--- title: IX Communities - About Us --- [![IX Communities Logo](https://ixcommunities.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png?width=1915&height=300&name=ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png "IX Communities Logo")](https://ixcommunities.com?hsLang=en) [![IX Communities Logo](https://ixcommunities.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png?width=1915&height=300&name=ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png "IX Communities Logo")](https://ixcommunities.com/?hsLang=en) [![IX Communities Logo](https://ixcommunities.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png?width=1915&height=300&name=ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png "IX Communities Logo")](https://ixcommunities.com/?hsLang=en) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. - [Membership](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/membership) - [News](https://ixcommunities.org/news) - Communities - [Talent Acquisition Leaders](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/talent-leaders-information-exchange-who-we-are) - [Executive Recruiting Leaders](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/executive-search-information-exchange-who-we-are) - [Diversity Recruiting Leaders](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/diversity-strategy-information-exchange-who-we-are) - Team Development - [Recruiter Training Courses](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/ix-academy-recruiter-training-3) - [Mentorship Programs](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/en-us/ix-communities-mentorship-programs) - [Expert Speakers](https://ixcommunities.com/en/ix-communities-guest-speakers) - [Talent Strategy Books](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/books-by-ix-communities-experts-1) - [Leader Video Series](https://ixcommunities.com/blair-basant-linkedin-interviews) - [Member Login](https://ixcommunities.org/) ![logo\_IX-Acronyms\_RGB](https://ixcommunities.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo_IX-Acronyms_RGB.gif?width=2000&height=484&name=logo_IX-Acronyms_RGB.gif "logo_IX-Acronyms_RGB") ## About Us ### We are passionate about sharing our knowledge with IX community members to enable the development of their teams and themselves. ## Our Story **IX Communities** originated and evolved out of our first community, **Executive Search Information Exchange | ESIX. ** ESIXstarted in 1996 as a research and discussion group for the heads of executive recruiting from leading global corporations, in response to requests from corporations to implement best practices in executive recruiting. For over 30 years, more than 100 Fortune 500 corporate members have improved their executive search effectiveness through their participation in ESIX. During this time, we were frequently approached by the leaders of the talent acquisition function who shared that there was a void in networking and best practice sharing for the functional leaders of recruiting. In 2021 we created the **Talent Leader Information Exchange | TLIX** to bring together global leaders of the recruiting function. This invitation-only community of TA leaders and their teams participate in both open-forum and structured discussions with a shared commitment to participation, candor, and confidentiality.  The growth of these communities and the conversations that they yielded led us to the creation of a third community in 2023, **Diversity Strategy Information Exchange | DSIX**. Members of this community lead the diversity recruiting strategies for their organizations and address the unique challenges and opportunities related to creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable cultures through corporate recruiting strategies, processes, and practices.  **Simon Mullins** serves as the CEO of IX Communities. In addition, he has co-authored the book[Leadership Recruiting: Strategy, Tactics, and Tools for Hiring Organizations](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578775913/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860&linkCode=sl1&tag=e0413-20&linkId=d1b6a5c2e9177bc78a2efcfaa9961617&language=en_US) with [David Lord](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lord-a38252/), ESIX’s founder, and [Leadership Recruiting: Consulting Skills for Recruiters](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578934027?psc=1&smid=A1Y53T3O3Q25L8&linkCode=sl1&tag=e0413-20&linkId=29bb062ecfcba608f32b07de307bbbac&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) with Kelli Vukelic. Simon was also a course designer and instructor for the Executive Recruiting Specialization at the University of Washington in Seattle, and frequently speaks at industry forums and in the media. ## Our Team ### [Bernie Pheifer](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-1module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpheifer1/) ESIX Community Co-Host ![berniephoto](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/berniephoto.jpg) Bernie Pheifer ESIX Community Co-Host About Bernie Pheifer [View Sessions](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpheifer1/) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bpheifer1/) Facebook Instagram Twitter ### [Bianca Nishimura](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-2module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnishimura/) IX Communities Member Engagement & Events Coordinator ![Bianca photo](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/Bianca%20photo.jpg) Bianca Nishimura IX Communities Member Engagement & Events Coordinator About Bianca Nishimura [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bnishimura/) [Twitter](https://www.twitter.com/apex-lisasmith) ### [Cody Horton](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-3module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/diversityrecruiter/) DSIX Community Host, Author ![Cody 2](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/Cody%202.jpg) Cody Horton DSIX Community Host, Author About Cody Horton [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/diversityrecruiter/) Facebook Instagram Twitter ### [Kristi Barnhill](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-4module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristibarnhill/) IX Communities Program Manager ![Kristi](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/Kristi.jpg) Kristi Barnhill IX Communities Program Manager About Kristi Barnhill [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristibarnhill/) Facebook Instagram Twitter ### [Laura Thomas](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-5module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraskthomas/) ESIX Community Co-Host ![Laura photo 2-1](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/Laura%20photo%202-1.jpg) Laura Thomas ESIX Community Co-Host About Laura Thomas [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauraskthomas/) ### [Margie Medd](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-6module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/margiemedd/) IX Communities Operations, TLIX Community Manager ![Margie 3-1](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/Margie%203-1.jpg) Margie Medd IX Communities Operations, TLIX Community Manager About Margie Medd [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/margiemedd/) Facebook Instagram Twitter ### [Tara Argall](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-7module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/taraargall/) IX Community Host ![Tara photo](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/Tara%20photo.jpg) Tara Argall IX Community Host About Tara Argall [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/taraargall/) ### [Simon Mullins](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-8module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmullins/) Chief Facilitator and CEO, IX Communities, ESIX & TLIX Communities Host, Author ![Simon Bio Photo](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/Simon%20Bio%20Photo.jpg) Simon Mullins Chief Facilitator and CEO, IX Communities, ESIX & TLIX Communities Host, Author About Simon Mullins [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmullins/) Facebook Instagram Twitter ### [David Lord](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us#inline-content-9module_17129577166783)[Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lord-a38252/) ESIX Founder (retired) ![David Lord](https://ixcommunities.com/hubfs/David%20Lord.jpg) David Lord ESIX Founder (retired) About David Lord [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-lord-a38252/) [![IX Communities Logo](https://ixcommunities.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png?width=1915&height=300&name=ixcomms%20long%20plain%20logo%20for%20homepage-2.png "IX Communities Logo")](https://ixcommunities.com/?hsLang=en) IX Communities Seattle, WA +1 425 836 6575 [info@ixcommunities.com](mailto:info@ixcommunities.com)   FOLLOW US TLIX           DSIX           ESIX [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.linkedin.com/company/tlix-talent-leader-information-exchange/) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/dsix-diversity-strategy-information-exchange/) [Follow us on Twitter](https://www.linkedin.com/company/esix-executive-search-information-exchange/) - [HOME](https://ixcommunities.com/blog) - [MEMBERSHIP](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/membership) - [COMMUNITIES](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/community-connection) - [TEAM DEVELOPMENT](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/ix-academy-recruiter-training-3) - [ABOUT US](https://ixcommunities.com/ix-communities-about-us) - [CONTACT US](https://ixcommunities.com/en-us/contact-us) - [BLOG](https://blog.ixcommunities.com/blog)