Our Team

Guided by a set of values that prioritize people, Mary Malone McCarthy believes that the work that you do can change people’s lives. As Founder and CEO of M3 Placement and Partnership, a Certified Woman-Owned national executive search, talent acquisition, and strategic HR firm, her vision of excellence begins with a focus on building strong partnerships and a passion for exceptional service.  

As a certified MWBE, Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprise, Mary Malone works nationwide, helping both companies and talent achieve ultimate success. She is a believer in building long-standing relationships and is a true servant leader at heart. Growing up in a family business, Mary Malone lives by a simple philosophy of delivering “a little more, a little better” each and every day. This philosophy has guided her in her commitment to her relationships, her work, and her community. 

Prior to founding M3, Mary Malone spent over 15 years as Senior Vice President at Northland Communications, responsible for the oversight of Public Relations, Marketing and Customer Relations for the firm. 

Mary Malone’s commitment to building healthy and economically viable communities continues to be an important part of her extended mission. She currently serves on the leadership board for the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce Center for Economic Growth (CEG) and Albany CanCode Communities. Mary Malone previously served on several other boards including the Mohawk Valley Health System Foundation, Mohawk Valley Community College, United Way, Stanley Center for the Arts, and Mohawk Valley Chamber of Commerce. She founded the Women’s Roundtable, which facilitates meaningful conversations for female senior executives and was co-founder of Accent on Excellence which is a program that honored young leaders who excel in their professional work while giving back to their communities. 

Mary Malone has received the Women’s Business Council Young Careerist Award and was honored by the YWCA for the Salute to Outstanding Women. In 2023, she was awarded Women in Business Champion Award by the US Small Business Administration Upstate New York District. In May of 2024, she received the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce’s Women of Excellence, Excellence in Business Award.     

Mary Malone is a graduate of Wells College and has an unwavering commitment to building better organizations and communities. When not at work, Mary Malone enjoys spending time in the Adirondacks with her husband and three grown children. 

Elisha has over 7 years of experience working in Talent Acquisition, and over 11 years within Sales and Operations. Elisha contributes a wealth of knowledge to the team from her previous role as Talent Acquisition Specialist and prior to that as a Staffing Manager. Elisha has worked in high volume recruiting roles, direct placement searches for mid-level talent, and executive level searches where seeking passive talent is key. Customer service has always been a part of her career and she tries to handle every approach with quality service which is why she was drawn to M3. M3 Placement and Partnership exhibits the same high standards for taking great care of clients and contacts, which is very important to her.

Working in Talent Acquisition and building connections with both candidates and clients is what Elisha loves most about working at M3. Taking the time to get to know what the candidates are looking for in a position and matching them with a company that is the perfect fit for their values and career goals is what is most fulfilling about her role as Vice President of Direct Placement and Executive Search. She loves leading a team and helping others grow their careers.

Outside of work, Elisha enjoys travel and tries to take advantage of what the Upstate NY weather brings while spending time with her husband and two daughters. 

As the Chief Strategy and Growth Officer, Kelli is responsible for leading M3 Placement and Partnership’s growth strategy, market positioning, and revenue performance as well as building the next generation of M3 leaders. This strategic role combines vision and execution—driving go-to-market planning, client acquisition and expansion, brand elevation, and partnerships.

Kelli joined M3 with diverse experience in the finance sector.  Most recently, Kelli served as the Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at Pioneer, a publicly traded full service financial institution headquartered in Albany NY.  She was responsible for creating and executing bank wide growth strategies across all lines of business. She developed a multi-year strategic plan to drive financial growth, product and service excellence and employee and community engagement. The strategy included innovative market identification and penetration tactics, streamlined credit approval process, development of new lines of business and acquisition of independent wealth management firms.

Prior to Pioneer, Kelli was the Director of Corporate Responsibility at Key Bank. She led a national team of across the bank’s 26 markets, from Maine to Alaska, directing the strategic and tactical implementation of KeyBank’s $16.5 Billion National Community Benefit Plan (CBP). The team worked with the regional and local Market Presidents to develop community engagement plans, assessing market challenges and opportunities. The plans ensure business line growth, shareholder value, strategic philanthropic investment and employee engagement across the enterprise. 

In her past banking roles, she has led multistate teams focused on commercial, health care, not for profit and municipal banking at KeyBank, First Niagara Bank and HSBC. While she has a long tenure on banking, Kelli spent the first ten years of her career in health care regulatory, capital and policy work, after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Oswego and an MBA in Health Care Administration from Union Graduate College.

Kelli is passionate about community impact and mentoring young professionals. She is active in various community organizations, serving on boards, capital campaigns, event committees as well as extensive hands-on volunteering. Kelli is currently on the board and executive committee of the Whiteny Young Health Center and serves as the treasurer. She served previously as the Chair of the Board at SEAT Center, Schenectady and has served on the boards for of Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless, Capital Affordable Housing Funding Corporation, Catholic Health of Buffalo, Rensselaer Regional Chamber of Commerce and CenterState CEO.

Kristi has 20 years of professional recruiting experience in RPO and internal human resources. After earning a Master of Science in Human Resources Development from the Rochester Institute of Technology, Kristi started recruiting in the non-profit and healthcare industries. These industries are where the majority of her experience has taken place, but she has also recruited in the construction and manufacturing fields. Kristi has expertise in full life cycle recruitment in both high volume and professional recruitment. Onboarding and process improvement are other areas that Kristi has extensive experience in.

She enjoys building relationships with clients, candidates, and team members. High volume recruitment is her specialty, and she enjoys the challenge of this fast-paced work.

Kristi was drawn to M3's mission to impact individuals, organizations, and the community for the better while also ensuring that all are fulfilled and cared for. These values are important to Kristi both personally and professionally and she is grateful to work with a like-minded organization where she can contribute to making a positive difference in the lives of others and the world.

Her approach is to look for the strengths and the positives in every situation and build from there. She believes that everyone is doing the best that they can and she tries to meet everyone where they are at.

Outside of work, Kristi's favorite thing to do is spend time with her daughters and husband. Over the past few years she has become a dance and sports mom, and can often be found watching her daughters in their activities. You can also find her out shopping, one of her other favorite pastimes.

Meeting new people every day and hearing their stories is what makes Paige, M3 Placement & Partnership’s Vice President of Talent Services, want to get up and come to work in the morning. Paige is extremely curious and loves to learn, which makes her a natural in her role at M3.

Her duties include account management, recruiting, candidate interviews, candidate research and sourcing, relationship building – and asking a lot of questions. She loves nothing more than connecting people with fulfilling careers and discovering more about the people she assists, new industries, and the impact that clients have on their communities through the work they do.

When Paige is not at M3, she can be found spending time with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, the great outdoors, travel, cooking and watching shows on the Bravo network – especially the Real Housewives franchise!

When organizations need to find the right person, or people, for their company, they can count on Carrie. As M3 Placement & Partnership’s Executive Recruiter and Career Specialist, she helps people connect in a way that is rewarding and meaningful. She targets ideal candidates and builds relationships to determine the best fit.

Carrie brings a wealth of experience to M3, having worked in a variety of industries. In addition to recruiting, Carrie has over twenty years’ experience in career coaching, training, facilitation and program development. She loves working with companies and individuals to establish goals, and then facilitate the process from assessing the current to executing the plan. Identifying the purpose of each action and decision is important to Carrie, as she feels this serves as a guidepost to track progress and measure success.

Carrie graduated from the College of New Rochelle with a double major in Business and Psychology, and is a 2001 graduate of Leadership Greater Syracuse. She currently sits on the Hospice Foundation of Central New York Board of Directors as Vice President. Carrie also served on the Executive Committee of the Global Outplacement Alliance.

When she’s not at work, Carrie enjoys running, both for fun and competitively (recently completing a half-marathon and triathlon!). For something more relaxing, she loves the theater and reading. She and her husband enjoy boating, both sailing on the St. Lawrence and power boating on the Gulf and Intracoastal. Originally from Fayetteville, NY, the couple recently relocated to Venice, Florida, where they are having fun exploring the Sun Coast.

With over 11 years of experience in the talent acquisition and recruitment process outsourcing fields, Christine brings a genuine passion for connecting people and organizations in meaningful ways. Her approach is rooted in building authentic relationships with clients and candidates alike, driven by a desire to make a positive and lasting impact.

Christine's true fulfillment comes from facilitating successful matches where both the client and the candidate can thrive together. She takes great pride in guiding candidates through the interview process with a warm and supportive presence, helping them feel at ease as they pursue their dream roles. For clients, Christine's goal is to provide an efficient and effective recruiting process that sets them up for continued success, even after an engagement concludes.

Some of her most fulfilling collaborations have been with purpose-driven nonprofit organizations operating in the healthcare services realm. Attracting and retaining top talent for these purpose-driven companies is a challenge she embraces wholeheartedly, recognizing the invaluable impact of their work.

"M3 gives me the opportunity to build truly meaningful relationships with our clients," Christine shares. "The partnerships I create with their HR teams are so impactful. We come in as a partner, meeting the client where they are, and then guide them through best practices, implementing new processes and procedures to ensure their future success. It's a collaborative journey that I find immensely fulfilling."

In her free time, Christine loves spending quality time with family, going out on the lake for night cruises, reading, gardening, and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible. She also has a self-professed talent for excelling as a sports spectator.

With a desire to uplift lives and leverage her educational background in human resources, Veronica embarked on her recruiting journey with M3 two and a half years ago. Her warm and empathetic nature perfectly complements her role as a Senior Talent Acquisition Associate, where she oversees large-scale recruitment projects.

Veronica's approach is multifaceted – she invests her time not only in increasing applicant flow and placing talented candidates, but also in advising clients on best practices within the talent acquisition space. Her genuine commitment to making a positive impact is evident in the work she has undertaken across various sectors, including healthcare, nonprofit, and professional services.

One of Veronica's most remarkable achievements was tripling a client's applicant flow while providing guidance on how they could optimize their recruitment platforms and streamline their processes. The impact she created within a single department was so impactful that the organization sought her expertise to implement the same successful methods across multiple departments.

"At M3, we understand that recruitment is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor," Veronica shares. "Our personalized touch and ability to mold to each client's unique needs truly set us apart. It's a collaborative partnership built on trust and tailored solutions."

Veronica is actively involved in her community as a front desk volunteer at the local women and children's homeless shelter and a member of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Young Professionals group. In her free time, she enjoys spending quality time with her pets, learning golf and hiking. She is looking forward to completing her first 5k soon.

Abby started her recruiting career straight out of college and brings over 4.5 years of industry experience. She started as a Talent Acquisition Specialist at Eklego Workforce Solutions, managing full recruitment cycles for both clinical and non-clinical roles. Abby then joined M3 Placement & Partnership as a Senior Talent Acquisition Associate, overseeing interviews, hiring decisions, and onboarding while collaborating with HR teams to refine processes. Currently, as a Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant at M3, Abby specializes in direct placement searches and large-scale projects, developing strategies to meet client staffing needs, optimizing recruitment processes, and building strong client relationships.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Abby is an active volunteer with Cornell Cooperative 4-H, where she channels her energy into supporting the local community. When not immersed in her work or volunteering, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, hiking, camping in state parks, and horseback riding.

With a drive to uplift others, Jennifer found her calling as a Talent Acquisition Associate at M3. Her genuine love for helping people shines through in every aspect of her work, inspired by the impact she makes on both clients and candidates alike.

For clients, Jennifer's expertise lies in her ability to identify top talent, meticulously curating exceptional teams that propel their organizations forward. For candidates, she serves as a trusted guide, helping them navigate their career journeys and secure meaningful employment opportunities that align with their aspirations.

Drawing from over five and a half years of recruiting experience across various fields, including administrative, corporate accounting, and healthcare, Jennifer has honed her skills with a keen eye for talent and a commitment to streamlining processes. In a recent client engagement, she exemplified her capabilities by successfully increasing the number of hires for hard-to-fill positions while optimizing recruitment functions, ensuring efficiency and outstanding results.

"I love working at M3 because of the incredible team of co-workers who inspire me every day," Jennifer shares. "Their talent and dedication push me to continually learn and grow as a professional. What truly sets M3 apart is the impact we make on our clients and our unwavering commitment to consistently meeting their needs. We have had the privilege of fostering amazing partnerships built on trust and collaboration."

In 2023, Jennifer was honored to be included on the Central New York Business Journal’s 40 under Forty list which recognizes both her professional achievements and community involvement. Jennifer is passionate about giving back to her community and serves as the Volunteer Coordinator at Paige's Butterfly Run. Additionally, she volunteers annually with Honor Flight, Feed My Starving Children, and Samaritans Purse. In her free time, she enjoys an active lifestyle through kickboxing, camping, traveling, hiking, boating, and fishing.

With a background in excellent customer service across various industries, Rebecca has seamlessly transitioned into her role as an invaluable member of the M3 recruiting team over the past two years. Her journey began as the executive assistant to the company's founder and CEO, providing her with an inside look at M3's core values and mission. This foundational experience laid the groundwork for Rebecca's current position as a dedicated recruiter on the recruitment process outsourcing (RPO) team.

Since then, Rebecca has embraced every opportunity to apply her warm and personable nature to serving clients across a diverse range of industries, including hospitality, long-term care, renewable energy, and nonprofits. Her passion lies in tackling complex recruitment processes, partnering closely with clients to create lasting solutions that address their most critical hiring needs.

One of Rebecca's most notable achievements was her work with a renewable energy client, where she played an instrumental role in filling over 300 positions through RPO services. This large-scale project not only showcased her ability to deliver outstanding results but also highlighted her commitment to understanding each client's unique requirements.

"The work we do at M3 is truly meaningful because we genuinely care about our clients and candidates," Rebecca shares warmly. "Our personalized approach and dedication to understanding each client's unique needs set us apart. We strive to build lasting partnerships built on trust and collaboration."

Beyond her professional endeavors, Rebecca is invested in her local community, volunteering her time and energy to organizations such as Miller's Mills Ice Harvest & Ice Cream Social and the Ducks Unlimited Banquet. A true lover of the great outdoors, Rebecca finds joy in activities that allow her to connect with nature like riding her motorcycle, practicing archery, or recreational target shooting.

Janna joined M3 Placement & Partnership in November 2023 as an Executive Assistant, bringing a wealth of expertise to her role. She provides critical support to the executive team, managing scheduling, event coordination, and ensuring clear and seamless communication across the organization.

With over a decade of experience in customer service and financial services, Janna possesses a versatile skill set that enables her to execute complex and confidential administrative tasks with precision and professionalism. Her commitment to delivering exceptional service and fostering efficient operations contributes significantly to the team's success.

Outside of work, Janna enjoys spending time outdoors hiking and boating, as well as cooking with her husband and two children. On weekends, she is often on the sidelines cheering for her children's sports teams or passionately supporting the Buffalo Bills.

Taylor Spires currently serves as a Talent Acquisition Associate at M3 Placement and Partnership.

Before joining M3, Taylor worked with Syracuse University and Amazon where she led project and stakeholder management efforts, enhanced workforce programming and supported community engagement. Taylor brings experience creating meaningful partnerships, managing workforce innovation initiatives, and scaling pathways – all with the goal of creating sustainable impacts.

Taylor earned her B.S in Biochemistry from Syracuse University.

Outside of work, she’s happiest knitting a new project, curled up with a good book, or spending quality time with her husband Andrew, daughter Ruby, and their dog, Wallace.

Josie Worley is a Talent Acquisition Consultant at M3 Placement and Partnership, where she is excited to connect people with opportunities and supporting meaningful partnerships.

Before joining M3, Josie worked in higher education in enrollment management, recruiting students and helping guide them through the college admissions process. She focused on meeting enrollment goals while making sure students felt supported, informed, and confident every step of the way.

Josie earned her B.A. in Theatre Arts from Hartwick College and an MBA from Utica University.

Outside of work, you’ll usually find her spending time with her three cats Kermit, Wally, and Tubbs, meeting up with her book club, traveling, going to concerts, or enjoying time with friends.

Annie is excited to join M3 Placement and Partnership as the new Business Development and Client Engagement Partner. She previously worked at the Whitney Museum of American Art, where she developed a strong foundation in sales, operations, and marketing. Annie is an experienced collaborator with a passion for great customer service, so she is especially drawn to M3’s commitment to client success and meaningful partnerships. 

Annie earned her bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College in 2019 and is thrilled to be back in upstate New York after spending several years in Telluride, Colorado, and Brooklyn, New York. In her free time, she enjoys running, skiing, reading, and spending time with friends and family.