About Us

Linda O’Dea is the President of Prairie and has over 30 years of industry experience. Having started her career as a software developer, Linda moved into a management role and worked with outside agencies to assist her in engaging qualified technical staff. Her experiences working with these agencies prompted her to consider starting her own firm. She strongly felt that there was a place in the market for a company that is truly attentive to the needs of their clients and the goals of the technical professionals they hire. In 1997, Linda’s dream became a reality and Prairie was born. Linda’s vision for Prairie is to provide dependable, friendly, responsive recruiting services with unsurpassed ethical standards. Since 1997, Prairie has exceeded client expectations with the level of customer service and care given to each and every placement.

Brian O’Dea joined Prairie in 1998 with a background in sales.  He used that experience to perform both sales and recruiting functions.  As the company grew, his responsibilities shifted to focus more on account management.  Brian has a proven history of success and of driving business and operational initiatives.  Matching up a client’s needs with a professional’s skills and goals is as much an art as a science.  Brian and the entire Prairie team enjoy the sincere feeling of satisfaction when we are able to facilitate that ideal match.  Brian holds a Bachelor of Science, in Biology from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

Kaitlyn Nortz is a Business Development Manager at Prairie Consulting. She started off in the industry as an IT Recruiter and quickly transitioned into a role that focused on developing relationships with new clients. She enjoys learning how to solve client problems and building relationships. Outside of work you may catch her running along the lake shore or walking a six pound dog.

Holly Stowe is the Office Administrator at Prairie. She joined the team with 9 years of Payroll and Human Resources experience and enjoys the challenges that come with coordinating the various aspects of daily business operations. Holly likes to spend her time reading and visiting new places.

Susan Kouzmanoff is a Senior Technical Recruiter who has been with Prairie since 2005. Susan is passionate about recruiting and believes she is successful due to her ability to listen, learn, understand and realize the key qualities necessary to find the best talent to meet our clients’ needs. Susan is a Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) and has developed a vast network of highly skilled professionals over the years. She works with our clients to fill contract, contract to hire and direct placement needs. Susan’s mission is to continue her success as a top notch recruiter through her interest in assisting others in furthering their careers while being a true partner to our clients. She has also worked as an account manager where she has been responsible for being an advisor and educator for clients while helping them to successfully hire technology resources.

Kristin Ahern is a Senior Technical Recruiter with over 20 years of IT recruiting experience.  She is an effective problem solver with a strong work ethic and a passion for recruiting.  She creates relationships with other people that are generally long-term and built on mutual trust and respect. She enjoys helping people find their future careers within the IT industry.  She remains positive in everything she does and puts her best foot forward on representing clients, candidates and Prairie, Inc.  Outside of work she enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time with her family.

Sharadha Jayakumar is a Technical Recruiter with over 4 years of industry experience. Having started her career as an education counselor in India, she moved to US a few years back and put her experience to work in the IT industry. She believes in the principle of human touch as her most important soft skill, which drives her to build great professional relationships with candidates. Her focus on being accountable and giving attention to detail stands out in this fast paced recruiting world, which has found appreciation with clients and highly skilled resources alike.

Youstina Tanaghouis a Technical Recruiter with a passion to hire talents for the right fit and help clients fulfill their IT staffing needs. She likes building relationships with potential candidates and helping them achieve their dreams and ambitions. Outside of work, Youstina likes listening to Eastern Music and learning more about different cultures.