Miguel Angel Lopez
Drafter | J.R. Clancy
Technical Design and Production | M.F.A. Candidate
Yale School of Drama | Class of 2024
“Originally I met with Irene to talk about how to improve my LinkedIn page. As she helped refine my LIP, it came up in conversation that I was a draftsman. She recognized that I might be the right fit for one of her clients; from there we started preparing for the first interview. I had the fortune of seeing firsthand how Irene is always on the hunt for her clients (and the effort she makes to support and prepare for her candidates)! Having firsthand experience of the process, I can confidently say, that piVot2 is the only choice for placement and recruitment.”
Joe Chapman
Project Theatre Consultant | DL Adams Associates
MFA Lighting Design | University of Connecticut
“My experience with piVot2 was very compassionate and close attention to detail was paid. Irene understood what I wanted the next step in my career to look like and knew my criteria. She only approached me with opportunities that fit the description. Irene understands that all our time is precious, which I find highly admirable.
Irene’s goal is to make sure that she is recruiting a person for a position that will be beneficial for all the parties involved. She understands that the new hire and the employer have much to learn from each other and this is a very exciting approach to recruiting. The preparation for the job interview and negotiation was a breeze with her feedback and Irene made sure to speak with me openly with me to make sure I was looking at the situation from all angles.
I am very satisfied with the experience of working with Irene at piVot2 and I’m very excited to see the potential of my new position. “
Irene’s goal is to make sure that she is recruiting a person for a position that will be beneficial for all the parties involved. She understands that the new hire and the employer have much to learn from each other and this is a very exciting approach to recruiting. The preparation for the job interview and negotiation was a breeze with her feedback and Irene made sure to speak with me openly with me to make sure I was looking at the situation from all angles.
I am very satisfied with the experience of working with Irene at piVot2 and I’m very excited to see the potential of my new position. “
Peter Rosenbaum
Associate Principal | Fisher Dachs Associates
Theatre Planning and Design
“Zac Schmitt is really working out extremely well here….it’s like he was made for FDA.Thanks again for the referral…much appreciated!”
Kelly O’Connell
Director of Projects | Texas Scenic Company – NE
BFA | The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University
“I’ve benefited from staff Irene has recruited for my department. Her pool of applicants is always diverse and she offers lots of options, some I hadn’t thought of myself. Irene has found hardworking, dedicated and intelligent professionals. Even those hired in temporary positions have remained in contact, as possible future hires. The main reason I trust Irene is that I was also recruited by her. It was more like working with a friend than a recruiter. We worked together to target my strengths, and I felt like I had all the information necessary to make the right choice for me, while never feeling pressured. In the two year since meeting Irene, I’ve grown more personally and professionally than I thought possible.”
Zachary Schmitt
Consultant | Fisher Dachs Associates
MFA Theatre and Drama | University of Wisconsin – Madison
“Irene was instrumental in helping find my eventual employment. I was freshly out of grad school and learning the professional industry in real time. She helped me get connected with the perfect employer who was looking to fill a position fitting my skill set and experience. Her assistance allowed me to get into contact with the right people at the right time, leading to what will hopefully the best start to a long and successful career.”
Collin Huse
Theatre Consultant | NextStage Design
MFA Technical Production | Florida State University
“Irene took the time to get to know my professional goals and mentor me while I was still in graduate school. Her personal approach to my job search connected me to an excellent company where I felt at home immediately, both personally and professionally. I would never have found this opportunity without Irene’s vast network, strong communication skills, and her expertise in connecting like-minded individuals.”
Aaron Bowersox
Consultant | Stage Lighting Systems Design
Fisher Dachs Associates | Theatre Planning & Design
“Irene takes the time to know your personality, interests, and goals. The in-depth conversations that occur really pay off to ensure the right fit to a team. As a client you are kept in the loop for every possible piece of information while she ensures that you are prepared for all situations. It was a pleasure to have worked with Irene to find my current place of work where I have been for a year and looking to many more!”
Ryan Ponsell
Jr. Theatre Engineer | Westview Productions
MFA Technical Production | Florida State University
“It was a phenomenal experience working with Irene and the rest of the piVot2 team. Irene travelled to Florida State University to give a seminar on piVot2 and after hearing about her philosophy of “heart-hunting” I knew I wanted to learn more. Irene scheduled a dinner so that we could discuss in detail my career goals after my upcoming graduation. It was not long after her visit and our discussion that Irene came back with three potential jobs for me to review. All of them were appropriate to the career goals I had and to my personal desires like geographical area. I chose the one that appealed to me the most and began preparing for interviews with Irene’s advice. The whole process went incredibly smooth until difficulties from the COVID-19 lockdown delayed the interview process. Irene was incredibly supportive during that time and kept clear and constant communication with me. In the end, I was able to complete the interview process with the company I applied to and landed the job. Irene was my biggest cheerleader and advocate over the course of almost 6 months. I am incredibly happy with my new position and would not have even known it existed without Irene. I highly recommend the services of piVot2 for anyone looking to find a position that will fit your long-term personal and professional goals.”
John P. Munoz
M.F.A Design & Technology – Technical Production | San Diego State University
B.A in Theatre Arts | The University of The Incarnate Word
B.A in Theatre Arts | The University of The Incarnate Word
“I met Irene while at USITT in 2018 and I have been in constant contact with her ever since! While I was in grad school I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to do once I graduated. The trick was finding that pathway into the commercial end of the entertainment industry. I was not only able to find that pathway with Irene but also gain some of the most genuine mentorship I have experienced in my career. Irene wants to understand not only what a candidates professional goals are but also their goals as a human. Irene is able to offer great opportunities for professional and personal growth through the community she has built.”
TJ Hansen
Estimator | Georgia Stage
MFA | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
“When I lost my job unexpectedly, my first thought was to call piVot2. Working with piVot2, I was able to find employment where I could use my same skill set; with better pay, better hours, and opportunities for advancement within a month. They were as serious about finding the right fit for me as I was. PiVot2 really is the difference. I cannot recommend piVot2 highly enough.”
Sean Conlin
ETCP Rigger | Northeast Stage
BFA Theatre Technology |The Theatre School at DePaul University
“Having been recently certified as an ETCP theater rigger, I aim to continue furthering my knowledge and honing my skills in the theater industry while still ensuring the health and safety of my coworkers. To ensure I stay the course, Irene has been providing me with her wealth of knowledge and experiences to further and broaden my views of the theater world.”
Luke Tarnow-Bulatowicz
Technical Design and Production M.F.A. Candidate 2024 | Yale School of Drama
“Irene’s talent is finding, recruiting, and placing creative minds into positions that complement the company and the employee alike. As a student I have had difficulty navigating the array of employers and cutting my way into the entertainment industry. Irene’s guidance and mentorship has propelled me into feeling confident about the current direction of my career. I first met Irene at USITT when I was a Sophomore at the University of Buffalo, she assisted me in finding an internship that was an incredible opportunity to gain experience in technical theater automation. Irene’s services extend far beyond placement, she is an invaluable resource across the entire ongoing career definition and development journey of career. I have a clear vision of where I want to be in five years and am confident in the steps I need to take to get there.”
Evan Vollweiler
Project Engineer | JR Clancy. Inc
BE Mechanical Engineering | Stony Brook University
“When I was scouted by Irene, I had been contemplating changing my employer due to substandard pay and loss of moral attributed to a hostile work environment. I knew I wanted to continue to learn and develop as a mechanical engineer with a company that valued my skill set. I am now happily employed with a company that has gone out there way to nurture and advance my skills and has even helped me begin my training as a Practicing Engineer. Without Irene’s help none of this would be possible.”
Kevin Cushing
Sales and Service | Texas Scenic Company – NE
MFA | University of Connecticut
“Irene Byrne Ohl has all the connections and knows all the players. She is very adept at recognizing personality and skills and matching those characteristics where they fit best. She can be the GPS between technical theatre programs and the professional industry, ensuring that both employee and employer find their way to each other.”
Josh Winiarski
BIM Services Manager | Texas Scenic Company – NE
BFA Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology | University of Connecticut
“Irene Byrne Ohl helped me to find a long term career, working with some of the most talented and passionate people I have had the pleasure of knowing. After finishing college, I was put in touch with Irene who went above and beyond to find me a position that was the right fit for me and my skill set. Now I have job that I love with people who want to help me grow and see me succeed. I would not be as successful as I am now without Irene’s guidance.”
Zep Elkerton
Automation Support Technician | Creative Conners, Inc.
B.S. Theater and Entertainment Technology | Michigan Technological University
“I’ve benefited from staff Irene has recruited for my department. Her pool of applicants is always diverse and she offers lots of options, some I hadn’t thought of myself. Irene has found hardworking, dedicated and intelligent professionals. Even those hired in temporary positions have remained in contact, as possible future hires. The main reason I trust Irene is that I was also recruited by her. It was more like working with a friend than a recruiter. We worked together to target my strengths, and I felt like I had all the information necessary to make the right choice for me, while never feeling pressured. In the two year since meeting Irene, I’ve grown more personally and professionally than I thought possible.”
Brian Shaughnessy
Project Manager | Texas Scenic Company – NE
MFA | Florida State University
“Irene specializes in finding talented individuals and placing them within companies where they can continue to grow and develop professionally. Irene advocates for and understands that an individual’s contribution to a company is more than just a job description or resume. She looks for the next generation of industry leaders who are motivated to succeed. I first met Irene in my final year of graduate school and have since worked to design and install theatrical rigging systems for high profile clients such as MoMA, the New York Stock Exchange, and Harvard Business School.”
Matt Stuttgen
Director of Project Management | Georgia Stage
MFA Design and Technology | University of South Dakota
“I met Irene while at USITT in 2018 and I have been in constant contact with her ever since! While I was in grad school I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to do once I graduated. The trick was finding that pathway into the commercial end of the entertainment industry. I was not only able to find that pathway with Irene but also gain some of the most genuine mentorship I have experienced in my career. Irene wants to understand not only what a candidates professional goals are but also their goals as a human. Irene is able to offer great opportunities for professional and personal growth through the community she has built.”
Preston Sullivan
Assistant Project Manager | Texas Scenic Company – SE
MFA Production Design and Technology | Ohio University
“As a professional in the world of technical theatre and entertainment technology, I had an easy time finding my first jobs working as a carpenter and stagehand. After nearly 10 years, I gained a wealth of experience, a Graduate Degree, and the freedom to move into roles with much more responsibility. At that point, finding a team with which I could work long term proved difficult. Irene found me and not only expanded my understanding of how my skills could be applied to similar industries but set me up with my current job. It is the first time I have felt I am building a career.”
Ramonita Amadis
Controller | Texas Scenic Company – NE
“I have worked with Ms. Irene Byrne Ohl for 20 years. She has an energy and drive that inspires me to grow and stretch myself in my career. Under her guidance, I have increased my knowledge and skills. She has always believed that I could do whatever I wanted. She has a vision for all who capture her attention, especially women entrepreneurs. She has a gift to see the strengths in people and place them in positions best suited for them. Ms. Irene Byrne Ohl is a wonderful person who goes above and beyond!!”
Cole Szeszulski
Student | Michigan Technology University
BS Theatre and Entertainment Technology 2019 | Michigan Technology University
“Being a student trying to break into the professional world of Theater and Entertainment is a scary thing. You may have worked on a plethora of shows and projects but the foot in the door to show off what you know is hard to get. A great deal of our industry relies heavily on reputation and who knows who which is something that many people don’t have. Irene took the time to get to know what I had done and my knowledge base and was able to find a position that I enjoyed and thrived in. In one summer, I had worked on projects that I would have never dreamed of and gained a lot more skills then I had coming in the door.”