Meet Our Team
Chris Johnson
CEO and Founder
Chris Johnson is the CEO and Founder of Ascend Associates Inc. Chris graduated from Western Oregon University with a Bachelors in Organizational Psychology and immediately became an Executive Recruiter. He has dedicated the last 30 years to becoming the most trusted partner to the people in Electrical Distribution as well as a respected leader among his team. He is considered an Electrical and Industrial Wholesale expert and enjoys most the profound influence that his team and firm have on the great people that they serve.
As Vice President of Sales, Alex Garwood drives Ascend’s growth strategy and leads a high-performing team serving the electrical and industrial distribution industries. With a background in recruiting and business development, he focuses on speed, execution, and lasting client partnerships. Outside of work, Alex coaches high school lacrosse and lives in Phoenix with his wife, Megan, and their two daughters.
Alex Garwood
Vice President of Sales
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Jenna began her career as a U.S Navy Veteran. Now, at Ascend, she is a huge asset to everyone on the team. If Jenna is on it, you know it will be done perfectly and in a timely manner. She gives the same care and attention to her five beautiful children and husband. When she's not spending time with her family and dogs, she loves traveling the world!
Jenna Zertuche
Director of Operations
Originally from Indiana, she received her B.A. from the University of Evansville where she also played on the women’s Division I golf team. She later moved to Arizona and received her J.D. from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at ASU. Maggie’s passion is being of service to others, and she thrives when connecting with people. She and her husband spend their free time trying to keep up with their two rambunctious boys.
Maggie Wood
Director of Client Development
Electrical
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Tyler moved here from New York after spending the last seven years starting and managing multiple coffee shops. Through this experience, he has become an expert in customer service and has a genuine desire to help others, so much, in fact, that Tyler operated as his local Chamber of Commerce's President in support of local small business owners. He now puts the same care into connecting candidates with the right opportunbity here at Ascend. Outside of Tyler's professional career, he enjoys playing hockey and staying active.
Tyler Sloboda
Director of Client Development
HVAC and Plumbing
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Before joining Ascend, Dave established and managed teams with upward of 100 employees ranging from restaurants to gyms. His ability to build relationships, direct operations, and lead and develop employees has led him to Executive Recruiting. As a former athlete, Dave thrives in competitive environments which has allowed him to be immediately successful here at Ascend. In his free time, you can catch Dave spending time with his wife and kids, exploring the outdoors, and working out.
Dave Johnson
Director of Client Development
Industrial
Libby is a native Oregonian who relocated to Phoenix to start a career in Recruitment after graduating from Western Oregon University with a BS in Psychology. She has spent her entire career working to provide exceptional and attentive service to her clients and has used this experience and strong interpersonal skills to grow her career as a successful Recruiter. Libby finds passion in helping talented people find opportunities. Outside of her professional career she loves making art, being "the fun aunt" and finding spots in nature to swim.
Libby Anderson
Executive Recruiter
Storm is an Arizona native through and through. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a BS in Biology and a certificate in Wildlife Ecology and Management. She has been providing high quality customer service for 8 years. Her exceptional communication and problem-solving skills have made her an excellent recruiter that is capable of building strong working relationships that can change people's lives. Outside of her career, Storm enjoys shooting videos for rodeos, hiking, and spending time with her animals.
Storm Halstead-Kern
Executive Recruiter
Cody is a Long Island native who moved to Arizona after graduating from Hartwick College. He went on to earn his MBA at Grand Canyon University. Previously, Cody was the estimator and bookkeeper for a local restoration company. Cody's persistence and devotion to Ascend's client needs have resulted in his immediate success as a recruiter. In his free time, you can find him staying active at the gym, coaching lacrosse, or hanging out with friends and family.
Cody Petillo
Executive Recruiter
Originally from California, Kendall now resides in Arizona. She graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Health Sciences. A former varsity softball captain, Kendall brings a competitive, team-oriented mindset to her work and thrives in fast-paced, performance-driven environments. She is known for quickly identifying client needs, building strong relationships, and delivering thoughtful solutions that drive results. Outside of work, Kendall enjoys playing pickleball, skiing, and spending time at church with friends.
Kendall Todhunter
Executive Recruiter
A Phoenix native, Casey brings more than 15 years of recruiting and executive search experience helping organizations save time and increase productivity by building high-performing teams. He has a proven track record placing Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain talent across North America and is known for delivering candidates with the industry experience needed to make an immediate impact. Casey has led and grown successful recruiting practices, built and mentored high-performing teams, and consistently achieved top-tier results throughout his career. Outside of work, he enjoys reading by the fire, watching Suns games, and spending time with his two daughters.
Casey Neese
Executive Recruiter
