Who We Are

General Search and Recruitment believes that listening to the employer and job seeker is the most productive way to reach long-term solutions for both parties. Using innovative techniques, GSR reaches out to and recruits outstanding talent, approaching passive candidates with proven track records but are not actively seeking new opportunities.

We have earned the trust and respect of organizations and individuals in the insurance industry by building professional relationships through honest interaction and feedback with both employers and job seekers. General Search and Recruitment's dynamic sales culture combines industry knowledge, market expertise and a personal approach, fostering a result-driven approach in the search for the industry's best candidates

GSR believes that encouraging long-term relationships built on respect, trust and clear communication are at the heart of placing top talent with employers and empowering candidates to progress toward ideal positions.

In more than 43 years of serving others in the search industry, some distinct values, concepts and philosophies have shaped me personally – and continue to influence our approach and business style. One of my core values is expressed by Zig Ziglar, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” Ziglar is one of my mentors, and I have used his company’s training to develop goals, become balanced and be accountable in life. Having this approach of helping “enough other people get what they want,” has given me the privilege of being involved in more than 1,500 people’s career decisions and has contributed to countless repeat clients.

My core values of hard work, persistence and lifelong learning have contributed to my longevity in an industry where the average tenure is less than three years. These values keep me anchored as I recruit professionals in a challenging and ever-changing industry. These values will drive my future and keep me proactive about finding solutions for both the organizations we build and the individual careers we help direct.

An outgoing and enthusiastic personality has also been key to GSR’s success. The ability to pursue and build upon my strengths, talents and abilities has allowed this firm to help others do the same thing with respect to building upon their strengths. In addition, having a strong faith in God has shaped my values and those of GSR’s. If you would like to learn how I discovered my faith in God and how this relationship impacts all I do, please click on the link to my spiritual journey.

GSR exists to provide outstanding staffing solutions to the insurance industry. We combine the basics of a sales culture, use of proven resources and a commitment to results that satisfy both the organizations we build and the individual’s careers we help direct. As the CEO of this firm, I incorporate a personalized style of servant-leadership so that I may continue to learn and grow as a lifelong student of people and life attitudes

I was born in Evanston, Illinois, given up for adoption in 1957, and raised as the oldest of three children in a very traditional, loving, and religious family. My father was an FBI agent, my mother a career nurse before marriage. Together they provided a very stable environment, the opportunity for a good education and all the outlets kids enjoy. I played organized baseball, hockey, water polo and swam competitively from grade school and through college. All my needs were met, but I had trouble understanding my adoption and felt something was missing in my life. Being influenced by the world around me in the confusing time of the 1960’s and 1970’s I continued to search for something. It would be best summarized in the expression I was “looking for love in all the wrong places”.

After graduating from college with an education in hotel and restaurant management I continued to work hard and live hard in a very demanding industry. None of the success in this industry or in the party lifestyle I had developed produced the happiness or filled the void in my heart. My career direction changed and I ended up in the employment business by accident, or so it seemed. This work provided me many opportunities to grow and become a successful sales person. Eventually Gerald S. Rynearson (note the initials GSR), the founder of General Search & Recruitment, allowed me the opportunity to purchase this business. Being a successful sales person and now a business owner, I thought would fill the void in my heart, but it didn’t. I was still searching for something and not happy

A lady who came to work for me started me on my journey to find answers for the emptiness in my life – emptiness that persisted despite much success. This lady invited me to go rafting with her church in Wisconsin. I accepted the invitation for social reasons and because of her unique way of handling herself at my firm. This turned out to be my introduction to people who believed in the gospel and in Jesus Christ. After reluctantly accepting the challenge of the church’s Associate Pastor, I started to investigate the Bible and the claims it makes. Two years later I accepted the free gift of God that is available to all who receive Jesus Christ. He died on the cross for me and all people and this is where I found the answers to my questions. I understood what Jesus did for me, even when I was very far from him, and I started a personal relationship with Christ that has transformed me in ways which only God can.

I know no two stories are the same, but I’d be honored to talk to you more about these things.

Mike McDonough
President and CEO
General Search & Recruitment