Reserve your seat today: ASA ExecuVision 2024 takes place in Jan. 30–31 at The Boca Raton in Boca Raton, FL.
Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024
7:30–8:30 a.m.
Registration Open
7:30–8:30 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
8:30–8:35 a.m.
Opening Remarks
8:35–8:55 a.m.
Re-Examining Your Mission in the Face of Organizational Change
Billy Milam, chief executive officer, Employbridge
There might be a little dust on the corporate strategy, but it’s just one of those things that gets better with time, right? Not necessarily. If your firm’s mission, vision, and values haven’t been reexamined since Huey Lewis sang about a new drug, then it might be time to revisit them. By examining internal organizational culture shifts and external influences, this session will provide a roadmap on how to tweak your corporate strategy to be more sustainable for long-term success.
8:55–9:15 a.m.
What to Expect When You’re Considering Selling to Private Equity
Greg Palmer, chairman and chief executive officer, Supplemental Health Care
You’re considering selling your business to private equity but just don’t know where to start? You’re in the right spot in your firm’s maturity to seek capital to sustain your growth and make the next big leap. However, how do you know which potential partners to trust? What’s the process? And most importantly, you are not sure how to compare private equity offers vs strategic options and what can you expect in terms of the way your firm will be managed post close? There are a lot of questions and a lot of uncertainty. Luckily, you’re not the first person to make the decision to partner with private equity. This session will ease that anxiety and provide you actionable tips to help make sure you make the most informed choice regarding one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
9:15-9:40 a.m.
Exploring New Growth Opportunities in Talent Solutions
Teresa Carroll, chief executive officer, Magnit
If you’re at the stage of growth where the only path forward is to expand into new areas, this session will give the inside track on your options. Whether it be as simple as looking at new geographies or adding a business line or as advanced as moving into MSPs or onsite programs or even looking beyond staffing to begin building a consultancy practice, being able to weigh the pros and cons of the possibilities will put you ahead of the game.
9:40–10:30 a.m.
Growth Panel Q&A
Facilitated by Threase Baker, CSP, TSC, president, ABBTECH
Join our expert speakers as they delve into effective growth strategies and offer valuable insights on how to elevate your business.
10:30–10:45 a.m.
Break
10:45–11 a.m.
End-to-End M&A: From Inception Through Integration
Russ Dunlap, managing director of technology enabled services, Investment Banking, William Blair
For those that are new to the world of M&A, it can seem like a daunting task that prevents many organizations who would benefit from the process from participating. By more deeply understanding the process, you can ensure your firm is prepared to take the next step. This session will provide expert advice on how to master each step of the M&A process from planning to shopping for investors/targets to due diligence, structuring a deal, and beyond.
11–11:20 a.m.
Successes and Pitfalls in M&A
Paul Pincus, partner, Ortoli Rosenstadt LLC and Deepak Gupta, chief corporate development officer, Employbridge
Most senior executives understand the widely recognized realities of mergers and acquisitions–from planning and target identification to due diligence and deal structuring. Yet, what about the less obvious challenges? What defines success in a macroeconomic environment with low deal volume, where both private equity firms and strategics explore ways to generate deal flow? How can you stay ahead as markets begin to open up, and valuation expectations reset? What about the pitfalls related to letting smooth talk obscure real issues with potential targets, such as compliance factors, intricate synergies, and run rate profitability? Additionally, how do you prepare your organization to absorb deals and extract full value from them, ensuring they are accretive on a realistic timeline? Join Deepak Gupta and Paul Pincus as they delve into the success factors and practical pitfalls of M&A in an uncertain landscape.
11:20–11:35 a.m.
Transaction Preparation: Steps to Take One to Three Years in Advance
Matt Rupprecht, director, PMCF
Amid an evolving M&A environment, it pays to be proactive when preparing for a transaction that may still be years away. Those new to M&A may be unaware that the optimal planning process begins one to three years prior to executing a deal. Key preparatory focus areas include developing an understanding of current market conditions, determining shareholder objectives, setting transaction expectations, and engaging the proper advisory teams. A methodical approach to taking early preparatory measures may have a substantial impact on your organization’s transaction value.
11:35–11:50 a.m.
Divestitures Done Right
Thomas Bailey, managing director, Houlihan Lokey
If only business were like a Marie Kondo book, you could simply identify the business lines that bring you joy to decide when it makes sense to divest. Unfortunately, in practice, it's not that simple. This session explores the characteristics of a divestiture, including transaction size, sector, and location, that could impact the favorability of the deal. Divestitures, if executed correctly, can help companies transform faster and emerge stronger.
11:50 a.m.–12:40 p.m.
Investment Bank Panel Q&A
Facilitated by Ben Elliott, U.S. chief financial officer, Randstad North America
A panel of investment bankers and experts will address the latest developments and trends in the markets and provide insight on how firms exploring deals should approach them.
12:40–2 p.m.
Networking Lunch
2–2:20 p.m.
2024 U.S. Economic Outlook
Dana Peterson, chief economist, The Conference Board
Coming off the roller coaster that was 2023, what can we expect from the U.S. economy in 2024? And how can business leaders get ahead of trends to create opportunities? Some analysts predict a cooling of the labor market, but how could the details of that trend impact the staffing industry? With the U.S. Treasury restocking cash reserves, what will be the impact on growth potential in 2024? This session will equip you with the economic knowledge you need to position your company competitively to weather whatever 2024 brings and come out on top.
2:20–2:40 p.m.
State of the Staffing Industry in 2024
Jeff Silber, managing director, BMO Capital Markets
Now that we are clearly in a postpandemic environment, what can we expect in 2024? Which sectors will show the most growth in 2024? Which will contract? What trends are driving growth in 2024? And most importantly what moves should firms be making to position themselves for a successful year? These questions and more will be addressed by a leading industry analyst.
2:40–3:15 p.m.
Economics and Market Panel Q&A
Facilitated by Joanie Bily, chief experience officer, Employbridge
The Conference Board chief economist, Dana Peterson, and BMO Capital Markets managing director, Jeff Silber, will discuss and answer your questions about the economic and industry outlook for 2024.
3:15–3:30 p.m.
Break
3:30–4:15 p.m.
Industry Disrupters Panel
Facilitated by Robin Mee, founder and president, MeeDerby
Panelists: Lauren Jones, founder and chief executive officer, Leap Consulting Solutions; Eric Ly, co-founder and chief executive officer, KarmaCheck; Jodda Perry, vice president of enterprise solutions
Our expert panel of industry executives, technologists, investors, and experts will answer your questions about the things keeping you up at night. Hear their thoughts on how the industry can best adapt and even potentially benefit from integrating disrupters such as direct sourcing platforms, blockchain, and beyond.
4:15–5 p.m.
Facilitated Networking Session
This is your chance to get to know and gain insight from the best experts in the industry and other attendees! Bring your questions and get peer feedback on what others’ experiences have been. Bring your experience so others can learn from your successes. Through this one-of-a-kind networking experience, attendees will have the opportunity to form powerful connections with other CEOs and industry leaders.
5:30–7:30 p.m.
Networking Dinner
Following a brief break after the last facilitated session of the day, continue the conversations with your peers during an elegant yet relaxed networking dinner, where you can follow up on prospective ideas and deepen new business relationships.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024
7:30–8:30 a.m.
Networking Breakfast
8:30–8:45 a.m.
New Trends in Employee Engagement
Maddie Gaber, key account leader, Gallup
By this point, we all acknowledge the importance of employee engagement to build a successful company. The challenge is what we should focus on seems to be a moving target. Are employees still stressing the importance of flexibility, including remote options? What strides have been made in DEIB? What has been the effect on the pandemic and economy on employee wellness and mental well-being? This session will make sure you are up-to-date on the latest data to boost engagement.
8:45–9 a.m.
The Leadership Pipeline—Who's Next?
Kim Gottschalk, head of innovation, LHH Recruitment Solutions
You’ve spent years growing your business. Pouring your blood, sweat, and tears into every aspect of it. Now, you’re starting to think about the next adventure, but one problem is standing in the way. Who’s next? The future of your company is riding on you making the right choice. This session will provide you guidance on how to make sure your leadership succession plan is built to prepare the next generation of leaders to continue your legacy.
9–9:15 a.m.
Are Your Development Programs Built for Peak Performance?
Mike Lejeune, CEO, Lighting the Path
Common management knowledge will tell you to stay out of the way of high performers and to cut the dead weight consisting of the lowest performers. However, what about those in the middle, the individuals on the cusp of potential greatness? What if you could elevate them to the top tier? Just envision the growth potential. This talk will explore strategies to achieve exactly that, ensuring consistent and sustained growth through personnel development and performance management strategies.
9:15–10 a.m.
Organizational Development and Culture Panel Q&A
Facilitated by Joyce Russell, president, Adecco Group US Foundation
Join our panel of executive, organizational development, and engagement experts as they answer your questions on how to build a culture that attracts and retains top talent and that leads to sustained growth.
10-10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15–10:30 a.m.
Join or Die: Integrating Disruptive Technology Into Your Business Strategy
Diego de Haro Ruiz, CEO, US, Job&Talent
Successful firms have moved beyond responding to disruptive technology such as direct sourcing and staffing platforms and have started to think instead about how to integrate these technologies into their business operations. This means rethinking outdated models, retraining staff, and carefully considering the potential ROI of new technology. This talk will provide you with insight to evaluate whether your firm is ready to take the leap.
10:30–10:45 a.m.
Bracing for Change: Strategizing for the Impending AI Revolution
Ashwarya Poddar, founder, ConverzAI
This session will delve into the transformational value AI promises to deliver to the staffing industry. We are on the brink of a technological revolution that will redefine how we conduct business and interact with the world. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than just a buzzword; it’s a set of tools that promises to bring transformative value to the staffing industry. In this presentation, we will demystify AI and its potential impacts on the staffing industry. We’ll share real-life use cases, illustrating how staffing firms have leveraged AI for success and efficiency. Concrete advice and actionable strategies will be provided to help you maximize the benefits of these revolutionary technologies.
10:45–11 a.m.
Preparing for the Future of AI in the Staffing Industry
Hope Bradford, senior director, IT, Kelly
AI has been ubiquitous in staffing firms’ tech stacks for some time now, even though you may not always think about it as AI. Given that, how do we, as an industry, look forward to the future applications of AI? Are we, as end-users, familiar enough with how to interface effectively with new developments in generative AI to reap the benefits, or will it be a case of garbage in, garbage out? During this talk, veteran industry digital transformation and technology enablement consultant Hope Bradford will provide you with a preview of what’s to come and how to prepare for it.
11–11:15 a.m.
Optimizing Your Tech Stack: Getting the Most From What You Have
Sara Moss, VP technology strategy, Newbury Partners
Firms went on a spending spree of new tech during the pandemic. Unfortunately, like a Black Friday impulse buy gone wrong, now the industry is left with a lot of new stuff but no idea how to get the most out it. This session will go over a process for firms to review your current tech stack, and to identify potential areas for optimization. The session will also provide guidance on calculating the ROI of your tech stack and how to know when it’s time to move on from platforms or services that no longer offer any value.
11:15–11:30 a.m.
Beyond Words: Navigating Recruitment in the TikTok Era
Shiri Katalan, head of marketing, TaTio
For as long as staffing has existed, communication has been anchored in the written word. From letters to emails, texts to chatbots, our industry has relied heavily on text-based interactions. But as the world progressed from text to TikTok, the staffing industry faces unprecedented challenges. Candidates disengage, quality deteriorates, and no-shows on the first day become increasingly common. How do we adapt to a world that is evolving beyond words? Join Shiri Katalan from TaTiO for an exploration into the heart of this issue. Discover innovative strategies and solutions for engaging with the modern candidate, transforming the way we think about communication in staffing.
11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Technology Panel Q&A
Facilitated by Jason Leverant, TSC, CSP, CSC, CHP, president and chief operating officer, AtWork Group
A panel of industry technologists will discuss the most current trends in staffing and other tech that firms should be aware of. Panelists will answer your questions regarding technology and provide advice on how to address specific challenges.
12:15 - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch
1:30–2 p.m.
Becoming a Talent Solutions Provider: From Transactional to Consultative Partnerships
Mike Small, president, Akkodis NA and country president, The Adecco Group US
As the industry has evolved beyond solely recruiting and providing contingent labor, some firms are asking what’s next. This session will provide the perspective on one such firm that added consultative capabilities to better serve client needs and add new business lines. Explore whether this model is ideal for your firm and what steps are necessary to build a consultancy practice on top of your staffing operations.
2–2:15 p.m.
The New Reality in Sales and Go to Market Strategies
Claudette Cunitz, CEO, C.C. Advisors Group
The way we sell and the way potential clients respond to us has already undergone significant changes just prior to the pandemic. Overall, in the last couple of years, the game has changed completely. Although the core elements of successful sales approaches remain the same, the techniques and skills required to close deals and get in the door have changed. This session will discuss those changes and present sales strategies firms should consider to meet those changes head on.
2:15–2:30
Examining Sales Team Commission Plans and Uniqueness Value Props
Tom Erb, CSP, president, Tallann Resources LLC
In an industry that relies heavily on the ability of your sales team to close deals with clients consistently, your commission structure is the bread and butter of your overall compensation plan. A misaligned plan is a disaster waiting to happen, leading to lost talent, lower sales, and an overall anemic sales function. Join a leading industry expert on designing sales commission plans, who will go over the various considerations and benefits of each. After the session, attendees will be able to evaluate their current structures and make tweaks to better reach sales and retention targets.
2:30–2:45 p.m.
Fostering Effective Hybrid Sales Teams
Kelly Boykin, founder, Growth Curve Advisors
We now live in a world of hybrid work, and there’s likely no going back. That’s fine though because there are a lot of advantages in terms of flexibility and cost savings when it comes to hybrid sales. However, that’s only if your sales team is prepared and competent in strategies necessary to leverage those advantages. This talk will go over those strategies one by one. By the end, you’ll be able to evaluate your company’s current sales strategies and make the appropriate changes to take advantage of hybrid sales.
2:45–3:30 p.m.
Sales Panel Q&A
Facilitated by Susan Dietrich, SPHR, TSC, CSP, principal owner, TOPS Staffing LLC
Our panel of leading industry sales experts will go over the top trends in sales and address your questions directly.
3:30–3:50 p.m.
An Industry in Transition: Reshaping Talent Solutions
Janette Marx, CEO, Airswift
Join Janette Marx for a dynamic exploration of the dramatic changes impacting and reshaping the talent solutions industry. Janette will offer her insights on the industry’s transformation from being transactional providers of traditional placement and staff augmentation services to becoming consultative strategic workforce solutions partners—optimizing talent acquisition, talent deployment, and talent development. She will address the emergence of disruptive forces, the shifting value propositions for clients and talent, and the exciting possibilities and challenges for the talent solutions industry in the years ahead.
3:50–4 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Corporate Partners
Questions? Contact us at a*************@americanstaffing.net. Not yet invited? Click here to request an invitation.
