Author: kbAdmin

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.

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. 

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.