Our recruiters are committed to bringing an unmatched level of integrity to every search and placement. Please take some time to get to know our talented team.
Brian Binke
With a philosophy like that, it’s no wonder Brian is ranked among the top 1% of billing managers, by revenue, within MRINetwork. President/CEO and Co-Founder of the Birmingham Group – and a top producing manager in the construction recruiting industry – Brian opened the firm with his wife, Ellen in 1995 and, two years later, merged with the oldest MRINetwork office in existence.
Born and raised in Metro Detroit and now raising his family in the area, Brian attended Eastern Michigan University before becoming a sales manager for a large appliance store. His work ethic was clear and led to Brian becoming the youngest manager in the store’s history. He is avid boater who loves spending time on the water. More than that, he and Ellen love cheering on their son Jacob, a prolific high school athlete.
Ellen Binke
Before Ellen and husband Brian opened the Birmingham Group in 1995, she worked in purchasing at a Fortune 100 company. Those days behind her, Ellen now enjoys gardening and working out. She loves living on the lake and spending time outdoors and seeing her son Jacob, an all-season high school athlete, thrive.
Adam Cohen
Adam earned his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Michigan State University and held positions in Sales, Management and Marketing with a Fortune 500 company before realizing his true destiny in recruiting at the Birmingham Group.
Adam is married with two wonderful dog children and resides in the Metro Detroit area. He enjoys working out, tennis, ping-pong and running with his wife.
Jody Carr
Jody brings experience in both recruiting and sales to her role at the Birmingham Group. She a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Lakeland University but didn’t stop there. She is currently pursuing an MBA.
Jody is very athletic and loves sports, especially football. She married a Detroit Lions fan, but her first love will always be the Packers. She enjoys running, biking, hiking, golfing and scuba diving. Her most unique scuba experience was a liveaboard in the Maldives with her husband, living on a boat and scuba diving in the far reaches of the Indian Ocean.
Nikki Aluia
Prior to joining The Birmingham Group, Nikki held managerial positions in retail. She earned her bachelor’s degree in History from Oakland University with a minor in Marketing, and during her years in college, Nikki was a part of the Honors College and studied abroad at Oxford University in England.
John Gignac
Beyond his work, John enjoys spending time with his wife, golfing, wine tasting and rooting for Michigan State.
Courtney Clayton
As Director of Business Development at The Birmingham Group, Courtney partners with our construction recruiters to assist clients in building a dream team. Prior to joining TBG Courtney spent the last 9 years in student recruitment in for-profit higher education. The last 3 year Courtney was the Director of Admissions. She has a passion for changing lives whether it be through education or helping them advance their careers.
Courtney is a single mom to a beautiful daughter. When she isn’t working she spends her time with her daughter or traveling.
Nanci Fearon
Nanci has 2 children with her husband of 10 years. She enjoys taking her kids to museums, sports, and school activities. They often travel to England to visit her husband’s family.
Lisa Leffler
Before joining The Birmingham Group, Lisa spent five years as an Executive Administrative Assistant for one of Northern Michigan’s top real estate offices. She also worked ten years in various customer & product support positions for McKesson Corp in Michigan and Arizona.
Lisa enjoys being active with her family and friends, and is especially fond of the time they spend in Northern Michigan. Her passions outside the office include kickboxing classes and cheering on her Detroit Lions.
Marisa Lafata
Marisa comes to us from St. Clair Shores, Michigan. She loves spending time with her family and friends. Marisa enjoys music, dancing, cooking, and gardening. In the summer months you will find her playing beach volleyball or out on the water.