Meet Our Leaders

Kathy Dawson, President & Founder
Dawson & Dawson National Search & Staffing

Kathy Dawson serves as Founder and CEO of Dawson & Dawson, Inc. She is the firm’s Nonprofit Liaison, and oversees the Executive & Retained Search, Temporary & Contract Staffing, and Business Development practices.

She is a CSP (Certified Staffing Professional) with almost 40 years of experience in the local and national market place. Prior to establishing Dawson & Dawson, Kathy served as a Regional Vice President for a National Search and Staffing firm. She managed 120 employees with revenues up to $120M while developing a forte in the search and staffing industry.

Kathy has had the pleasure of helping thousands of business owners hire the right employee at the right time. Her business approach involves a genuine understanding that every client is unique and every candidate is an individual. Her years of experience in making great connections consistently is a highly sought after skill.  Her clients get to enjoy quality matchmaking at the highest level. Her hands-on involvement and partnership approach makes her a talent broker and business partner expert. What sets her apart is an innate ability to develop long-term growth-oriented strategies to make lasting placements as though it is her own firm.  She is a well-known speaker and trainer in the industry, traveling locally and nationally.

She has established, long term relationships with prominent Human Resources groups such as SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management), NHRA (National Human Resources Association), and PIHRA (Professionals in Human Resources Association).

Her pay-it-forward philosophy drives her extracurricular activities. Kathy currently sits on the board at VLI (Veterans Legal Institute), an organization offering pro bono legal assistance to homeless, at risk, disabled and low income current and former service members. She has served as President for NAWBO-OC (National Association of Women Business Owners-Orange County), Forum Vice-Chair for WBEC-West (Women’s Business Enterprise Council) and President of WBI (Women’s Business Institute).   In 2013, Dawson & Dawson, Inc. became a certified WOB (Women Owned Business) through WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council) and continues to be awarded certification annually.  Kathy has helped other women business owners get their certifications through her involvement in the WBEC-West Ambassador program, giving her the opportunity to mentor other women businesses in their journey to success.

In 2013, Kathy deepened her professional network by becoming an active and respected member of the exclusive professional network, ProVisors (Professional Advisors).  In 2016, she was chosen to start and lead a group based in Orange County.

Kathy has completed prestigious business education programs such as Tuck University’s-WBENC Executive Program (2017), Tuck University’s-WBENC Strategic Growth Program (2016), UCLA’s (University of Los Angeles)  MDE (Management Development of Entrepreneurs) Program (2015), and Goldman Sachs 10K Small Businesses Program (2014).

She has a heart for non-profits such as Miracles for Kids, VLI (Veterans Legal Institute), Working Wardrobes, YES (Youth Employment Services), Girls Inc., and Second Harvest Food Bank.  5% of each employees work week is spent doing something for someone for no revenue. Giving from inside our firm sets the standard for a culture that cultivates Dawson’s vision of making the world a better place.

Larry Dawson, CFO

Larry Dawson serves as CFO of Dawson & Dawson.  Larry has over 25 years of experience in manufacturing management, as Plant Manager, Materials Manager, Purchasing Manager and Production Manager for multiple plant operations including medical manufacturing-plastic molding, heart valves, Cardio Vascular and Cardio Pulmonary. Overseeing up to 300 employees, Larry knows first-hand that efficient operations begin and end with effective human relations and proper staffing.  “The staff must perform and be dependable to ensure everyone’s mutual success.”

Larry served our country on-board an aircraft carrier as the Engineering Auxiliary Officer. He earned his Bachelor of Science from the Naval Academy. He continued to complete post graduate studies in the Nuclear Power program. His further education includes a MBA degree in Finance from Pepperdine University in Irvine California. Larry is also a Certified Staffing Consultant (CSC).

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