Staffing Industry Spotlight

Athena CRM founder Karen Somal discusses optimizing workflows, debunking database myths, and balancing human recruiting with strategic AI automation.

Brad Bialy joins Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight to share how staffing firms can leverage AI optimization, marketing automation, and niche strategies to drive growth.

Asendia AI Co-Founder Rihab Lajmi explores how agentic AI and automated recruiting workflows can double placement volume in this Staffing Industry Spotlight, sponsored by Ascen.

Vahan Melkonyan, Founder & CEO of Jellie AI discusses how agentic AI and automated candidate marketing are allowing recruitment firms to scale revenue without adding headcount.

Aaron Wang, CEO of Alex AI, explores autonomous AI screening, fraud detection, and how technology increases the staffing industry's value on Ascen’s Staffing Industry Spotlight.

Talin Co-founder Julian D’Angelo discusses agentic AI, the evolution of recruitment automation, and building competitive moats through proprietary context with Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight.

Rosa Padilla, CPA (Founder & CEO of RLP, CPA LLC.), joins Ascen’s Staffing Industry Spotlight to discuss the vital role of specialized accounting in protecting staffing firm margins.

Greg Fischer (Well Oiled Machine) shares how staffing firms can scale through international offshoring, hyper-specialization, and human-led AI sourcing on Staffing Industry Spotlight.

Ken Schumacher (Founder & CEO of Ropes) on fighting AI candidate fraud and managing hiring risk, sponsored by Ascen, the EOR for staffing companies.

Steve Malley (Mood Consultancy Inc.) discusses global EOR evolution, AI’s impact on HR tech, and high-synergy partnerships in this Staffing Industry Spotlight, sponsored by Ascen.

Jeff Nugent (Independently) dives into the complexities of independent contractor classification, the critical intersection of technology and insurance, and the limitations of AI in making nuanced judgment calls.

Joey Frampus (Butler Street) shares practical staffing growth strategies, leadership and sales “easy wins,” TAM insights, how MSP-driven buying is changing, and real-world AI use cases that improve outreach, meetings, and fill rates.

Nitin Sharma (Rectools.io, RecTalk) shares hard-earned lessons from building and failing a recruitment agency, why “outcome-first” tech decisions beat shiny features, and how AI and automation reshape agency growth without adding headcount.

Dan Mori breaks down the keys to staffing sales success—differentiation, targeted client focus, strategic sales tactics, and pricing for value—in this must-hear Staffing Industry Spotlight interview.

Atif Siddiqi, CEO of Branch, discusses how instant payments are reshaping the staffing and gig economy, helping workers get paid faster and businesses improve retention.

Benjamin Mena explores AI's impact on recruiting, government contracting complexities, and the future role of "Recruiter Engineers" in transforming the staffing industry.

Staffing Industry Spotlight features Kristin Kelley, co-founder of Type Marketing, discussing her journey in staffing industry marketing, differences between large-scale and fractional CMO roles, effective marketing strategies for small and large staffing firms, the critical importance of aligning sales and marketing, budget allocations, and creating impactful, authentic, and strategic content.

This conversation with Tony D’Amicantonio dives into the unique challenges of insuring staffing firms, covering industry-specific risks, startup hurdles, and strategies for long-term profitability through smarter risk management.

Kim Henderson, Managing Director of Cobalt Compass, shares her journey from leading a $100 million staffing agency to launching a firm dedicated to training staffing professionals. She highlights the power of specialization and leveraging Statement of Work (SOW) models to drive growth and build strategic client relationships.

In this installment, we spoke with Amit Matani, CEO of Wellfound, previously AngelList Talent. Amit discusses the evolution of AngelList into Wellfound, the intricacies of managing talent marketplaces, and the role AI plays in recruitment today. He also shares insights into the challenges of finding senior engineers in the current hiring landscape.

Gain valuable insights into M&A strategies in the staffing industry with Brian Kennedy, M&A Advisor at R.A. Cohen. Learn about agency valuation, sale structure, and key considerations for lower-middle market transactions.

In this installment, we spoke with Suky Sodhi, President of Professional Selection, a top rec2rec recruitment agency in North America, and the founder of the Canadian Staffing Industry Summit, a leading staffing industry conference.

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight, Mike Wiley, the CEO of Chane Solutions, shares his journey from the staffing industry to founding a background screening business. He discusses the unique challenges and nuances of the background check and screening industry, emphasizing the importance of responsiveness, compliance, and effective program design. Wiley highlights the complexities of navigating varying regulations across municipalities and the constant need for updating documentation to stay compliant.

Discover insights from Patrick Morin, Partner at Transact Capital, on M&A strategies and sellability factors in the staffing industry. Gain valuable tips for optimizing company valuation and transaction outcomes.

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight, we sat down with Diane Prince, Founder of Recruiting Agency 360, who talks about how to scale a staffing company to an exit based on her experiences founding and selling multiple staffing firms, including her $28 million exit of OnStaff to Hall Kinion (later acquired by KForce).

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight, Terri Gallagher, founder of Gallagher and Consultants, shares her journey from pioneering Disney's first contingent workforce solution to establishing her own successful consultancy. Readers will gain a historical perspective on Terri’s groundbreaking work at Disney and her role in revolutionizing contingent workforce management. She provides industry insights, offering critical views on the current state and future of Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Vendor Management Systems (VMS).Terri also discusses emerging trends, emphasizing why she believes Employment of Record (EOR) services are poised to dominate the gig economy. She explores the untapped potential and challenges of integrating direct sourcing into talent acquisition strategies. The interview also includes personal reflections on the challenges and triumphs of transitioning from corporate life to entrepreneurship.

In this interview on Ascen’s Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Ron Bardach (Investment Director) and Tony Davies (Regional Managing Director) from Recruitment Entrepreneur, one of the largest staffing agency investors backed by James Caan CBE, founder of AMS. Ron and Tony discuss what makes a great staffing firm founder, how to prepare for an exit, and their strategy for investing in early-stage recruitment agencies. Ron starts off the conversation, with Tony joining halfway. Both their experiences working with and investing in staffing companies reveal great lessons on what it takes to build a sellable staffing firm and mistakes to avoid along the way.

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight series, Lee Willoughby, co-founder of Bubty, discusses his journey into the staffing and contingent workforce industry and his passion for direct sourcing and talent pools. Lee shares his personal experiences, from reconnecting with childhood friend Ben to co-founding Bubty and shaping its mission. He shares the importance of direct sourcing as a dynamic sourcing channel, driven by technology and branded marketing to engage workers effectively. Lee predicts the continued evolution of direct sourcing alongside changes in the labor market, showcasing his dedication to transforming the industry through innovation and personalized talent engagement strategies.

In this insightful interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, David Ballew shares with Mickey Pelletier the contingent workforce and staffing industry's evolution and future trajectory. From David's unexpected entry into the field to his journey of reinvention with Nimble Global, readers are treated to a wealth of firsthand experiences and invaluable insights, including David's extensive history in staffing and contingent workforce management, from his humble beginnings at Kelly Services to his pivotal role in shaping the MSP landscape at MSX International. David provides a deeper understanding of the critical role compliance plays in contingent workforce management, along with the challenges and opportunities it presents. From the impact of AI and technology to the shifting dynamics of staffing agencies and direct sourcing, the interview paints a vivid picture of the industry's dynamic landscape as David reveals his vision for the industry's future and the exciting possibilities. With anecdotes, expert analysis, and candid reflections, David's journey offers an optimistic point of view about the future of contingent workforce management.

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Jared Black, Founder and President of NewVine Employment Group and President of the Florida Staffing Association, who talks about how to be innovative in the light industrial staffing world by providing great service, how to succeed as a staffing startup founder, and about general issues that light industrial staffing firms face in the Florida market and beyond. The interview spans Jared's beginnings in the flower industry and his experience with staffing suppliers that led him to start his own company, all the way to his involvement in the wider Florida staffing community that led to his election as the President of the Florida Staffing Association.

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Dustin Talley, a seasoned professional in the contingent labor industry and founder of Direct Collective and Talent Simplified, uncovering his journey from traditional finance aspirations to becoming an independent consultant. Dustin recalls how a chance encounter during a job interview shifted his career trajectory, leading him into the world of staffing and contingent workforce management. He shares the pivotal moments that prompted him to venture out on his own, launching Talent Simplified and later founding Direct Collective, a community platform for contingent labor professionals. Throughout the conversation, Dustin emphasizes the importance of direct-to-talent models, the evolving landscape of talent pools, and the necessity for organizations to adapt to new workforce engagement strategies. He offers valuable insights for individuals considering entrepreneurship in the industry, emphasizing the need for preparation, resilience, and a supportive network. Dustin dives into the changing dynamics of the contingent labor space, reflecting on the shift towards niche players and the growing significance of strategic talent management. Dustin's candid reflections and practical advice make this interview a compelling read for anyone interested in the future of work and the staffing industry's evolution.

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Nicole Clarke, Co-Founder of Shazamme, the fast-growing website builder for staffing agencies. The conversation with Nicole goes over the challenges staffing and recruitment agencies face when building their website, what recruitment agency websites should have, and how current tools on the market are insufficient for what staffing agencies truly need. Nicole also gets into her background as an entrepreneur and gives a behind-the-scenes look at a company helping solve one of the most important parts of any recruitment agency: their public face.

In this interview on Ascen's Staffing Industry Spotlight, we sat down with Bryan Peña, CCWP, CEO of Defiant Solutions, LLC, who talks about how staffing agencies and staffing platforms can get noticed in the ultra-competitive staffing industry. The conversation spans Bryan's history in the industry, from being on the buyer side to starting the Certified Contingent Workforce Professional (CCWP) program to where he is advising companies today. Bryan has a great perspective on the future of staffing and principles any staffing agency can use to grow and win enterprise deals.

In this interview on Ascen’s Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Jim Boyd, founder of Cirrus Group Consulting, who discusses the need for specialization in the rapidly evolving field of cloud technology staffing. Inspired by his personal interest and industry trends, Jim highlights strategies of differentiation in a saturated market in staffing, such as requiring all team members to obtain cloud certifications and how to expand into adjacent markets like cybersecurity, software development, and data engineering. The talk is a powerful lesson in how staffing firms can win with focus and differentiation.

In this interview on Ascen’s Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Sue Jagan, Associate Director of MeeDerby, who talks about the world of executive recruiting, her journey from managing a temporary staffing branch office to being a top executive recruiter at MeeDerby, and how to succeed in the staffing industry. The conversation is an inspiration for recruiters and staffing industry participants, especially about the power of personal connections for advancement in the recruitment industry.

In this interview on Ascen’s Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Taren Dube, Founder of Murmur, who talks about how self-managed and MSP-managed contingent workforce programs can maximize the performance of their staffing supplier community. In the conversation, Taren covers problems in supplier management for existing contingent workforce programs, the 80-20 rule in supplier effectiveness, and how to get the most out of the "long tail" of a program's staffing supplier network.

In this interview on Ascen’s Staffing Industry Spotlight Series, we spoke with Raleen Gagnon, CEO of TalentEdgeAI, who talks about AI in the recruitment process, how staffing firms can navigate an industry slowdown with AI, and how combining AI insights, sourcing, and recruitment tools in one product really brings the power of AI to staffing industry users.