ASA has named John Ruffini, vice president of professional development at HealthTrust Workforce Solutions, the 2024 Volunteer of the Year. The Volunteer of the Year award is selected through nominations from volunteer peers from across the country.

“John Ruffini’s commitment to leadership and service has earned him respect throughout the staffing industry,” said Richard Wahlquist, chief executive officer at ASA. “John’s tireless efforts to mentor and support his colleagues embody the spirit of the ASA community. We’re excited to celebrate John next month at Staffing World^®.”

Ruffini’s impact on ASA over the past decade is extensive. Currently, he serves as the chair of the education and certification committee as well as the health care section council, where he leads the networking and events working group. In addition, he has twice been chair of the direct hire section council, has served on the search and placement council and the operational excellence task force, and is a mentor in the ASA Mentor Match program.

When asked why he volunteers with ASA, Ruffini stated, “The people you will meet through ASA will enrich your life professionally and personally…. The opportunity is there for you; you just have to take that first step.”

Ruffini will be honored during a ceremony at Staffing World, the ASA annual convention and expo, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN.

Come to Staffing World^® 2024, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN, to create your best future alongside the industry’s brightest leaders. One way you can gain a competitive edge is by accessing the latest trends, best practices, and emerging innovations in the Staffing World Knowledge Hub.

The Knowledge Hub at Staffing World provides a vibrant community where you can engage with industry leaders, share ideas, and gain valuable insights by listening to Speed Talks and Tech Talks. Mix and match these microlearning opportunities to customize your learning experience to suit your unique needs.

At Speed Talks, join a distinguished group of visionaries for unique, fast-paced networking and thought leadership discussions. These 10-minute sessions are easy to fit in during lunch and refreshment breaks. During Tech Talks, you can get all the technology-related answers you need in 10-minute presentations by technology experts that address staffing-specific tech challenges.

Knowledge Hub sessions take place in the expo hall Tuesday, Oct. 22, 5:30−6:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 23, 12:30−2 p.m. and 6−7 p.m.; and Thursday, Oct. 24, 12:30−1:15 p.m. Learn more about Staffing World and register today at staffingworld.net.

The agenda for this year’s ASA annual convention and expo has been carefully designed to align with your firm’s strategic goals and address the key gaps in your business. If you’re not sure you can afford the time or budget for Staffing World^® this year, check out the agenda to see how Staffing World will fill gaps and pay dividends for your business in 2025 and beyond. You can also download the new Staffing World Gap Analysis Worksheet to help you match sessions to your greatest areas of need.

Join your peers next month at Staffing World, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. Register by Sept. 21 to save up to $300 per person, and then share the news on social media to encourage your colleagues to meet up with you there.

Join a community of driven women in staffing—along with their allies and advocates—and embark on a journey of personal and professional growth at THRIVE Live next month. This year’s event, presented by the ASA women in leadership interest group, takes place Oct. 21–22 in Nashville, TN.

Some of the insightful, impactful speakers you won’t want to miss include

• Shelley Paxton (former chief marketing officer at Harley-Davidson and a best-selling author), Opening Keynote Presentation—I Quit So You Don’t Have to: Life and Leadership Lessons I Wish I Had Known Sooner
• Molly Fletcher (entrepreneur, motivational speaker, author, and former sports agent), Keynote Presentation—Unleash Your Potential
• Ella F. Washington, Ph.D. (chief executive officer of Ellavate Solutions), Keynote Presentation—Speaking the Unspoken: Strategies for Navigating Tacit Rules in the Workplace
• Christine Sandman Stone (chief executive officer and founder of Deliver at Scale), Executive Breakout Session—Getting Sh*t Done: Modern Leadership to Deliver at a New Scale
• Karla Dougherty (principal at Butler Street), Emerging Leader Breakout Session—Lost in Translation: Leadership Communication
• Fawn Germer (author and journalist), Closing Keynote Presentation—Hard-Won Wisdom

Learn more and register at americanstaffing.net/thrive by Sept. 21—rates will increase after that date. The ASA women in leadership interest group is sponsored by ASA corporate partners Bullhorn, ClearlyRated, and Essential StaffCARE, and by Avionté, ClearEdge, Marsh McLennan Agency, Mee Derby, and Sense.

This year at Staffing World^® you can take part in a brand-new networking opportunity. This exclusive event, StaffingPAC 2024: An Evening With Industry Luminaries, will take place at the world-famous Grand Ole Opry during the ASA annual convention. The event will benefit StaffingPAC, the association’s political action committee.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, attendees will experience an unforgettable night of networking and entertainment, including a behind-the-scenes look at how country music hits are made. To receive an invitation to this one-of-a-kind event, individuals must make an industry leader or all-star level personal contribution to StaffingPAC. ASA members who have not previously contributed to StaffingPAC at those levels can attend by making a $250 contribution at staffingpac.net.

Staffing World takes place Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. To learn more and register, visit staffingworld.net before Sept. 21 for the best rate available—after that date, rates will increase. If you’re already registered for Staffing World and want to be added to the guest list for the StaffingPAC 2024 event, contact Toby Malara at tmalara@americanstaffing.net. Special thanks to ASA corporate partner World Wide Specialty for its support of this event.

ASA is excited to introduce the newly upgraded ASA Central Community. After months of development, and feedback from members of the ASA Central working group, the association is ready to unveil a series of exciting updates designed to enhance your experience and make the community more interactive and user-friendly. This upgrade is intended to make ASA Central an even more valuable tool for collaboration, networking, and professional development.

• Enhanced user profiles: Now it will be even easier to complete your profile, which will enhance your visibility and networking opportunities within the community.
• Improved navigation: The new “Quick Links” sidebar will allow you to find areas of interest more quickly and more efficiently.
• Optimized communication functionality: New features provide more effective ways for members to communicate and start discussions, fostering a more connected and engaged community.

Log in to ASA Central now to explore the new features.

Greg Palmer, the chairman and chief executive officer at Supplemental Health Care whose Palmer Forecast predicts future temporary staffing levels, has been named the newest inductee into the American Staffing Association’s Leadership Hall of Fame.

Palmer’s reputation for innovation and leadership is rivaled only by his track record of success in the staffing industry. He got his start as a branch manager for Olsten Corp., then quickly rose through the ranks to become senior vice president. After being named the president and CEO of Remedy Temp, Palmer led the company’s turnaround and growth to $600 million in revenue before it was sold in 2006. In the following years, he co-founded the Stepping Stones Group, which grew to more than $1 billion in revenue, before joining Supplemental Health Care.

Palmer has served the staffing industry in several important ways through the course of his career, including serving on the ASA board of directors from 2003 to 2006. He has been featured as a keynote and contributing speaker and writer at numerous ASA and other industry conferences and publications. He also created and has generously shared the Palmer Forecast, a quarterly temporary labor forecast that has been broadly featured in major media outlets throughout the world.

“Greg Palmer’s innovative approach to staffing has helped shape our modern industry and connect countless people to meaningful work,” said Richard Wahlquist, CEO at the American Staffing Association. “Greg is a visionary thinker with a proven track record of success as well as a lifetime of giving back to help others. We look forward to inducting him into the Leadership Hall of Fame at Staffing World.”

Since its inception in 1985, the ASA Leadership Hall of Fame recognizes outstanding individual contributions made through dedicated service to ASA and the staffing and recruiting industry. This year’s ASA Leadership Hall of Fame award is sponsored by Nixer Comp. Palmer will be recognized during Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo, which this year takes place Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN.

To kick off National Staffing Employee Week, ASA today announced that Amanda Alexander, Ph.D., is the 2025 National Staffing Employee of the Year. Alexander, a civilian operational psychologist for the U.S. Air Force 57th Rescue Squadron, works through the Arora Group. ASA also named National Staffing Employee of the Year All-Stars in the five staffing industry sectors.

Alexander will be formally honored and celebrated by staffing industry professionals from around the country at Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo, Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN.

Sponsored by StaffPro³, a division of PMC Insurance, the National Staffing Employee of the Year and All-Star awards honor current or former temporary or contract employees whose extraordinary stories of staffing success best exemplify one or more of the industry’s key messages of bridging into permanent employment, job flexibility, and access to a new career field.

National Staffing Employee Week, Sept. 9–15 this year, honors the contributions of millions of temporary and contract employees who work for U.S. staffing and recruiting companies each day.

Are you ready to create your best future alongside the industry’s brightest leaders? Going to Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo, is a smart investment—one that will pay dividends to you and the future of your business. But how can you justify the time and expense—especially amid today’s challenges?

Find out how to quantify the return on investment for attending Staffing World—use the free Attendee ROI Tool Kit from ASA.

With more than 40 educational sessions on sales, leadership, talent management, and other focus areas—plus dedicated expo time with top suppliers, networking events, and more—Staffing World delivers what you need to sharpen sales strategies, streamline operations, and hone your competitive edge in a quickly changing marketplace. The kit includes expense and benefits worksheets, a breakdown of the value of convention events, and tips on how to maximize your ROI for attending.

Staffing World takes place Oct. 22–24 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, TN. You can save up to $300 on a full registration package when you register at staffingworld.net by Sept. 21.

National Staffing Employee Week, which takes place Sept. 9–15 this year, is an annual event that celebrates the contributions of the millions of individuals employed by U.S. staffing agencies.

Get ready to show your appreciation for your temporary and contract employees with free promotional tools from ASA—including commemorative logos, social media post templates, media outreach resources, and ideas for how your firm can participate in the festivities— at americanstaffing.net/nsew.

And stay tuned for the announcement of the 2025 National Staffing Employee of the Year and Sector All-Stars. This year, for the first time, finalists were announced in advance; the honorees will be revealed to ASA members and the public on the first day of National Staffing Employee Week—Monday, Sept. 9.