The Workforce Agility Podcast

Founded in 1994, Peak Performers employs skilled and dedicated people in administrative, professional, accounting, and information technology jobs. Peak recruits for contract, temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct hire positions in State of Texas and other local government agencies. As part of their nonprofit mission, Peak is setting a new standard of employment for people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions. Brought in as a digital strategy consultant in 2012, Bree Sarlati, President of Peak Performers, began her tenure helping re-brand the company website and optimize it for search engine performance. Since then, Bree has worked in every part of Peak's business: payroll, marketing, recruiting, staffing, and office management. Bree joined the leadership team in 2017 and has contributed to explosive growth in existing accounts and new service offerings. Under her leadership, Peak's book of business has grown 40% and has begun offering services in direct hire and executive search. Bree has also led a series of organizational transformations such as a move toward a cloud-based recruiting and HR management software.  Bree brings to the organization a diverse, human-focused educational background of sociolinguistics and anthropology and leverages her background of working for nonprofit organizations around the world. Bree has been recognized (2020) by Staffing Industry Analyst as a “40 Under 40” leader, trailblazing and innovating in the workforce solutions ecosystem. Topics: Bree's obsession with old books Bree's journey into the staffing industry Biggest lessons learned while building Peak Performers Staffing Agency The candidate's experience for people with disabilities and chronic medical conditions The importance of working with clients that align with your values What are some of the unquestionable qualities attributed to a successful recruiter? The power of cultivating authenticity in the workplace

Kyle Decker joined the Job Center in 2009 and has successfully led the company from sales of $2.3 million then to sales of $97 million in 2020. In 2018 he co-founded MOR Talent Solutions because he saw the need for professional-level recruiting in the manufacturing, engineering, and skilled labor space. In 2019, Decker founded the “Underdog” podcast because he believes that everyone has an underdog story. Also in 2019, Riley Decker Cos. was established to provide a centralized solution for clients and all their staffing needs. During his 12-year staffing career, he has been on the SIA “40 Under 40” list. Favorite Quote: “Business, like life, is all about how you make people feel. It's that simple & it's that hard.” -Danny Meyer Favorite Books: Two of the books that have changed my mindset are The Energy Bus by John Gordon and Welcome to Management by Ryan Hawk. Topics: Kyle's journey into the staffing industry What ideas/trends excite you the most in the staffing & talent acquisition space? What practices are here to stay? How can we best prepare to leverage those trends? Where do you see the biggest growth opportunity in the staffing industry in the next 5 years? The last 18 months have seen explosive growth in staffing firm interest and adoption of platform-based models to enable “recruiter-less” staffing and direct connection between temporary workers and clients. What is your take on that? Is the recruiter going away anytime soon? What advice would you give a new start-up agency looking to establish itself in the market? In a world where the talent delivery model is rapidly changing, there has never been an easier way to find a job than there is now.. how can recruiters stand apart from all the noise? What are some of the unquestionable qualities attributed to a successful recruiter?

Sara Stoub is a recruiter with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Biology from Texas Tech University and began her recruiting career with one of the largest privately-held staffing agencies in the United States. After working as a Field Recruiter for a beverage manufacturing and distribution company, she became specialized in non-exempt recruitment for Market Units in Memphis/Little Rock, West Texas and Dallas/Fort Worth. Sara is also certified as a CIR (Certified Internet Recruiter) and CSP (Certified Staffing Professional). Sara is currently a recruiter for High Profile Staffing. Since 1987, High Profile Staffing has provided hundreds of Dallas companies with people everyday to fill administrative, human resource and financial positions.  The High Profile staff are experts in their field holding designations for Certified Temporary Staffing Specialist (CTS), Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC), Certified Staffing Professional (CSP) and Professional in Human Resources (PHR). Our recruiters have been trained and tested on employment law. High Profile is a member and has held leadership positions with the Dallas Human Resources Management Association, the Society of Human Resource Management, the Texas Association of Staffing, the National Association of Temporary Staffing Services as well as various local Chambers of Commerce. Topics: Sara's journey into the staffing industry What's broken with the way most companies hire candidates today? What's the right length of interview numbers? Are 4 interviews enough to determine if a candidate should get hired?  Tips to increase the employer value proposition Tips to nurture candidates after they are hired or placed Most effective strategies to retain talent

Simon Hill is the CEO and Co-founder of Wazoku.  Wazoku is an idea management software that enables businesses to gather, manage, develop, analyze and implement ideas that creates solutions to their problems as well as identify new opportunities. This approach can achieve both innovation and strategic objectives. Simon is an active author, blogger, and speaker on topics relating to collaborative innovation, crowdsourcing, co-creation, intrapreneurship, and more. His expertise has been recognized extensively, being awarded the prestigious title of Guardian SME Leader of the Year 2014 and noted as a Top 15 influencer in crowdsourcing both in 2013 and 2014. He is also an Angel Investor and advisor to several B2B and B2C early-stage tech businesses. Topics: How Simon came up with the name for Wazoku How to drive change inside your organization at scale The force multiplier that allows organizations to punch above their weight Where do ideas come from? It might not be what you think.  The agile approach to problem-solving Crowdsourcing and innovation as a tool for recruitment Open innovation challenges as an alternative channel to recruit top talent

Participants: Jon Younger, Forbes Writer & Founder of Agile Talent Collaborative. Fitzgerald Ventura, Founder And CEO Of 1099Policy. Terri Gallagher, Founder And CEO Of Gallagher And Consultants. Rachel Stonestreet, Director Of Compliance & Operations at myBasePay. Topics: 45% of freelancers think their clients really know how to work with them.  What's the secret sauce of companies that are successful in building relationships with freelancers?  Why does that matter? Independent contractors don't want to be risk-managed; they want to be enabled The importance of educating organizations and independent contractors on risk and compliance topics. From loyalty and inputs to flexibility and results: the mindset shift needed for a successful contingent workforce strategy.  Partnerships as a way to drive strategic value for freelancers. Recommendations for someone getting started as an independent contractor.

Jan is a technology entrepreneur born in Vienna, Austria. He is the co-founder and CEO of Candidately. At Candidately Jan and his team are building the digital storefront for staffing and recruiting companies. Jan graduated from Y Combinator 2017 and raised over $4M in venture capital from investors like Speedinvest, Beenext, YouTube co-founder Jawed Karim among many others. Jan is also the co-founder of the World Staffing Summit, an annual online conference for staffing owners and operators. Currently based in Vienna, Austria, Jan is passionate about the staffing industry as well as supporting other founders to help them succeed. He actively advises technology companies and is a Venture Partner at Pioneer Fund and Calm Storm Ventures. Topics: Why host a virtual conference/event? The impact of the pandemic on the events industry The ROI of virtual events The perception of virtual events v.s. in-person events/conferences Closing the Staffing Industry gap with interactive content and community Most important takeaways from World Staffing Summit 2022

Rick Carlson has been selling, managing, and training sales, recruiting and management teams for more than 30 years. The past 20 have been spent in the staffing world. Rick has held various senior-level positions at Modis, Kforce, and Corestaff Services Group. In each organization, Rick has been tasked with revitalizing struggling offices, regions, and divisions. His hands-on approach to ensuring that team members are properly trained and adequately challenged have been the catalyst to his team's successes. Rick is the owner and founder of Harvyst Consulting Partners, a company that customizes growth solutions specifically for staffing organizations, and the Director of the TechServe Sales Management Program. Topics: Rick's journey into the staffing industry What staffing companies can do to enhance the candidate experience Reducing staff turnover with exceptional onboarding Biggest growth opportunity in the staffing industry in the next 5 years? Rick's advice to someone looking to start a staffing agency today

Katrina Collier is on a mission to end the collaboration chaos that ruins recruitment and candidate experience; exacerbated by hybrid working. Her inclusive workshops help companies fix the real issues preventing successful talent acquisition, and her unique shared-learning Mastermind program develops the skills HR & recruiters need to partner effectively with the business and candidates. She is also a Mentor, Author of The Robot-Proof Recruiter, a global keynote speaker, and host of The Hiring Partner Perspective (Unedited) podcast.   Katrina is an Ambassador for Hope for Justice charity, and you'll find her on LinkedIn and on Instagram & Twitter @KatrinaMCollier.

Laura worked in a wide range of recruiting environments and is passionate about creating successful professional connections. She opened her firm in 2013 and synthesized her experience of corporate, contract, permanent placement, and project work into LaBine and Associates. Labine and Associates partners with leaders in the field of Talent Acquisition to be able to provide flexible and successful solutions for employers. Her motto is “all sizes do not fit the same, and there are often other ways to solve the problem of getting things done”. LaBine and Associates is a member of NPA Worldwide, a 60+-year-old global network of highly specialized recruiters, enabling partnerships with experts to fill up roles. NPAworldwide membership is offered on a selective basis to recruitment firms with a proven track record of both experience and success. Topics: Laura's unconventional journey into the staffing industry How to cultivate a diverse pool of candidates What most organizations get wrong about culture and diversity Laura's biggest lesson from spending a full year in a wheelchair The secret to a successful partnership between an organization, candidates, and staffing firm Laura's advice to navigate the talent shortage

Deborah Cento Skender has spent her career working in the staffing and recruiting industry from running a full life cycle recruiting desk to running her own search firm, DCS Consulting and Staffing. DCS Consulting and Staffing is a national executive search firm specializing in placing highly successful professionals within the staffing industry, as well as Consultative sales organizations requiring the expertise of sales, customer service, and human resource top talent that will support, empower, and develop profitable organizations. Headquartered in Denver, CO, our executive search firm provides staffing and consulting services for clients throughout the USA. Deborah has an uncanny ability to source and deliver excellent candidates. She has vast experience in many industries including  sales, IT, engineering, staffing, accounting and finance, administrative, clerical, customer service, human resources, hospitality, and light industrial as well as emerging markets. She also offers an excellent sales track record in building trust and rapport quickly as well as meeting and exceeding revenue goals. Deborah has a deep network in the industry. She has served as the past President of the Colorado Staffing Association in 2004 and 2005 as well as a Board Member from 2002 to 2018. She also served as a Board Member of the American Staffing Association in 2007. Deborah was certified Professional Human Resource (PHR) in 2011. Topics: Deborah's journey into the staffing industry and running her own consulting and staffing firm. What staffing firms can do to address the talent gap and mitigate risks associated with it. Deborah's recommendations to anyone looking to start a staffing business today. Deborah's approach to helping clients grow and attract top talent amid the pandemic. Deborah's advice to other women looking to build a career in the staffing industry. How taking responsibility for the candidate experience from start to finish can help you stand out.

A leading authority on workforce solutions worldwide, Barry Asin is renowned for his expertise in staffing and contingent labor. President of Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) since 2010, Asin holds overall responsibility for the company's strategy, operations, and growth on a global basis. He has been with the company since 2003, where he previously held the position of Chief Analyst, leading the team responsible for SIA's award-winning research and content. Asin is the co-author of Breaking Through: Leadership Disciplines from Top Performing Staffing Firms and is a frequent speaker at industry events, sharing essential insights on leadership and the challenges, opportunities, and rapid transformations around work today. He is quoted in major business and industry publications, including the New York Times, BusinessWeek, Inc. Magazine, The Atlantic, Bloomberg Business, CNBC, Marketplace, USA Today and MarketWatch among others. Prior to joining SIA, Asin spent nearly 12 years as a senior executive at global staffing leader Adecco SA. Before Adecco, he held operations management positions with PepsiCo, and he began his professional career with Andersen Consulting, the predecessor of Accenture. He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard University and a B.S. in engineering from Princeton University. Topics: Barry's journey into the staffing industry and SIA. Barry's advice on leveraging the contingent workforce trend as an opportunity for growth. Practical insights for staffing firm owners from Barry's book Breaking Through: Leadership Disciplines from Top Performing Staffing Firms. The impact of technology and digital disruption in the staffing industry. Common mistakes when implementing a contingent workforce program.

Elizabeth is the Director of Strategic Partnerships at Empire Office, the largest commercial furniture dealer in the world delivering workspace solutions to activate brands. In her role, Elizabeth works closely with regional leadership to strengthen relationships with key partners in the South Florida area. Having previously worked on both the dealer and manufacturing sides of the industry, Elizabeth has extensive experience in strategic sales, product positioning, contract negotiations, change management, and network development. She has also served on the IIDA South Florida board for over five years and is actively involved in many design and construction organizations throughout the tri-county area. Elizabeth is also the co-host for the Infinite Attraction podcast, where she helps you uncover and navigate everything happening with MiamiTech. Topics: Elizabeth's journey into an interior design career and the MiamiTech ecosystem. Designing physical spaces for the future of work. Learning to adapt and reinvent yourself as a future-proof skill. Elizabeth's recommendations if you are planning the move to Miami. Miami's “How Can I Help?” new way of doing business.

Mark Roberts is CEO of TechServe Alliance, the national trade association serving IT and engineering staffing and solutions firms. Roberts is a noted authority and spokesperson on industry trends. Under his leadership since 2003, the organization has expanded significantly moving beyond traditional association offerings creating multiple innovative programs designed to drive member firm growth and profitability. From its unique member-owned insurance program, account executive and recruiter certification, Excellence Awards, to contract and compliance assistance hotline and sales and recruiter management programs, Roberts has led the organization through its transformation. Before joining TechServe Alliance, Mr. Roberts was a partner in the Labor and Employment Group of a major law firm and served four years on Capitol Hill. He earned his undergraduate degree from Haverford College and his law degree with distinction from Emory University. Mr. Roberts currently serves as a member of the Labor Relations Committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He has been repeatedly named to the Staffing Industry 100 List and is a member of the Hall of Fame. Topics: Mark's journey into the IT staffing industry and Techserve's leadership. What staffing firms can do to address the talent gap and mitigate risks associated with it. The importance of partnerships to grow and scale your staffing firm. The impact of remote work on talent diversity. Considerations when looking to implement an offshoring and nearshoring strategy.

Keith Wolf is the Managing Director of Murray Resources, a national recruiting and staffing firm headquartered in Houston. As Managing Director, Wolf leads the company's strategy, marketing, and sales efforts. Wolf joined the company in 2011 and helped drive the firm's growth and ascension to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the U.S. The company has been named the fastest growing staffing firm in Texas by Staffing Industry Analysts and has landed on the Inc. 5000 six times. Murray Resources was also awarded the #1 best medium-sized staffing firm to work in the U.S and has consistently been named one of the best places to work in Houston by the Houston Business Journal. Wolf is regularly called upon to provide insights on matters relating to staffing, recruiting, and employment trends by publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, Houston Business Journal, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Reuters, CNBC, and Houston Public Radio. Prior to Murray Resources, Wolf held various executive and marketing roles with companies such as Procter & Gamble, Invisalign, OrthoClear, and BlueStar. Wolf graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in marketing and has an MBA from Harvard Business School. Topics: Modern day talent strategies required for today's competitive talent market Tactical tips for hiring top sales and recruiting professionals Candidate preparation for the interview and a client guide on retainment for top talent

Dan spent 5 years with TekSystems, cofounded IT Resources in 2000. Become the sole owner and President of the firm in 2006, IT Resources has become a leading provider of Technology staffing solutions. Companies and top IT talent seek the expertise the IT Resources team brings in extensive industry/market knowledge delivering value with honesty and integrity Born in Iowa and raised in New Mexico, Ohio and graduating high school back in Iowa, Dan is a proud Northwestern University and University of South Florida graduate. Playing collegiate and professional baseball set the cornerstones of passion for hard work, leadership and teamwork. When he's not at work you can find him with his wife, daughter or son, probably playing or enjoying sports. Dan's greatest joy is helping people create inflection points in their careers and reaching their full potential.

Joshua Smith serves as Senior Vice President of Advantage xPO, the workforce solutions division of Staffmark Group, providing Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO), Managed Service Provider (MSP), and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). Since joining Staffmark Group in 2004, Joshua has held a number of positions with increasing responsibility in both operations and sales throughout his tenure. He is responsible for leading client development, account strategy and service delivery across the Advantage xPO client portfolio. As an experienced practitioner in strategic workforce solutions, Joshua has distinguished himself as a results-driven leader with a strong business acumen for developing and deploying best in class programs within this discipline throughout the United States and Canada. In 2019, Joshua was named to Staffing Industry Analyst's 40 Under 40 list. He holds a BS in Marketing from St. Cloud State University – Herberger Business School. Topics: Fundamentals around MSP's and RPO's Analyzing the typical MSP Profile Direct Sourcing Initiatives

Mike Sarraille is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL officer and a former enlisted Recon Marine and Scout-Sniper. A graduate of the University of Texas McCombs Business School, he is the founder and CEO of Talent War Group, a specialized executive search firm and talent advisory that finds high-performing business leaders for senior, executive, or other critical leadership positions. He is co-author of 'The Talent War: How Special Operations and Great Organizations Win on Talent' and a columnist for Men's Journal and Men's Fitness under 'The Everyday Warrior' column. He founded and served as a board of director for the VETTED Foundation, a cutting edge executive level transition program, and was a former principal at Echelon Front, a management consulting firm alongside the coauthors of Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin. Mike enlisted in the Marine Corps after high school. He became a Recon Marine and also served as a scout-sniper. He was selected for a Marine officer program, but after finishing his bachelor's degree at Texas A&M University, he sought a commission in the Navy to try out for the SEAL Teams. After completing the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) Training. Mike served in SEAL Team THREE, Task Unit Bruiser, the most decorated Special Operations Task Unit of the Iraq war, where he led major combat operations during the Battle of Ramadi in 2006. In 2008, Mike returned to Iraq and led historic combat operations in during the Battle of Sad City. In 2008-2009, Mike served as the SEAL Junior Officer Training Course (OTC) Director where he coached, mentored, and prepared junior SEAL officers to lead combat operations,Mike was then assessed and selected for assignment to Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU), part of the elite Joint Special Operations Command, in support of global counter-terrorism operations. Mike completed a total of ten (10) combat deployments in support of the Global War on Terrorism. Mike is a recipient of the Silver Star, six (6) x Bronze Stars for Valor, two Defense Meritorious Service Medals, and a Purple Heart. He is a recognized keynote speaker and subject matter expert in leadership development, talent acquisition and talent management.

Mousa Hamad currently resides on the Gulf Coast of Florida. There, he is a partner and a father to a vivacious three year old. Which, he will tell you, is a great tune up for his day job as the Director of Operations and Procurement at J2 Global, Inc. Mousa has been in the Information Technology industry for the last 15 years getting his start on the front lines as a Tier 1 tech. He is a customer centric executive who loves being a part of great teams that deliver results.

Chris Burkhard is a 4th generation entrepreneur, and has been running his business for over 20 years. Placers is a workforce company that not only helps people find jobs but consults with businesses on how to best use a contingent workforce. In running Placers, Chris is known as being a cultural servant leader. The Placers community is unique and gives back to the local community. He emphasises the importance of having an environment where people can be themselves. Culture led business that has steered Placers towards being listed on Inc 5000 list a combined 10 times in its history. His way of leading also earned Chris the SBA Small Business Person of the Year for the State of Delaware in 2020. Chris has a love of the outdoors and would prefer to be forest bathing. Chris currently lives in Lewes, Delaware but daydreams of living in the mountains of Wyoming. He is an active business person and Scaling Up Coach who loves to mentor entrepreneurs towards building their own successful businesses. Chris lives his life the same way, whether it is business or personal. He is a dedicated husband to Kim and father to Josh and Hallie. His true love are his 2 aussie shepherds Gracie and Ziggy.

Ginnette launched Harper & Gray in 2021 to follow her passion to drive equity into the talent management process. She is driving change in the industry by providing talent solutions that put Diversity and Inclusion first. Before this Ginnette spent 15 years as an SVP at Specialist Staffing Group, Inc., the US subsidiary of the international STEM recruiting firm SThree Plc. Ginnette led Real Staffing, the company's largest brand in North America. Ginnette achieved relentless year-on-year double-digit growth for the brand, and Real was and still is the company's best performing contract business globally. As the co-founder of SThree's North American business, Ginnette played a vital role in marking the US as SThree's highest producing territory taking it from 0 to $280m. Within the portfolio she grew the Real staffing business organically, and it is now one of the largest life science staffing firms in North America with over $100m in annual revenue. In addition to this, Ginnette prides herself on more broadly championing diversity and inclusion and advocating for gender equality in leadership. Ginnette is a member of the American Staffing Associations Council of Women in Leadership. Her accomplishments also include being named a Woman of Influence by Chicago Business Journal, receiving the Woman of the Year Stevie Award, presented by the American Business Awards, and was named on SIAs 2020 list for the Top 100 most influential leaders in staffing.