HERMOSA BEACH, CA - May 29, 2026 - Bristol Associates, Inc., a national executive search firm, today announced that Forbes has named the company to America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms 2026, where it ranked #32 in the nation. The list is produced by Forbes in partnership with Statista, based on independent surveys of external recruiters, in-house hiring managers, and job seekers across the United States.
Founded in 1967 by Jim Sr. and Sandie Bright, Bristol Associates is now in its third generation of family ownership, led by President Ben Farber, who joined the firm in 2003, alongside Vice President David Alford. Across more than 55 years, the firm has built specialized recruiting practices in nine sectors: casino gaming, facility and concession, food and beverage, healthcare, hospitality, hotel and resort, nonprofit, restaurant, and travel, tourism, and attractions. That sector depth ”and the relationships behind it” is what clients return to search after search.
"To be ranked #32 in the country by Forbes” a list shaped by the clients and candidates we serve ”is an honor for our entire team," said Ben Farber, President of Bristol Associates. "My grandparents built this firm on relationships and integrity. Three generations later, those are still the values that drive every search we run."
The Forbes and Statista methodology evaluates recruiting firms across dimensions such as service quality, candidate experience, and client satisfaction, with final selections drawn from thousands of independent survey responses. Recognition on the list is widely regarded as one of the most credible third-party endorsements a recruiting firm can receive, because it reflects the firsthand experience of the employers and candidates who have worked with the firm directly.
More than five decades of continuous specialization have given Bristol Associates an uncommon understanding of the industries it serves and the leaders who move them forward. Rather than chase volume, the firm focuses on building lasting relationships with both client companies and candidates an approach that has allowed it to place senior talent with leading organizations across gaming, hospitality, food and beverage, healthcare, and the nonprofit world for generations.
"Longevity in this business isn't about doing more searches; it's about doing them right," Farber added. "This recognition tells us the relationships we've nurtured for over five decades continue to set us apart."
About Bristol Associates
Bristol Associates, Inc. is a family-owned executive search firm founded in 1967 and based in Hermosa Beach, California. Now in its third generation of ownership, the firm specializes in recruiting senior talent across casino gaming, facility and concession, food and beverage, healthcare, hospitality, hotel and resort, nonprofit, restaurant, and travel and tourism, serving clients nationwide.
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Company Name: Bristol Associates
Contact Person: Ben Farber
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Country: United States
Website: https://www.bristolassoc.com/hospitality-recruiters/
