The Team

Who We Are

Tom Volick

Founder & CEO

With over four decades of expertise in staffing and recruitment, Tom Volick has been a trailblazer in building high-performing engineering and technology teams since 1978. His extensive experience spans industries, from engineering and IT to executive-level retained searches, making him a trusted leader in technical recruitment.

Tom began his career as a corporate recruiter for one of Houston’s largest engineering and construction firms. During the oil boom of the early 1980s, he transitioned to agency recruitment, specializing in placing chemical and petroleum engineers. By 1983, he expanded his focus to IT professionals and soon after moved into executive-level retained search, partnering with companies across the United States to identify top talent.

Career highlights include:

Start-Up Expertise: Co-founded NHRG in 1993 and has since led recruitment efforts for numerous successful Austin-based start-ups, including Tivoli, Pervasive, Agere, Vignette, Waveset Technologies, SailPoint, Baxter Planning Systems, Servigistics, and NextGen HIS.
ERP Recruitment Leadership: Served as Senior ERP Staffing Consultant for Ernst & Young Management Consulting in Indianapolis, where he partnered with senior managers to recruit top-tier SAP professionals for Eli Lilly & Company, supporting one of the largest SAP implementations in the industry.
Top Vendor Achievement: Directed NHRG’s success at MCI/WorldCom in Tulsa, Oklahoma, becoming their top-performing vendor for three consecutive years. He designed and implemented a streamlined recruiting and screening process that enabled the company to meet its ambitious goal of hiring 300 IT professionals for 50 managers.
Technical Team Development: Led recruitment efforts for AB Watley, assembling their development team responsible for creating web-enabled day trading systems. With an impressive interview-to-hire ratio of 2:1 and a 90% retention rate, this project exemplified Tom’s commitment to quality hiring practices.
Operational Excellence: Worked with HR and engineering departments to realign internal salary structures, ensuring organizations remain competitive when integrating new technology professionals into their teams.

Tom’s technical expertise, leadership, and commitment to client success have been instrumental in building dynamic teams and delivering exceptional recruitment outcomes. His dedication to fostering long-term relationships and aligning hiring strategies with business goals has made him a cornerstone of NHRG’s success.

Marc Byers

Vice President of Technical Services & Recruiting

Marc Byers brings over 30 years of expertise in technical recruitment and talent management to his role as Senior Vice President of Technical Services and Recruiting. A graduate of the University of Texas with a degree in Management Information Systems, Marc joined NHRG in 1995 as a Systems Administrator and research assistant. He quickly advanced to recruiter in 1996, became Senior Recruiting Manager in 1999, and was appointed Director of Technical Services and Recruiting in 2018.

Marc’s technical background has been pivotal to his success, particularly in managing recruitment for retained assignments with e-commerce start-ups and other technology-driven projects. Known as NHRG’s software personnel expert, Marc excels at identifying exceptional candidates and mentoring new recruiters in the art of technical recruiting.

Career highlights include:

Strategic Leadership: An accomplished recruitment leader, Marc has developed and implemented innovative talent acquisition strategies that ensure alignment with client budgets and timelines.
Industry Expertise: Extensive experience recruiting for state and local government entities, public utilities, and high-tech sectors, supporting clients such as Austin Energy, ERCOT, the State of Texas, and San Antonio Water Systems.
Startup Expertise: Experience recruiting for high-tech startups, including those specializing in Artificial Intelligence-related Conversational AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and Machine Learning.
Client Partnership: Builds strong, collaborative relationships with clients, working to understand their business challenges, align hiring strategies with organizational goals, and stay ahead of industry trends.
Operational Excellence: Conducts cost analysis and optimizes hiring processes for clients, improving efficiency and ensuring successful project outcomes.
Team Development: Mentors and trains recruitment teams, fostering a culture of excellence and ensuring consistent delivery of top-tier talent for technical roles.

As a contract liaison, Marc manages negotiations, resume submissions, and candidate onboarding with precision and professionalism, contributing to NHRG’s reputation for excellence in technical staffing. His project-driven organizational approach and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction have established him as a key driver of NHRG’s success.

Alison DeStefano

Sr. Technical Recruiter

Alison DeStefano has been an integral part of NHRG’s journey since the late 1990s, blending a deep understanding of talent acquisition with a passion for connecting people to opportunity. With decades of experience and a robust educational foundation—a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Concordia University and an Associate’s degree in Business—Alison brings a unique blend of technical expertise and human insight to every client and candidate interaction.

Alison’s career began in an administrative support role, evolving into Recruiting Coordinator and eventually Technical Recruiter as she took on broader leadership responsibilities. Over the years, she has cultivated deep expertise in permanent placement, contract recruiting, and workforce solutions, adapting to the ever-changing demands of the technology and engineering sectors.

Her track record includes spearheading statewide recruitment efforts for the State of Texas and serving as the lead onsite recruiter for a major software company in the healthcare sector. This experience honed her ability to identify and secure top-tier talent across a wide range of industries and specialties, making her a sought-after partner for both candidates and clients.

Today, Alison continues to drive NHRG’s mission as a Senior Technical Recruiter—sourcing highly skilled professionals in technology and engineering and playing a key role in client development and marketing strategies. With a steadfast commitment to fostering connections and building innovative teams, Alison ensures that every placement supports individual growth and organizational success.

Travis Cohee

Controller & Client/Consultant Liason

With a strong foundation in corporate finance and accounting, Travis Cohee has built a career that blends analytical expertise with a deep passion for people. While numbers and financial reporting have been a cornerstone of his work, his true fulfillment comes from fostering meaningful connections—making him an ideal fit for his dual role as Controller & Client/Consultant Liaison at NHRG.

At NHRG, Travis oversees all financial operations, including payroll, accounts receivable, and financial reporting, ensuring the company’s fiscal health and operational efficiency. He also manages the company’s health benefits administration, ensuring that employees and contractors receive the support they need. Beyond finance, Travis is dedicated to building relationships with employees, contractors, and clients, acting as a bridge between financial strategy and the human element of the business.

Travis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Management from St. Edward’s University. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, reading, serving his church, and mentoring men. A lifelong learner and deep thinker, he has a passion for music, recording, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions on philosophy, religion, metaphysics, and existential topics.

At his core, Travis is driven by a commitment to integrity, meaningful connections, and creating a positive impact both professionally and personally.

Candice Higginbotham

Office Manager

Candice Higginbotham is the backbone of NHRG’s daily operations, ensuring that the office runs smoothly, client relationships are strong, and contractors are fully supported. With a proactive mindset and attention to detail, Candice coordinates key processes to keep NHRG at the forefront of connecting top talent with the right opportunities.

Candice manages and organizes the Outlook calendar, oversees job orders, and handles the full submission process—preparing everything from documentation and resumes to final packages for State of Texas and other contracts. She maintains a comprehensive database of current and potential clients, along with targeted marketing accounts, ensuring accurate and accessible information at every step.

A vital link between NHRG and its contractors, Candice tracks security clearances and vacation schedules to ensure compliance and seamless transitions. She posts new job opportunities on the company website and popular platforms like Monster and Dice, sends out mass email updates, and keeps weekly and daily reports up to date for the team. She also conducts reference checks and employment verifications, sets up interviews, and prepares detailed RFQ responses for new business pursuits.

By maintaining these critical processes and fostering positive relationships, Candice ensures that NHRG’s mission of delivering exceptional staffing solutions continues to grow and thrive.