At The Korte Company, hiring is about more than just filling a position. It’s finding the best people for the job and the team.
They need more than the right skills. They should align with our values, culture and commitment to excellence. When we Hire Smart, we find the people who naturally excel at their roles, because it fits their capabilities, passions and personalities.
That’s what our “Hire Smart” philosophy is all about. And no one exemplifies it more than Elizabeth Vatole, the woman who reimagined our corporate recruiter position.
What it takes and what’s at stake
Every company’s success depends on its people.
Elizabeth understands these stakes better than anyone. She knows that retention is key and that investing in the right people from the outset pays off in the long run.
The wrong hire can lead to lost time, decreased productivity, and ultimately, a missed opportunity for the company and the employee.
By choosing skilled candidates who fit our values and culture, Elizabeth helps us build a capable team that will help The Korte Company succeed for years to come.
The path to Korte: A testimony to the philosophy
Elizabeth joined The Korte Company two years ago looking for alignment — on values, skills and aspirations.
Originally from Alton, Illinois, she graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and went on the lookout for a job where she could grow, both personally and professionally.
During a public relations internship, she was introduced to recruitment marketing, learning how to attract and engage top talent. And that made her a perfect fit for a new position at The Korte Company — corporate recruiter.
She came to us from a referral through the Hire Smart program, which emphasizes the importance of personal and professional connections in identifying potential team members.
This referral wasn’t just a lucky break. It was a testament to the strength of our philosophy.
Elizabeth was looking for a place where she could expand her horizons, contribute meaningfully, and feel like part of a family.
Korte offered just that in a newly created role that not only met her professional aspirations but also aligned with her values of continuous growth and community.
“I was looking for my full-time opportunity,” she said. “And it just so happened that someone reached out to me from The Korte Company and said, ‘Hey, I know you’re looking for a role. This role seems like what you’re looking for. Give it a try.’ There was a lot of room to grow and room to make the role my own. So, they wanted to hear that I had those ambitions before fully letting me onto the team. And they have exceeded my expectations in that.”
The role of a corporate recruiter: Living the Hire Smart philosophy
Elizabeth manages recruitment across our nationwide offices out of Highland. But her job goes far beyond posting job descriptions and conducting interviews. She finds the perfect match between the company’s needs and the candidate’s capabilities, so every new hire is set up for success from day one.
Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of understanding not just the “briefcase” (the skills and experience a candidate brings) but also the “head” and “heart.”
She carefully assesses candidates’ approaches to work — whether they’re more collaborative or independent, for example. She also considers their motivations, what drives them personally and professionally.
“I’m trying to find someone who’s willing to roll their sleeves up and start putting in work on the first day — that hardworking, determined commitment,” she said. “That is really hard to just unlock in an interview. And so sometimes, you’ll see it through some people, but some people you have to work with a little longer before it shines through.”
This holistic approach ensures new hires can perform their duties while naturally aligning with our company culture and values. So, everyone can feel like they have a place in The Korte Company family.
“I guess everyone is different, but there’s nothing more I could ask for than the opportunity to continue growing, trying new things and then have a sense of family at work,” she said.
Elizabeth also plays a crucial role in introducing new employees to Korte’s core values: ownership, trust, ambition, commitment and knowledge. These aren’t just words on a wall. They are principles that guide every aspect of our work.
From the moment a new hire steps through our doors, Elizabeth ensures they feel welcomed and valued. “We try our hardest during that first day to do as many meet and greets as possible,” she said. “Because the sooner we start communicating, the sooner we can get to know each other.”
The family we build together
The Korte Company takes pride in creating a sense of community, even family. Maybe that’s partially because a good amount of our people grew up nearby. And we are quick to bring new folks into the fold and make them feel like one of our own.
Like any family, we support each other, celebrate each other’s successes and help each other through challenges. This sense of belonging is a big part of why people love working at Korte, and it’s something that Elizabeth helps foster every day.
“That is one of the first things I saw when I came into the company and I recognized it, I believe, within 30 to 60 days,” Elizabeth said. “And I was like, I want to be that person. I want to be the one that knows everyone’s family, who’s having a baby, who just got married, congratulations. It’s one of those things where once you see it, you don’t want to lose it, because it’s really hard to find in a workplace.”
From sending a Korte onesie to new parents to simply checking in on how someone’s doing, Elizabeth and the rest of our team work hard to ensure that everyone feels supported, both professionally and personally.
This commitment to each other is what makes The Korte Company such a special place to work and why so many of our team members choose to build their careers with us.
A commitment to continuous growth
One of the most significant lessons Elizabeth has learned at Korte is the importance of continuous growth — both for herself and for the company.
She’s not just filling positions. Elizabeth shapes the future of Korte by bringing in people who are eager to learn, grow and contribute to our success.
Elizabeth herself is a testament to this philosophy.
Since joining Korte, she’s taken on new challenges, expanded her role, and contributed to the development of our recruitment processes.
For example, she’s introduced creative approaches to talent acquisition, like building new relationships with colleges producing tomorrow’s leading builders.
“By collaborating closely with hiring managers, I gain a deep understanding of each departments unique needs,” she said. “This allows me to source candidates who not only possess the necessary technical skills but also align with The Korte Company’s values and vision.”
She increased collaboration with hiring managers across multiple departments to ensure job descriptions align with departmental needs, and they can find the right fit for each role. And she recognized the importance of a smooth onboarding process, working to improve the experience for new hires.
Her story is one of personal and professional growth — a story that is echoed in the experiences of many of our team members. She has shaped her own role at The Korte Company and helped shape the future of every new team member.
And the ongoing pursuit of improvement is a key part of being at The Korte Company.
“It has taught me that there is never a time in your life that growth should not be a priority,” she said. “That doesn’t stop once you’ve been in a position for 20 or 30 years. There’s always room to continue growing oneself.”
Hire Smart, build strong
Our Hire Smart philosophy helps us build a strong, cohesive team that takes pride in our values and commitments.
It all comes down to providing the best we can for every customer — no matter what we do, where we are or who it’s for.
Elizabeth Vatole is a shining example of this philosophy in action. Through her dedication, creativity and genuine care for people, she helps us build the kind of team that makes Korte not just a company, but a community.
