Adaptive Solutions Group Management Team

As one of Adaptive Solutions Group's three founding partners, Brad Wood is responsible for all the business operations involved in the company. His biggest challenge? Finding the right people for the job in the IT realm, where unemployment levels are low, and premium talent is always in short supply. Thus, companies need talented IT recruiters who network with IT consultants on a constant basis, who intimately understand employers' real needs, and who prove adept at finding the right personnel to fill those roles.

'The art of the placement,' he says, 'isn't only about matching up with the needed technical skills, but also with the character and personality traits of the existing team.'

To Brad and his colleagues, ASG's approach is important in an increasingly complex technology staffing industry. 'The industry continues to become commoditized by larger clients limiting interaction between the vendor (us) and the customer (them). This hinders the ability of the vendor to fully understand a customer's needs, and the ability to provide the right person the first time. A lot of time is spent 'guessing' on a customer's needs…this makes the process significantly lengthier than it needs to be.'

Adaptive Solution Group's answer: treat people as people, not commodities, an approach that's 'sincere and appreciated by both our employees and customers,' he points out. 'The last time I checked, people weren't commodities.' ASG customers and consultants alike are made to feel special and valued, and receive a closeness of service that makes connecting the right people with the right jobs more efficient and rewarding for all concerned.

Brad is proud of the internal team ASG has assembled, and gets a great sense of accomplishment watching them grow personally and professionally, thanks to the environment he and his partners have fostered. 'They all believe in treating people with respect and it shows.'

Brad is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia, with a Bachelor's in Science with emphasis on Statistics. He is also a member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization in St. Louis. After starting out as a technical recruiter in the mid-Nineties, he worked up through the ranks of the industry to become a regional sales manager for his previous employer before he returned to St. Louis to start Adaptive Solutions Group.

His two children, Connor and Danielle, are actively involved in sports and dance. Their dad is an avid runner and triathlete himself, having completed numerous marathons and triathlons, including a full Ironman with more in store. His other passion is cooking, and he harbors an ambition to one day attend culinary school.

As Vice-President and a founder of Adaptive Solutions Group, Brent is involved with all aspects of decision-making within the firm, but focuses primarily on managing the St. Louis recruiting and sales teams.. He also acts as the Facility Security Officer for ASG, a role that encompasses processing and administration of employee security clearances, an absolute requirement for our Department of Defense clients.

'Our clients are always looking for ways to reduce costs within their IT organizations, but still improve mission-critical systems that IT supports. Combine that with the constant evolution of technology, and we're seeing a trend where many clients continue to increase the percentage of contingent IT workforce over full-time, which allows more flexibility in an unstable global economy. With this shift, our clients can quickly add critical technical skillsets and knowledge.'

ASG, Brent points out, was founded on the principle of 'prioritizing people' with an emphasis on personal relationships with both its clients and consultants. 'We believe in treating people as people and not as commodities.' As competition in the IT staffing industry increases, along with ever-growing restrictions imposed by vendor management systems, the ability to truly develop strong relationships and deliver exceptional service becomes more important than ever. 'We strive to make our consultants feel as though they're part of a company that truly values their efforts and cares about the direction of their careers.'

'From the back office support staff to the frontline Technical Recruiters and Account Managers, our team is the reason for our success,' he says. 'Each of them understands the importance of personal relationships and treating each other with respect.' That accounts for ASG's low attrition rate over the years. An environment that allows employees to grow professionally and personally has given Brent a lot of satisfaction over the years.

Brent graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1995 with a B.S. in Environmental Biology before starting work as an IT Recruiter in Los Angeles. While in L.A. he advanced through a variety of roles in the IT Recruiting arena prior to starting ASG with Brad Wood and Matt Twyman.

Brent has a 'wonderful' family which includes his wife, Amy and three young children: Hudson, Max and Grant. Brent recently completed his first half-marathon, which he ran with Amy; he also truly enjoys golf, a pastime he hopes to enjoy with his boys in the future, and pursues photography and acoustic guitar playing too.

Matt is a Vice President and Owner at Adaptive Solutions Group. He helped found the company in 2002. Matt resides in Kansas City but oversees all sales aspects of the company. He is most passionate about building the brand and expanding operations while preserving the founding principles that contributed to the company’s initial success. He enjoys working with a great team in a fun yet challenging atmosphere.

Matt holds a highly coveted Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Missouri, Columbia and has served as a Guest Professor for the Trulaske College of Business on several occasions.

He enjoys spending time with his family during his free time. His hobbies include running, snow skiing, playing guitar and fishing. Matt hopes to be a tournament fisherman post retirement. As a native of Kansas City, Matt has enjoyed watching the city evolve and grow over the years while maintaining a small town vibe.

Favorite KC Item: Brisket from Q39
Favorite KC Place: Any of the great BBQ spots

Andy is the Director of Operations with Adaptive Solutions Group and has been with the team since 2006. He is responsible for the operational business departments, functions, processes, and projects.

Andy’s on the job enjoyment comes from training, leading, and watching employees grow both personally and professionally. He feels ASG’s culture is more like an extended family than a corporation.

Andy holds a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Hanover College. He is married with two children and loves golf, BBQing, and camping.

Favorite St. Louis Item: St. Louis style pizza
Favorite St. Louis Place: His backyard relaxing with family and friends

Nick is the Manager of Recruiting with Adaptive Solutions Group and has been with the team since 2008. He is responsible for the development and day-to-day support of our recruiting staff in St. Louis. Nick was a Technical Recruiter before moving into Management and believes that the best way to be successful in the recruiting industry is to truly understand the candidates' career goals to match up with our excellent clients.

Nick enjoys working at ASG because we have a great team and he truly enjoys coming to work every day. He enjoys seeing employees consistently improving and building their career with Adaptive Solutions Group.

Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and a Minor in Management and Marketing Management from Milwaukee School of Engineering. He also played NCAA ice hockey while in school. Outside of the office, Nick enjoys playing hockey, staying active, playing guitar, and spending time with his wife and dogs.

Favorite St. Louis Item: St. Louis Blues games
Favorite St. Louis Place: local craft breweries

Kristin is the Payroll & Billing Manager for Adaptive Solutions Group. She has been with the team since 2011. She makes sure the payroll and billing processes are on point so our employees are paid accurately!

She loves working at Adaptive because of the coworkers that keep it entertaining every day.

Kristin received her Bachelor’s degree from Maryville University. In her free time, she likes to spend time outdoors and hanging out with her family.

Favorite St. Louis Item: Italian food from The Hill
Favorite St. Louis Place: local wineries!

Rachel is the Human Resources Manager with Adaptive Solutions Group and has been with the team since 2010. Since HR is her function, people are her focus. Rachel is the go-to person for all onboarding, benefit, and payroll questions. She believes that communication and access to necessary information is important to providing a great experience.

She enjoys working at ASG because it is a fun group who make every day interesting and entertaining.

Rachel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Lindenwood University and also has her PHR and SHRM-CP certifications. In her spare time, Rachel enjoys going out to dinner and seeing the most recent action movie with her husband.

Favorite St. Louis Item: Gooey Butter Cake
Favorite St. Louis Place: Brewery-hopping at the many great local breweries

Krystal is a Manager of Recruiting at Adaptive Solutions Group and has been with the team since 2017. She believes building relationships with candidates can help change people lives for the better by making their job hunting process easier.

Krystal enjoys working at ASG because they put a focus on the IT community by sponsoring KCDC and several meetups.

She holds a degree in Business Administration and Communication from the University of Missouri-Columbia. Krystal enjoys spending time with her nephews and attending as many Kansas City Royals games as possible in her free time.

Favorite KC Item: Sweet potato fries from Dempsey’s in Westport
Favorite KC Place: Kauffman Stadium