Rita is currently a Partner with Cornerstone Search Group and specializes in retained executive search. Cornerstone Search Group, recognized by Forbes as one of the "Top 100 Executive Search Firms" and by Hunt Scanlon as one of the "Top 50 Healthcare & Life Sciences Executive Search Firms", is a Life Sciences Executive Search firm that helps companies based around the world, ranging from startup biotechs to Top 10 Pharmas, to find, attract, and hire talent for their US and globally-based leadership positions (CxO and xVP levels) as well as their critical Director-level roles. Rita is responsible for leading executive-level searches for the Cornerstone Search Group's clients that include companies ranging from top global pharmaceutical leaders to emerging biotech firms. Rita’s search expertise includes several areas spanning from Health Economics Outcomes Research, Real-World Evidence, Market Access as well as Data Science/AI/ML (where she co-leads this practice area for her firm), Clinical Research & Development, Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, Drug Safety/ Pharmacovigilance, Marketing, Human Resources, and Legal. Prior to joining Cornerstone Search Group, Rita was Director of Business Development for Career Blazers, a national recruiting firm. She was instrumental in building the legal recruitment practice for their NJ office from its inception in 2004 through 2008. Rita began her professional executive search career in 2000 with Michael E. Marion & Associates where she provided retained executive search services for several pharmaceutical & biotech clients. She attended Ramapo College and Bergen Community College where she majored in Nursing.