Nelson Rodriguez's Email & Phone

Nelson is a Managing Partner in the Chicago office of Waveland Executive Search where he specializes in working with Private Equity backed clients, and has a well rounded background conducting searches in a variety of industries and functional capacities for companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. Nelson joins Waveland from Cook Associates where he was the Managing Director of the Business Services & Technology Practice after they had acquired his Chicago-based retained executive search firm Cristal Partners. Nelson has significant experience in both executive search and consulting. Prior to starting his own firm, Nelson served as Executive Vice President and a member of the management team of IT Mergers and Acquisitions, a venture backed, start-up organization. The firm's focus was M&A transactions and recruiting, specifically within the information technology services area. Additionally, he served as President of the Harris Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of IT Mergers and Acquisitions, specializing in information technology executive recruitment. Nelson began his executive search career with DHR International, where he served in a variety of capacities including his role as Senior Vice President, in which he had direct responsibility for the firm's high rate of growth through acquisitions and recruitment of executives. He simultaneously managed client assignments for a wide range of industry sectors and functions throughout North America. His expertise in executive search as a specialist in professional services has been recognized by IT Global Consulting Report and InfoWorld, where he has served as an expert source in various articles. Prior to entering the executive search business, Nelson served as Director of Distribution for the publication, Pro Football Weekly. He also served as the assistant defensive coordinator for the North Central College varsity football team. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern College in Minnesota, where he was a scholar athlete, excelling in baseball and football. He is married with two sons and resides in Western Springs, a suburb of Chicago.