DM Estate Staffing’s team is at the heart of everything we do. We are a group of dedicated estate staffing experts who are passionate about connecting top-tier talent with discerning clients. Each member of our team brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and a deep commitment to ensuring that your estate and family office staffing needs are met with excellence. Our team members are experts and partners in elevating your home or family office to the highest levels of efficiency.
Daniel has been a leader in the hospitality industry for over 25 years, including 12 years in private luxury services as an Estate Manager, Private Chef, and Yacht Chef. He has extensive experience in all sides of the hiring triangle: as a candidate, a hiring manager, and a third-party recruiter. This understanding of all facets of the private service market allows Daniel to make such effective matches when pairing the right candidate with the right environment.
Daniel began his professional career as a chef in fine dining restaurants in Maryland, Florida, and Germany after studying culinary arts at Johnson and Wales University. He gained his first Private Chef position for a family in 1999, traveling with them as they rotated through their homes in the US, along with summers in France. From 2001 through 2006, he accepted Executive Chef, Private Chef, and Yacht Chef assignments in California, Dubai, London, France, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, and Mexico, expanding his culinary expertise at every venue. In his role as an Estate Manager | Private Chef, Daniel managed three luxury residences in the US and Europe while preparing world-class, creative dinners for the family. For five years, he ensured the family’s homes were as beautiful and detailed as the gourmet meals served to the principals.
By 2008, Daniel was ready for an additional challenge and accepted a simultaneous role as a recruiter for a well-known Private Chef placement agency. In this capacity, he found his second passion: matching qualified chefs with private employers to create effective and professional long-term relationships.
In 2012, Daniel founded Domestic | Match, a boutique private service staffing agency that served the needs of prominent families throughout the United States. After three years of success with Domestic | Match, he saw a need for a separate Private Chef division and launched Private Chef | Match. PCM referred highly skilled culinary professionals to families, yacht owners, and corporations worldwide.
In 2024, after 12 years of expansion, Daniel rebranded the company. Domestic | Match and Private Chef | Match became DM Estate Staffing.
Today, Daniel enjoys working closely with clients and candidates alike, helping both sides understand the recruitment process while guiding them to achieve the best possible match for all parties.
Katharina has been with DM Estate Staffing from day one; she is the glue that keeps our dedicated team together. Katharina grew up in Konstanz, Germany, and received a Bachelor’s in English from the University of Konstanz. With a love for travel and learning languages, Katharina moved to the South of France in 2000 to attend a French-language school in Cannes, France. While in France, she met Daniel, who was cooking for a family nearby in Mougins. Daniel and Katharina traveled the world before settling in the San Francisco Bay Area.
In 2017, Katharina earned her Master’s of Arts and Education from Notre Dame de Namur University.
With over 15 years of dedicated experience in the private service sector, Jenni brings a unique blend of professionalism and a personal touch to DM Estate Staffing. Jenni deeply understands the complexities of working within private households and is committed to fostering genuine partnerships with both clients and candidates, with the aim of securing long-lasting, mutually beneficial matches.
Jenni’s journey in private service began in 2003, shortly after earning her Bachelor of Arts in English. She started as a Nanny and Family Assistant in Dallas, Texas, where she played an essential role in raising the children in her care. This included coaching their sports teams and providing support for various events and private gatherings. Her warm demeanor and commitment quickly made her an integral part of the family. After four years with them, Jenni decided to further her education and moved to Hawaii to pursue a Master’s in Secondary Education. During her time in Hawaii, she continued her work as a Nanny and Family Assistant for two more years before transitioning to a middle school teaching position at a private school. There, she contributed significantly to various school and community projects, displaying her passion for working with children and young adults.
In 2012, Jenni relocated to Washington, DC, where she had the opportunity to work as a Nanny for a highly respected family. However, her role quickly evolved as she assumed the position of House Manager and Family Assistant, where she remained for nearly a decade. In this capacity, Jenni served as a trusted advisor to the family, accompanying them on domestic trips, overseeing event planning and execution, and playing a crucial role in staff recruitment. Additionally, she worked as the Operations Manager for the family’s philanthropic foundation, demonstrating her dynamic leadership and organizational skills. Her genuine interest in connecting with individuals from diverse backgrounds ultimately inspired her to pursue a career in staffing.
Today, as the Estate Staffing Director at DM Estate Staffing, Jenni acts as the bridge between our team and our clients, overseeing the daily operations of our organization. She specializes in placing Private Chefs, Household and Estate Managers, and Personal Assistants. What truly fulfills her is working closely with clients and candidates to help them find the perfect, long-term match.
With 15+ years of experience as a private service professional, Lori brings a unique understanding of various household service positions to her role at DM Estate Staffing. Lori began her career in private service in Florida in 2003, working as a Nanny and Family Assistant in Palm Beach. She quickly became a valuable asset, and her role changed to Personal Assistant and House Manager over the years. From there, Lori’s organizational background and love for private service motivated her to start her own business as a freelance Personal Assistant and Professional Organizer.
For eight years, Lori served prominent business leaders and families as their Personal Assistant, Organizer, House Manager, and Nanny. In late 2014, Lori decided to pursue a long-time dream of moving to California. She began working with a private family in the Bay Area and was able to utilize all her private service experience to assist their growing family. Over the years, Lori had the pleasure of hiring many great staff members and building teams for her client’s homes. She truly enjoys meeting new people, and this passion and experience led her to begin a career in recruiting.
As an Estate Staffing Consultant at DM Estate Staffing, Lori specializes in working with Personal Assistants, Executive Assistants, and House Managers and utilizes her excellent relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills to provide exceptional service to our candidates and clients.
Lori is a Golden Circle member of NAPO (The National Association of Productivity and Organizing).
As an Administrative Executive Assistant for over 14 years, Lynn supported busy executives and teams. As a Recruiting Assistant with DM Estate Staffing, she brings her strong attention to detail, vivacious and cheerful attitude, and friendly demeanor to her daily work. Lynn is a critical right-hand to those she works with and enjoys supporting our growing recruiting team.
Before becoming a Recruiting Assistant at DM Estate Staffing, Kim was the Administrative Services Coordinator at a large independent private school. For over 20 years, she supported students and families as they navigated through the high school experience. With her positive attitude, patience, organizational skills, and keen eye for detail, Kim provides invaluable support to the DM Estate Staffing recruiting team.
Yesenia joined us in 2016 and is currently a part-time Administrative Assistant. Before joining DM Estate Staffing, Yesenia worked as a Nanny for a private family for three years while obtaining her Business Administration degree from Foothill College. After graduating, she began her career with us as a Recruiting Assistant and quickly moved into the role of Placement Counselor. Thanks to her private service experience, she understood what it takes to be successful in private service and how to make that critical match between employees and principals.
In 2019, Yesenia became a mother and took a step back to spend time as a stay-at-home mom, but returned in 2020 as a part-time admin to assist the team with small tasks and administrative work.
"The DM Estate Staffing team excels as professionals and people, working diligently to place candidates in fitting roles and supporting their success. They also partner with employers to find top-quality candidates, making them a standout agency in the personal service industry."
Former Candidate and Current Hiring Manager
"I have worked with DM Estate Staffing for many years and know the team well, including its owner, Daniel Wood. As the Director of Residences for prominent families, DM Estate Staffing consistently remains at the forefront of my choices when seeking staff for various positions. DM Estate Staffing stands among the best in our industry."
Hiring Manager
"We found a very talented, hard-working and honest chef through DM Estate Staffing. It was our first time using an agency, and we were pleasantly surprised with the quality of candidates presented to us for consideration. The team found personalities that fit our family, guided us through the interview and evaluation process, and continues to check in with us to ensure that we remain satisfied. We are very grateful!"
Client
"The consultants at DM Estate Staffing demonstrated an unwavering commitment to client satisfaction. They were responsive, proactive, and maintained open lines of communication throughout the hiring process. Their meticulous approach to candidate selection, coupled with their market expertise, made the entire recruitment process seamless and stress-free. Our partnership has been nothing short of exemplary!"
Hiring Manager
"Daniel and his team are the rare intersection of knowledge, network and care. They really care about the placements they make, for the candidates and the owners. They know the business from the inside, and out, and maintain positive relationships with thousands of potential candidates. They are looking for a placements that really work, and for over 10 years, they have provided me with exactly that."
"I am eternally grateful to DM Estate Staffing for matching us with an outstanding housekeeper / house manager, who not only is honest, hard-working and exceptionally detail oriented, but also a gracious, strong, wonderful woman that we are so happy to have as part of our family in our home. They have continued to remain a wonderful resource for years post hiring with any questions that I have. That kind of follow through and relationship with a company makes it not just your average placement organization. They are hands-down, the best!"
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