Unlock Your Executive Potential

Looking to position yourself for a role in leadership? Join us for an exclusive UO Executive MBA Alumni event featuring special guest Suzanne Hanifin, CEO of Acumen Executive Search.

With a career rooted in global mergers and acquisitions, Suzanne shifted gears in 2007 to launch one of the region’s premier executive search firms. Acumen now places high-level leaders across a wide range of industries, from Directors to the C-suite. Suzanne’s unique perspective on leadership, career transitions, and the inner workings of executive hiring makes her an ideal speaker for anyone looking to take the next step in their career.

💬 Live Discussion Topics:

• Positioning yourself for leadership opportunities
• Breaking into executive roles
• Avoiding common candidate mistakes
• Building and leveraging your network

Whether you're looking to advance your career, expand your network, or simply reconnect with fellow alumni, this is a can’t-miss event.

Registration

$20 for UOAA members
$25 for nonmembers
$15 for current students

Location

Golden Valley Brewing - Beaverton
1520 Northwest Bethany Boulevard
Beaverton, OR 97006

Meet the Speaker

Suzanne Hanifin is the Founder and President of Acumen Executive Search, a premier boutique firm known for placing high-impact executives and building leadership teams that align with organizational purpose and culture. With more than two decades of experience in executive recruiting, strategic planning, and business leadership, Suzanne is widely regarded as an industry-agnostic, trusted advisor to companies seeking transformative talent.

Throughout her career, Suzanne has distinguished herself through her keen strategic insight, her unwavering commitment to excellence, and her ability to foster lasting, trust-based relationships. She brings to the search process not only a sharp business acumen but also a profound sense of heart and purpose. Clients and candidates alike consistently describe Suzanne as someone who makes people feel deeply seen, heard, and supported—someone who leads with integrity and puts people first.

Her philosophy is simple but powerful: "Givers gain, and if you do the right thing, you will be rewarded." That ethos is at the core of everything she does. Under Suzanne’s leadership, Acumen has earned a reputation for delivering not just top-tier executive placements, but long-term success stories. In fact, 93% of the executives placed by Acumen remain with their companies three years later—a testament to the firm’s commitment to values-aligned hiring and strategic onboarding.

A champion for women in leadership, Suzanne is passionate about elevating smart, innovative, and caring female professionals across industries. She is the co-founder of Leaders and Executives Across Professions (LEAP), a mentorship initiative designed to support and empower professional women through peer connection and shared leadership insights.

In addition to her work at Acumen, Suzanne is actively engaged in the broader business and nonprofit communities. She is a Past President and Board Member of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Oregon chapter, is a member of Vistage, an Executive Group Leader of ProVisors, and a Board Member of the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC). In every role, she brings her trademark mix of strategic thinking, collaborative energy, and heartfelt service.

Suzanne’s leadership style exemplifies what modern business needs: a balance of head and heart, results and relationships, strategy and service. More than a connector—Suzanne is a powerful catalyst for growth, and a force for good in the professional world.

Meet our Facilitator

Chris Blomquist, MBA '22, is the President of Blomquist Consulting. Chris has built high performing human resources teams for venture-backed startups, global conglomerates, and post-merger organizations. Chris’s teams have been tasked with global staffing migrations, standing up foreign entities, orchestrating divestiture and acquisitions, and scaling up rapidly expanding businesses.

After completing his MBA at the Oregon Executive MBA, Chris launched Blomquist Consulting LLC where he helps business leverage people and culture functions to drive revenue and retain profit.