We don't cover
electronics manufacturing.
We live in it.
Kenefick & Kapp Associates places senior talent inside Electronics Manufacturing, Automotive Electronics, and ITAD. We have the sector depth to know the difference between a résumé and a record.
Forty-five years inside
one industry.
Kenefick & Associates spent 25 years building one of the deepest networks in EMS recruiting. KappSearch Group added 20+ years of hands-on electronics manufacturing operations. Together, that's Kenefick & Kapp Associates, and it's all we do.
Deep network, operator experience, and a team that works only in these markets: that combination is what sets every K&K search apart.
Our Story"We don't measure success in submittals. We measure it in placements that stick."
Exclusive sector focus, not a generalist desk.
Principals who've run the operations they recruit for.
25+ years of relationships in this specific space.
Let's talk about your search.
Whether you're filling a critical role or exploring the market, we'll give you a direct assessment. No pitch, no pressure.
Built inside the industry
we recruit for.
Kenefick & Kapp Associates is the result of two recruiting practices, and decades of combined experience, coming together around one conviction: specialized search produces better outcomes.
How two practices
became one bench.
Kenefick & Associates was founded by Pat Kenefick in 2000 with a single thesis: if you know Electronics Manufacturing Services cold, you can recruit it better than anyone. Over 25 years, that thesis held, building a reputation synonymous with EMS recruiting.
KappSearch Group brought a complementary piece: 20+ years running electronics manufacturing operations before moving into recruiting in 2023, building active search relationships across EMS, Automotive Electronics, and ITAD.
The combination became Kenefick & Kapp Associates in 2026: 45 combined years in sector, six dedicated recruiters, and a practice that works exclusively in this space.
Kenefick & Associates Established
Pat Kenefick launches a practice focused exclusively on Electronics Manufacturing Services, building one of the sector's most trusted recruiting networks over the next 25 years.
KappSearch Group Founded
Ryan Kapp brings 20+ years running electronics manufacturing operations to recruiting, building KappSearch Group around EMS, Automotive Electronics, and ITAD with a practitioner's lens.
Kenefick & Kapp Associates
Two practices become one team: 45 combined years in sector, six specialized recruiters, and an exclusive focus on Electronics Manufacturing, Automotive Electronics, and ITAD.
The three markets
we work in.
Electronics Manufacturing Services
Contract manufacturing, PCB assembly, SMT operations, quality systems, supply chain. Individual contributors through executives across North American EMS operations.
Automotive Electronics
OEM manufacturing and automotive electronics remanufacturing. Engineering, operations, quality, and business development roles across the full org chart, from individual contributors to executives.
IT Asset Disposition
Reverse logistics, refurbishment operations, data destruction, remarketing. We've placed GMs and senior leaders inside some of the most recognized ITAD brands in North America.
Executive search,
built for this industry.
Our process is designed for the complexity of electronics manufacturing and technology operations, where the difference between a good hire and a great one is whether the recruiter understands what the job actually requires.
How we work with you
Retained Search
Full commitment to your search: active market mapping, direct outreach, weekly reporting, and a structured presentation process. Retained engagements deliver deeper candidate pools and faster close for GM, VP, and C-suite placements.
Contingent Search
You pay only on successful hire. We bring the same sourcing discipline and candidate quality: active outreach into the passive market, not resume forwarding from job boards.
Our Search Process
We learn your operation, culture, and the unspoken requirements that don't fit a job description.
Direct outreach into employed talent at target companies, not waiting for applications.
Detailed candidate summaries: background, fit rationale, and compensation context.
We stay active through offer, counter-offer, and onboarding, not just to the interview.
Candidate Representation
If you're an experienced operator or leader in EMS, Automotive Electronics, or ITAD and exploring what's next, we'll represent your background to the companies that should know you. Confidential, targeted, direct.
Submit Your BackgroundSix recruiters who only
work this market.
We're not a general staffing firm with an electronics desk. Every member of this team works exclusively in Electronics Manufacturing, Automotive, and ITAD, and has the relationships to prove it.
Our recruiters
Pat Kenefick
Founder of Kenefick & Associates with 25+ years placing senior talent in EMS and ITAD. Pat's network and reputation in the industry are unmatched. He built this niche before most firms knew it existed.
Ryan Kapp
20+ years running electronics manufacturing operations before founding KappSearch Group. Ryan brings an operator's lens to recruiting, evaluating candidates the way hiring managers do, because he's been one.
Beverley Berdine
A veteran of the Kenefick practice with deep expertise in EMS candidate sourcing and relationship management. Beverley brings continuity and credibility to every engagement she supports.
Lee Procida
Focused on EMS and ITAD search with a strong track record in operations and engineering leadership placements. Lee's direct outreach style produces candidates who aren't on the open market.
Leslie Fleischer
Brings precision and consistency to candidate qualification and client communication. Leslie manages search execution and candidate pipelines with a thoroughness that keeps every engagement on track.
Matt Knight
Focused on the next generation of EMS and ITAD talent, sourcing and engaging high-potential candidates across manufacturing operations, quality, and supply chain functions.
Client or candidate — let's connect.
Whether you're hiring your next operations leader or exploring what's next in your career, we'll tell you what we actually think.
Live searches we're
running now.
We work confidential engagements. All roles are presented in directional terms to protect our clients. If a search looks like your background, reach out. We'll tell you what we can.
Current openings
Site General Manager — ITAD / Reverse Logistics
Mid-size ITAD operation seeking a proven Site GM to lead a full-cycle reverse logistics and refurbishment facility. P&L ownership, team leadership, operational excellence focus. 7–12 years in ITAD, electronics refurb, or contract manufacturing operations.
Plant Manager — Electronics Contract Manufacturing
Established EMS operation seeking an experienced Plant Manager to drive throughput, quality, and team performance across SMT and box-build operations. Strong lean manufacturing background required.
Engineering / Lean Operations Leader
Certified EMS operation (AS9100, ISO 13485, ITAR) seeking a dual-role Engineering and Lean Operations leader. Manages process engineering and continuous improvement across SMT and through-hole assembly.
PCB / PCBA Technical Quality Manager
Quality leadership role at a certified EMS facility requiring deep PCB/PCBA quality expertise. Manages quality systems, customer interface, and compliance across multiple standards. IPC knowledge essential.
HR Manager / HRBP — Multi-Site EMS
Growing EMS organization seeking a seasoned HR leader to support multi-site manufacturing operations. Generalist scope: employee relations, talent acquisition, compliance, and organizational development.
Don't see your role?
We work a number of confidential engagements that aren't posted publicly. If your background is in EMS, Automotive Electronics, or ITAD leadership, it's worth a conversation.
Let's talk.
Whether you're a client with a search to fill or a candidate exploring what's next, you'll get a straight answer.
Straight through
to a recruiter.
We're a small, focused team. When you reach out, you talk to a recruiter who knows the sector. No gatekeeping, no intake forms that go nowhere.
Find Kenefick & Kapp Associates on LinkedIn for search updates, industry insight, and team news.
Send us a message
Vetted people,
ready to move.
A curated selection of vetted talent in Electronics Manufacturing, Automotive Electronics, and ITAD. All profiles are presented confidentially. Reach out and we'll tell you more.
Profiles updated regularly. All candidates are actively represented by Kenefick & Kapp Associates.
Available candidates
Operations Leader
- P&L leadership across multi-site EMS operations; track record of driving margin improvement through lean transformation
- Deep SMT and box-build background; comfortable in high-mix, low-to-mid volume environments
- Strong team builder who has grown operations headcount while reducing turnover
Quality Engineer
- PCB/PCBA quality specialist with hands-on IPC inspection and audit experience across multiple certifications
- NPI involvement from design review through first article, with strong customer-facing communication skills
- AS9100 and ISO 13485 experience; ITAR-familiar environment background
Business Development
- Consistent quota achiever in EMS contract manufacturing sales, strong at managing complex RFQ processes and multi-stakeholder deals
- Existing relationships with OEM and CEM procurement teams across automotive and industrial segments
- Comfortable from initial prospecting through contract close; has supported retained and contingent account structures
Supply Chain Manager
- Electronic components procurement background with depth in spot market sourcing, AVL management, and supplier qualification
- Experience managing supply chain risk through allocation periods, with a strong systems background (ERP/MRP)
- Has supported both EMS and OEM environments; comfortable bridging engineering and procurement
ITAD Site Leader
- Full-cycle ITAD operations experience: intake, testing, refurbishment, data destruction, and remarketing, with P&L accountability throughout
- Managed multi-shift operations and built out compliance programs including R2 and e-Stewards alignment
- Strong client relationship management background, having handled enterprise and public sector accounts
Automotive Electronics Engineer
- Hands-on experience in automotive electronics remanufacturing: diagnostics, testing, and process engineering across multiple control module platforms
- Familiar with OBD protocols, bench testing workflows, and failure analysis in a production remanufacturing environment
- Strong documentation and process development skills; has supported both engineering and quality functions
Have a role these candidates could fill?
Reach out and we'll share full details, facilitate an introduction, and manage the process from there.