Our Team

The Harder Consulting Team

Elizabeth Harder,  President and Owner 

Before founding Harder Consulting, Inc. in 1998 Liz worked as an Auditor for KPMG and held accounting management positions for companies in the distribution and financial services industries. She began her career in the staffing industry when she was hired to open the Houston office for a Dallas-based staffing firm in 1992.

Liz moved to Austin in 1995 and has been active in the community ever since. She is the Past President of the Capital City Association of Personnel Consultants and Secretary of the Texas Association of Personnel Consultants. She is also the Past President of the Austin Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance & Accounting, and the Past President of the Westwood High School Skills USA Booster Club. Liz is currently the President of the American Association of Finance & Accounting. She is a member of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants and has served as a volunteer for Junior Achievement and the Accounting Career Awareness Program. She has served as a mentor for student chapters of ALPFA and HBSA at the University of Texas at Austin.

Liz received her Bachelors degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Cindy Bowden, Director of Staffing

Cindy Bowden manages the day-to-day coordination of client-based consultants and is responsible for working with Harder Consulting clients to ensure that their staffing needs are met. She holds the CTS designation and has been with Harder Consulting for 11 years.

Cindy began her career in early childhood education and then transitioned into retail. While at Marshall's Cindy was Manager responsible for front end operations, as well as human resources. She also oversaw merchandising and training of associates. She opened 4 new stores for the company and was promoted to Assistant Store Manager where she had overall store management and hiring responsibilities for full-time and part-time personnel.

Deb Nicolas, Executive Recruiter

Deb is personally invested in the staffing process, as she began her career as a traditional temp employee. Her experience as a temp taught Deb how important it is to get to know clients and candidates, to provide only the best possible solutions to the hiring process.

When Deb began recruiting in the technology field, she knew she had found her dream job. After eighteen years on the job, Deb is still passionate about recruiting and staffing, and is driven to match great people with great companies.

At Harder Consulting, Deb fills both contract and direct hire jobs mainly in the Austin, Texas market. Deb's interests include gardening and sports-- she's a big fan of watching football and hockey.

David Gillian, Executive Recruiter

David joined Harder Consulting in 2011. David has worked with individuals from all walks of life assisting them to find better positions for themselves. He is excited to be a part of our team, so he can continue working with professionals seeking to advance their careers.

David has been very involved within the community in Austin and Round Rock, Texas having worked with the Texas Baptist's Children Home and Adult Protective Services.   

We are happy to have David Gillian as a part of our recruiting team.