and talent advisory firm focused on quantitative, analytics, and HR executive placements. Comparable to Winner Partners on the executive search and leadership consulting axis, particularly for specialized functional and industry talent pools.
- Acertitude: Boutique executive search firm focused on transformational C-suite and board placements across growth-oriented sectors. Comparable to Winner Partners on retained C-suite search methodology and mid-sized enterprise/deal-driven mandates.
Direct peers
- DHR International: Large retained executive search firm operating through a decentralized partner network similar in spirit to Winner Partners' distributed SME model. Comparable on C-suite and senior leadership mandates across industries including nonprofit and associations.
- Parkside Group: Boutique retained executive search firm specializing in nonprofit, association, and mission-driven leadership placements. Direct head-to-head competitor with Winner Partners for the same CEO/President search mandates in the nonprofit and economic-impact space.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Winner Partners social profiles
Digital presenceWinner Partners financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Winner Partners leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Winner Partners funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Winner Partners M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Winner Partners
What does Winner Partners do?
Winner Partners is a retained executive search and recruitment firm that places C-suite and senior leaders for nonprofits, public-private partnerships, and privately owned organizations across industries such as Economic Impact Organizations, Food & Beverage, Consumer Products, Life Sciences, Industrial, Aerospace & Defense, Professional & Financial Services, and Construction & Real Estate. The firm supplements retained search with Leadership Consulting engagements (HR Solutions, Diversity Consulting, Business Process Improvement) and the Career by Design five-pillar career advancement platform for individual executives. A distributed network of vetted Subject-Matter Experts is activated on demand to support industry- and function-specific engagements.
Is Winner Partners a public or private company?
Winner Partners is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Winner Partners founded?
Winner Partners was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Winner Partners based?
Winner Partners is headquartered in St. Petersburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Winner Partners make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Executive Search (Retained Search) is the primary driver. The others are leadership Consulting Services.
Who are Winner Partners's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Korn Ferry, Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart, Russell Reynolds Associates and Egon Zehnder. Emerging players are Riviera Partners, Burtch Works and Acertitude. Direct peers are DHR International and Parkside Group.
Does Winner Partners have an API?
No public API is recorded for Winner Partners.
What industry is Winner Partners in?
Winner Partners's product category is Executive Search Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACAAAE, Healthcare & Life Sciences Leadership Search. Its NAICS code is 561312 and its SIC code is 7361.