Senior technical recruiting for energy, engineering, AI, Grid technology, Utilities, Data Center and telecommunication organizations. 300–400 hires annually high-growth companies.
From embedded part-time support to full senior technical searches, Bearango delivers recruiting grounded in real expertise — not keyword matching.
Precision sourcing for senior engineers, data scientists, architects, and technical leaders. Specialized in energy, engineering, AI, technology, telecommunications, data center, and utilities sectors.
Leverage AI tools to build smarter talent pipelines. From workforce planning to DEI strategy, we build systems that find the right humans — faster.
Embedded recruiting support without the full-time overhead. Ideal for scaling teams that need consistent, reliable hiring execution.
Strategic workforce planning for organizations navigating growth, restructuring, or new market entry. Built on 20+ years of national laboratory and industry experience.

President's Award & Chairman's Award — National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL)
Christopher Robin Nash is a senior talent acquisition strategist with over two decades of experience building high-performing teams at the nation’s most demanding organizations. He spent 2013–2025 at the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL), leading recruiting teams that filled 300–400 positions annually through 2020, then transitioning to Education Program Management — overseeing faculty hiring and internship programs from 2020 to 2025.
Now operating through Bearango LLC in Durango, Colorado, Chris combines that deep human expertise with AI-powered sourcing tools to deliver recruiting that’s faster, smarter, and more accurate than traditional approaches — serving energy, engineering, AI, technology, and telecommunications organizations across Colorado and the country.
Four clear steps from brief to hire. No black boxes, no mystery pipelines — just disciplined execution.
We start by understanding your team, culture, and the exact profile you need. No templates — every search is custom-built.
Using LinkedIn Recruiter and AI tools, we build a targeted pipeline of qualified candidates — not just resume-keyword matches.
Every candidate is personally screened for technical fit, culture alignment, and genuine interest. You only see the right people.
Detailed candidate briefs, interview coordination, and offer negotiation support through to a signed offer.

Christopher Robin Nash has received 20 recommendations from colleagues, hiring managers, and leaders across the National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL), national laboratories, and the broader energy, engineering, and technology community.
“It was fantastic working with Chris at NREL. He was always incredibly collaborative and informative around all aspects of work. Whether it be connecting on a hard-to-fill role, developing a DEI strategy, re-mapping process flows, or helping another department, Chris brought his passion and knowledge around our mission to the table so we could all succeed. I'd always welcome working with Chris again in the future.”
“Chris is an excellent recruiter and team member! He is dependable and hard-working. He has a unique capability to form relationships at all levels — with candidates and managers alike. He keeps the good of the team in mind and works hard to make improvements that benefit the whole. He is strategic and results-oriented. I would hire him and work with him again in a minute!”
“I had the pleasure of working with Chris for a number of years. Chris was hired into our company as a Talent Acquisition Program Manager. We went from a post and pray model to a strategic model. Chris first focused on getting to know our business, the key stakeholders and gaining a keen understanding of the critical skillsets required for us to be successful. Chris has a unique ability to understand technologies and speak to them in a way that you would think he is actually technical. Chris could sell candidates on the organization and the opportunity like no one I have seen. I can't say enough about his creative talent, professionalism and mastery of his craft.”
“Chris knows how to execute — amazing to work with!”
“I've had the pleasure of working with Chris at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) over the past two years. He is an innovative thinker with a firm understanding of recruiting. Chris worked closely with Hiring Managers to execute recruiting activities. He also developed and implemented sourcing strategies to build candidate pipelines for key skill sets. His creative thinking, motivating attitude, willingness to help anyone at any time and his drive makes him a successful, highly respected recruiter. I highly recommend Chris to any company.”
“It was a privilege to work with Chris at NREL, he was my recruiter. He is very passionate about his work and brings a unique set of interpersonal skills on the table. Very agile, swift talker, proactive, dedicated and professional pleasure to work with. He does an awesome job of providing great interview experience and also very helpful after onboarding. He has a great understanding of the technical subjects and perfected the art of evaluating perfect fit for the company. I am certain that he would be sparkling in his duties wherever he goes.”
“Chris Nash has a gift. He is able to build relationships better than anyone I've ever met. Hiring managers, co-workers and candidates love working with Chris because he is so genuinely personable, kind and engaging. All of this has made Chris a fantastic ambassador for NREL, a super co-worker, and overall a great person to know. I would, without hesitation, recommend Christopher Robin Nash for any recruiting role.”
“I had the opportunity to work with Chris at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). I was working a contract assignment in a completely new setting and industry. Chris served as a great mentor for processes and procedures that brought me up to speed quickly. His wealth of diverse knowledge made him an excellent resource for me. Chris is a true professional, and possesses the desired interpersonal and intellectual skill sets. These combinations will make him an integral part of any organization.”
“Chris is an ethical, results driven employee and was a pleasure to work with. I strongly recommend him.”
“Chris is capable to accomplish anything he sets his mind to do. He is excellent at working with a team or independently. His communication, managerial, and motivational skills make him an ideal leader. It was a pleasure working with him, as he has the ability to inspire and make a plan cohesive by utilizing his and others' strengths, and focusing them to the task at hand. Any organization would benefit from his insightful leadership.”
“Chris Nash has strong leadership qualities, strong work ethics and an amazing ability to keep morale high. His outstanding sales skills raise him high above other Strategic Staffing Program managers that I have worked with in the past.”
“Chris is a consummate professional who knows how to identify talent to achieve and exceed organizational goals. He has the ability to drive results by earning credibility across the organization through unquestioned integrity, outstanding intellect and his commitment to the overall big picture. I admire him for his ability to operate as both an advisor and catalyst for driving change. I would recommend Chris without reservation.”
“Chris never fails to get the job done, takes the extra steps to make sure everything is perfect.”
“Not to give Chris too big a head, but he is one of the nicest, most honest, coolest recruiting people I have ever worked with. On top of being a master at his trade, he is a fun and funny guy, great entertainment for any occasion. He has my very best personal and professional recommendation.”
“Chris is great! I love working with him because he takes the time to ask what you're really looking for in a new employee. He continues to work with you and follow up whether you hire his candidate or not — because there's always a next time! He understands the 'fit' between potential new hires and the company is so important to us. I enjoy working with Chris! I can't say enough good things about him!”
“Chris has been a pleasure to work with. He is always ready to lend a hand or sit in on a conversation to help advise a course of action. He is professional and thorough in everything he does.”
“Chris is an excellent salesman that knows how to open and cultivate strong business relationships. His strengths lie in his ability to build a foundation of trust and mutual respect with his clients. He is an excellent team member with a fantastic sense of humor. He was extremely well liked and well respected by everyone here at StarTechnical and it was a shame to lose him. I can't say enough good things about Chris. I recommend him highly.”
“Chris Nash is a very effective account executive. He has an uncanny ability to build strong relationships with his clients and always keeps customer service at the forefront. He was successful in a new industry very quickly because of his work ethic and desire for continuous improvement. I would highly recommend Chris for any client facing role.”
“Chris Bear Nash is responsible for me entering a life-long career in sales. Bear was the first person that gave me an understanding about the sales process as I know it today. He is a resource I will use as long as I live. He understands the sales process as few do. He succeeds because of his inherent personality qualities that exemplify a salesperson.”
“Chris is a motivated and hard-working individual. His professional attitude and enthusiasm make working with him a pleasure. He has an ability to visualize a goal and find inspirational ways to attain it. His upbeat outlook and application of knowledge and experience make him a value to any group or organization. His leadership qualities are enviable and his willingness to share insight in a constructive way helps encourage colleagues to achieve their potential. Chris is the type of person I would be delighted to work with in the future.”
20 recommendations from colleagues, managers, and clients across energy, engineering, AI, data center, utilities, and telecommunications.
Schedule a Discovery CallNo hidden fees. No surprises. Every engagement model is explained upfront so you can choose what fits your hiring timeline and budget.
You embed with a company for several months as a senior technical recruiter. Predictable income, deep client relationships, and full-cycle ownership of every search.
No placement, no fee. You charge a percentage of the hired candidate's first-year salary — only when the right hire is made. Ideal for specialized technical and leadership roles.
Ongoing monthly recruiting support for startups and growth-stage companies that need a dedicated recruiting partner without the cost of a full-time hire.
All rates are 1099 independent contractor / Corp-to-Corp. Payment via ACH, check, or Stripe. Net 15 terms. Most engagements combine two or more models.
Most engagements combine contract work with contingency search fees. Here's a realistic annual income scenario.
| Revenue Source | Annual Estimate |
|---|---|
| Contract recruiting ($80/hr, 6 months) | $83,000 |
| Contingency search (4 hires × $35K fee) | $140,000 |
| Startup retainer (1 client × $8K/month) | $96,000 |
| Total Potential | $319,000 |
Figures are illustrative estimates based on Boulder/Denver market data. Actual results depend on client volume, search complexity, and engagement mix.
Energy tech, national lab hiring, and AI/ML roles require domain fluency most generalist recruiters simply don't have. That expertise commands premium fees.
Higher salaries mean higher search fees. A 25% contingency fee on a $180K AI engineer role generates $45,000 per placement.
Using tools like LinkedIn Recruiter, Clay, Apollo, and AI screening, one recruiter can now manage 5–10 searches simultaneously — without sacrificing quality.
The corridor has surging demand from AI/ML startups, climate tech, energy transition companies, aerospace contractors, and SaaS firms that can't hire internal recruiters fast enough.
Whether you have an urgent senior role to fill or need a long-term recruiting partner, let's start with a 30-minute discovery call. No pitch, no pressure — just a real conversation about your hiring needs.