Bobby Shea
Who is Bobby Shea?
I’m one of Gochkeys’ Account Associates & Recruiters, so if you’re hearing from me, it’s because I’ve found a real opportunity worth a conversation — either a role that fits your background well, or a company I think we should be working with. I try to actually get to know the person on the other end of the call, not just close them, so even if the timing isn’t perfect today, I’d genuinely love to stay connected for what’s next.
What originally attracted you to working at Gochkeys?
I spent over a decade in hospitality, managing restaurants and running operations for some great Chicago brands, then made the jump to recruiting a few years ago at a boutique firm focused on food & beverage. I liked that work, but I wanted to compete in a bigger arena — something with more complexity, higher stakes, and a clearer way to measure whether I was actually winning. Gochkeys’ nearly 20-year track record exclusively in medical device and contract manufacturing was exactly that: a chance to go deep in one industry and build something I could point to.
What’s your role with Gochkeys today?
Right now I split my time evenly between two things: bringing on new clients and filling their searches once we do. On the new-business side, I’m researching target companies and markets, making the first calls, and building relationships with hiring managers who don’t know us yet. Once we land a search, I flip into recruiting mode — identifying and engaging passive candidates across engineering, quality, operations, and leadership, running first conversations, coordinating interviews, and keeping everything moving until we get an offer signed. I like that I own both ends of it.
Boy, that sounds like a lot. Do you like it?
I do — hospitality taught me how to read a room fast and stay calm when ten things are happening at once, so honestly, this feels pretty natural. What I really like is that every win is countable: a new client signed, a search filled, a candidate who tells me this changed their career. If I’m honest, I like being good at something people can see — but the moments that actually stick with me are quieter, like a candidate telling me nobody else took the time to really listen.
What’s got you excited about Gochkeys’ future?
I’m still pretty new here, so what excites me most is the runway. We just opened a third office with real space for the team to meet, there’s a new logo and brand on the way, and everyone’s investing in getting better — Spin Selling, the Enneagram work, even the new standing-desk mice everyone’s suddenly obsessed with. I’m looking forward to building real expertise in this space and proving I belong on a team that’s clearly on its way up.
CONTACT
Bobby Shea
Account Associate & Recruiter
Direct — 708.627.4820
Email — bobby.shea@gochkeys.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobby-shea-43b3bb50
