Connor Rugaard

Connor Rugaard is a Director, Team Builds at Flatiron Search Partners, where he partners with founders, executive teams, and people leaders to build functional teams that help consumer businesses scale. He brings nearly a decade of in-house Talent Acquisition experience across high-growth consumer brands. His philosophy is rooted in the belief that moving a business forward means championing people not only for what they have done, but for what they are capable of doing next.

Prior to joining FSP, Connor led corporate and field-support Talent Acquisition at Shake Shack. He hired across the business, from early career through senior leadership, led talent programs, recruiting operations, and workforce planning.

Before Shake Shack, Connor spent more than six years at Peet’s Coffee in progressive Talent Acquisition roles supporting corporate, manufacturing, roasting, distribution, and field operations. He also partnered across the JDE Peet’s portfolio, including Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Intelligentsia Coffee, and Caribou Coffee.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Connor earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with majors in Marketing and Business Management, from the University of Nevada, Reno, where his time in the Sierra Nevada fostered a lasting appreciation for the outdoors. He moved to New York City in 2025 and enjoys biking, oil painting, and exploring the city’s food and hospitality scene.