A retained, highly specialized search firm focusing on the Educational Sector

"I had the pleasure of working with Doug Cooney and Deerfield Associates on our recent search for a Chief Financial Officer. From the outset, Doug impressed me with his thoughtful listening, insightful questions, and genuine interest in understanding the specific needs of our school. He approached the search with a clear commitment to finding the right match and worked diligently to cultivate a strong, diverse pool of candidates. The first-round group was appropriately sized and impressively qualified—each candidate was a serious contender. The reference checking conducted by Doug and his colleagues was the most thorough I’ve seen. Their reports gave us a deep, nuanced understanding of each candidate before they even stepped on campus. Doug was an exceptional partner throughout the process. He remained in close communication with both our team and the candidates, and every finalist commented on how positive their experience was working with him. His accessibility, responsiveness, and professionalism were unmatched. I am absolutely thrilled with the outcome of the search and grateful for Doug’s expert guidance and coaching along the way. I would enthusiastically recommend Doug and Deerfield Associates to any school seeking a thoughtful, well-executed, and mission-aligned search process."

"I was very pleased that we were able to hire Jane Clapp from WPI as our new CFO. Doug and his team listened to our needs and presented a slate of very fine candidates for our review in a timely fashion on our schedule and made the whole process very smooth. Doug is a very experienced recruiter and demonstrated once again his ability to recruit, assess and present a highly qualified candidate pool. The staff at Deerfield Associates were very professional and pleasant to work with. It was a great experience from start to finish. Thanks to Doug and his team."

"I first met Doug in 2011 at the Mayflower Hotel mezzanine for coffee. It was a get-to-know-you conversation, and we have remained in touch ever since. Somehow in that 30-minute or so conversation, Doug got me. He picked up on my approach, my style, my strengths and I suspect areas for growth as an advancement professional. And over time, he would check in and on occasion share a job with me that he thought I might be interested in. When the Grace Church School Director of Advancement role, became available, and we worked together, I was thrilled. Because I was sure, that Doug could accurately represent me as a candidate, genuinely understand why I wanted the role, and understand why I could be a good fit for the School. Doug has loads of experience, and a vast network, but he also has heart and a deep curiosity that keeps him at the top of the field."

"Doug Cooney and his team were wonderful partners in placing a new Director of Leadership Gifts and several Leadership Gift Officers at Bates. Doug offered thoughtful guidance about the marketplace and in crafting job descriptions, while recruiting a strong and diverse pool of candidates. The reference checks were exceptional, gave detailed insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each applicant, and what they would bring in furthering the mission of the college. Doug worked tirelessly in each step of the process to help us hire a first rate team and we are thrilled with the results. Doug was in constant communication, and his experience, combined with exceptional customer service and personal attention, is at the heart of his firm and his success. Thank you Doug!"

"Doug Cooney and his team were excellent partners in our Chief Financial Officer search and placement at The Baldwin School. Doug personally visited our school spending a full-day meeting with members of the school community, including Trustees, to learn about our mission, culture and people. They diligently and expertly curated a strong and diverse candidate pool for our team to interview and worked closely with candidates throughout the search process to ensure they were an excellent fit for this position and our school. Their reference checks and interview notes were detailed and thorough and gave our committee strong insight into the strengths and challenges each candidate would bring to the role. The high quality of Doug's work and his timely communication were greatly appreciated along the way. We are thrilled with the outcome of our search and our new Chief Financial Officer!"

"In the past several years, we have had the privilege of partnering with Doug Cooney and his talented colleagues at Deerfield Associates on three searches (Director of Institutional Advancement 2019, Director of Major Gifts 2022 and Chief Communications Officer 2024). We are a repeat client because of DA’s exceptional service, support, and results. While each search presented unique challenges, Doug always presented us with outstanding candidates, which is no small feat in this highly competitive environment. From crafting the position description and providing comprehensive vetting of prospective candidates all the way to helping onboard the successful finalist, Doug was with us every step of the way. His relentless focus and consistent communication are a potent combination and are of great value to the client and the candidates."

"Doug and his talented team at Deerfield Associates did an outstanding job managing our recent search for an Associate Vice President of Development at Marist College. They took the time and care to get to know Marist and understand the dynamics of our Advancement organization. I was especially impressed with the extensive personal outreach they extended to hundreds of prospective candidates from their deep national network. Their proactive, targeted efforts helped build an exceptionally strong applicant pool for this important leadership role that ultimately led to the hiring of an ideal candidate who is now on board and already making a meaningful impact. Doug’s deep experience and highly tailored approach was a perfect fit for Marist. I sincerely hope that we’ll have an opportunity to collaborate again on future searches."

"Doug, I want to thank you and your team for your tremendously thorough and "high touch" approach in working with Williston for our successful CFO search. True to form, as you have been in past searches for the school, your hands-on approach and thoughtful give-and-take with the stakeholders has resulted in a terrific outcome and match for Williston. The information provided at each step of the process was timely and relevant, and you showed your experience and reach in the multitude of candidates that you provided. Well done!"