President & CEO

Darren Varano

Darren is well known throughout the Financial Services and Executive Search industries as one of the top consultants for Advisor Recruiting, Advisor Compensation, Competitive Analysis, Firm Infrastructure, and Firm Recruiting Strategies for the Independent, Career, Banking and Wirehouse channels.  Darren’s Advisor Recruiting systems are the benchmark for what most Financial Services organizations use today. 

Darren Varano started his career with Grayling Associates in 1992 as an Account Manager and has spent over 30 years developing his expertise. 

Director of Operations

Megan Schuck

Megan started with Grayling in 2002 as the Office Manager, supporting the firm and its owners in a variety of ways. In 2019, she was promoted to the role of Director of Operations.

Meg has created processes, brought in new technology and ideas to help the firm grow and run smoothly.   As the Director of Operations, it is her job to help clients navigate their accounts, support staff with day to day operations, and promote the company’s well- being in partnership with the management team.

Prior to Grayling, Megan worked for Key Tech, LLC, and most recently Touchstone Advisors, where she was the Office Manager.  She is a 1999 graduate of Northeastern University in Boston, MA with a B.S. in Human Services.

Megan is the proud mom of 3 amazing kids, which are always her top priority! When not spectating and helping out with one of the kids activities, you can find her working in her gardens, and enjoying time with family and friends.

Recruiting Director

Darius Goss

Darius originally was born and raised just West of Philadelphia, PA.  He received his degree from Elizabethtown College in Business Administration with a Minor in Accounting.  Darius has worked with Grayling over the last 15 years as a recruiter in both the main office located in Bloomfield, CT and also remotely based back in the Philadelphia area.  His areas of focus have been both Agent and Management recruiting as well as overseeing client accounts.  In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, hiking, kayaking and spending time with family.

Recruiting Director

Julia Helbling

Julia moved to Florida two years ago from her hometown in Cincinnati, Ohio to pursue her love of the ocean and warm weather. She recently graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a degree in Business Management and Technology, which has given her insight into Analytics, Information Technology, and Human Resources.

For the past eight years she has worked in Customer Service, as well as the recruiting industry. Her love for people has been her inspiration in her work life and she plans to continue that work with Grayling Associates. 

In her free time, she enjoys reading a good book out in nature, trying out new restaurants, and spending time with her family and friends. 

Recruiting Director

Sarah Broderick

Sarah has spent the last seven years working with individuals with developmental disabilities. Most recently, she has served as a Job Coach at Farmington Valley Transition Academy, teaching life skills to young adults in a vocational setting. Additionally, Sarah continues to work in the service industry where strong communication and interpersonal skills are at the forefront of her responsibilities. 

Sarah holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Western New England University and a Master’s degree in Applied Behavioral Analysis from Bay Path University. She enjoys helping others identify their strengths and applying their skills to be successful. 

In her free time, Sarah finds joy in spending time outdoors with her dog, attending sporting events, and hosting her family and friends.

Recruiting Director

Kristin Karat

Kristin spent most of her career in the collegiate coaching space both as a basketball coach and strength and conditioning coach. Teamwork and relationships are extremely important to her! Recently Kristin made a career change to the talent acquisition space. Previously with AMN healthcare, she recruited and placed physicians in multiple hospital organizations throughout the country. Kristin is passionate about leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Kristin graduated from Becker College with a degree in Exercise Science. She holds her Certified Strength and Conditioning certification through the NSCA.

When she isn’t hard at work, you will find her at UConn women’s basketball games, rewatching Mad Men, or playing with her dogs; Cali and Jacob.

Recruiting Director

Matthew Bacon

Matthew was born and raised in New York. He moved to Connecticut for school and decided to stay for work. He began his career in customer service roles, where he quickly earned a promotion and transitioned into a project management position. Matthew believes that direct communication with customers is essential for any business to grow and thrive, and has always prioritized building strong relationships to ensure project success.

He earned his Bachelor’s in Public Relations from the University of Hartford, where he was active in PR clubs and worked as a writing tutor. Matthew also became the go-to person for his friends whenever they needed help writing. 

In his free time, Matthew still enjoys writing, but since moving to Connecticut, he has also taken up photography, cooking, and hiking. These hobbies allow him to explore new skills and appreciate the natural beauty of the region.

Recruiting Director

Ian Seidner

Ian Seidner is a highly adaptable and results-driven professional with a rich background in project management, financial services, and talent acquisition. Ian has worked across these diverse sectors and has consistently driven innovation, process improvements, and organizational growth.

Currently, serving as a Recruiting Director at Grayling Associates, where he leverages his deep industry knowledge to help companies identify and attract top-tier talent for critical roles. With additional expertise in product/business analysis, project management, and CRM solutions, Ian is uniquely positioned to support organizations grow in the modern age, while also bringing valuable insights from his extensive experience in traditional financial services.

Before fully transitioning into recruiting, Ian held several leadership roles in financial services, including at Prudential Financial, New York Life Insurance, and MassMutual where he honed his skills in recruiting, sales management, financial planning, and team leadership.

Outside of work, Ian lives in Southington, Connecticut with his wife and two daughters. He enjoys snowboarding in the winter and plays tennis year-round.

Office Manager

Holly Walsh

Holly joined Grayling in 2024 as the Office Manager to support the firm and its Recruiting Directors. Her professional skills help streamline operations and improve efficiency. Holly received a Bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA.

Holly is also a part-time Realtor at Coldwell Banker in her hometown of West Hartford. Outside of work, Holly can be found at one of her 2 kids sporting games or spending time with family and friends.