Mary Catherine Bennewise
Owner
Preferred Nickname:
Cat
Preferred Pronouns:
She/her/hers
Phone:
865-361-0297
Email:
LinkedIn Profile
A Peek into My World
Allow me to introduce myself – the IRS knows me as Mary Catherine Bennewise, but you can just call me Cat. In 2021, I launched my very own Southern boutique consulting firm, specializing in full-cycle recruitment. But let’s be real: for me, recruitment is so much more than just filling roles. It’s about shaping vibrant cultures, advancing diversity, and creating lasting impact through thoughtful, data-driven strategies. Sure, I could just find you the right candidate, but I’m all about building recruitment processes that are seamless, efficient, and a little bit innovative. Tell me something’s impossible, and I’ll show you how my outside-the-box thinking can make it happen.
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My mission? To stand out in the recruitment space like no one else. I bring a blend of energy, Southern charm, creativity, and just the right touch of humor and professionalism to everything I do. I strive to exceed expectations and deliver results that drive success for both candidates and stakeholders.
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A little about my journey: I got my start in recruitment in 2015, when I was recruited to be a recruiter (I know, irony at its finest). Two incredible people opened the doors to this industry for me, trained me, and are now lifelong friends and family. While I once dreamed of becoming an interior designer, I fell in love with talent acquisition and the opportunity to guide, influence, and help people unlock their potential.
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I thrive in fast-paced, ever-evolving environments where process optimization, unique ideas, and a passion for continuous improvement are key. And let’s not forget, I have a knack for mixing humor with professionalism and authenticity with every interaction. At the end of the day, I’m here to help, guide, and learn along the way – with a smile, of course.
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My Life's Motto:
Be the person your dog THINKS you are!
Portfolio Snapshot
September 2020 - May 2025
January 2020 - July 2021
May 2017 - January 2020
💡 What I Did for 2K Games:
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Talent Acquisition Strategy: Leading end-to-end recruitment across all levels and functions.
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Process Optimization: Identifying bottlenecks and implementing solutions for greater efficiency.
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Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives: Building diverse pipelines and fostering inclusive recruitment practices.
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Candidate & Hiring Manager Experience: Focusing on seamless communication and an exceptional experience for both sides. Actively ensuring 👻 never occurs
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Stakeholder Engagement: Partnering with leadership teams to align recruitment strategies with organizational goals.
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Clients: 2K Publishing, Cat Daddy Studios, Gearbox Entertainment , Firaxis Games, 31st Union, and an unannounced studio
💡 What I Did:
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Led end-to-end recruitment processes, including but not limited to candidate sourcing to onboarding, I manage and ensured quality, speed, and efficiency throughout the process.
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Global Talent Sourcing: Leveraging both traditional and innovative sourcing methods to identify top talent from across the globe, with a focus on meeting diverse client needs.
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Outsourcing Expertise: In-depth knowledge of global outsourcing markets, with a focus on building long-term relationships and delivering outstanding recruitment services for both IT and non-IT functions.
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Strategic Partnering: Collaborating with business leaders to understand talent needs, drive workforce strategies, and contribute to achieving business goals through optimal talent solutions.
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Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives: Building diverse pipelines and fostering inclusive recruitment practices.
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Clients: Stryker Medical, Rivian, and 2K Games
💡 What I Did:
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Led full cycle recruitment for Engineering Clients specializing in sourcing, screening, and placing engineers in a wide range of roles, from design and development to quality assurance and project management.
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Client & Candidate Partnerships: I take a consultative approach to recruitment, building strong relationships with clients to truly understand their engineering talent needs while ensuring candidates are placed in roles that align with their career goals and technical expertise.
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Clients: Denso Manufacture, ARC Automotive, Shaw Industries, Mercedes, Gestamp, Aisin Automotive Casting Tennessee, Exedy America Corporation, JTEKT, Astec Industries, & Grupo Antolin
Sep 2015 - May 2017
💡 What I Did:
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Full-Cycle Recruitment: From sourcing and screening to offer negotiation and onboarding, I manage the complete recruitment process, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for both clients and candidates.
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Tech Talent Acquisition: Focused on sourcing specialized talent for roles such as software engineers, data scientists, system architects, network engineers, and other technology-driven positions.
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Strategic Partnerships: I work closely with companies to understand their unique needs, fostering long-term relationships while delivering top talent that aligns with their technical requirements and company culture.
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Networked with local colleges: Fountainhead College of Technology, Pellissippi State Community College, and ITT Technical Institute.
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Attended network events, managed booths at career fairs, and hosted “How to Land a Job'' and “Mock Interviews'' classes at local colleges
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Clients: SAIC, Ed Financial, Warner Bros Discovery, Elavon, and JTV
Partners
