About Us
Bridging the gap
Flexible expertise. Smarter hiring. Better outcomes.
It all started in Des Moines, Iowa, where we recognized a growing need for a more flexible, efficient approach to hiring. Organizations were struggling to access the right talent without taking on unnecessary cost, risk, and long-term commitments.
At the same time, highly skilled professionals were looking for opportunities that better aligned with how they want to work.
Leverage4 was built to bridge that gap.
As a nontraditional recruitment firm, we help organizations move beyond one-size-fits-all hiring by offering flexible solutions — including fractional, contract-to-hire, part-time and full-time placements.
The result? Access to the right expertise, at the right time, in a way that aligns with your business goals.
With Leverage4, you can make more strategic decisions, reduce overhead, and build a team that truly fits where your organization is today — and where it’s going.
LEVERAGE4 PROCESS
1.
Identify Objectives and Gaps
2.
Build the Solution and Plan
3.
Leverage the Resources
4.
Manage the Process
CORE VALUES:
1. COLLABORATIVE
We prioritize building strong, lasting relationships with clients, understanding relationships leads to shared success.
2. AUTHENTIC
We commit to being our honest selves in all our dealings, fostering trust and comfort with our clients and partners.
3. RESPONSIVE
We pride ourselves on being attentive and responsive to client and contractor needs, ensuring timely support and communication.
4. EVOLVING
In a dynamic business landscape, we embrace change and remain flexible, constantly adjusting our strategies to meet evolving client needs and market conditions.
OUR TEAM
Lori Gelhaar
Managing Partner
Lori Gelhaar is a seasoned business operations professional with expertise spanning in Recruiting, HR, Sales, and Finance—a little bit of everything! But if you ask her friends and colleagues, they’ll probably say she’s best known for her quick wit and being a smartass (a title she wears proudly).
Lori’s professional journey started in recruiting, sparked by a college internship that paved the way for a career connecting talent to opportunities. She’s worked in corporate recruiting, headhunting, and even “recruiting in reverse” as a Regional Director for Kaplan University, where she helped graduates find their footing in the job market. Eventually, Lori ventured into entrepreneurship, launching a company in the industrial services arena. It was there she discovered a love for business operations, problem-solving, and building teams that genuinely enjoy their work.
These experiences ultimately led Lori to Leverage4, where she now serves as part of the leadership team. With workforce dynamics evolving post-COVID, Leverage4 was created to bridge the gap between businesses and independent contractors, offering a flexible model that provides companies with highly skilled professionals only when they need them. Why pay for a full-time employee or 40 hours when you really only need 5-20 hours of expert support? As the traditional 8-5 workday continues to shift, Lori is passionate about helping both businesses and contractors thrive in this new landscape.
Outside of work, Lori and her husband are raising three teenagers (one in college and two not far behind) and taking care of a house full of pets, including a dog, a cat, a gecko, four chickens, and some fish. While she jokingly blames the kids for most of the menagerie, she takes full credit for their Golden Retriever—“the sweetest dog ever!”
When she’s not busy with work or running between kids’ activities, you’ll find Lori by the water. Whether it’s a pool, lake, ocean, or just a good old-fashioned pond, she’s happiest near the water with a cold beer, a glass of wine, or a whiskey in hand. Day drinking is her favorite—because, as she likes to say, you can have all the fun and still be in bed by 9:00 (okay, maybe 9:30).
What makes Lori unique in her profession is her ability to connect the dots—whether it’s building strong working relationships, solving complex problems, or envisioning the big picture. She’s driven by the challenge of finding solutions and helping others see the possibilities.
Melanie Lane
Partner
Melanie Lane is a dynamic sales professional with a natural talent for building strong, authentic relationships. Known for her ability to establish trust and provide tailored solutions, Melanie has built a career centered around creating impactful, long-term connections with clients.
Her professional journey began at Mayo Clinic in clinical research, where she coordinated studies and collaborated with MDs and PhDs across the globe. Alongside this, Melanie pursued her passion for coaching volleyball and earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership & Sports Management, leading her to the collegiate coaching world. She quickly became adept at recruiting and building winning team cultures, which translates seamlessly into her sales and recruitment expertise today.
Melanie’s experience spans companies like Palmer Group, SmartClean, Bing Bang, and Leverage4, where she’s known for her unique approach to solving problems and matching clients with complementary talent. Her coaching background has given her a deep understanding of motivation and leadership, making her exceptionally skilled at connecting the right people and enhancing team dynamics.
Outside of her professional roles, Melanie is a proud mom to her daughter, Izzy, and their cat, Skol (Go Vikings!). She enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending country concerts, watching football, and traveling the world whenever she can. Though she once tried to retire from coaching, she was quickly drawn back in, proving that her passion for mentoring others is lifelong.
Fun Fact: Melanie has been published 17 times in medical journals—a testament to her diverse skillset and commitment to excellence.
Mackenzie Eddie
Partner
Mackenzie Eddie has been a marketer since childhood. In fact, at the age of 11, she created a campaign that included a series of several homemade ads to try and convince her parents to buy a family dog. The strategy worked and she’s been hooked ever since.
In her adult life, Mackenzie brings the strategy, creativity and clarity that businesses need to stand out in crowded markets. With a sharp eye for brand-building and a deep understanding of audience behavior, she leads marketing efforts at Leverage4 with equal parts heart and hustle.
From messaging to media to moments that move people, Mackenzie ensures Leverage4 and the clients we support aren’t just seen, but remembered. Her background spans brand strategy, content creation, campaign development and big-picture thinking that actually gets results.
Mackenzie is also a wife and proud mom to three children who range in ages from 7 to 3. She and her family reside on an acreage in Southeast Iowa, where she’s surrounded and inspired by nature and the hard-working entrepreneurs in her family and small town.
More than just a marketer, she’s a connector, bringing the right people together with the right message at the right time.
WHY THESE FOUR PILLARS?
Most would agree sales, marketing, operations and HR are the life blood of any solid organization. They are the essential pillars that hold any good business up. The founders of Leverage4 understand these areas, because we’ve been there – with years of experience under our belts. More importantly, we’ve seen what can happen when one or more of these pillars is weak or missing. Together, we are using our collective experience to move businesses forward, by matching them with the right positions and services that not only understand their business, but bring a unique perspective that only veteran professionals can provide.
Frequently asked
questions about us
Your success is our priority. With a focus on customized solutions and a vast network of fractional experts – we're dedicated to being the driving force behind your business success.
A nontraditional recruitment firm moves beyond the standard “post a job and fill a full-time role” approach to hiring.
Instead of offering only one hiring solution, nontraditional firms provide flexible options tailored to a company’s specific needs, goals, workload, and stage of growth.
At Leverage4, that means helping organizations build teams through:
- Fractional support
- Contract staffing
- Contract-to-hire solutions
- Part-time placements
- Full-time hires
Rather than forcing businesses into a one-size-fits-all model, we help identify the right level of support at the right time — giving organizations more flexibility, reduced hiring risk, and access to the expertise they need to move forward.
Leverage4 specializes in a wide range of fractional experts ready to fill roles, including but not limited to CFOs, CTOs, CMOs, and more. We tailor our services to meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring they have the right fractional professional for their specific requirements.
Matching is a key strength at Leverage4. We consider factors such as industry expertise, company culture fit, and specific project requirements. By understanding both the client's needs and the professional's strengths, we create successful matches that drive value for both parties.
Leverage4 collaborates with a diverse range of industries and sectors. Our expertise spans across sales, marketing, finance, operations and beyond. This versatility enables us to provide fractional services that cater to the unique demands of different businesses.
Leverage4 stands out from traditional staffing agencies by offering flexible and specialized services. Unlike traditional staffing, which often provides strictly full-time hires, we focus on providing a variety of hiring options, allowing clients to access the expertise that matches their specific needs for where their organization currently is.
Our sourcing process involves a thorough evaluation of candidates' skills, experience, and industry knowledge. We utilize a combination of interviews, skill assessments, and reference checks to vet fractional professionals, ensuring they meet our high standards and align with the needs of our clients.
The duration of a fractional engagement varies based on the scope of the project and the client's requirements. Leverage4 offers flexibility, allowing clients to engage fractional professionals for short-term projects or longer-term commitments, depending on their business objectives.
At Leverage4, we prioritize the confidentiality and security of our clients' information. We implement robust data security measures, including secure communication channels and strict access controls. Our professionals are bound by confidentiality agreements, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected throughout the engagement.
Your Business
Deserves The Best.
We’ll Help You Get It.
PROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO MEET YOU WHERE YOU ARE.
Your Business
Deserves The Best.
We’ll Help You Get It.
BRIDGING GAPS WITH OUR EXPERTISE. FRACTION BY FRACTION.
Our Pricing: Leverage4 has retainer and project based pricing plans depending on the scope of your need. To receive an estimate, please fill out the following application and you’ll hear from us within 24-48 hours of the request.