When everyone else was running background checks on fax machines and electric typewriters, ClearStar put the whole process on the internet — before most businesses believed the internet was ready. That was 1995. We’ve been a step ahead ever since.
1995
1995
A security contract that revealed a much bigger problem.
What began as a contract to build a tool for security professionals quickly revealed something more valuable: an entire background screening industry operating in the dark ages — no technology, no standards, no scale. Compass, Inc. was incorporated in Alpharetta, Georgia with a straightforward mission: build what the industry needed but didn’t yet know how to ask for.
1996
1996
Rejected twice. Built it anyway.
Two separate screening companies turned down the system Compass proposed. Undeterred, the team went to the public library, found only two books on the entire background screening industry — both published by Locksmith Ledger — and concluded the market was wide open. They built the product on their own terms and took it directly to the industry.
1997
1997
Five copies sold before a single line shipped — and it worked.
Compass Clarity launched as a thin-client system installed on Windows NT servers, licensed per seat, and distributed at trade shows. Five screening companies bought it on speculation — before the product was finished. By 1999, over 40 companies were running on it. The per-seat model was a hit. Until it wasn’t. Training, updates, and support were straining under scale. The founders saw what was coming next: the internet.
2000
2000
First on the internet. First to make it affordable.
ClearStar launched as the industry’s first browser-based screening platform — and immediately faced skepticism. Y2K fears, unreliable connections, reluctance to abandon on-premise servers. Then came the move that changed everything: transaction-based pricing. For the first time, a screening company could pay only for what it used. Competitors called it a flawed model. Within three years it had become the industry standard.
2003
2003
A new name — and a hand in building the industry’s standards
Compass was formally renamed ClearStar, cementing an identity that matched the company’s ambition. The same year, ClearStar became a founding member of the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) — not just building technology for the industry, but helping define its professional standards and credibility from the ground up.
2008
2008
We stopped depending on others for our most critical asset.
ClearStar made a defining strategic move: become both the purchaser and provider of screening data. Owning the data relationship meant ClearStar could guarantee quality, negotiate at scale, and build products no one else could offer. For clients, it meant a partner who had as much riding on accuracy and speed as they did. Every product innovation that followed traces back to this decision.
2012
2012
The drug screening industry was still on paper. Not anymore.
The drug testing portion of a background check was a tangle of paper chain-of-custody forms, data gaps, and unreliable turnaround. ClearStar launched its Medical Information Services (MIS) division — delivering web-based drug screening technology to platform clients and wholesale MRO services to those who operated off-platform. Revenue from MIS grew 400% in two years. ClearStar appeared on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in America seven consecutive years running.
2013
2013
Court records automated across 1,000+ jurisdictions.
ClearStar launched CourtMojo™ — automating the retrieval of county criminal records across more than 1,000 county jurisdictions, statewide searches, and federal repositories in a single platform. What previously required manual courthouse requests could now be processed at speed and scale, giving clients faster results and fewer gaps in coverage.
2014
2014
London. Then the world. Then our first acquisition.
ClearStar listed on London’s AIM market, raising £15 million and putting a Georgia-built company on an international stage. Within months, ClearStar acquired SingleSource Services Corporation — a Florida-based firm founded by a former Inspector of Scotland Yard — growing its direct client base from roughly 500 to over 2,600 overnight. ClearStar also landed its first UK contract, beginning its push into international markets.
2016
2016
Global screening — every country, one platform.
ClearStar launched Sphere, an international records technology capable of retrieving background data from any non-sanctioned foreign country. For multinational employers, it eliminated the patchwork of local vendors and inconsistent processes that had made global hiring a compliance headache. One platform, global reach, no compromises.
2020
2020
The right partner — then three acquisitions in fifteen months.
Hanover Investors Management LLP acquired ClearStar in a take-private transaction on September 16, 2020. The mission didn’t change. The resources did. Hanover moved fast: in August 2021 ClearStar acquired Accutrace, Inc. — a Pennsylvania-based consumer reporting agency founded in 1989 — and just 120 days later acquired Employment Screening Resources (ESR), founded by industry pioneer Les Rosen. Two respected firms. One unified platform. Coast-to-coast presence. The foundation for the next thirty years.
Today
Today
Thirty years of building what the industry needed next.
The story of ClearStar is far from over.
Thirty years of building what the industry needed next.
The story of ClearStar is far from over.
The Leadership Behind ClearStar
The Experts Driving ClearStar Forward
Guiding our mission with decades of experience in technology, compliance, and workforce screening.
An accomplished executive and strategic advisor to organizations positioning for accelerated growth, Mike Pritts is an effective change agent and executive leader working in a diversity of environments for Fortune 100, mid-sized, and start-up companies. Mike most recently led Surescripts’ Product Innovation function as Chief Product Officer where the team successfully delivered innovative solutions solving healthcare’s most challenging issues. Their work digitizing provider workflows across the medication management lifecycle and the exchange of clinical histories on a national scale is one of healthcare’s signature success stories. Prior to Surescripts, Mike was a highly placed executive in leading high-tech companies such as Misys Healthcare Systems and LexisNexis, where he managed global development and services teams. He also served in executive roles with privately held technology firms where he led leadership teams from established and entrepreneurial businesses to out-innovate their competition, including President of one of the most innovative perinatal companies in the world. As a consultant to several private equity firms, Mike worked closely with CEOs and boards of portfolio companies, reinventing product lines, advising on acquisition targets, revamping sales and operations, building strategic partnerships with Fortune 100 companies, and recruiting top management talent. Mike is a high-performing executive who has led critical corporate initiatives, created cross-functional teams recognized for their excellence, and engineered simple yet competitive products that reinvigorated product lines while delighting customers. Complementing his focus on optimizing organizational performance, Mike’s true passion lies in developing and inspiring talent, fostering cultures of creativity, and integrating globally dispersed operating divisions into confident, high-performance teams. Mike brings exceptional interpersonal and execution skills, business acumen, strong decision-making, and dynamic, intuitive leadership along with over 35 years of experience. He holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Pittsburgh, is an outdoor enthusiast, and spends his free time with family.
ClearStar announced the appointment of Troy Mastin as Chief Financial Officer in March 2025 to lead all aspects of finance and accounting for the company. Troy brings exceptional leadership skills and experience in leading Private Equity-backed companies similarly situated as ClearStar through turnarounds and into high growth.
Troy was most recently CFO of MERGE, a digitally-oriented marketing solutions provider focused principally on healthcare clients. Troy joined MERGE in January of 2018 and had oversight of client finance, accounting, treasury, FP&A and the “data and analytics” centralized service that supports business intelligence needs of the broader organization. In addition to core Finance and Accounting functions, Troy was involved in contracting, legal, real estate, insurance and M&A. During Troy’s tenure, the company successfully transitioned ownership among two private equity firms while also completing five acquisitions. Notable prior roles include: COO, Head of Cashback with CouponCabin, a leader in digital couponing and consumer cashback for online purchases; SVP, Global Strategy and Operations at The Marketing Store, a Chicago-based marketing agency; and a principal and leader of the media and media services equity research practice at William Blair & Company.
Troy graduated with honors from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical engineering and business administration from the University of Kansas.
Lydia Wray leads Product, Compliance, and Partnerships at ClearStar, bringing a uniquely integrated approach to innovation, regulatory integrity, and strategic growth. She is responsible for shaping the company’s product strategy, strengthening compliance frameworks, and developing key partnerships that expand capabilities and market reach.
With over 20 years of experience in the background screening industry, Lydia combines deep domain expertise with a pragmatic, execution-focused leadership style. She is known for her ability to navigate complexity, align cross-functional teams, and translate evolving regulatory and client needs into scalable, high-impact solutions.
Lydia plays a critical role in ensuring that ClearStar’s technology and services not only deliver innovation, but do so with precision, accountability, and trust. She is passionate about building empowered teams, fostering a culture of ownership and continuous improvement, and driving meaningful outcomes for clients and partners alike.
She holds a Master of Business Administration and has spent her career at the intersection of product, operations, compliance, and customer experience, bringing a holistic perspective to every challenge she takes on.
As Vice President of IT and Chief Information Security Officer at ClearStar, Damien Stewart leads the company’s information security and IT strategy, ensuring the safety, resilience, and integrity of ClearStar’s systems and data. An experienced cybersecurity leader, Damien oversees the development and implementation of security policies and protocols, drives the adoption of security applications and tools, and spearheads compliance initiatives—most notably guiding ClearStar to achieve ISO 27001, ISO 27701, and SOC2 Type I/II certifications.
With more than 15 years of experience spanning Fortune 100, mid-sized, and high-growth technology firms, Damien brings a pragmatic approach to complex security and IT challenges. Before joining ClearStar, he held key cybersecurity and engineering roles at organizations including Travelport and IBM, where he was responsible for large-scale security architecture, vulnerability management, and successful migration of critical systems.
Damien holds a Master’s in Management of Information Technology from Southern Polytechnic State University and a Bachelor’s in Information Technology from Middle Georgia State University. He is recognized for his deep technical expertise and commitment to professional development, holding industry credentials such as a CISSP and a CISM.
A hands-on and collaborative leader, Damien is passionate about empowering teams, fostering a culture of security awareness, and continuously enhancing ClearStar’s security posture to meet the evolving threat landscape. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family in the Atlanta area.
Adam Roy is the Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at ClearStar Background Screening, where he leads strategic growth initiatives and drives revenue performance across all channels. With 12 years of experience in the background screening industry, Adam brings deep expertise in sales leadership, client development and market expansion.
A graduate of the University of Central Florida with a bachelors degree in Criminal Justice, Adam has held senior leadership roles at several prominent background screening firms, where he successfully scaled National Sales Teams, launched new service offerings and developed GTM strategies that accelerated customer acquisition and retention.
Tessa Hare leads ClearStar’s Global Services team, driving seamless client onboarding, exceptional lifecycle engagement, and responsive customer support to deliver a consistently elevated experience for every partner we serve. She draws on extensive B2B and SaaS onboarding and service delivery expertise to cultivate teams that consistently deliver thoughtful, data‑driven customer experiences.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, Tessa focuses on empowering her team and fostering a culture of innovation and accountability. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Slippery Rock University (PA). Outside of work, Tessa enjoys competitive sailboat racing on Lake Erie and spending time with her family.
Jen Stoltz leads ClearStar’s Global Delivery team, ensuring seamless execution of client programs and driving efficiency across complex service operations. With decades of experience in service delivery, program management, and customer success, she brings deep expertise in enabling global organizations to optimize operations and scale effectively.
Jen is recognized for her strategic and people-focused leadership approach, emphasizing collaboration, continuous improvement, and empowering teams to make meaningful impacts. She holds a degree from Concordia University–St. Paul and certifications in Customer Success, Lean Six Sigma, SCRUM Master, multiple Pragmatic Institute programs, and project management methodologies.
Our Core Values
ClearStar is driven by data, technology, service, and results. But more than anything, we are defined by our Core Values. Our core values light the way for our team. They drive every decision we make and have been an integral part of the success we’ve experienced throughout the years. They also give our clients and their candidates a look at the experience they can expect from us every time.
Think Like A Customer
Quality first! Anticipate needs and stay a step ahead. Build meaningful relationships that last a lifetime. Improve confidence and loyalty with every interaction.
Do What You Say
Own it! Always do the right thing. “Be” the resolution, act quickly with integrity and always follow up and follow through.
Have Honest Conversations
Be open and honest with each other and embrace tough conversations. When approached with positive intent and respect they yield the best outcomes for the organization and team.
Strengthen Each Other
Help and support each other. Recognize and celebrate others’ success. Enjoy the journey, have fun, and remember nothing of significance in the world is accomplished alone.
Compete to Win
Make winning a habit! We set the standard and winning is engrained in everything we do. Outperform the competition to create an advantage and be number one in the minds of our partners and customers.
Pursue Innovation
Be courageous, fail fast, and learn faster! Creatively approach every task and obstacle to find original solutions. Be unconstrained and dare to disrupt the status quo.
Proven Outcomes
Screen Smarter With Fast, Accurate Results
We combine speed with accuracy. Our screening processes meet the highest standards in the industry.
6M+
Screenings completed annually
4hrs
First human touch less than
95%+
Service quality
Trusted Partnerships that Strengthen Your Screening Program
ClearStar partners with leading HR platforms, ATS systems, workforce management tools, and service providers to deliver seamless, compliant, and scalable screening experiences.
We’ve been doing business with ClearStar for 12 years, and their customer service and timely completion of background checks have remained exceptional.
ClearStar offers quick, friendly service that truly stands apart from other providers. Their support helps us turn candidates around faster, deliver smoother…
