Contingency search firms: ranked by 2004 L. A. County revenues.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SPRAGUE Associates reclaimed the title of largest contingency search firm in L.A. County. The Sherman Oaksbased firm reported local revenues of $4.8 million for 2004, an increase of $500,000, or 11.6 percent, over the previous year.

Scott-Thaler Associates Agency Inc., which surpassed Sprague last year, fell to the No. 2 position after also reporting $4.8 million in local revenues, though slightly lower than Sprague.

Only one firm on this year's list reported lower revenues in 2004. DNA Search saw L.A. County revenues cut in half to $2 million in 2004 from $4.1 million in 2003. The firm dropped eight spots to No. 11 this year.

Solution Marketing, at No. 12, leads three new companies on this year's list. The Los Angeles-based firm reported $1.5 million in local revenues, up $700,000, or 87.5 percent, versus 2003. Valoure Inc. debuted at No. 13 and Lucas Group debuted at No. 14, with revenues of $1.2 million and $800,000, respectively.

Overall, the 15 largest contingency search firms reported L.A. County revenues of $44 million, up $4.7 million or 12 percent from the previous year. They employ 195 recruiters in 24 countywide offices.

THE PACESETTER

SPRAGUE & ASSOCIATES

RECLAIMING the title of largest contingency search firm in Los Angeles County with 2004 revenues of $4.8 million, the Sherman Oaks-based Sprague & Associates had an 11.6 percent increase over the year earlier.

Scott-Thaler Associates Agency Inc., No. 1 last year, reported under $4.8 million in 2004 revenue, but tied with Sprague & Associates due to rounding.

Higher salaries among available jobs have fueled growth for search firms. "Salaries have gone up dramatically," said the firm's partner, Tom Sprague. "People who haven't changed jobs in the last six years have missed out on salary inflation."

Sprague also credits the rise in salaries to increased competition for qualified candidates.

"The quantity of jobs has increased and fewer talented people are available to fill those positions," he said. Every industry had an increase in available positions especially for candidates with the Sarbanes-Oxley skill set, he added, referring to new federal laws concerning corporate accountability.

Last year Sprague & Associates placed 250 executives throughout Los Angeles County, with salaries ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. The firm was established in 1996 and has 10 recruiters working in its two county offices. It specializes in placing accounting professionals in all industries.

[GRAPHIC OMITTED]

Rank   Firm (Ranking         Revenues (1)          Profile
       in 2004)              (L.A. County/       * L.A. Co.
       * name                   total)           recruiters
       * address                * 2004          * search area
                                * 2003         * # executives
                                                 placed (2)

  1    Sprague &               $4.8/same             10
       Associates (2)          $4.3/same        international
       15233 Ventura
       Blvd., Suite 1020
       Sherman Oaks 91403

  2    Scott-Thaler          4.8 (3)/same            10
       Associates            4.6 (3)/same       international
       Agency Inc. (1)                              200+
       110 E. Ninth
       St., Suite C277
       Los Angeles 90079

  3    Century Group (4)       4.7/$6.1              16
       9800 La Cienega         3.9/$4.6          California
       Blvd., Suite 904                              183
       Inglewood 90301

  4    Carson-Thomas           4.1/same              14
       Personnel (6)           3.6/same          California
       315 W. Ninth                                  WND
       St., Suite 1000
       Los Angeles 90015

  5    Search Finance          4.1/same              15
       Group (7)               3.4/same      Southern California
       915 Wilshire                                  249
       Blvd., Suite 940
       Los Angeles 90017

  6    Search Associates       3.9/same              22
       Inc. (5)                3.7/same           national
       5900 Sepulveda                                201
       Blvd., Suite 104
       Sherman Oaks 91411

  7    Technical               3.2/same              13
       Connections             2.8/same          California
       Inc. (10)                                     WND
       11400 Olympic
       Blvd., Suite 700
       Los Angeles 90064

  8    Curphey & Malkin         3/same                6
       Associates               3/same            national
       Inc. (8)                                      60
       13011 W.
       Washington Blvd.
       Los Angeles 90066

  9    Culvercareers (12)       2.8/14               42
       970 W. 190th            2.3/12.8           national
       St., Suite 970                                700
       Torrance 90502

 10    Esquire Inc. (13)       2.3/same               6
       21241 Ventura Blvd.     2.1/same           national
       Los Angeles 91364                             34

 11    DNA Search               2/same               15
       Inc. (3)                4.1/same           national
       16133 Ventura                                 200
       Blvd., Suite 805
       Encino 91436

 12    Solution Marketing      1.5/same               5
       173 S. Poinsettia       0.8/same         national (6)
       Place                                         37
       Los Angeles 90036

 13    Valoure Inc.            1.2/same               5
       17337 Ventura           0.1/same           national
       Blvd., Suite 304                              200
       Encino 91316

 14    Lucas Group             0.8/36.9               5
       9100 Wilshire           0.6/28.8         international
       Blvd., Suite                                  WND
       312 East Tower
       Beverly Hills
       90212

 15    Ryan Miller &           0.8/same              11
       Associates (11)           NA/NA       Southern California
       4601 Wilshire                                 WND
       Blvd., Suite 225
       Los Angeles 90010

Rank   Firm (Ranking          Annual
       in 2004)               Salary       Industries in Which
       * name                * minimum    Executives Are Placed
       * address             * maximum

  1    Sprague &              $50,000     accounting, finance,
       Associates (2)        $250,000         audit, tax and
       15233 Ventura                         Sarbanes-Oxley
       Blvd., Suite 1020                    in all industries
       Sherman Oaks 91403

  2    Scott-Thaler           40,000        fashion, apparel,
       Associates            250,000+    footwear, accessories,
       Agency Inc. (1)                     retail, home, gifts,
       110 E. Ninth                        toys, luxury goods,
       St., Suite C277                        distribution,
       Los Angeles 90079                     transportation,
                                           logistics, consumer
                                                 products

  3    Century Group (4)      60,000       accounting, finance,
       9800 La Cienega        250,000           tax, audit
       Blvd., Suite 904
       Inglewood 90301

  4    Carson-Thomas          24,000        all industries in
       Personnel (6)         no limit       administrative and
       315 W. Ninth                            professional
       St., Suite 1000                         occupations
       Los Angeles 90015

  5    Search Finance         38,000       finance, accounting,
       Group (7)              275,000          mergers and
       915 Wilshire                           acquisitions,
       Blvd., Suite 940                    strategic planning,
       Los Angeles 90017                   internal audit, tax,
                                             Sarbanes-Oxley
                                            in all industries

  6    Search Associates      48,000           information
       Inc. (5)               245,000        technology, real
       5900 Sepulveda                       estate, insurance,
       Blvd., Suite 104                    accounting, finance,
       Sherman Oaks 91411                architects, pharmacists,
                                            civil engineering,
                                             mortgage banking

  7    Technical              45,000           information
       Connections            250,000      technology, software
       Inc. (10)                          development, Internet
       11400 Olympic
       Blvd., Suite 700
       Los Angeles 90064

  8    Curphey & Malkin       85,000            high level
       Associates             250,000           management
       Inc. (8)                             executives, sales
       13011 W.                              representatives,
       Washington Blvd.                   pre-sales, marketing,
       Los Angeles 90066                       product and
                                          professional services

  9    Culvercareers (12)     30,000          sales, sales
       970 W. 190th           200,000          management,
       St., Suite 970                        pharmaceutical,
                                               industrial,
       Torrance 90502                       software, medical,
                                            business services,
                                           technology services,
                                          advertising, marketing

 10    Esquire Inc. (13)      150,000       senior partners at
       21241 Ventura Blvd.   1,800,000       law firms, firm
       Los Angeles 91364                    mergers, practice
                                           group acquisitions,
                                             general counsel

 11    DNA Search             50,000       health care, skilled
       Inc. (3)               200,000        nursing, medical
       16133 Ventura                      device, pharmaceutical
       Blvd., Suite 805
       Encino 91436

 12    Solution Marketing     45,000        classical packaged
       173 S. Poinsettia      250,000         goods, health
       Place                                   and beauty,
       Los Angeles 90036                  food, beverage, food
                                          service, agriculture,
                                            video/games, toys

 13    Valoure Inc.           75,000       accounting, finance,
       17337 Ventura          250,000     management consulting,
       Blvd., Suite 304                       audit and tax
       Encino 91316                           professionals,
                                              Sarbanes-Oxley
                                               consultants

 14    Lucas Group            75,000          real estate,
       9100 Wilshire          200,000      accounting, finance,
       Blvd., Suite                        legal, advertising,
       312 East Tower                      marketing, consumer
       Beverly Hills                     products, construction,
       90212                                 human resources,
                                            insurance, medical

 15    Ryan Miller &          60,000     finance, entertainment,
       Associates (11)        100,000          real estate,
       4601 Wilshire                          manufacturing
       Blvd., Suite 225
       Los Angeles 90010

Rank   Firm (Ranking             Other            Marketing
       in 2004)              * headquarters        Contact
       * name                  * offices
       * address             (L.A. County/
                              companywide)
                             * year founded

  1    Sprague &              Sherman Oaks       Tom Sprague
       Associates (2)            2/same
       15233 Ventura              1996
       Blvd., Suite 1020
       Sherman Oaks 91403

  2    Scott-Thaler           Los Angeles        Mary Oliva
       Associates                1/same          Suares (4)
       Agency Inc. (1)            1980
       110 E. Ninth
       St., Suite C277
       Los Angeles 90079

  3    Century Group (4)       Inglewood        Stacey Monyei
       9800 La Cienega            2/3
       Blvd., Suite 904           1989
       Inglewood 90301

  4    Carson-Thomas          Los Angeles       Frank Thomas
       Personnel (6)             2/same
       315 W. Ninth               1973
       St., Suite 1000
       Los Angeles 90015

  5    Search Finance         Los Angeles       Jaime Hurtado
       Group (7)                 1/same
       915 Wilshire               2001
       Blvd., Suite 940
       Los Angeles 90017

  6    Search Associates      Sherman Oaks      Robert Murphy
       Inc. (5)                  1/same
       5900 Sepulveda             1982
       Blvd., Suite 104
       Sherman Oaks 91411

  7    Technical              Los Angeles      Rebecca Bailey
       Connections               2/same
       Inc. (10)                  1984
       11400 Olympic
       Blvd., Suite 700
       Los Angeles 90064

  8    Curphey & Malkin       Los Angeles       Nancy Malkin
       Associates                1/same
       Inc. (8)                   1975
       13011 W.
       Washington Blvd.
       Los Angeles 90066

  9    Culvercareers (12)      San Diego         Anna Powell
       970 W. 190th               5/25
       St., Suite 970             1979
       Torrance 90502

 10    Esquire Inc. (13)      Los Angeles        Sandford A.
       21241 Ventura Blvd.       1/same           Lechtick
       Los Angeles 91364          1991

 11    DNA Search                Encino         Damon Jordan
       Inc. (3)                  1/same
       16133 Ventura              1991
       Blvd., Suite 805
       Encino 91436

 12    Solution Marketing     Los Angeles      Jennifer Rosky
       173 S. Poinsettia         1/same
       Place                      1995
       Los Angeles 90036

 13    Valoure Inc.              Encino        Inesio Royball
       17337 Ventura             1/same
       Blvd., Suite 304           2002
       Encino 91316

 14    Lucas Group              Atlanta          Beth Doling
       9100 Wilshire              1/15
       Blvd., Suite               1970
       312 East Tower
       Beverly Hills
       90212

 15    Ryan Miller &          Los Angeles     Michael O'Connell
       Associates (11)           2/same
       4601 Wilshire              1976
       Blvd., Suite 225
       Los Angeles 90010

Rank   Firm (Ranking         Top Local Executive
       in 2004)              * name
       * name                * title
       * address             * phone

  1    Sprague &             Tom Sprague
       Associates (2)        partner
       15233 Ventura         [phone]
       Blvd., Suite 1020
       Sherman Oaks 91403

  2    Scott-Thaler          Brian D. Thaler
       Associates            president
       Agency Inc. (1)       [phone]
       110 E. Ninth
       St., Suite C277
       Los Angeles 90079

  3    Century Group (4)     Ron Proul
       9800 La Cienega       president, coo
       Blvd., Suite 904      [phone]
       Inglewood 90301

  4    Carson-Thomas         Frank Thomas
       Personnel (6)         partner
       315 W. Ninth          [phone]
       St., Suite 1000
       Los Angeles 90015

  5    Search Finance        Denise Schmitz
       Group (7)             managing partner
       915 Wilshire          [phone]
       Blvd., Suite 940
       Los Angeles 90017

  6    Search Associates     L. Woodward/B. Sharf
       Inc. (5)              co-presidents
       5900 Sepulveda        [phone]
       Blvd., Suite 104
       Sherman Oaks 91411

  7    Technical             Helen MacKinnon
       Connections           president
       Inc. (10)             [phone]
       11400 Olympic
       Blvd., Suite 700
       Los Angeles 90064

  8    Curphey & Malkin      Nancy Malkin
       Associates            cfo
       Inc. (8)              [phone]
       13011 W.
       Washington Blvd.
       Los Angeles 90066

  9    Culvercareers (12)    Catherine Devereux
       970 W. 190th          regional vice president
       St., Suite 970        [phone]
       Torrance 90502

 10    Esquire Inc. (13)     Sandford A. Lechtick
       21241 Ventura Blvd.   president
       Los Angeles 91364     [phone]

 11    DNA Search            Dan Levy
       Inc. (3)              ceo
       16133 Ventura         [phone]
       Blvd., Suite 805
       Encino 91436

 12    Solution Marketing    Jennifer Rosky
       173 S. Poinsettia     principal
       Place                 [phone]
       Los Angeles 90036

 13    Valoure Inc.          Kirk Hoyle
       17337 Ventura         president
       Blvd., Suite 304      [phone]
       Encino 91316

 14    Lucas Group           Rob Wiener
       9100 Wilshire         managing partner
       Blvd., Suite          [phone]
       312 East Tower
       Beverly Hills
       90212

 15    Ryan Miller &         Lee Ryan
       Associates (11)       partner
       4601 Wilshire         [phone]
       Blvd., Suite 225
       Los Angeles 90010

NA--Not Available

WND--Would not disclose

(1) In millions, from contingency search operations.

(2) In L.A. County in 2004.

(3) Approximate numbers.

(4) General manager.

(5) Western U.S.

Note: Firms are ranked by 2004 and 2003 L.A. County revenues,
respectively. Numbers that appear to be tied have been rounded.
Independent Resource Systems, No. 9 last year, declined to
participate.

To the best of our knowledge, this information is accurate as of
press time. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy
and thoroughness of the list, omissions and typographical errors
sometimes occur. Please send corrections or additions on company
letterhead to the Research Department, Los Angeles Business Journal,
5700 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 170, Los Angeles 90036. (c) 2004 Los
Angeles Business Journal. This list may not be reprinted in whole
or in part without prior written permission from the editor.
Reprints are available from Wright's Reprints, [phone]

Researched by David Nusbaum