Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2027
9–9:30 a.m.
Breakfast
9:30–9:40 a.m.
Welcome: A Message From ASA President and CEO Stephen Dwyer
9:40–10:30 a.m.
The Business of Human Capital: Economic Forces Shaping the Future of Staffing, Recruiting, and Gig Work
Designed for industry executives and investors, this executive briefing delivers a clear-eyed, data-driven analysis of what has happened inside the human capital economy and where it is headed next. Drawing on proprietary data, panelists presenters will break down growth and opportunity trends across the workforce solutions industry. This session cuts through market noise to update and equip leaders with the economic intelligence needed to confidently navigate an evolving business environment.
10:40–11:10 a.m.
Break
11:10–11:25 a.m.
Executive Insight: Straight Talk: Is Congress a Friend or Foe?
Washington never sleeps—and neither do the legislative threats facing the staffing and recruiting industry. In this rapid-fire briefing, ASA’s top government relations executive cuts through the noise to deliver what every industry leader needs to know right now: which bills could reshape your business model, where the real risks lie, and how the industry is fighting back. Fifteen minutes. No fluff. Just the intelligence you need to stay ahead of the policy curve.
11:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Leading Through Transformation: Strategy, Disruption, and the Future of Work
From AI-driven talent delivery and the shift toward managed services, to M&A strategy, margin pressure, and the changing expectations of enterprise clients, this session offers executive-level intelligence rarely heard outside a boardroom. What separates the firms that will scale from those that will struggle is not access to information, it is the clarity and conviction to act on it. This session is built for leaders ready to do both.
12:30–1:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch
Step away from the agenda and into the conversation. Some of the most valuable exchanges happen over a meal—use this time to connect with peers, deepen relationships, and continue the dialogue sparked in the morning sessions.
1:50–2:05 p.m.
Executive Insight: The “Boomerang” Strategy: Engineering a Business That Capital Markets Reward Twice
Most firms build for one exit. The leaders who build for two think differently from the start. In this unfiltered talk, discover the operating discipline that makes a firm not just sellable, but irresistible: earnings quality over valuation models, culture preserved through every acquisition, and margins that held. If you’re thinking about what buyers will actually reward, this is the conversation you need first.
2:10–3 p.m.
The State of Valuations: What the Capital Markets Are Actually Rewarding
Today’s valuation environment is being shaped less by models and more by market dynamics—capital costs, buyer selectivity, and an increasingly crowded private equity landscape. This fast-moving executive discussion brings together seasoned investors and advisors to share how valuations are evolving in the current cycle. What’s holding firm? What’s resetting? And where are buyers drawing sharper lines during diligence?
Rather than revisiting valuation fundamentals, this panel discussion offers an unfiltered market read from those closest to the deals—providing leaders with the context they need to understand how their businesses are being viewed in today’s market.
3–3:30 p.m.
Break
3:30–3:45 p.m.
Executive Insight: From Buzzword to Bottom Line: What AI Actually Delivered
Before the experts tell you what’s coming, hear what’s already happening inside the industry. Real stories from industry executives on what the ROI looked like, what broke first, and the decisions that accelerated growth. Consider it your launching point. What comes next will challenge everything you think you know.
3:45–4:50 p.m.
Automate or Be Automated: The AI Reckoning in Staffing
Your competition is already deploying artificial intelligence-driven growth strategies. Are you? Hear directly from technology leaders operating on the leading edge of AI innovation. This is a unique opportunity to get first-hand, valuable perspectives from outside the industry. These experts deliver the information and AI-focused scenarios designed to challenge assumptions, sharpen strategy, and equip staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions executives with the tools to lead through disruption rather than react to it.
5–6 p.m.
Cocktails and Conversations
6–9 p.m.
Dinner and Wine Tasting / Scotch and Cigars
Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2027
9:40–10:40 a.m.
Hard-Won: Leadership That Drives Sustainable Growth
The leaders who drive lasting growth aren’t defined by flawless execution—but by how they learn, adapt, and make bolder decisions after things go wrong. In this candid session, senior leaders share the defining moments that shaped their leadership—critical missteps, tough calls, and inflection points—and how those experiences informed the strategies that has fueled sustainable growth.
Honest, rigorous, and forward looking, this session is designed for leaders who’ve earned their scars—and are leveraging them to build resilient, high growth organizations.
10:40–11:10 a.m.
Break
11:10 a.m.–12:25 p.m.
From Oversight to Impact: The Board Leadership Playbook
Board service is no longer about credentials—it’s about impact. This session provides a practical view into
board readiness and effectiveness. Examine how executives position themselves for board roles, where board opportunities truly surface, and what boards evaluate beyond titles. Participants will also explore how to engage as a high impact board member—avoiding early missteps, building credibility, and contributing at the strategic level.
From the other side of the table, discuss how CEOs and founders identify, evaluate, and recruit board members who bring the right challenge, expertise, and governance leadership. Whether you are pursuing a first board seat or strengthening a board’s composition, this session offers a clear playbook for modern, results driven board leadership.
12:30–12:45 p.m.
Beyond the ASA Strategic Growth Summit: From Conversation to Commitment
