Amy Volas

I help SaaS startups hire executive Sales and CS leaders without the cringe ⋆ Personally closed $100MM+ ⋆ 2 Exits ⋆ LP ⋆ Strategic Advisor ⋆ Speaker ⋆ Writing My First Book

I don’t believe in guesswork hiring. And I don’t do transactional anything.

I work with founders, CEOs, and investors who are tired of wasting time, money, and trust on Sales and CS executive hires that don’t stick... or worse, do damage.

Because here's the thing:

A bad executive hire isn’t just a hiccup.
It’s a domino effect that fractures teams, tanks morale, stalls growth, and erodes boardroom credibility.

I’ve seen it all:

▸ CEOs and founders covering for a Sales leader who’s lost the room
▸ Execs spending more time firefighting than scaling
▸ Boards questioning if you can hire while the burn rate screams you can't
▸ Reacting to noise, chasing titles, and hiring before knowing what you’re actually solving for
▸ Watching progress stall, targets slip, and the trust in your decision-making fade

Sound familiar? You’re not alone. 
And, there’s a better way.

I'm Amy Volas, founder of Avenue Talent Partners (ATP).

Since 2015, I’ve helped tech founders and CEOs get executive GTM hiring right the first time, without the fluff, without the guesswork, and without the cleanup later.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗲 𝗱𝗼 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗧𝗣:

𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵

Intentional, high-impact GTM hires that drive growth while sidestepping expensive missteps. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗦™ 𝗯𝘆 𝗔𝗧𝗣

When a search isn’t needed, but clarity is. Our proven hiring system that structures hiring for scale, eliminates guesswork, and arms you with the clarity, data, and process your board expects.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲? 20%
𝗔𝗧𝗣 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀? 80%+ and a 98% interview-to-hire success rate

Because it’s not just about who you hire.
It’s about why the hire is happening, how the process is run, and whether it fuels the kind of team that scales, not stalls.

I’m not for everyone, and that’s okay.
The founders, CEOs, and investors who get the best results with me:

▸ Prioritize hiring as a core strategy
▸ Embrace real, open communication
▸ Value people over transactions
▸ Think beyond the next quarter
▸ Know asking for help is a strength, not a weakness

Hiring is hard.
It’s supposed to be.

But it’s also the highest-leverage move you’ll ever make.

Let’s make people strategy your secret weapon.

We partner with focused executives who know the best products don’t always win, but the best teams do.

Ready to build one? So are we.

Founder & CEO

Great executives aren't hired on guesswork.

And starting + scaling a business is no joke.

The odds are against you and the people you hire to grow your business can make or break your ability to defy those odds.

The dynamic world of sales in early- stage startups is complex, busy, and ever-changing.

Trying to uncover, engage, and hire the cream of the crop is challenging when your plate is already full and the average tenure is 19 months for a VP of Sales.

That's why Avenue Talent Partners was built…

We help startups hire the right executive revenue leaders to defy the turnover odds to truly grow and scale.

The best part? We do it without the cringe!

With a collective sales experience of 40+ years and $100MM+ in deals closed, ATP's team knows what it takes to win at startup sales.

We're the recruiting firm you should be working with if you...

▹ Want to defy the odds of hiring the right sales leader who will stick around for more than 19 months

▹ Want to hire a high-growth sales leader who will build/lead a team to drive growth for the long haul

▹ Want a recruiting partner who speaks the sales language fluently, knows how to vet the right person for your stage of business, and has the experience to back it up

▹ Want a recruiting partner who truly cares about your success, takes the time to understand what you need, and knows exactly how to help

▹ Want a recruiting partner that celebrates candidate experience while representing your brand well throughout the recruiting process regardless of the outcome

The depth and breadth of our sales and startup experience coupled with our second to none people-centric, process-driven approach is here to help you get sales hiring right the first time to avoid the painful effects of a mishire.

Nothing you do is more important than finding and hiring the right people; we work tirelessly to help you do just that.

🦻 Meryl Evans, CPACC (deaf)

I’m a program and operations specialist who fixes breakdowns before they become bottlenecks. I turn messy, inconsistent processes into clear, repeatable workflows that help teams work smarter and communicate with clarity.

My CliftonStrengths shape how I work. I learn systems quickly and bring consistency, discipline, and responsibility to every project. I build trust through clear communication and strong relationships, and I use analytical and deliberative thinking to spot risks early. When teams feel stuck or overwhelmed, my harmony and Woo strengths create alignment and forward movement.

For more than a decade, I’ve run a remote‑first business managing complex projects, coordinating across teams, and creating systems that reduce friction. My background in marketing and accessibility sharpened my ability to spot patterns, anticipate user needs, and design workflows that work for real people.

Where I create the most value:

- unclear communication
- inconsistent documentation
- slipping timelines
- workflows no one can explain
- processes that feel harder than they should

I diagnose the breakdown, map or revise the process, and rebuild it so people can work with less confusion, fewer delays, and more confidence.

I’m also a speaker and author, focusing on accessibility, disability inclusion, and communication. These roles strengthen my ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and support teams as they adopt new processes.

If your team needs program and operations support or a speaker on accessibility, disability inclusion, communication, change, and leadership, contact info@meryl.net

Professional Speaker and Trainer

Conference and event organizers, organizations, and companies invite me as a speaker and trainer on the topics of accessibility and inclusion with a focus on people with disabilities. I customize my presentations and training based on your requirements.

Every presentation contains 3 E's …

- Educate attendees
- Entertain
- Encourage action

Signature speaking and training topics include the following.

- Accessibility and disability awareness series
- PoPCom(m): Progress over perfection in communication and accessibility
- Why and how to create accessible communication and content
- Virtual reality accessibility: Ensuring accessible virtual experiences
- How to get started in accessibility

Recent engagements include:

- Private companies and government organizations: Progressive, FlatIron Health, PwC, ETS, Pluto TV
- TEDx Plano: (re)connecting
- axe-con: Design XR Tools with Disability Inclusion in Mind
- AWE: Disability-Inclusive Design of XR Collaboration Tools
- PCMA Convening Leaders Conference: Demystifying Accessibility: How to Ensure Your Events and Experiences are Inclusive and Inviting
- A11yTalks: Shattering Misconceptions about Deafness
- A11yTO Conf: What Y’all Need to Know About Captioned Videos on Social Media, Eh?
- Content Marketing World: “Accessibility Is Everyone’s Job — Marketing Included”
- Inclusive Design 24 (ID24): Deaf Tech: Travel Through Time from Past to Future
- Knowbility AccessU: How to Create Accessible Captions and How to Create Accessible Social Media and Website Content

Meryl Evans

I’ve been active on LinkedIn for more than five years. Most of that time, I showed up consistently to share what I know about accessibility and disability inclusion. That work still matters deeply to me.  It shaped how I see systems, communication, and the real impact of unclear processes. It also remains a core part of my advocacy and speaking work.

I’m still a speaker on accessibility, disabilities, change management, and communication, and I speak on other topics too. Feel free to reach out if you’re looking for a speaker.

But in the last couple of months, I stepped back. Not completely, but enough to notice the difference. The time I was putting in wasn’t returning enough opportunities to justify swallowing up my days. I’m still here, just not at the pace I kept before.

That pause gave me space to rethink how I want to show up.

The reality is that accessibility and disability inclusion are still important to me. Aside from speaking gigs, they aren’t where the opportunities are right now. The roles and gigs that align with my strengths - and actually exist - are in program and operations work. Diagnosing breakdowns. Creating clarity. Building workflows that reduce friction. Making things easier for people to do their jobs.

The pause also reminded me that progress matters more than perfection. I don’t need to post constantly or chase every trend. I just need to show up with clarity about the work I’m moving toward and the value I bring.

I’ll still be here, just with a healthier balance and a clearer focus on the kind of work that creates opportunities. Have you changed how you spend your time here?

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#operations

Image: Me with long brown curly hair wearing a purple shirt that says "Progress not perfection." Tidbit: I accidentally ordered the wrong "Progress" shirt. I prefer "Progress over perfection," but I love the purple, and it's still a good sweatshirt!

Meryl Evans, CPACC

Program and operations specialist who diagnoses breakdowns and builds clear, repeatable workflows. Speaker and author with a focus on accessibility and communication.

Holy cow! Thank you for the hundreds of birthday wishes!

They may seem small, but every message meant a lot. I appreciate every person who took a moment out of their day.

The year didn’t start the way I hoped (hello, January germs), but I’m turning it around and I want to make sure you get something valuable out of being connected with me here.

If you’re in my network, here are a few ways I can support you or your organization:

- If your organization brings in speakers: I deliver practical, engaging sessions that help teams work smarter, communicate more clearly, and solve real problems. My talks are built around what your employees are struggling with, whether that’s collaboration, clarity, workflow challenges, or creating better experiences for the people they serve.

- If you know organizations that host speakers: You can be the person who connects them with someone who makes their teams’ lives easier.

- If your organization is hiring for operations, program coordination, or content‑focused roles: I’m open to the right employment opportunity where my ability to organize chaos, support teams, and keep work moving forward can make a real impact.

- If your team needs support but can’t hire full‑time: I can jump in on content, marketing, processes, program support, and other operational challenges. The behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps everything moving.

- If you’re not in a position to partner with me: A recommendation or referral helps more than you know. And I’ll send a gift card for any referral that referral resulting in paid work.

Thank you again for the birthday love and for being part of my community. I’m excited to make 2026 a stronger, more connected year ... together.

Image: I'm about five years old with long hair and a red ribbon in my hair, hearing aids, and leaning over a Mickey Mouse birthday cake to blow out the candles.

I’m still here! I took a much‑needed break from LinkedIn and then got knocked out by a New Year bug. The brain fog is real, but I’m slowly working my way back … determined to make 2026 awesome.

Over the holidays, I baked my most‑requested cookies: chocolate mint. They always disappear fast. But this time, something was off ... I had accidentally used the wrong butter (unsalted instead of salted). One tiny ingredient mistake changed the entire outcome.

That small mistake was a big reminder:

**Processes matter. Checklists matter. And skipping one step -- just one -- can derail the whole result.**

In accessibility, we talk about going beyond checklists. And that’s true. But we still need them. Documented processes keep teams aligned, prevent rework, and make it easier to spot where things can run faster or smoother.

My first job out of college was steeped in continuous process improvement, and that foundation has shaped everything I do: consulting, accessibility work, volunteering, even theatre. I’m the person who walks in, spots the friction, and builds a system that removes it.

And here’s the thing:

**Tools like AI and shiny new apps don’t fix broken workflows. They amplify them.**  

Without people, training, and clear processes, even the best tool goes unused.

The balance looks like this:

- Document enough, but not too much  
- Make information easy to find  
- Help new people ramp up quickly  
- Prevent “wrong butter” moments before they happen  

That’s the kind of work that creates real impact: clearer systems, smoother workflows, and fewer mistakes

I’m open to roles in marketing, community, accessibility, and operations where I can help people work better together. I stay in my lane, but I’m comfortable in more than one lane.

Here’s to a smoother, smarter, better‑documented 2026.

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How many of you have two printers? One color and one plain one? Do you only use the color printer when you need a printout with colors?

It turns out that we need to use both printers consistently. If you go too long without using a printer, it causes the ink to dry up and potentially clog the nozzles.

How many of you intentionally avoid pressing the wheelchair button to open the doors?

Maybe you do it because you don't need them. Maybe you do it because you want to ensure they stay in working order.

Like using the printers regularly, we should press the button to open the doors. It keeps them in working order. In other words, you help keep the doors from clogging like a color printer.

And don't judge someone for using the door when they may not visibly need it. They're helping.

Thanks for the education, Tiffany Lyman Otten!

#MerylMots
#Accessibility

this is such a small gesture in terms of effort that you can do to make a big impact. you never know who could have issues with this and I'm so grateful to people like Marjorie Clayman and Meryl Evans, CPACC who keep bringing things like this to my awareness. 

I do believe most people aren't intentionally ignorant about these things or meaning to cause difficulty for others, but then when you know better you need to do better. ignorance in and of itself is just lack of exposure but willful ignorance is a choice. I learned for example a few years ago that I was doing something that I thought was supposed to be helpful that was actually hurtful. I intentionally would not use the button for wheelchair access doors because I thought, I don't need that, I don't want to wear it out. 

turns out opening them without it and actually wear out the hydraulics worse and make them non-functional. I only knew this because of someone I know in a wheelchair who posted about it. they were trapped in the cold unable to enter the mall they had tried to attend. thankfully they were traveling with somebody who was able to get the door but what if they were solo? 

I share that example just as an example of well-intended ignorance. nobody expects perfection. but when you can do something that helps, especially something as small as this that can make a big impact, it's kind of a no-brainer don't you think?

taplio

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Amy Volas

Meryl Evans

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The Battle

Amy Volas

Meryl Evans

Followers

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Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Meryl Evans's LinkedIn Performance

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