We speak your language
AWS D1.1, CWI, Bridgeport, Mazak, plate rolling, structural steel. Our recruiters know the difference between a button-pusher and a real setup machinist, and our candidates do too.
The right hire.
The first time.
We don't send resumes. We send fits. Cannonball connects steel manufacturers, fabrication shops, and machining operations with skilled tradespeople who actually show up and stay.
Veteran-Owned MBE-Certified · NMSDC Founded 2020
80%
Sales meeting
close rate
close rate
87%
Contract-to-hire
conversion
conversion
1,000+
Skilled positions
filled
filled
$100M+
Trades division Brett
built before Cannonball
built before Cannonball
Built different.
Built to outpace.
Cannonball was founded by a recruiter who built a $100M+ skilled trades division at a national staffing firm. Same playbook, sharper execution, none of the bureaucracy.
We outpace the big guys
No account manager shuffle. No hand-offs. You work directly with the people running the searches. That's how boutique beats national, every time.
87% conversion. Period.
Most contract-to-hire firms hope candidates stick. Ours actually do, eighty-seven percent convert to permanent at four months. The vetting happens on your floor, not just on paper.
We find the people you can't
The best candidates aren't browsing job boards. They're already employed at your competitor. We know how to find them, and how to make the move worth their while.
What does your next hire need to run?
It's the first thing we ask on every search: the machines, the materials, the shift. Then we only send people who've already done it.
Four divisions.
One standard.
Every Cannonball division is led by a specialist who lives and breathes their industry. No generalists. No interchangeable searches.
Steel & Metal Trades
CNC machinists, welders, fabricators, setup machinists, tool and die, maintenance techs, and manufacturing engineers. Led by a founder who built a $100M+ trades division before Cannonball.
Explore the division
Plastics, Printing & Packaging
Press operators, injection molding techs, extrusion specialists, packaging line leads, and quality professionals. We know the equipment and the people who run it.
Explore the division
Construction
Superintendents, project managers, foremen, and skilled trades across residential, commercial, and industrial construction. East and west of the Mississippi coverage.
Explore the division
Manufacturing
Production supervisors, CNC machinists, maintenance techs, quality managers, and plant leadership. East and west of the Mississippi coverage.
Explore the divisionWhat are you hiring for?
Pick the trade. We'll put you on the calendar of the person who runs that division, for a thirty-minute Talent Needs Call.
Four ways to engage.
All built around fit.
Whether you need a single hire, a flexible bench, an embedded recruiting partner, or help fixing what's broken inside your own talent function, Cannonball has a service model that fits.
Direct Placement
Permanent, full-time hires. We handle sourcing, screening, and presentation, you make the offer. Best for senior, specialized, or hard-to-fill roles where you need the right person on day one.
Learn moreContract-to-Hire
Try before you buy. Candidates start on Cannonball's payroll, prove themselves on your floor, and convert to permanent when the fit is right. Eighty-seven percent of ours do.
Learn moreRecruitment Process Outsourcing
We become your recruiting team. Cannonball takes full or partial ownership of your hiring process, from intake through onboarding, so you can focus on running the business.
Learn moreRecruiting Consulting
We help internal HR and talent teams build the systems, sourcing strategies, and processes they need to fill skilled trades and manufacturing roles consistently, on their own.
Learn more
Real results.
Real relationships.
★★★★★
"Of the 11 recruiting agencies, Griffin is on a different level. His hustle and commitment to getting results was not matched. Not only did he secure me an interview for an ideal position, he also advocated fiercely on my behalf to negotiate better terms, ensuring I got the best possible offer."
Placed Candidate
★★★★★
"Excellent. By far the best recruiting firm I've ever used. Had me hired with excellent pay within two weeks. I highly recommend BJ, Zander and Elizabeth."
Placed Candidate
★★★★★
"I would like to thank Zander and BJ for their excellent help in finding me employment. They were very communicative and were there to help every step of the way, from setting up the interview to questions during the onboarding process. They have better jobs available than most temp agencies do."
Placed Candidate
Built lean.
Built deliberate.
No layers, no middle management, no account manager carousel. You work with the people doing the work.
Brett Secor
Founder & President
Six years Army National Guard. Built a $100M+ skilled trades division at a national staffing firm before founding Cannonball. Now leads the steel and metal trades vertical directly.
BJ Ruble
Sales Manager
Leads the plastics, printing, and packaging division. Deep technical fluency in press operations, plastics manufacturing, and the niche skill sets that generalist firms miss.
Griffin Schappell
Recruitment Account Manager
Manages client relationships and active searches across the manufacturing and skilled trades verticals. The point of contact who keeps placements on track.
Amanda Ruble
Construction & Manufacturing, West
Leads construction and manufacturing placements west of the Mississippi, working directly with GCs, contractors, and plant operators.
Eric Kupp
Construction & Manufacturing, East
Leads construction and manufacturing placements east of the Mississippi, matching tradespeople and production talent with the employers who need them.
Tell us what's open.
We'll handle the rest.
A Talent Needs Call is exactly what it sounds like. We dig into your open roles, what's been tried, what hasn't worked, and whether Cannonball is the right fit. Even if we don't end up working together, you'll walk away with a clearer picture of your talent market.