CEO Ron Holifield founded SGR in 1999 after spending two high-profile decades in city management, which included service as City Manager in several cities.

Ron’s passion has always been to make a difference and truly change the world. Successful employees at SGR share that passion for making a difference and are committed to meeting the needs of our clients.

Since 1999, SGR has experienced an average annual growth rate in excess of 20%, and that rapid pace of growth continues. As a result, SGR is one of the most dynamic, fast-paced, and constantly changing work environments anywhere. Successful employees must be able to thrive in such environments.

Today, SGR...

• Is one of the largest local government executive search firms in the nation
• Operates the second largest local government job board in the nation
• Is the largest provider of local government interim management services in Texas, and one of the largest in the nation
• Is the largest private sector provider of local government training in the nation

Why the Chess Knight?

SGR founder Ron Holifield selected the chess knight as the logo for SGR because it represents what we believe is a noble calling to Recruit, Assess and Develop Innovative, Collaborative, Authentic Leaders in local government - something that goes beyond simply running a business.

5 Flows of Thought

There are five primary flows of thought which served as inspiration for the Knight as SGR’s logo.

1. Strategic Visioning

Throughout his career as a city manager, and today as SGR’s CEO, Ron always coaches both elected officials and employees to “play chess, not checkers.” When dealing with any complex issue, you must move beyond thinking about the next move, and think about the move after that, and the move after that. As a result, the Knight represents SGR’s commitment to STRATEGIC VISIONING.

2. Innovation

The Knight is the most versatile piece on the chessboard. It is an attack piece (not defense), which can move eight different directions, move right over barriers, and has a tendency to leverage surprise moves to its advantage. As a result, the Knight represents SGR’s commitment to INNOVATION.

3. Development

Ron shares a love of playing chess with his son, Austin. As Ron taught his son to play chess, over time Austin developed skills far superior to Ron's. SGR exists to develop the next generation of innovative thought leaders in local government who will exceed the skills of their teachers. As a result, the Knight symbolizes SGR’s commitment to LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT and the sense of the Student becoming the Master and excelling beyond the teacher’s ability.

City/County Managers tend to be “champions for hire” who are engaged in a noble calling larger and more important than the tactical task at hand… and most tend to move on when the job is done. They have unique skills as highly skilled political gunfighters, yet, they do everything possible to avoid utilizing those precise skills. Indeed, their duty is to avoid engaging in political gunfire, but when they have to do so, the really good CM’s are very good at it. The theme song also says, “A chess knight of silver, is his badge of trust.” As a result, the Knight symbolizes SGR’s commitment to AUTHENTICITY of leadership that is intensely integrity-driven.

5. Integrity

The Paladin Business Card

The lead character, played by Richard Boone, was named Paladin and carried a very simple business card (right).

The Paladin allegory referred to the 12 noble knights in Charlemagne’s inner circle, and although they are historically real figures, they later became fictional characters and representative of knights who took on noble causes in popular literature. Sometimes known as the Twelve Peers, the paladins were the foremost warriors of Charlemagne’s Court and may have influenced the legends of the Knights of the Round Table. They were well known for collaborating to take on noble causes. Over the centuries, the word “paladin” came to refer to any chivalrous hero. As a result, the Knight symbolizes SGR’s commitment to INTEGRITY.