About Yamas
Your Partner in Precision Hiring
We're not just a talent agent. We're your trusted advisor.
Our deep roots in the industrial automation equipment world have earned us the trust of high-caliber engineers, leaders, and sales professionals who aren’t actively looking, but are ready for the right career move.
Meet Your Precision Hiring Partners
Laurie doesn’t just know where to find top talent—she knows how to earn their trust.
Laurie has spent more than 25 years helping engineering, sales, and manufacturing executives make career moves that actually stick. She began her recruiting career inside the factory walls—long before LinkedIn and fancy applicant tracking systems—where she quickly discovered her knack for spotting the right talent and the right fit.
At Philips Electronics (a broadband equipment division), she led hiring during a period of explosive growth, especially in engineering, a firsthand lesson in how the right hires fuel transformation.
Since then, Laurie has built her reputation as a trusted advisor to both clients and candidates. Whether it’s a VP of Engineering making a critical hire or a technical sales leader quietly exploring new options, she brings candor, integrity, and a healthy dose of practicality. Her passion for transparency helps people feel seen, heard, and make better decisions.
As an unapologetic leadership-book junkie, Laurie is known for delighting candidates and clients with well-timed recommendations that shift perspectives. She doesn’t just place people—she nudges leaders to think differently about growth, teams, and their own potential.
Along the way, Laurie has led leadership development and lean transformation initiatives, founded her own firms, and earned an MBA. Clients know her for delivering results quickly without cutting corners, and candidates trust her with one of the most important moves of their career.
When she’s not connecting people and opportunities, you’ll find her recharging through yoga, hiking, or skiing, usually with her family nearby and a good book in hand.
Clare has a keen instinct for spotting talent and a gift for building authentic, lasting relationships.
Clare began her recruiting career in 2014, learning both operations and recruiting as a generalist. From the start, she developed a sharp instinct for spotting talent and quickly earned a reputation for thriving in high-stakes searches.
Over the years, she has partnered with small and mid-sized manufacturers to build engineering and operations teams that strengthen leadership, boost efficiency, and drive growth.
After early experience at a boutique firm in Upstate New York, Clare specialized in food and beverage manufacturing before co-founding Yamas Group. Today, she connects clients in industrial automation and equipment manufacturing with the leaders and technical experts who make a lasting impact. Known for her ability to engage passive candidates, she brings both industry knowledge and a relationship-driven approach to every search.
Outside of recruiting, Clare is a classically trained painter and avid traveler who has visited more than 60 countries, including a chapter working with Emirates Airline. Now based in San Diego, she blends creativity, cross-cultural perspective, and a passion for ocean conservation into both her work and life.
Clare brings a balance of precision and heart to her work, helping clients build teams that perform with purpose and stand the test of time.
Sydney Wilde is an Executive Recruiter at Yamas Group who loves helping engineers find roles where they can grow and thrive. She takes the time to understand each candidate’s skills, goals, and preferred work environment, building real connections that lead to lasting career moves.
With a background in business, marketing, and community-driven projects, Sydney brings a fresh, people-first approach to recruiting for the industrial automation industry. She values making the process straightforward, supportive, and rewarding—so candidates not only find the right role, but the space to grow.
Ally draws on her background in scholarly research to strengthen Yamas Group’s knowledge of the industrial automation industry. She maintains a detailed database of companies and contacts, ensuring the team connects with the right people for every search.
She also conducts targeted research to support niche roles and specialized skill sets, helping recruiters move quickly and reduce the hiring timeline.
Ally is a talented vocalist who loves music and also plays piano and guitar.
Cathy has been a trusted researcher and assistant at Yamas Group for more than two years, supporting recruitment operations and helping build strong candidate pipelines that lead to successful hires. With a background in sales and marketing across multiple industries, she brings versatility and a sharp understanding of business dynamics.
Known for her attention to detail, proactive communication, and commitment to results, Cathy thrives in fast-paced environments and takes pride in contributing to team success.
Outside of work, she enjoys time with her family and two dachshunds. Her hobbies include cooking, reading, painting, listening to music, and going on walks—activities that fuel her creativity and keep her balanced.
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You don’t have to be job hunting to start a conversation.
We’re known for quiet outreach, real relationships, and making smart connections—when the timing is right.