From Cash Flow to Growth: Financing Strategies for Staffing Firms

The Illinois Search and Staffing Association is proud to host this virtual event in our series created for Staffing Owners and Executives

Presented by Kathy Gilbert, Senior Director, Minority Dealer and Women Retail at CDK Global

The Leadership Seat:

Challenges, Choices & Change Across Industries

June 26, 2025

12PM-1PM CST

Cost to Attend: ISSA Members FREE, Nonmembers $39

SESSION DESCRIPTION

Leadership today requires more than just a title—it demands clarity, agility, and the ability to influence meaningful change across all levels of an organization. In this interactive session, we’ll explore what it truly means to lead in today’s dynamic business landscape.

Join us for a deep dive into the challenges leaders face, the choices they must make, and the change they have the power to shape. Through a modern framework centered on people, process, technology, and data, we’ll uncover how leadership is evolving—and what it takes to stay ahead.

Attendance at this event earns 1.0 hours CE Credit toward ASA certification

MEET THE SPEAKER

Kathy Gilbert is an accomplished professional with a distinguished 30-year career in the automotive industry, with a remarkable journey encompassing leadership roles in sales and business development, customer success, product marketing and sales operations. As a dedicated senior leader and advocate for diversity, she currently holds the position of Senior Director of Minority Dealer and Women Retail Business. In this role, Kathy oversees a national portfolio of 5,000+ customers, contributing to an impressive revenue of over $260 million.

Kathy takes on the crucial responsibility of managing relationships between CDK and its customers, with a primary goal of fostering the success of minority and women dealers in achieving their business objectives. Her efforts extend beyond customer relations, as she has forged robust connections with associations, manufacturers, and industry partners.

Prior to her current role, Kathy served as the Director of Customer Success, where she built and led a team of Customer Success advocates. Aligned with each customer, this team was dedicated to ensuring a superb customer experience across the board.

Notably, Kathy is a Founding Board member of the Women in Automotive organization, where her focus lies in accelerating the involvement of women in the automotive sector. She is a distinguished industry speaker, mentor, and holds the title of Automotive News Leading “Notable Champion of Diversity”, “Women in Retail Honoree” and NAMAD’s “Women of Year”. Kathy's commitment to diversity and inclusion is longstanding, with over two decades of active involvement in CDK's Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, Avionté!

Join us on July 30th at Impact Field in Rosemont, IL! 

Chicago Dogs vs Kane County Cougars

The Field Suite / Fan Experience is just steps away from the action. Our group will  have access to the team batting cage where you can take a few swings! 

Burgers, dogs and beverages are included in the ticket price:

Members $25

Nonmembers $50

Thank you to our Platinum and Gold Sponsors!

Thank you to our Platinum sponsors! 

The Illinois Search and Staffing Association is proud to host this virtual event in our series especially for Staffing Owners and Executives

Leading Through the Pressure: Real Talk for Staffing Executives

August 7, 2025

12PM-1PM CST

In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving staffing landscape, executives are facing more pressure than ever—tight margins, shifting client expectations, economic uncertainty, a changing legal landscape, rapid tech advancements, and workforce challenges that seem to change overnight. Join us for a dynamic panel discussion featuring top industry executives who understand what it takes to lead through complexity and uncertainty. These seasoned leaders will share real-world experiences, insights, and practical strategies for staying agile, making bold decisions, and guiding teams through change with resilience and purpose.

This isn’t your typical webinar—it’s real talk from leaders who have been in the trenches and are actively shaping the future of staffing.

Cost to Attend: ISSA Members FREE, Nonmembers $39

Attendance at this event earns 1.0 hours CE Credit toward ASA certification

MEET THE PANELISTS

Teresa Katubig, CEO and President, HireLevel.

HireLevel’s fearless leader, Teresa Katubig, grew the company from the ground up in 1995 under less than-ideal circumstances as a newly single mom of two children. Her story is the American Dream at its best. Opening first as Extra Help, Inc., a temporary employment agency with “a credit card and a prayer,” now HireLevel has grown leaps and bounds. She expanded her business in 2001 to include payroll services, and today continues to grow and garner industry praise. According to Teresa, she’s in constant pursuit of taking her dream to the next level–it’s all about being better, working smarter, and reaching higher. Teresa Katubig, President & CEO of HireLevel, is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Payroll Professional, and Certified Professional in HR. Today, HireLevel is a certified Women-Owned Business and full-service HR Solutions firm that supports clients from deep channel recruiting and high-volume staffing to payroll and timekeeping. Teresa’s expertise in the workforce industry has led her team to support clients from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Teresa has built a key team of VPs with 15+ years of HireLevel experience spearheading the future of the organization and the impact the company will make on the lives of others – internally and externally. Over the course of 28 years, HireLevel has acquired 7 payroll service bureaus and extended HireLevel's geographic capabilities spanning around 2,000 clients in 48 states.

Megan McCann, CEO at McCann Partners

Megan McCann is a leader in staffing, recruiting, and technology services. Megan co-founded ARA, a national organization that champions women in technology. Megan's active involvement in the Chicago community, her position on the TechServe Alliance board of directors, and her engagement with the American Staffing Association support her effort to create new opportunities for technology talent.

Megan has earned distinctions such as the Chicago Business Journal's Bizwomen Headliner in Technology, the Chicago Business Journal's Women of Influence, and recognition as a three-time finalist in the Midwest Women in Tech Awards. In 2021 and 2024, she was a Staffing Industry Analysts' Top 50 DE&I Influencer. In 2023, she received the Celebrating Women in Innovation Award and was honored as one of the Top 100 Staffing Leaders to Watch by the World Staffing Summit in 2023 and 2025. Her firm, McCann Partners, was also named one of the Top 100 Staffing Organizations to Watch by the World Staffing Summit this year.

Megan is driven to connect with, amplify, and align with causes that positively impact the lives of others.

Michael Reyes, Chief Operating Officer at SureStaff

Michael Reyes brings 25+ years of executive leadership in staffing and recruitment and is known for driving growth and operational excellence across commercial staffing, MSP and VMS environments, high-volume retail staffing, light industrial and enterprise sales strategy. His career spans both corporate and private equity-backed firms, where he has consistently delivered transformative results through innovation, disciplined execution, and market expansion.

As Chief Operating Officer and Interim CEO at Surestaff LLC, Michael has been instrumental in scaling the company to a $280M run rate. He oversees 36 branches across 10 states, leading initiatives that have generated 30% year-over-year revenue growth. Under his leadership, Surestaff expanded into Texas, launching branches that contributed over $20M in new business, while also successfully acquiring and integrating two staffing firms. His focus on sales execution, cost control, and EBITDA improvement has enhanced both performance and enterprise value.

Previously, Michael served as Interim CEO and EVP at Snelling Staffing Services, where he spearheaded growth across franchise and corporate branches. He standardized operations, implemented Bullhorn ATS to streamline talent acquisition, and positioned the organization for a successful sale.

Michael’s deep experience in managed service programs and vendor management systems includes leadership roles at Mitchell Martin Inc. and Advantage Resourcing. There, he launched national recruitment centers, managed offshore sourcing teams, and led enterprise accounts across IT, light industrial, and clerical sectors. His strategic oversight ensured consistent KPI alignment, regulatory compliance, and elevated client satisfaction in high-volume staffing programs.

In an industry shaped by rapid technological change, labor market shifts, and evolving client needs, Michael Reyes remains a forward-thinking leader. His combination of strategic foresight, operational discipline, inclusive leadership style and salesmanship make him a driving force in shaping the future of workforce solutions.

PANEL MODERATOR

Victoria Hill, Sr. Director of Adversity & Social Impact, Advanced Group

Victoria has 15+ years of experience in the human resources marketplace. She is skilled in all aspects of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I), Leadership Development and Human Resources Management. Her focus is the human experience and building inclusive relationships. Victoria is currently working as the Sr. Director of Global Diversity and Social Impact for Advanced Group. Advanced Group offers contingent and permanent staffing solutions, talent acquisition and management, consulting, outsourcing, clinical research and professional services. In 2018 Victoria started and now leads the company’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee which focuses on awareness, training, recruitment process, and public relations. The DE&I Committee won its first award in 2019 from the American Staffing Association - ASA Care Honorable Mention and its second award in 2022 from the Staffing Industry Analyst – 2022 DEI Influencer. Victoria also facilitates Neurodiversity, Conscious Inclusion, Interview Bias, Bystander Intervention, Building Inclusive Relationships, and many other DE&I trainings for her organization as well as external partners. Victoria and her team develop diversity programs to promote unbiased decision-making while creating a safe space for employees to thrive. Victoria and her husband live in Chicagoland and enjoy hosting karaoke parties for fun and relaxation.

Thank you to our Platinum Sponsor, Automated Business Designs!

Your Hosts for the 2025 Owners and Executives Retreat:

Illinois Search and Staffing Association

Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services

Michigan Association of Staffing Services

Click here to view Speakers and Sessions

Andre Young - Speaker, Author, Leadership Trainer, & Founder of You Evolving Now, LLC    

Josh Britton - Fast Track Coach at Express International

Monte Block - Staffing Industry Visionary, CEO at Equiliem

Brittany Sakata, Esq. - General Counsel at American Staffing Association

Rachel Sederberg, Ph.D. - Labor Economist and Director of Research for Professional Services at Lightcast

Attendance at this event earns 6.0 CE Hours

toward ASA Certification

Attendees will board the Grand Belle on September 11th for a dinner cruise!

Guest tickets are available for spouse/plus-one @$150

Email info@issaworks.com for guest ticket to evening event

Additional sponsorship opportunities are available

Email info@issaworks.com

The Illinois Search and Staffing Association is proud to host the third of three virtual events in our Owners and Executives series

November 6, 2025

1PM-2PM CST

Cost to Attend: ISSA Members FREE, Nonmembers $39

Attendance at this event earns 1.0 hours CE Credit toward ASA certification