Energizing and Advancing the Industry

During a week full of inspiring speakers, valuable workshops, top-notch networking events, and cutting-edge business solutions for the industry, a crowd of staffing professionals from throughout the country and around the globe gathered for Staffing World 2011. The festive New Orleans setting was a fitting backdrop for what attendees called an engaging and energizing event—the ASA annual convention and expo—and the highest-profile gathering in the business.

An impressive welcome reception in the expo hall served as the convention's kick-off event Tuesday night and gave attendees a first look at the latest technologies and business solutions from the industry's top suppliers. Double-decker booths, live demonstrations, and various networking opportunities throughout the expo kept attendees busy between the nearly 40 workshops, immersion programs, and Knowledge Network roundtable sessions that took place throughout the week.

Staffing industry veteran and pioneer Robert Gibson—who was inducted into the ASA Leadership Hall of Fame at Wednesday morning's opening session—accepted his award and spoke on the unique value Staffing World brings to the industry. Best known for his 20-year tenure with Norrell, where he was president and chief operating officer, Gibson remarked on the industry competitors that, as colleagues, gather at Staffing World each year with a common goal of advancing their field. "You are changing America's view of staffing," he said, by quickly adapting services to meet client needs and maintaining a level of excellence that ensures a successful future for the industry.

Three Staffing World keynote speakers packed convention center ballrooms and wowed attendees with a "flawless execution" business model delivered by former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot Jim Murphy; a unique look at the future of business and the economy by expert analyst Zachary Karabell; and a way to drive competitive advantage by taking intelligent risks and exploiting new business opportunities by best-selling author Peter Sheahan.

Staffing World attendees began their Thursday morning by celebrating the 2012 National Staffing Employee of the Year Chris Hoover—an interactive Web designer who credits the BOSS Group with his now permanent and rewarding job at JCPenney. "I just couldn't quite get my foot in the door," said Hoover. "It was a great experience working with the BOSS Group to find this opportunity. Now I'm working at a really fabulous place."

New to this year's ASA annual convention and expo was Staffing World Mobile—a smart phone-friendly way for attendees to check daily schedules, locations, exhibitor details, and Twitter comments. Attendees used the hashtag #staffingworld throughout the convention to comment on workshops, speakers, expo events, and more. As Staffing World 2011 came to a close Friday, among the flurry of tweets addressed to ASA included praise such as "@staffingtweets - congrats on 1st class #staffingworld best I've attended yet."

Attendees and exhibitors alike marked their calendars for next year's premier industry event—Staffing World 2012, Oct. 9–12 in Las Vegas, where staffing professionals will convene again to continue the strategic and collaborative work of enhancing their business models and advancing the industry.

Staffing professionals who missed this year's event can still experience the valuable content by ordering Staffing World workshop recordings.