Our Team

A former Big Four CPA and top five performer for a national staffing agency, Jennifer Hannigan founded Alliance Resource Group in 2003. Jennifer’s vision was to merge the high touch, consultative approach of retained search with the urgency and extensive network of contingency recruiting. Alliance realized that vision and quickly earned a reputation as a trusted adviser to hundreds of public and private organizations – from Fortune 500 companies to pre-revenue startups. The firm grew rapidly, and in 2024, Jennifer launched a national Private Equity & Family Office Solutions Division. Today, Alliance is the go-to recruiting agency for challenging finance and accounting searches across Southern California and beyond. Alliance’s extensive network reaches across the United States, and Alliance has been recognized dozens of times by the industry for exceptional outcomes in both talent and client services.

Jennifer is a subject matter expert in employment and human capital trends. She is active in the community and has served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Corporate Growth, the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Orfalea College of Business for Cal Poly at San Luis Obispo, the National League of Young Men, and numerous charities for women, children and the arts.

Jennifer is a mother of triplets plus two and a Summa Cum Laude graduate of California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. Her one true obsession – Star Wars – is displayed in the pop art on the walls of Alliance’s corporate headquarters.

Michael Boyer has over 30 years of experience leading teams and managing the financial operations of public and private organizations. He has held C-Suite leadership positions across a variety of industries including manufacturing, real estate, software, and staffing. A Big Four alum and a Certified Public Accountant. Michael holds an Executive MBA from the University of California at Irvine and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from California State University at Fresno.

Michael is a former Drill Sergeant in the U.S. Army, and a skilled baker who is known in the Alliance offices for his world-class sourdough recipes.

With almost 10 years of experience in professional services, Rebecca Vasudevan is a trusted partner to Alliance Resource group’s leadership team. As Jennifer Hannigan’s executive assistant, Rebecca helps foster communication with our clients, candidates and consultants. She is a force multiplier for Alliance’s CEO, providing executive and operational support, marketing project management, and leading special projects. She has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a master’s degree from Simmons University.

Rebecca loves learning new languages and going to local sports games with her husband and son.

Chloe Bachner specializes in recruiting top talent for Alliance’s Private Equity & Family Office Solutions Division. She is known for her laser precision in assessing each organization’s unique needs and sourcing candidates with the specific technical skills and personal characteristics required for long-term success.

With experience in financial executive search and a strong technical foundation in accounting, Chloe is an incredible strategic partner to Alliance’s clients and candidates. Before joining Alliance, Chloe was a recruiter for a large regional public accounting firm. A former Big Four CPA, she holds both a master’s degree in accountancy and a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of San Diego.

She is a huge animal advocate and enjoys volunteering at local canine rescue organizations and walking on the beach with her dog, Kona.

With deep roots in the Southern California business community and nearly 15 years’ experience recruiting finance and accounting professionals, Brandon Barrett is a trusted partner to Alliance Resource Group’s clients and candidates. Using his extensive network in Orange County and Los Angeles, Brandon specializes in helping companies source truly remarkable talent with the specific skills and characteristics required to excel in their particular industry and role. Brandon has an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Chapman University. He is a current board member of the Association for Corporate Growth of Orange County and a former member of Chapman University’s Career Development Board.

 A local restaurant aficionado, Brandon knows all the best hot spots in Orange County. He also enjoys flexing his own culinary chops in the kitchen when entertaining family and friends.

Erin Cooper is a seasoned recruiter with over a decade of experience in executive search and interim placements. She specializes in placing elite executive support professionals with a focus on C-Suite assistants and office managers. Her experience spans multiple industries – including professional services, private equity, family office, legal, manufacturing, and biotech.

Erin’s early career experience in Big Four public accounting gave her a deep understanding of business processes and operations. She uses this knowledge in her recruiting process to quickly and accurately assess client needs and candidate qualifications to ensure a perfect match. Erin is widely known for delivering best-in-class talent that understands their executive partner’s strategy and acts as a force multiplier, effectively managing details to support that vision.

Erin is an alumna of California State University at Dominguez Hills. On the weekends, she enjoys watching classic black-and-white films with her cocker spaniel, Max.

After almost 30 years in executive search and recruiting, Dean Gavello is an incredible partner to Alliance’s clients and candidates.  Dean joined Alliance in 2016 after successfully owning and operating an executive recruiting firm for more than two decades. He has an innate ability to understand industry trends and is extremely skilled at coaching clients in how to best position their role and candidates on how to best showcase their skillset in the current market.

His portfolio spans multiple industries including manufacturing, technology, pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare, public accounting, and aerospace. Dean earned an MBA from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Connecticut. He is also a former president of the Orange County Chapter of California Staffing Professionals. 

A father of four, Dean and his wife share their home with a dog, two cats, and a fish named Blue.

With almost 20 years’ experience in Accounting and Finance recruiting, Raul Gonzalez’s strong network and deep industry insights into the Los Angeles and Southern California market make him an exceptional thought partner to clients and candidates looking to better understand industry trends.

Raul’s recruiting experience spans multiple industries with particular expertise in consumer goods, tech, SAAS, real estate, and private equity. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University at Long Beach. He is also fluent in Spanish.

Raul volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles. He enjoys spending weekends paddleboarding with his wife and daughter.

Dana Jarvis brings a dynamic blend of technical acumen, a passion for people, and a strategic mindset to recruiting for Alliance’s Private Equity & Family Office Solutions Division. She is an invaluable resource for discerning clients looking to identify high-caliber and hard-to-find talent. Dana’s extensive portfolio includes family office, real estate, tax, and corporate accounting roles. She leverages her Big Four experience, CPA and PHR credentials, and over 20 years in Accounting & HR operations to perfectly pair clients with candidates who have the precise attributes needed to excel. Dana is a third-generation USC alumna and a former CalCPA Accounting Education Committee member. She has published several articles in CalCPA Magazine. 

An avid traveler, Dana is always eager to discover new cities and cultures. She also loves playing tennis and exploring the wilds of Southern California.

Mark Lucas is a highly skilled Executive Search Manager with almost a decade of experience in financial recruiting. His deep client network spans multiple industries with a focus on placements in aerospace and defense, consumer products, manufacturing, and construction.  Mark’s portfolio ranges from startups to well-established, public and private organizations. He has an MBA from Ashford University and a bachelor’s degree in finance from Portland State University.

Mark was a scholarship athlete and played football for the Division 1 NCAA Portland State Vikings.

Jacob Rowley brings a strong foundation in public service, talent management, and relationship-driven recruiting to his role at Alliance Resource Group. After beginning his career in Washington, D.C., in the Office of the Speaker of the House, Jacob transitioned into recruiting, where he found a natural fit connecting talented professionals with opportunities where they can thrive. Before joining Alliance, Jacob worked in talent management at CliftonLarsonAllen, one of the largest accounting firms in the United States. He holds a master’s degree in human resource management from Azusa Pacific University and a bachelor’s degree in international relations from the University of California, San Diego.

Jacob has a passion for international travel, which was sparked by a college study abroad experience in Korea. He is also a die-hard Lakers fan who enjoys attending playoff games.

Kyle Sakata is a seasoned executive recruiter with over 20 years’ experience recruiting accounting and finance talent in southern California. His executive search practice spans multiple industries including investment management, real estate, technology, and consumer products. Kyle has a thorough foundation in technical recruiting, leaning into his early career as a Controller. This enables him to source highly specialized candidates, accurately assessing and describing the nuances of each role to attract top candidates and skillfully showcasing the skillsets of exceptional talent to premier organizations. He has a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University at Long Beach.

In his spare time, Kyle is an accomplished surfer who loves exploring local beaches with his two daughters.

With almost 20 years’ experience recruiting for accounting and finance, David Wells is an accomplished executive search manager and a seasoned thought partner to Alliance’s clients. He is known for his remarkable recruiting storytelling ability, enabling organizations to translate their corporate visions into compelling narratives that attract and retain top talent. David’s expertise is deep and wide with an emphasis in strategic finance and accounting placements in the consumer packaged goods, medical device, and technology industries. He has a Juris Doctorate from Bond University in Australia and a bachelor’s degree from California State University at Fullerton.

David is an active volunteer in local youth and scholastic organizations and coaches for the AYSO.