Marcia Ballinger writes, speaks and practices in the areas of career transition, networking and executive recruitment.

A long-time leader in the executive search field, she is Co-Founder and Principal at Ballinger|Leafblad, St Paul-based search firm where she conducts national searches for leaders of nonprofit organizations.

Marcia has a BS in Business Administration and an MA in Speech-Communication along with a PhD in Organization and Management from Capella University where she later served as chair of the board of directors.

Marcia was named one of the Real Power 50 by Minnesota Business in 2014, an Top Woman in Business by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal in 2008 and a Luminary Award Winner by the National Association of Women Business Owners in 2006. She was in the inaugural group of 50 Over 50 named by AARP in 2016.

A resident of St. Paul, Marcia and her husband Brad have one adult daughter and dogs Reuben and Wesley. She is a registered therapy dog handler.
Marcia is the author of “The 20-Minute Networking Meeting,” “Winning the Executive Interview," and "Make the Jump: Reinvent Your Career in the Nonprofit Sector." Subsequent editions of "The 20-Minute Networking Meeting" designed for non-executive Professionals, new college Graduates, and Veterans were co-authored with Nathan A. Perez).

"The 20-Minute Networking Meeting" has been recognized with a number of awards/nominations, including:
~USA Best Book Award - College Guides
~Axiom Business Book Award
~Foreword INDIES Book of the Year
~USA Best Book Award
~Foreword INDIES Book of the Year

The book is used as a standard text by a number of outplacement firms across the U.S.