CAREER DEVELOPMENT - Storytelling in Action: Crafting Impactful Communication for Financial Leaders

Carrie Schochet is the Founder and CEO of Purple Squirrel Advisors, a boutique executive search firm in Troy, Michigan. For more than 20 years, she has helped small to mid-size, often Private Equity-backed, companies build exceptional leadership teams across finance, HR, operations, sales, and marketing.

A Notre Dame graduate, Carrie began her career in Chicago, rising through the ranks at a national recruitment firm before returning to Michigan and launching Purple Squirrel Advisors in 2015. Her firm is known for a consultative, “white glove” approach, combining a deep network with proactive sourcing to solve even the most challenging searches.

Carrie is also deeply committed to her community. She co-founded 100 Businesses Who Care and launched CFO Next to support transitioning financial executives. She serves on several boards, including the Association for Corporate Growth, where she chairs the Programs Committee, and the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, where she is President-Elect for 2026/2027.
Outside of work, Carrie enjoys traveling, photography, and outdoor adventures with her husband, Blake, their three children, Brendan, Nick, and Mia, and their Bernese Mountain Dog, Chloe.
 

Christine Blauvelt brings over 15 years of executive recruiting and corporate talent acquisition expertise to Purple Squirrel Advisors, with a proven track record of delivering exceptional talent for organizations ranging from emerging companies to multi-million-dollar enterprises. As a Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Christine combines strategic workforce planning acumen with deep recruiting execution experience, making her a true partner to both clients and candidates.

Christine's unique value lies in her dual perspective—having led corporate talent acquisition teams at high-growth organizations, while also serving as an executive search consultant through partnerships with other recruitment firms. This comprehensive background enables her to understand business challenges from both sides of the hiring equation and deliver consultative solutions that drive results.

Throughout her career, Christine has specialized in executive search across shared services functions, including HR, Accounting/Finance, Operations, and IT roles. Her recruiting expertise spans multiple industries, including veterinary services, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services. She excels at building lasting relationships and leveraging her extensive professional network to identify passive candidates who may not be actively seeking new opportunities.

Christine holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Human Resources major from Central Michigan University and maintains her PHR certification. She is passionate about non-profit organizations, having held board advisory roles, and is active in several HR professional networking organizations. Christine resides in West Bloomfield and enjoys travel, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Kim Lentine graduated from Michigan State University with dual degrees in Business Accounting from the Eli Broad College of Business and Social Relations and Political Science from the James Madison College. After graduating from MSU, she started her career at Ernst & Young, LLP, where she worked in the audit practice based in the Chicago office. After 3 years in public accounting, she accepted a position at Kraft Foods North America in Northfield, Illinois, where she held multiple positions in accounting and finance. After 19 years of experience in accounting and finance in multiple organizations, she wanted to leverage her experience into another career. She joined Purple Squirrel advisors as her youngest daughter started school full-time.

Kim has developed a passion for the recruiting environment, working with both candidates and clients to find that perfect fit! She perceives it as a privilege to meet new people and being trusted to discuss their interests and backgrounds to determine how she can help them achieve their ultimate career path.

Kim enjoys spending time with her husband, Bill, their four children and their young Labradoodle. She enjoys traveling to northern Michigan to spend summers on the lake and loves to try new food dishes from all different cultures!

 Meaghan Brown is the Director of Operations for Purple Squirrel Advisors, a boutique retained executive search firm based in Troy, Michigan. With a passion for helping companies grow by creating exceptional leadership teams, Meaghan has spent the past 25 years in Talent Acquisition connecting candidates with positions in finance, accounting, human resources, operations, sales, and marketing.  Meaghan and the Purple Squirrel Team, work with PE backed and privately owned businesses from coast to coast.

Natasha Nestorovski, a graduate of Baker College with a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, joined Purple Squirrel Advisors in 2021 as the Operations Manager. Before joining the team, Natasha worked in diverse roles, including managing corporate, learning and development for a middle-market company, teaching, and being a medical field professional.

In a dual role for Purple Squirrel Advisors, Natasha focuses on the operational side of the business and recruiting projects. She leverages her passion for customer service, project management, and curiosity to add value to the Purple Squirrel team and their clients. As the Operations Manager, she drives internal efficiencies and exercises her passion for collaborating with candidates and clients.
 

During her free time, Natasha sits on the board of Team Fox Detroit, where she is focused on raising funds for Parkinson’s research and serves as a board member for her local church. When she’s not working or volunteering, Natasha enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping, watching movies, and relaxing with her dog, Coco.

Sam Barber is a graduate of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, where she earned degrees in Marketing and International Business. After spending some time in the social media marketing and brand space, she joined Purple Squirrel Advisors in January 2025, bringing her expertise to both recruiting and marketing functions. Driven by a passion for building meaningful connections, Sam thrives in the recruiting industry, where she enjoys understanding people’s unique stories and matching them with the right opportunities. Her work spans a diverse range of industries and roles, allowing her to make a lasting impact on both clients and candidates.

Outside of work, Sam is an active volunteer at a Detroit-based dog shelter and loves exploring new cities on weekend trips. A culinary creative at heart, she finds joy in cooking and baking.