2023 Midwest staffing owners and executives retreat

September 14-15, 2023 - The Park Hotel - Madison, WI

Attendance at this event earns 6.0 credit hours toward ASA certification

If you're planning to stay at The Park Hotel, use this link: Booking link for rooms at The Park Hotel

Rooms may be reserved in the group block for 9/13 and/or 9/14 (extended through August 29th). Room rates begin at $159, Queen or King

Keynote - Leading During Difficult Times

During this Keynote Speech, Butler Street Principal and Training Facilitator, Robert Reid will share powerful concepts and best practices designed to help leaders inspire their teams during challenging times. This speech will focus on how to motivate salespeople, techniques leaders can use to drive real connections with their teams, and specific activities that can drive results even when the market conditions are less than favorable.

Sales Session - Win the Relationship, Not the Deal

In sales, the strongest client relationships tend to yield the best/most profitable results. During this talk, Butler Street’s Robert Reid will explore specific techniques salespeople can use to establish rapport, build trust and drive effective client conversations. The goal? Win the relationship and the deal will follow!

ROBERT REID

Principal

Butler Street Consulting

Robert Reid, principal of Butler Street, brings 13 years of staffing industry experience from business development to recruiting and key account management. Additionally, he is a highly successful improv theatre talent and creative content writer. His ability to add the “fun factor” into instructor-led training and eLearning has proven to increase retention of Butler Street’s highly successful methodologies, processes and skills training.

From 2007 to 2017, Robert utilized his theatre improv ability as a corporate trainer and performer for various theaters including the famed Second City in Chicago, IL. Robert facilitated training sessions for companies and organizations looking for a unique approach to training on topics such as communication, collaboration and innovation skills as well as team-building. Robert also performed both improv and sketch comedy for corporate entertainment offerings.

Prior to his role as corporate trainer, Robert began his career with Randstad, an international staffing firm currently ranked second largest in the world. During his 11-year tenure, Robert worked in business development and recruitment with a focus on office administrative and light industrial roles in a retail setting. From there, Robert shifted focus to Randstad’s onsite and key account clients in both Jacksonville and Chicago where he handled high-volume recruitment projects.

Immediately after Randstad, Robert was a recruitment manager for PPR and later Human People Solutions; both companies focused in the healthcare industry.

A graduate of the University of Florida, Robert now lives in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. He teaches and performs improv regularly, sings in a local band and does his best to get out and surf every once in a while, when he’s not in front of the classroom.

Key Economic Observations for Today and Tomorrow

Inflation has continued on a downward trajectory for much of 2023 but remains above the Fed’s target. With labor markets still tight and robust economic growth, are we far from a slowing economy and lower rates? Or will the economy start to feel the squeeze of higher borrowing costs and dive past the Fed’s “soft landing” into recession? Join Jason Turner, Chief Investment Strategist for Wintrust Wealth Management, to examine the factors influencing the economy and where the economy may head in the near future.

JASON TURNER

Chief Investment Strategist and and Head of Multi-Asset Strategy

Great Lakes Advisors

Jason Turner is the Chief Investment Strategist of Great Lakes Advisors. He is a member of the firm’s investment committee, authors market and economic commentary, regularly presents in the media and to professional conferences, and works with client portfolio managers to support institutional and private clients. As the Head of Multi-Asset Strategy, he is responsible for portfolio strategy, asset allocation, and for overseeing the firm’s manager due diligence and selection efforts. He is also a member of the firm’s Operating Committee and Management Committee.

Prior to joining Great Lakes in 2009, Jason served in various roles for Skyline Asset Management and Aon Hewitt Investment Consulting.

Education and Professional Credentials

Industry Start: 2001
North Central College, BA
Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, MBA
Yale School of Management- EDHEC Risk Institute , Certificate in Risk and Investment Management
FINRA Series 7 and 63 registrations

Mergers and Acquisitions: Issues in Growing and Selling

Not every staffing company owner is going to want to sell their business. Some will look to provide a legacy for their kids and potentially just stay on indefinitely. Some will look to internal management to continue running the business till the right offer comes in. However, prudent business owners should be preparing and growing the business as if you are ever truly going to sell - It really is just good Business.

In this session, you’ll learn why a seller’s mindset is critically important—and what it takes to improve the strength of your balance sheet, drive more cash flow, and maximize the value of your business. You will learn of the “hidden issues” to which buyers are looking to “score” an understated value.

Learn the basis of what it truly takes to run a process, even if someone drops the offer of a lifetime on your desk. The first offer is never the best offer, and rarely, the only offer. Your value is defined by the work you do today and having a full understanding of what it takes to truly maximize the value proposition.

JERRY GRADY

Partner

UHY LLP

Jerry Grady is the Ann Arbor Office Managing Partner for UHY LLP and board member of UHY Advisors, Inc. He has acquired a wealth of knowledge throughout his more than 35 years in public accounting. Jerry is a leading member of the firm’s National Management and Technology Consulting Services Group as well as a member of the National International Financial Reporting Standards Committee. He is also the chairperson of the firm’s National Staffing Practice that provides services to more than 140 staffing companies across the U.S.

Discussion of Illinois and Wisconsin Workers' Compensation and Independent Contractors

An independent contractor working for your company is injured on the job. Is the worker eligible for Workers’ Compensation benefits? There are several factors considered in determining whether an injured worker is a contractor or employee. In this discussion, we’ll explore these determining factors and how the employer’s level of control is taken into account.

In this discussion, Thomas Ryan Boyd, Attorney at Lindner & Marsack, will review case law and judicial decisions in employee vs. contractor disputes.

THOMAS RYAN BOYD

Shareholder

Lindner & Marsack

Thomas Ryan Boyd focuses his practice on defending insurance companies and self-insured companies throughout Illinois and Wisconsin in Workers’ Compensation matters.

Mr. Boyd has extensive trial experience, including proceedings before the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission, in Illinois Circuit Court, the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and in Illinois Appellate Court. Mr. Boyd stresses a collaborative approach with his clients, clearly laying out fiscal and legal options to facilitate decision-making as a collective unit. By stressing communication, Mr. Boyd embodies the matter-of-fact approach that is needed to serve as an adept negotiator and litigator. As a result, he is able to mitigate exposure to his clients on a regular basis by negotiating unassailable settlements and obtaining favorable trial results.

Before joining Lindner & Marsack, Mr. Boyd practiced law in Chicagoland for 7 years in Workers’ Compensation and in Labor and Employment Law.

Mr. Boyd received his J.D. in 2013 from Pepperdine Law School in California with a certificate in Alternative Dispute Resolution. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Communication Science and Theory from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2010. While in law school, Mr. Boyd served on the Moot Court Executive Board, was a member of the Labor and Employment Law Society, and served as Vice President of the Animal Welfare Society.

Mr. Boyd is licensed to practice law in both Illinois and Wisconsin. He is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, the Illinois State Bar Association, the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Lawyer Association, and the American Bar Association.

AI in Staffing: Legal Risks and Considerations

AI is becoming ubiquitous. Whether it is standalone (like ChatGPT or Bard) or embedding in recruiting technology, artificial intelligence is impacting how recruiting, staffing, and human resources in general function on an almost daily basis. This also means that agencies like the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission are taking notice, looking for ways that the technology is hurting groups historically left out of prized employment opportunities. How should the staffing world incorporate AI? What are the risks? This session will cover what’s out there, how to know who to trust with AI, and how to be cutting edge without bleeding.

KATE BISCHOFF

Attorney and HR Consultant

k8bisch LLC

Kate Bischoff is an overly enthusiastic, sarcastic, and opinionated management-side employment attorney and human resources professional. She works closely with management, HR folk, and technology companies to improve organizations through training, policy, and investigation work in addition to everyday advice and counseling. Prior to starting her own business, Kate served as the HR Officer for Consulate General Jerusalem and U.S. Embassy Lusaka, Zambia. Kate has been recognized by The New York Times, CNN.com, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, National Public Radio, and other journalistic sources as a leading authority on harassment, technology in the workplace, and employment law.

Why People Strategy Must Have a Seat at the Executive Table--Ensuring Future Growth Through Internal Hiring

Sustainable long term grow for an organization is typically on the minds of most executives when it comes to strategic planning. Yet most executives do not see internal hiring as one of the key pillars of success when in reality, long term growth starts and is decided by the people within the organization. An internal hiring strategy must have a seat the table for all executives, the ability to align sales and recruiting for ultimate growth starts with changing the mindset when hiring from who we are today to who we actually want to become. As an executive team, the key stakeholders of growth start with people strategy, focusing on internal mobility, aligning sales growth with recruiting and ultimately retention. Why the mindset switch to a people first mentality will change the trajectory of an organization to faster more statable growth.

TAMMY HINK

Regional Director Northeast

Kelly Services

Tammy Hink is a Sales and Talent Acquisition Executive and People and Growth Strategist, elevating organizations from good to great through their number one asset, people. With over 20 years in the Staffing Industry, she is responsible for high stake turnarounds and market growth, training and development, building out of high performing sales and recruitment teams across the US both in branch and remote. Tammy has broad experience in Sales and Recruiting across all verticals within staffing, traditional, RPO, Bench, large national client programs.

Big Changes to the Illinois Day and Temporary Labor Services Act

Join this session for a review of the recent amendments to the Illinois Temporary Day and Labor Services Act. Strikingly similar to a New Jersey law, the 2023 amendments to the Illinois Temporary Day and Labor Services Act impact both staffing firms and their clients in several occupational categories. Despite many questions remaining, Illinois staffing firms need to pivot today to ensure efforts to comply with the various aspects of the amendments, including provisions addressing “equal pay for equal work,” employee notifications, safety inquiries, disclosure requirements, and penalties for non-compliance.

LIA ELLIOTT

Managing Partner

Staffing GC

Lia is an attorney and C-Suite advisor with 20+ years of boots-on-the-ground executive and legal experience in the workforce solutions and staffing industry. Lia is solutions-focused and works with clients to achieve business objectives while aligning legal compliance within risk tolerance and budget. A constant critical thinker and firm believer that “no” is seldom the answer, Lia simplifies legal complexities enabling growth in a mine-filled environment.

An accomplished executive and attorney, Lia’s diverse experience in both the practice of law and executive management offers unique value-add legal solutions to her clients.

Prior to launching Staffing GC in 2021 with her Co-Managing Partner, Joanna Monroe, Lia served for 15 years as General Counsel to one of the largest U.S. light industrial commercial staffing and workforce solutions firms. Serving on the leadership team and partnering with the board of directors, officers, shareholders and other cross-functional team leadership, she helped to grow and scale the organization from under $200MM to nearly $1B. Lia is equipped and experienced to lead legal strategy, compliance, litigation management, department operations and enterprise-wide systems, solutions, procedures and programs to protect profit and reduce risk. Her C-Suite experience coupled with in-depth understanding of the staffing industry present a value adding combination to Staffing GC’s staffing firm clients.

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