About Prevail
Trusted Staffing Partner
Meet Our Team
The Prevail Recruiting team is a group of some of the best recruiters in the nation that are dedicated to reshaping the recruiting landscape. Led by founders Ryan Berry and Max Hansen, our team combines cutting edge AI technology with the best recruiters in the industry to deliver outstanding results.
Ryan Berry
Founder & CEO
With over 15 years in the recruiting industry, Ryan Berry has built and led high-performing teams at some of the nation’s top staffing agencies. Known for his recruiter-first approach, Ryan founded Prevail Recruiting to create the agency he always wished existed — one that blends cutting-edge AI technology with industry-leading compensation, autonomy, and culture. His vision is simple: empower top recruiters, deliver unmatched results for clients, and redefine what success looks like in staffing.
Max Hansen
Co-Founder
Max Hansen brings more than two decades of experience in executive search and staffing, with a proven track record of helping organizations build high-impact leadership teams. As Founder & CEO of Y Scouts, Max has pioneered purpose-driven recruiting, aligning talent with mission and culture to drive long-term success. At Prevail Recruiting, he leverages his deep industry expertise, national network, and passion for innovation to help top performers reach new levels, and deliver lasting results for clients.
Chris De Cecco
VP of Recruiting
Considered one of the top thought leaders in the staffing and recruiting industry today, Chris has spent nearly three decades shaping the field through both sales and operational leadership. Since beginning his career in 1997 as a technical recruiter, he has guided top-performing divisions at some of the largest firms while mentoring leaders and helping architect some of the most profitable recruiting systems in practice today. In addition to his success as a producer and executive, Chris has worked at a technical level to innovate tools that continue to advance modern recruiting. His approach looks beyond metrics to the core of people, aligning talent with mission and culture to drive lasting success.
Jonathan Santo
Recruiting Manager
With more than a decade of experience in sales, client partnership, and executive search, Jonathan Santo is a trusted advisor helping organizations secure the leadership talent that drives growth. Often described as a “jack of all trades,” he has successfully placed leaders across insurance, accounting and finance, technology, manufacturing, and sales. This versatility allows him to adapt seamlessly to each client’s unique challenges while bringing industry-specific insight to every engagement. Recognized for building long-term, trust-based relationships, Jonathan approaches every search as a true partnership. By combining market knowledge with a consultative, results-driven style, he delivers solutions that strengthen teams, solve complex talent challenges, and create lasting organizational impact.
Evan Cornutt
Recruiting Manager
With seven years in recruiting, Evan has built a reputation for consistency, adaptability, and trusted partnerships across Technology, Legal, and Manufacturing. Known for his efficiency and attention to detail, he excels at understanding client needs, uncovering creative solutions, and making strategic matches others might miss. Evan has also led top-performing teams, becoming one of the youngest managers at a leading staffing firm—proof of his drive, leadership, and ability to deliver results in competitive markets.
Brandon Bays
Recruiting Manager
With a reputation as one of the strongest technical recruiters in the industry, Brandon brings grit, creativity, and consistency to every search he leads. Over the past 6 years, he has helped more than 40 startups build world-class teams leading to ~130 successful placements. Known for cultivating long-term partnerships with both clients and candidates, he is recognized as a trusted advisor who consistently delivers lasting impact.
Transform Your Hiring Process with Prevail Recruiting.
“Prevail Recruiting delivered exactly what we needed — top-tier talent, fast. Their blend of advanced AI tools and experienced recruiters makes the process seamless, efficient, and far more effective than traditional agencies.” - Brian Kay