Recruiter News Line

Ella Koscik, CEO & Owner of MDI Group, one of the nation’s top professional services firms, will be among a select group of the staffing industry’s top CEOs discussing “What’s Next for Staffing?” on March 18 in Miami during the 2009 Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) Executive Forum.  The discussion, moderated by SIA managing director Ron Mester, will look at how the economy is affecting the industry and the positive role staffing can play in making companies more efficient and profitable.

What:

 Keynote CEO Panel: What’s Next for Staffing?
Date/Time:   March 18, 2009, 2:15 – 3:30 p.m.
Where:    Loews Miami Beach Hotel, Miami

Panelists:
•   Ella Koscik, CEO & Owner, MDI Group
•   Jon E. Barfield, Chairman and President, The Bartech Group
•   Tig Gilliam, CEO, Adecco North America
•   Jonas Prising, President of the Americas, Manpower
•   Moderator: Ron Mester, Managing Director, Staffing Industry Analysts

The staffing industry continues to evolve rapidly, with new ways of serving customers and new services. This session will engage top CEOs from some of the industry’s largest and most successful staffing firms in conversation and discussion.

The discussion will look at:
•   The ongoing impact of the economic crisis on the industry
•   The changing landscape facing the market
•   The important role staffing plays in enabling a more flexible and efficient workforce for organizations
•   Career and skill development for workers

“It’s vital for professional services firms to adapt quickly to these economic challenges and to demonstrate the value that contingent staffing offers companies as they struggle to remain competitive,” said Ella Koscik, CEO, MDI Group. “I’ve attended the SIA Executive Forum for five years, and am honored to be invited to participate in this panel with my peers.”

Sanford Rose Associates-Cleveland East is proud to announce its partnership with national Sanford Rose Associates offices to offer personalized, affordable outplacement services to small and medium-sized companies in north and central Ohio.

Like many professionals, the changing economy has Ginni Garner, managing director of Sanford Rose Associates-Cleveland rethinking her business. As an executive search and recruitment professional, Garner spent the last 15 years helping companies find, recruit and hire talent. Today’s economy presents a different challenge. Client companies have shifted their focus from hiring and growth to cost-cutting and stability. Companies are now in a situation where they are facing staff reductions and right-sizing.

“While the lay offs and spiraling economy has been alarming, it has allowed me to examine how my business could continue to provide value to my clients and the Northeastern Ohio business community,” says Garner.  “We are utilizing our years of candidate coaching, resume writing and interviewing to help displaced employees.”

Outplacement or career transition services make good business sense. First, companies can reduce their exposure to litigation. A former employee is less likely to search for a reason to sue if they are treated well when they leave the company. Second, companies will forge stronger community relations. Employees are more likely to talk favorably about a former employer if they are participating in an Outplacement program or given career assistance. In addition, employees often continue relationships with former colleagues. Positive communication will influence current employee engagement and retention.

“As my colleagues and I surveyed the market and spoke with executives who used outplacement in the past, we noticed a high cost and minimal personal attention given to the displaced employee,” notes Garner. “Our typical outplacement program costs half the price of some of the larger firms. It includes six hours of one-on-one work, and while our contracts call for three months of service, the reality is that we continue to help people indefinitely.”

SRA outplacement consultants coach and mentor displaced employees through a career evaluation and help them gain essential job search skills.

With the job market changing daily, the high volume of job losses has created a huge demand for outplacement, and Ginni Garner and Sanford Rose Associates-Cleveland East team of consultants is here to help small businesses effectively right-size their workforce. Learn more about SRA-Cleveland East outplacement services at www.srexecutivesearch.com.