This page was last updated on 5/11/2023.

Overview

Howard & O’Brien Associates is committed to respecting the privacy of our users. We strive to provide a safe, secure user experience. This Privacy Policy explains how Howard & O’Brien Associates collects, uses, and discloses individually identifiable information ("Personal Information") that we obtain through our website. Please read this information carefully.

The Howard & O’Brien Associates website contains links to other websites over which we have no control. We are not responsible for the privacy policies or practices of other websites to which you choose to link from our website. We encourage you to review the privacy policy of those other websites so you can understand how they collect, use and share your information.

Please note that Howard & O’Brien Associates reviews its privacy practices from time to time, and that those practices are subject to change. We ask that you bookmark and periodically review this page to ensure continuing familiarity with the most current version of our Privacy Policy. You can determine when this Policy was last revised by checking the “Effective Date” at the top of the Policy. To contact Howard & O’Brien Associates about privacy issues, to report a violation of our Privacy Policy or to raise any other issue, please e-mail us at Privacy Manager.

Collection of Information

Howard & O’Brien Associates collects various categories of Personal Information on this website in order to be able to provide services as an executive search firm. If you submit an inquiry or question via an online form or email, we may collect your name, email address, or other Personal Information contained in that correspondence. If you are a potential candidate, this data typically comprises what is included in a standard curriculum vitae/resume, (e.g., name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, employment history, degrees and other qualifications, languages and other skills). It also may include interview notes, comments from referees and a record of our contacts with individuals. In addition, our data may include biographical details found in the public domain as well as information gained from private sources.

If you are a Client or potential Client, we may collect your name, contact details, title or position, products or services requested, or other information that you provide via online forms or email correspondence. We make every effort to ensure that any information held is accurate and kept as up-to-date as possible. We do not obtain information under false pretences.

With respect to all website visitors, we do not wish to collect any "sensitive" Personal Information, such as racial or ethnic origin, age, political, religious, or philosophical beliefs, sexual life, social security or other government identification numbers, trade union membership, health or medical conditions, or criminal history unless legally required for recruiting purposes. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children (that is, minors younger than eighteen years of age).

Use and Disclosure of Personal Information

We generally use the information that we collect for the purposes for which it is provided and to enhance our Search Services. We may use Personal Information to respond to your inquiries and answer your questions, to provide you with requested information, and to undertake activities in connection with the conduct and management of our executive search or other services, such as evaluating candidate qualifications, contacting potential candidates for further Personal Information, contacting named references, and communicating with Clients about potential candidates. We also may use Personal Information for the purposes of testing and maintaining our company databases, networks, and computer systems, and for training and other internal purposes.

All information collected/provided to us is entered into our proprietary database. Only Howard & O’Brien Associates employees and its affiliates have access to this data, which is used only for the purposes of executive recruitment and related services. Any individual who sends us an unsolicited resume or enters his or her personal data into our Candidate Profile System on our website should be aware that this information might be added to our proprietary database.

Data Usage

Like many websites, we passively collect data about website usage through various means. We use Internet protocol (IP) addresses to identify server problems, administer the site, and compile aggregated statistics for marketing and research purposes. We use navigational data, including log files and click-stream data, to identify information about your web browser and operating system, and the time period in which you visit the website or a portion of the website. This information is used to administer the website, improve site content, and compile aggregated statistics for research purposes. We also use small text files called "cookies" that are sent to the hard drive of your computer to store bits of information related to your use of the website. You may configure your Internet browser to reject cookies. However, if you do so, you might not be able to access important functions or enjoy certain conveniences at this website. We do not combine passively collected data with actively collected Personal Information, and therefore passively collected data is not linked to your identity.

Your personal information is used only for the intended purposes stated at the time of collection. Howard & O’Brien Associates does not sell or share your personal information for related or unrelated purposes to non-licensee third parties, unless otherwise stated at the time of collection or required by law.

Compliance; emergencies. Subject to applicable law, we reserve the right to use and release any information that we have collected when we believe in good faith that the law requires it, that unlawful activity may have taken place, to enforce our other policies or published guidelines, to protect the rights, property, safety or security of Howard & O’Brien Associates, our visitors or the public, or to respond to an emergency.

Disclosure to service providers. Howard & O’Brien Associates works with third parties who provide services that may include, but are not necessarily limited to, assessment services, including assessment validation services, hosting, data analysis, resume verification, background checking and other administrative and back-up and security services. We reserve the right to share Personal and other information with such third parties for the purpose of providing their services. In addition, our software development partners may use such information for purposes of modifying, improving, refining and validating their technology, and research and development.

Disclosure to affiliates. We share the information that we collect with our affiliated companies and we may share the information that we collect with our strategic partners.

Use of Data by Clients and Others

We cannot and do not assume any responsibility for the actions or omissions of third parties, such as clients, service providers or strategic partners, including the manner in which they use information received either from Howard & O’Brien Associates or from other independent sources.

HowardOBrien.com may contain links to other Internet websites, including co-branded or other affiliated sites which may or may not be owned or operated by Howard & O’Brien Associates. Unless otherwise expressly stated, we are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such websites, including such s’ use of any information collected through cookies or other technologies when visitors to the site click through links to those sites. You should review the privacy policies associated with such sites to understand how their operators collect and use information. THIS POLICY DOES NOT ADDRESS THE PRIVACY OR INFORMATION PRACTICES OF ANY THIRD PARTIES.

We will not process your personal information in a way that is incompatible with what is outlined in the Privacy Statement, and will use our best efforts to ensure that data is accurate, complete, current and reliable for its intended use. We also will use our best efforts to protect your information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction.

Newsletter, Website/Service Updates and Surveys

Howard & O’Brien Associates may offer newsletters, service updates and surveys to registered and unregistered users of the website via e-mail. If you wish to unsubscribe from a newsletter, please follow the directions at the bottom of the newsletter and you will be taken off the recipient list.

Security

Howard & O’Brien Associates has security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of visitor information which is under our control. Unfortunately, however, no security system, or system of transmitting data over the Internet, can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee the security of our servers, the means by which information is transmitted between your computer and Howard & O’Brien Associates servers, or any information provided to us or to any third party through or in connection with the our website.

Material Changes to the Privacy Policy

Howard & O’Brien Associates reserves the right to modify or amend the Privacy Policy at any time and for any reason. If there are material changes to the Privacy Policy, we will post those changes here so that you can keep informed. Please check back to this Privacy Policy from time to time to stay informed.

Nothing contained in this Privacy Policy is intended to create a contract or agreement between Howard & O’Brien Associates and any user visiting the website or providing identifying information in any form.

Questions?

Questions regarding this Policy should be directed to Howard & O’Brien Associates at Privacy Manager or, if by postal mail, at Howard & O’Brien Associates; 3695 Green Road, #221015, Cleveland, OH 44122, 
Attn: Privacy Coordinator.