2021’s Top Trending Technology Tools You Should Have in Your Tech Stack

Facilitated by James A. Essey, CSP, president and CEO, The TemPositions Group of Cos.
Panelists: Hope Bradford, senior director, IT, Kelly; Tom Erb, president, Tallann Resources LLC; David Francis, director of research, Talent Tech Labs
Session focus: Technology platforms and software

Don’t miss this always-popular Staffing World tech solutions roundup—your chance to get expert views from some of the staffing industry’s top tech experts on the latest tools for client and candidate attraction as well as engagement, recruitment, retention, and back-office operations. You’ll learn about the newest tech solutions that address the industry’s most pressing challenges through rapid-fire presentations showcasing these solutions (some of which you can later explore in the expo hall). You’ll leave this session with the insights you need to make the right technology decisions to optimize your operations and drive your business.

Breaking Bud: Compliance, Safety Issues, and New Business

Facilitated by Joanna S. Monroe, Esq., president and CEO, Staffing GC
Panelists: Allen W. Nelson, co-founder, t|e General Counsel, Taylor English Duma LLPSession focus: Legal issues and risk management

There’s sure to be a lot of buzz about this session, led by cannabis-in-the-workplace experts who will discuss critical areas of legal concern for staffing companies. These include the social equity side of marijuana; complying with the constantly emerging and changing marijuana-related laws affecting employers and their workers; implementing and tracking issues affecting workplace safety and employer liability; and assessing risk and opportunities related to servicing clients in the cannabis industry. Don’t miss this lively discussion on an increasingly complicated topic, especially for staffing companies currently working with or considering engaging with clients in this industry.

Authentic Leadership Prevails: Building a Culture by Knowing Your Employees

Tom Gimbel, founder and CEO, LaSalle Network
Session focus: Leadership skills, executive development

Most agree that 2020 couldn’t have ended any sooner. However, we shouldn’t be too quick to dismiss all that we went through, because there were important lessons learned as everyone experienced the pandemic together. There was no playbook on how to lead people through a tumultuous year. The unknowns and daily changes made it impossible to run a business as usual. Leaders had to pivot and adjust constantly as new information became available and work situations changed. During this enlightening and lively session, Tom Gimbel of LaSalle Network will address one of the most pronounced lessons business leaders can take away from the past year: Authentic leadership prevails. Attendees will learn how to lead people in a virtual world as well as in a hybrid world, as more individuals return to in-person work, while continuing to gain trust, increase engagement, and retain employees.

Becoming Allies: Men’s Roles in Supporting Women in Leadership

Facilitated by: Leslie Vickrey, CEO and founder, ClearEdge Marketing
Panelists: Todd Bavol, CEO, Integrity Staffing Solutions; Jeff Bowling, CEO, Curative; Jaime Donnelly, CFO, Integrity Staffing Solutions; Jeff Harris, board member, Workforce Unlimited; Ericka Hyson, president, WorkN; DeLibra Wesley, CEO, National Recruiting Consultants
Session focus: Building an inclusive workplace, with support from the ASA Women in Leadership Interest Group

Often, when we think of gender inequality, we unconsciously focus on only the female side of the work toward change. This leaves behind a crucial population—the men who can help advocate for and support these efforts. Ensuring allies are engaged in gender equity and actively championing women is an important part of the staffing industry’s future growth and the success of your business. During this session, you will hear from three male–female allyships and learn about their experiences, relationships, and insights into the importance of having and cultivating male allies. You will leave this discussion with strategies you can apply to your company immediately as well as a vision for sustainable gender equity initiatives.

New Sales and Recruiting Strategies: Let’s Learn From Millennials!

Facilitated by Alison Daley, founder, Recruiting Innovation
Panelists coming soon
Session focus: The changing workplace

Millennials have long since settled into the workforce, yet they continue to change and challenge the ways in which staffing companies operate successfully. To continue on a success path lined with Millennial employees, we need to rethink our business-as-usual operations. Instead of expecting this generation to adapt to our sales and recruiting strategies—what if we learned from them instead? Welcoming new perspectives in flexibility, communication, and adaptability.

During this session, Alison Daley of Recruiting Innovation will lead a panel of Millennial producers as they discuss how their generation commands the sales and recruiting roles of the staffing industry. You will walk away from this session with tips and tactics to become a forward-thinking leader equipped to engage more effectively and close more deals.

Right-Now Solutions for Data Privacy and Cybersecurity

Presenter: Jerry Grady, partner, UHY LLP
Session focus: Legal issues and risk management

Cybersecurity and data privacy—very high on all of our agendas. Recent breaches have occurred as a result of human failure rather than technology failure because today’s advanced persistent threats
target people, not systems. There is a strategic gap between security risks and security solutions. Regardless of company size, security breaches result in reputational damage and material business
disruption. Developing and managing an effective cybersecurity program is becoming a necessity in today’s internet-driven economy. Join this session, led by both cyber security experts and lawyers, to cover right-now solutions: state and federal laws you need to be aware of and how to protect the data of your company and employees—two of many takeaways you will learn in this session.

Intentional Inclusion: Creating Workplaces Where Employees With Disabilities Thrive

Louis Orslene, director, employer and workplace policy team, Office of Disability Employment Policy, U.S. Department of Labor; Andy Traub, vice president, human resources, InclusionWorks—an Allied Global Services company

Session focus: Building an inclusive workplace; the changing workplace, with support from the ASA Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advocacy (IDEA) Interest Group

Considering how the pandemic-induced increase in remote employees has changed daily operations, is your staffing company ready to ensure job seekers with disabilities are welcomed, supported, and recognized for the value they bring to the workplace—as remote, hybrid, or in-person employees? In this session, you will focus on the future of work from a disability perspective. Presenters will deliver practical strategies you can use in a remote environment to increase your outreach to qualified job seekers with disabilities, hire and engage the best candidates, and retain them as employees. Topics will include inclusive remote recruiting and hiring, performance management, and employee development. The session also will address the long-term employment consequences of the pandemic, including more prevalent remote work and the importance of ensuring digital accessibility across the employee lifecycle. By being more intentional in your disability inclusion efforts, your staffing company can engage this largely untapped talent pool toward mutual success.

Building Your Personal Brand on Social Media

John Ruffini, vice president, professional development, HealthTrust Workforce Solutions
Session focus: Business development, sales, marketing

LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook—so many options and so little time. So what do you put out there? Where do you start? How do you develop a following? And, more importantly, what do you want to be known for? This session will dive into the world of social media strategy and discuss ways in which you can use social media content to gain more exposure, credibility, growth—and, ultimately, build your personal brand. In addition, you will examine and discuss case studies featuring social media influencers to help develop your own path toward successful social media content strategy and branding.

Improving Decision-Making in Critical Moments

Kyle Decker, owner and CEO, The Job Center LLC; Beth Garvey, president and CEO, BGSF; Shane Jackson, president, Jackson Healthcare
Session focus: Leadership skills, executive development, culture

In the ever-changing business environment, success often hinges on making the best possible decisions with limited information while balancing on what seems a razor’s edge between failure and growth. During this session designed especially for those with a passion for effective leadership, Shane Jackson, president of one of the country’s largest health care staffing companies, will facilitate a strategic discussion to delve into the topic of how important the decision-making process is for leaders. The panel will explore how to ensure that values and beliefs influence each decision; how leaders can steer clear of group think, listen to dissenting opinions and seek alternative information; and how leaders can be honest with themselves by keeping tabs on their own motives and the impact they have on decision-making.

Pants Optional: The Five Secrets to Remote Success

Chris Dyer, author, speaker and founder and CEO, PeopleG2
Session focus: Recruiting, the changing workplace

There is no doubt that the events of 2020 changed the way we do business. Work used to be something done in offices. Now it continues to be done on couches, at kitchen tables, and in home offices across the globe. This transition has changed many requirements and considerations for staffing companies. Coupled with the increased demand for new and qualified candidates that can work from anywhere, the industry as a whole has been forced to quickly adapt.

As a “remote work native” and advocate, Chris Dyer of PeopleG2 has spent years uncovering the secrets every organization should know to be successful in a remote-first world. In this timely session, learn about his top five lessons for interviewing, identifying appropriate roles, and building connections remotely. You'll leave with a personalized roadmap for building a recruitment strategy and business operations that support engaging, hiring, and retaining top talent in remote environments.

Where Are They? Bringing the Talent Back to the Workforce

Reena Gupta, CEO and founder, Mom Relaunch; Kathy Hardy, vice president, Kelly Discover; Sonu Ratra, founder and president, Akraya Inc.
Session focus: Recruiting, the changing workplace

Over the past year, we’ve all thought about that segment of the talent pool that continues to sit on the workforce sidelines. How can staffing companies engage with this segment and succeed in getting more candidates back into the labor pool? This session will explore the complexities of what is keeping talent away from the workplace, whether it be extended unemployment benefits, balancing kids and a career, questions of fair pay, greater work-life balance, or any of the multitude of other reasons that have led to a lower labor supply despite the increased demand. Hear from our panel of experts and work with your fellow staffing professionals to develop a strategy for getting talent back into the workplace.

How to Win the Hearts and Minds of Your Customers

Facilitated by Leslie Vickrey, CEO and founder, ClearEdge Marketing
Panelists: Anna Frazzetto, chief digital technology officer, Tential; Casey Jacox, author, sales and leadership coach, and former Kforce sales executive
Session focus: Business development, sales, marketing

If the global pandemic taught us anything, it’s that you have to be ready to quickly pivot or get left behind. Sales organizations that were once comfortably focused on face-to-face meetings, dinners, and industry events, had to get comfortable with selling virtually and adapting to their customers’ changing buying habits and preferences. Sales cycles consisting of a series of pitch-and-close meetings have evolved and become more meaningful in the current environment. In fact, research shows that buyer behavior is more reliant on the sales experience than ever before and even more influential than price or brand.

In this session, you’ll hear from a few of the most successful sales leaders in the staffing space as they reveal the methods and best practices they’ve been leveraging (pandemic or not) that have created the type of customer relationship that works regardless of the business climate. They’ll share real-world examples of how simple interactions can make a lasting impact and how you can win more valuable, lifelong relationships that will lead to more sales. Finally, they’ll share their own lessons learned that others can apply to propel sales organizations forward.

Compensation Conundrum: Your Comp Plans No Longer Work—What You Need to Know to Update

Tom Kosnik, president, Visus Group, facilitator, Presidents Roundtable, and business consultant
Session focus: Internal talent management

Compensation in the staffing industry is turned on its head, and everyone is talking about it. If you own and manage a staffing firm, making compensation adjustments must be high on your list and there is much to consider. During this session, Tom Kosnik, president of Visus Group, will discuss the emerging economic model in relation to compensation design. No longer can we create compensation plans based on traditional operating income factors. Attendees will discover the pros and cons of having multiple plans within the company—a compensation plan for new hires and a compensation plan for junior and senior level employees—as well as how to create a compensation plan that protects a branch or business unit so that the plan is not paying out if the branch or business unit is not profitable. There are so many things to consider when developing and rolling out a new compensation plan for your company or even making minor adjustments.

Turn Exceptional Experiences Into Industry-Leading Growth in a Postpandemic World

Eric Gregg, founder and CEO, ClearlyRated
Session focus: Business development, sales, marketing

Eighteen months ago, everything changed. A global pandemic, coupled with a crippled economy, accelerated the pace of change within the staffing industry in a way nobody had ever seen. While most staffing firms survived, those that will thrive in the ‘new normal’ will have to deliver consistently remarkable service and deliver credible evidence of their service quality. Brands like Amazon, Uber, and AirBnB have ushered in a new era of service transparency and opened the door to the consumerization of the staffing industry. Join Eric Gregg of ClearlyRated, who will lead attendees through a 10-step playbook to amplify your firm’s growth prospects through a commitment internally and externally to service excellence.

Tackling Business Growth Through Applied DEI Initiatives

Roz Hudnell, former vice president, human resources, chief diversity officer, and president, Intel Foundation; Joyce Russell, president, Adecco Group US Foundation
Session focus: Inclusion, diversity, and equity advocacy, with support from the ASA Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Advocacy (IDEA) Interest Group

The business case for diversity and inclusion has been researched and documented extensively over the last decade. Organizational growth has always been dependent on talent and innovation. Going beyond the usual programs and approaches, the future of business growth will be directly tied to leaders’ abilities to build and lead inclusive high-performing teams. As a result, consulting organizations have added inclusion and diversity practices to their product offerings as companies seek expertise in addressing what is often their greatest gap. Leadership is about people; diversity is about decisions. Applying practical and sustainable diversity solutions across an enterprise is the answer to real progress. Come hear from leaders who have a legacy of delivering diversity and inclusion results for their organizations.

5 Automation and AI Realities Guaranteed to Impact Your Bottom Line

Pankaj Jindal, co-founder, SenseHQ
Session focus: The changing workplace, business development, technology

It's an undisputed fact that automation and AI are changing the way staffing companies operate in a post-Covid world and economy. Those who embrace this wave of technological advancements are able to enhance their existing business practices and see the impact on every dimension of their business—from sourcing, to screening, to on-assignment care, to redeployment, and more. In this session, we’ll unpack the tangible ways automation and AI are shaping the staffing industry and five key ways they drive meaningful impact on your bottom line.

C-Suite Session: The Game You Must Win

Will Matthews, Matthews Performance Group
Session focus: Leadership skills, executive development

This Staffing World session has limited seating and REQUIRES preregistration. Visit americanstaffing.net/SW21-MatthewsReg to reserve your spot!

Running a business and generating sales is difficult—especially in challenging markets. Succeeding requires skill, determination, and precise execution every day. In this interactive program, Matthews will teach c-suite members the powerful combination of three mission-critical skills he has seen differentiate those who succeed consistently from those who have occasional success bracketed by low sales, frustration in team performance, and inability to attract new “A” players.

The staffing business has changed. Candidates have more options. They make decisions faster than ever. If you wait, or if you have not proactively differentiated yourself and your company in their minds, they’re gone. In this workshop, you will take away new skills to help you stand out from your competition and avoid being a commodity, where the only differentiator left is offering the lowest price or the highest compensation.

As a key leader, your entire organization is looking at you and the way that you show up every day. You set the standard. The culture of your company is a direct reflection of you and your commitment to excellence. Find specific tools to create an “all in” culture in your company in this interactive session.

Coffee With a Black Guy (#CWABG)

James Joyce III, founder and chief visionary officer, Coffee With a Black Guy LLC
Session focus: Building an inclusive workplace

Led by Coffee With a Black Guy (#CWABG) founder, James Joyce III, #CWABG took the digital world by storm in 2020 (appearing on several podcasts and convening live virtual conversations for companies, communities, and other groups). What exactly is Coffee with a Black Guy (#CWABG)? An innovative social impact movement that seeks to merge the tactile and digital worlds to bring greater understanding, compassion, empathy and love in our shared global community. During this session, you will have the opportunity to share stories, have conversations, impart perspective, or just listen and learn from fellow citizens of the world. Joyce is a proven analytical thinker, speaker and writer who has a knack for addressing potentially tense situations head on, while creating ease and space for shared growth in the process. So sit back and grab your cup of coffee and get ready to participate in one of the most meaningful conversations you’ll have at Staffing World.

The Convergence of Staffing and Technology: How Staffing Platforms are Changing the Staffing Landscape

Facilitated by Adam Wilkins, head of revenue, TimeSaved
Panelists: Rohan Jacob, founder and CEO, TimeSaved; Jason Leverant, TSC, CSP, CSC, CHP, president and COO, Atwork Group
Session focus: The changing workplace

The staffing industry is seeing an unprecedented level of growth, fueled by massive demand for talent across the U.S. That demand and subsequent growth has software and technology companies taking note. Staffing firms are pursuing a stronger online, mobile-friendly, technology-savvy experience for job seekers, while technology companies are finding ways to leverage their software to match talent with jobs. The resulting convergence is changing the very landscape of the staffing industry, and should impact how we engage with our clients and talent today (not in the future). This calls into question decisions that many larger firms are making today, such as the relevancy of brick-and-mortar branch locations and how automation is impacting performance and the need for internal staff. This session will take on these topics and more!

Workplace Safety and Pandemic Disruption: Navigating Trends and Next Steps

Benjamin D. Briggs, Esq., partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP; Sharon Davis, CSHO, occupational safety manager, Elwood Staffing Services
Session focus: Legal issues and risk management

While safety is a perennial concern for the staffing industry, Covid-19 introduced workplace safety challenges no one could have predicted—and now, those challenges continue to evolve as more workers return to in-person job sites. This session will deliver comprehensive updates on the latest safety trends—from vaccine requirements, modified duty employees, CDC guidelines, personal protective equipment (PPE) issues, and new regulations. An expert panel of industry safety experts will deliver the up-to-the-minute information you need to make the necessary adjustments to stay compliant, navigate changes, and keep your business healthy and agile moving forward.

The Most Entertaining Employment Law Game Show Ever!

Stephen C. Dwyer, Esq., senior vice president and chief legal and operating officer, American Staffing Association; Toby Malara, Esq., government affairs counsel, ASA; Ed Lenz, Esq., senior counsel, ASA; Brittany Sakata, Esq., associate general counsel, ASA; and featuring special guest Lia Elliott, managing partner, Staffing GC
Session focus: Legal issues and risk management

Back by popular demand, ASA’s crack legal team hosts a fun and fast-paced legal game show, bringing you the answers to some of your most vexing staffing law questions. During this session, maximize learning and interaction and provide some fun and friendly competition focused on important staffing law topics for your company. Don’t miss the legal fun and games along with must-know legal concepts. With special cameos from some of your favorite industry all-stars, this session is guaranteed to be the most fun you’ll ever have delving into complex legal issues.

Breakout Recruiting Strategies for Turbulent Times

Mike Lejeune, president, Lighting the Path
Session focus: Talent acquisition, recruiting best practices

To call the market the staffing and recruiting industry is serving right now turbulent is a great understatement. While the market adjusts to new marketplace dynamics, our ability to identify and attract exceptional talent has never been more valuable. So how do you recruit them? Does your recruiting process build trust or create distance? Now is the time to reevaluate the key steps to connect with top talent who are still in high demand. This is not a sit back and listen session, attendees will participate in a lively discussion that makes the strategies and solutions discussed come to life. Take away better approaches and strategies to help you stand out from the crowd and achieve results.

5 Sales Messaging Mistakes You Must Fix Today in Your Staffing Business

Henna Pryor, MSA, ACC-certified executive coach and recruitment trainer, Pryority Group
Session focus: Sales

The data doesn’t lie: In 2021, 90% of professionals screen their phone calls and don’t pick up an unknown number. Sales messaging matters more than ever before, and your team’s emails are your most powerful tool to create sales and positive change in your business. A single email has the power to close a deal, get a job order, attract a passive candidate, and increase your visibility. Good sales messaging is no longer a “nice to have” in the recruiting process, it’s a non-negotiable. The recruiting and sales process cannot start without it. Bad messaging kills your sales. Good messaging makes you money in your staffing business.

Are you making these five writing mistakes in your staffing and recruiting business?

• You sound like a robot
• Your writing is too self-centered
• You focus on features, not benefits
• Subject lines are an afterthought
• You don’t begin with the end in mind

You’ll delve into these common errors and get the strategies you need to engage with candidates and clients more effectively.

Effective Feedback Lessons for Branch Managers and Supervisors

Mary Ann McLaughlin, managing partner, Butler Street; Mike Jacoutot, founder and managing partner, Butler Street
Session focus: Leadership skills

One of the most influential figures in any staffing organization is the frontline supervisor or branch manager. This individual plays a pivotal role in determining what gets done, by whom, and the priority it takes. Often frontline managers are “player/coaches” who struggle juggling both responsibilities. The people management portion of their role usually takes a back seat because it is difficult, because it doesn’t provide instant reward, and because they are ill-equipped. During this session—you will walk away with tools and training to successfully engage and coach your teams for maximum success and scalability.