About Us

John Sample Associates is a small, highly focused search firm specializing in difficult assignments for the rail and material handling industries. The organization has been successfully providing multi-level (from sales engineer to president) placements in varied markets and industries for over two decades.

We are comprised of consultants who have built a reputation of excellence around extensive coverage and delivering quality individuals to our clients. Our versatility and tenacity, coupled with a network of contacts dating back 20 years, separates John Sample Associates from other search firms.

John Sample

Born into a railroading family and raised in Philadelphia, PA, with over 30 years in industrial recruiting, John Sample has worked successfully in many industries, including food, banking, furniture, plumbing fixtures, and waste disposal. Presently the two primary industries of John Sample Associates are transportation and material handling.

With over 20 years in the transportation and material handling search industries, the John Sample Associates operation is lean—delivering first-rate talent to clients, with a researcher and two administrative assistants, John brings to his enterprise ten years experience with larger search firms, including Frank C. Brown, John S. Studwell Associates, and Skott/Edwards Consultants.

John’s variety of earlier work experiences provided a rich background from which to launch his career in industrial recruiting.  These include stints as an English teacher/dorm master at St. Albans School, Washington, DC; a Draftsman at O.C. Chapman Naval Architects, Philadelphia, PA; a Recreational Therapist in mental health at Chestnut Lodge, Rockville, MD; and a Public Relations Copy Writer with Nelson Sykes Assoc. in NYC.

Having worn many hats in his previous working life, John easily adapts to broadly differing recruiting requirements in many fields.

He holds a B.A. degree from Antioch College and completed 30 graduate M.B.A. study credits in Industrial Psychology at Baruch College, Unit of CCNY, New York City.  He also served in both the Merchant Marine (USMMA, Kings Pt., NY) and U.S. Army.

John’s outside interest include travel (particularly rail); reading (psychobiography is a favorite); sports (swimming, baseball, tennis, squash).  In addition, he has developed a recent interest in sculpture in the form of abstract installations.

He is a member of the Electric Railroaders’ Assoc. and MENSA.  His company has advertised in “Mass Transit”, “Railway Age”, “Passenger Transport”, and “Powder and Bulk Engineering”.