An Orion Legacy: Chris and Madeline Hurst, a Father/Daughter Recruiting Team

Here at Orion Talent, we strive to not only help our candidates find meaningful careers, but also to become an employer of choice for our own employees. As our 300+ member team continues to grow, we love to celebrate the new faces while appreciating the men and women who have been with Orion for years. Chris Hurst, Director of Recruiting, is part of the latter and is celebrating 20 years at Orion Talent this month.  

While Chris is celebrating an illustrious career here at Orion, his daughter, Madeline Hurst, has recently joined the Orion team as a Jr. Sourcing Specialist as part of our Recruiter Development Program. The Recruiter Development Program is a 3-week bootcamp designed to help prepare individuals seeking a career as a Recruiter, learning all the skills and competencies to be successful. No recruiting experience is necessary.  

Read on to learn more about Chris’s career path with Orion, his thoughts on working alongside his daughter, and Madeline’s own experience at Orion and as a military spouse. 

Chris’s Story

Chris served in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. He was stationed on a guided missile destroyer and did four deployments in the 3 ½ years he was on the ship. On ship, he led operations-related divisions.  

After transitioning from the Navy after four years, Chris was looking for an employer that would allow him to continue to be involved in the military community, specifically in helping transitioning military and veterans find jobs. “I found Orion, liked what I heard and saw, and felt aligned with the company’s core values,” Chris explained. Over the course of his 20 years at Orion, Chris has held various positions, but the foundation of those positions has always been recruiting. 

For Chris, the most rewarding part of his job has been to positively affect the professional lives of veterans. “While the options for veterans have increased tremendously over time, we [Orion] continue to provide a very valuable resource to veterans looking for careers, and for companies looking to hire veterans,” he explained. “It has also been rewarding to work alongside so many great people at Orion.” 

Chris’s greatest accomplishment at Orion has been his efforts with Orion’s Hiring Conferences, events geared to veterans with the goal of allowing them to interview with multiple companies for a variety of positions over the course of two days.  

“By my estimation, I’ve led about 150 veteran hiring conferences and set up 18,000 interviews for 6,000 veterans, in addition to thousands of direct placement interviews,” he said. “All of this was done alongside a great support team at Orion. These interviews have led to countless new careers for those who have served in the military, and have helped bring great leadership, technical skills, and character to the companies who hired them,” Chris stated. 

Chris’s daughter Madeline has recently joined the Orion team in a recruiting role, and it has been a positive experience for both, one that has made their relationship stronger as they share a new bond through their work in recruiting. “While Madeline works for a different team within Orion, I am excited that she and I do similar work, and we can swap stories about the highs and lows of our days,” he said. “While we’ve always been close, this allows us to share a new bond. I like to think that I passed on some traits that have helped her be successful in her new role.” 

Madeline’s Story

Though Chris separated from the service before Madeline was born, she is no stranger to the military lifestyle. “I am currently married to a Naval Officer, and it definitely has its ups and downs,” she said. “I don’t like the separation from my husband, but I love and respect the military and everything that they do, as well as the ways it provides for us.” 

When Chris heard about an open position in the Recruiter Development Program, he encouraged Madeline to apply. For Madeline, pursuing a career in recruiting has always been an interest, in large part because of her dad’s own career path. “I really saw the value of being able to help someone find a job and wanted to be a part of that process. When this job was introduced to me, I felt like I had adequate skills to be successful and really felt prompted to learn more about it,” Madeline explained. 

For Madeline, the best part of the Recruiter Development Program is the daily tasks and goals of finding careers for people looking for a career. “Being able to help individuals, especially veterans, has been very rewarding,” she said. “I really enjoy the work so far and love learning about how to consistently do better. I also really enjoy working with all the members on my team!” 

Madeline has really enjoyed her experience at Orion. “It has been amazing. I feel so much support from so many people,” she stated. While Madeline’s dad has her back, other members of the Orion team have also been incredible mentors. “I have been able to learn a ton and greatly enjoy the work that I’m doing alongside a team. I also appreciate Orion Talent and the work they do for veterans. Many of my family members have been in the military, so I love working for a company that values and helps those that have served.” 

Working with her dad has been a great experience for Madeline. “He has taught me a ton about the position and has put up with all my requests to video chat with him throughout the day. He is also a great mentor to me, and I appreciate the work that we get to do together!” 

As a Navy spouse, Madeline is thankful for the opportunity to have a meaningful career helping veterans and their family members find jobs here at Orion, right alongside her father. 

Careers at Orion Talent

We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Chris on his 20 years here at Orion and wish Madeline the best in her new career! 

If you are a military spouse interested in recruiting like Madeline, check out our Recruiter Development Program. We are currently accepting new applications and space is limited, so register today! 

Ready to join the Orion Talent team? Check out our current career opportunities and learn more about our culture.  

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