Agenda & Sessions

2023 U.S. Economic Outlook
Jennifer Lee, senior economist and managing director, BMO Capital Markets

Should you be worried about a recession? What’s the forecast on inflation? What issues are impacting global markets? How are central banks responding? These questions and more will be answered during this session, setting the table for your company to explore various growth strategies.

State of the Staffing Industry—An Analyst’s Take
Jeff Silber, managing director and senior analyst, BMO Capital Markets

Join Jeff Silber as he provides an overview of the current workforce solutions market in 2023 including major trends and developments. Using the most current market data, Silber will reference specific areas staffing firms should consider as they position themselves for growth in 2024 and beyond.

Creating Value in the Professional Services Sector
Tobey Sommer, managing director, Truist Securities

As an owner or CEO sometimes it can be difficult to determine how the market values your firm. What determines whether a firm is a good investment? What causes valuations to lag? During this session, Tobey Sommer from Truist Securities will examine those questions and provide case studies and examples of strategies firms are employing to differentiate themselves and boost their market values.

Analyst Panel Q&A

Analysts from presenting firms will answer your specific questions regarding the workforce solutions market and current trends.

Private Equity: Is It For Me?
Jarryd Levine, managing director, Stone Point Capital

For staffing companies flirting with the idea of acquisition via a private equity firm, the process for making such important and strategic decisions can be confusing and frustrating, especially when the staffing company has all its financial ducks in a row and is still unable to get the attention of investors. In this session, Jarryd Levine of Stone Point Capital will go over the factors that contribute to private equity’s valuation of firms, including determining factors that go beyond the balance sheet. He will also cover criteria that companies should consider when trying to determine whether the move is the correct one for them. Through looking at actual case studies and factors that private equity firms use in their determinations, owners and executives will walk away with better knowledge of how to prepare their companies for acquisition and/or determine whether they should consider acquisition through private equity at all.

Staffing and PE: A Match Made in Heaven
Presenter coming soon

So you’re on the fence about private equity. You understand how the arrangement works and how it might fit into your overall growth strategy. You just wish you had a crystal ball to see how it will all pan out. During this session, learn what to expect before, during, and after being acquired via private equity. Learn directly from a firm and their private equity partner on how to leverage the relationship to achieve your goals.

Maximizing Transaction Value
Matt Rupprecht, CFA, PMCF

Although transaction volume decreased in 2022 due to broader macroeconomic headwinds, M&A activity in the staffing industry remains robust relative to pre-2021 levels. Additionally, transaction multiples continue to be at historically high levels for exceptional staffing companies. Executives often wonder what drives valuation in a transaction, and what actions business owners can take to improve the valuation of their business in a transaction. This session will focus on key drivers of staffing company valuations to help owners unlock value in a sale transaction with a private equity group or a strategic buyer.

Private Equity Panel

Representatives from private equity firms will answer your questions about acquisition and what to expect.

Networking Lunch

CEO Masterclass: Inclusive Leadership for Business Impact
Rosalind Hudnell, retired chief diversity officer, vice president of human resources, chair, and president, Intel Foundation

Roz Hudnell, who as Intel’s first chief diversity officer led the company’s $1 billion commitment to diversity and launched a transformation of the tech industry, will lead this masterclass using quantitative, qualitative, and experiential case studies to deliver an executive tool kit you can use at your company immediately. Hudnell’s unique and highly effective approach is pragmatic and practical with a business growth mindset focused on realistic results. Her deep and unparalleled experience working with c-suite executives from major corporations, White House officials, and World Economic Forum staff allows her to deliver a targeted, comprehensive executive learning experience that allows leaders to strategically navigate critical decisions that will shape the future of their company and their industry.

This is not your typical diversity, equity, and inclusion training. Hudnell will guide you so that you can develop your own strategic and specific vision and objectives for company change and performance. This experience will also hone your ability to lead other leaders and company executives toward meaningful DE&I objectives and vision for the future.

Networking Reception and Dinner

Registration Open

Networking Breakfast

The M&A landscape is ever shifting. In 2021 there was a huge increase in deals, especially in the health care and IT sectors, which comprised around 50% of all deals. However, valuations in all sectors rose, indicating opportunities for staffing firms in every area to increase their valuations. Still, given the looming threat of recession despite continuous growth in the labor market, firms face a great deal of uncertainty when exploring acquisitions. Bret Schoch of Robert W. Baird will ease those anxieties by providing a update on the current conditions and exploring opportunities firms have to take advantage of the M&A landscape to reach a favorable outcome when seeking a deal.

There has been an evolution in the mergers and acquisition space. We now need to think beyond the customary human capital and M&A market. This strategic discussion goes deep into the underbelly of deals; this is not your traditional M&A session on volumes and valuation. Attendees will delve into the nuances of recent M&A transactions including negotiation, structure, and tactics.

Session details coming soon.

Buyer Side Considerations in M&A
Paul Pincus, partner, Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP
Katrina Leslie, founder and chairman, swipejobs Inc

When you’ve reached the size where growth through acquisitions becomes a viable growth strategy, where do you start? Join Paul Pincus from Ortoli Rosenstadt LLP to explore the benefits and risks of acquisition versus organic growth in addition to looking at how the approach has changed in recent years. Examine what to look for in a potential seller, including red flags. And, finally, learn how to prepare for the process once you’ve committed to it. This session is a must for firms considering growth through acquisitions.

Break

Investment Banking Panel Q&A

This is your chance to pose your most pressing questions about M&A and investment banking processes straight to the experts.

Accelerated M&A Integration to Drive Growth
Art Pappas, CEO and founder, Bullhorn

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, many companies opt to integrate teams and day-to-day operations over a longer period of time. While that may be the right strategy for some, Bullhorn has found that a rapid approach to integration leads to happier customers, higher-performing teams with a more cohesive culture, and success in achieving your pro forma goals. In this session, Art Papas will challenge the conventional wisdom of integrating slowly to minimize turbulence and disruption through sharing Bullhorn’s experience with fast-moving M&A integrations to drive successful outcomes.

Leadership and Culture Speed Talks

The ROI of Investing in Leadership
Stephanie Marken, partner, Gallup

According to leading research firm DDI, poor leadership can cost an organization 7% of their annual sales, lead to up to 32% in voluntary turnover, and result in a 5-10% drop in productivity compared to an estimated revenue growth of 1.5% for organizations that invest in effective leadership practices. Clearly, leadership development presents a strategic advantage for firms that do it well. The question is, are you one of those firms? This session will examine the current best practices in staffing firm leadership that have been proven to translate into greater overall organizational outcomes that contribute to a firm’s bottom line.

The Timeless Role of Leaders: Growth in a People-First Culture
Daniel Masata, founder and CEO, Volonte

How do you grow a people-first culture? How are we working differently now than in 2020? And how is all of this impacting our people? During this strategic discussion, Daniel Masata will navigate you through what staffing executives should be thinking about right now and how this will change over the next six, 12, 18 months—the latest thoughts on what you need to know to respond to the challenges of the current moment and beyond.

The Engagement Imperative
Bert Bean, CEO, Insight Global

In 2022 Insight Global launched the Compass Culture Academy to great accolades within the industry. The purpose is summed up by the statement, “when your people thrive so does your business. We inspire greatness in people.” This seems like a commonsense mantra in today’s age of competitive advantage through human capital. Then why do so many businesses fail at it? Join Insight Global CEO Bert Bean as he explores that question and provides key insights on how staffing firms can champion engagement to realize growth.

Leadership and Culture Panel

Our leadership and culture panel will answer your most pressing questions on leadership, engagement, talent management, and organizational culture.

Break

Technology Speed Talks

Threats and Opportunities: The New Staffing Tech Landscape
Brian Delle Donne, CEO, Talent Tech Labs

From digital platforms to automation and AI to virtual interviewing, technological advances in the staffing industry have accelerated tenfold over the last several years. This session will deliver an overview and expert analysis on which technologies warrant concern versus those that provide investment opportunities for firms looking to grow through technological modernization. In the end, figuring out how to leverage new technologies, whether they be disruptive or additive, will be the differentiating factor in firms that succeed and fail in the new digital landscape.

What CEOs Need to Know Now About Cybersecurity
Jim Tiller, CISO, Harvey Nash and Nash Squared

A 2022 study by leading cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies found that 93% of company networks are at risk of breach by cybercriminals. Furthermore, insurance brokerage firm Assurance estimates the average cost of a breach of 100,000 records could be up to half a million dollars for a staffing firm. Even when properly insured, a mishandled breach could result in significant loss for a firm.

The posture on cybersecurity has moved from preventing breaches to planning for when they occur. With the continuing maturity of criminal organizations and the new complexity of their methods for infiltrating your networks, firms face an unprecedented challenge in defending their data. From ensuring your firm has adequate levels of cybersecurity insurance to being educated on trends in cybersecurity crimes, the imperative for owners and CEOs to be knowledgeable about cybersecurity has never been higher. This session will provide expert tips on how to prepare your firm in the face of threats.

Building Your Tech Stack for Competitive Advantage
Sara Moss, vice president, technology advisory, Newbury Partners

A firm’s tech stack has become yet another factor in its valuation. In addition, a well-tuned tech stack that reflects a firm’s strategic mission and vision can become the secret sauce that differentiates it in the crowded market. While many firms build their tech stack based on where they are, firms interested in leveraging their stacks for growth will need to focus on where they want to be. This includes looking at how their systems may integrate with other systems upon acquisition, what resources will be required for future maintenance, and the likelihood of tech venders exiting the marketplace or being acquired themselves. This can be a lot for a CEO or owner to keep track of, especially if you come from a nontechnical background. This session will provide you with a pathway for evaluating your current tech stack and begin planning for future growth.

For the non-technologists, the complexity of the current tech landscape can be confusing. Luckily our technology panel is here to answer your questions and break down what you need to know when making investments in new technology.

As you prepare to return to your organization with new potential growth strategies in mind, explore one firm’s journey through multiple growth strategies over the course of a decade to find the right mix that led to exponential growth and success. Leave ExecuVision with a clear plan and next steps to achieve your strategic priorities.

Founding Sponsor

Premier Sponsor

Signature Sponsors