Unmatched Experience and Synergy
The key to our longevity and success has been this dedicated team approach and each member is involved in the successful completion of every search. Like any winning team, Pathfinders works together to provide “a whole”, much greater than the “sum of the parts”. Each member brings unique skills and provides cohesive value to the projects to which we’re engaged. Our firm is just the right size to make every client and candidate a priority. Integrity and a commitment to excellence drives everything we do.
After holding high-level positions in the executive search industry for most of his career, Stuart Silbar started recruiting surgery managers, more than 40 years ago, and pioneered the idea of specialty niche recruiting. Back then, recruiters worked as industry specialists, forced to maintain a birds eye view of any discipline. Stuart understood the complexity and uniqueness of Surgical Services and was a leader in the transformation of the Executive Search industry, as a whole, to a more specialized business model.
At Pathfinders, we believe the keys to our longevity and success have been our dedicated team approach to each search assignment, our personal commitment to excellence, and our unparalleled ability to provide a “one-stop resource” for our client hospitals and candidates.
Nationwide Network of Affiliates
Over the years we at Pathfinders have developed trusted relationships with a number of other top recruiters across the country. We refer business to them and they to us, depending on our given specialties. This increases the number of opportunities for our candidates and gives our client hospitals the most comprehensive view of the talent available
ADAM SILBAR
FOUNDER & GENERAL MANAGER
(904) 4-PERIOP-(737467) – Email
Adam Silbar, an expert in the field of Perioperative Executive Recruitment, is the Founder and General Manager of Pathfinders Health Search. Since 1988, Adam has worked closely with clients and candidates to make long lasting, mutually beneficial relationships.
He started Pathfinders with his Father, Stuart Silbar. Together, they built the company into the leading recruitment firm placing Senior Nurse Management for Perioperative Services. Today, Pathfinders has placed leaders in top positions at world renowned institutions such as Stanford Medical Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, Scripps Institute, Johns Hopkins, Cleveland Clinic, Cedars-Sinai, Rush Medical Center, Vanderbilt and The Methodist Hospitals of Houston. Adam married his High School sweetheart Debra in 1988. They have two boys.
Adam Silbar
Founder and General Manager
January 2, 2021
KAROLE YBALLE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CLIENT & TALENT RELATIONS
(800) 728-9912 – Email
Karole Yballe has been an integral member of the Pathfinders team since 2007. Born and raised in the Philippines by a family of nurses, Karole was trained as a chef. When she arrived in the US she decided to put her strong work ethic and impressive people skills to work in the field of executive recruitment. To this day, the staff is excited whenever she brings in one of her signature dishes from her home country. Karole has one son.
Karole Yballe
Director of Research Services
January 5, 2020
KIM SILBAR
Executive Director of Recruiting Operations
(800) 728-9912 – Email
The Family Business at Pathfinders just got bigger. Kim is the Daughter-in-Law of Stuart Silbar and Brother-in-Law of Adam, our Founders. She's been in the family for 40 years but just joined Pathfinders Health Search in January 2023.
Originally from Kentucky, Kim received her BA in Communications from the University of Kentucky and her career focused on Marketing and Sales, becoming Vice President of Media Services at an advertising agency and Director of Marketing at a third-party inspection service for new housing construction. Most recently, she served as Executive Vice President and CMO for another recruiting firm focused in the Restoration Industry.
Kim is married to Dr. Ray Silbar and has two amazing sons. She enjoys a Florida lifestyle where you may often find her watching beautiful sunsets over the St. Johns River.
Kim Silbar
Executive Search Consultant
June 22, 2019
Chris Gemora
DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH & RELATIONSHIPS
(800) 728-9912 – Email
Chris Gemora brings years of experience in the healthcare industry. As an Executive Recruiter, he specializes in building relationships of trust with candidates that help to build long lasting careers.
Prior to joining the Pathfinders team, Chris was Marketing Manager for Creative Home Care, a leader in the home healthcare industry.
Born in the Philippines, Chris came to California at the age of four. He traveled between the US and Asia for his scholastic career, graduating with a BA in communication from Platt College.
Chris is an accomplished guitarist and produces music and films. He is married and the father of two boys.
Chris Gemora
Executive Recruiter, Manager of Research and Talent
February 10, 2019
LAUREN ZUMMO
EXECUTIVE SEARCH CONSULTANT
(800) 728-9912 – Email
Lauren Baird Zummo joined Pathfinders Health Search in 2010. Prior to joining Pathfinders, Lauren was a client specialist for 4 years with Western Resources Title Company.
With a background in customer service, combined with her ability to connect and relate with people of all walks of life, Lauren strives to create and foster relationships with candidates as well as hiring authorities, with the ultimate goal of bringing the two together for a perfect and lasting match.
Lauren graduated from UC Riverside with a Bachelors of Arts degree in human development with an emphasis in socio-cultural contexts. She is married to Frank Zummo, a professional drummer. She has two sons.
Lauren Zummo
Director of Client and Talent
January 3, 2018
DEBRA SILBAR
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA
(800) 728-9912 – Email
Debra Silbar is Director of Social Media for Pathfinders Health Search. Prior to bringing her marketing expertise to Pathfinders, Debra was Vice President and Creative Director of an advertising agency, Wiley and Associates. Debra spent 12 years working with captious clients on their brand development campaigns. Clients included Hyundai Motor America, Sizzler, LA Gear, Healthtex, Boys & Girls Club of Los Angeles, and commercial real-estate developer Trizec-Hahn.
Debra Silbar
Director of Social Media
January 7, 2017
SEAN FAY CULLEN
EXECUTIVE RECRUITER & TALENT SCOUT
(800) 728-9912 – Email
Sean joined Pathfinders in 2012 as an Executive Recruiter. Sean works with Candidates to help them achieve their goals and dreams. He has an uncanny knack for finding just the right job for someone. Sean works as an executive talent scout and helps candidates navigate their way to attaining their maximum career potential.
Sean received his Bachelor of Music from California State University Northridge in 2008. He worked as tour manager for the Yuval Ron Ensemble and composed music for his own albums as well as TV shows. In his free time Sean plays bass and sings in the Irish band Craicmore. He has two boys.
Sean Fay Cullen
Executive Recruiter/ Relationships Manager/Talent Scout
January 6, 2015
DARLENE MELLEIN
EXECUTIVE RECRUITER
(800) 728-9912 – Email
Darlene Mellein joined Pathfinders ten years ago after fifteen years of sole ownership of a healthcare search firm where she enjoyed a great reciprocal relationship with Adam Silbar and his team.
She came to recruiting after earning a Master’s Degree at UCLA and an earlier career as an account executive for Pitney Bowes and Motorola. She is also an artist who shows her work in various galleries and a writer who has had humorous articles published. She has two daughters, nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Darlene Mellein
Executive Recruiter
January 4, 2015
STUART SILBAR
HEADHUNTER EMERITUS
Stuart Silbar (Adam's Dad) pioneered Perioperative Leadership Recruiting more than 50 years ago. Back then, very few executive recruiters specialized in such a finite niche and most hospitals didn’t even know what a "Headhunter" was. It wasn't long before Stuart became the most successful placer of Directors of Surgical Services in the US and a national speaker on niche recruiting. He passed away in 2017.
Stuart Silbar
Head Hunter Ameritus
May 6, 2012
